Trunk and switch architecture for providing switched-circuit connections to on-line data services

• US 20070019624A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donna Steadman, Efrain Cortez, Melissa Maes-Wolfson, Robert Munson
• Original Assignee: Donna Steadman, Efrain Cortez, Melissa Maes-Wolfson, Robert Munson
• Inventors: Munson, Robert, Cortez, Efrain, Maes-Wolfson, Melissa, Steadman, Donna
• Application Number:
  US11/402,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2867 Physical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method and system for providing a network which routes telephone calls to the dial-up access line of on-line data services, such as an Internet Service Provider. The calls are routed over, over data trunks to a circuit-switch that consolidates access to on-line data services. The data trunks are separate from trunks carrying normal voice telephone calls. At the originating office where the telephone call originates, the call is recognized as a call to a telephone number associated with the dial-up access telephone number of an on-line data service. A database selects a route over a data trunk to the terminating office having a circuit-switch that consolidates access to the on-line data services. The consolidation of access to on-line data services over segregated data trunks to a single circuit-switch reduces congestion in the network by relieving the network from handling a large volume of long duration telephone calls.

Claims

1. A database for routing telephone calls directed to on-line computer data services from an originating central office to a terminating central office, the database comprising:

a routing table comprising a plurality of telephone numbers associated with dial-up access lines to on-line computer data services, a plurality point codes corresponding to a plurality of originating central offices, wherein each point code uniquely identifies one of the originating central offices, and a plurality of trunk route identifiers corresponding to a plurality of trunk routes for connecting the plurality of originating central offices with the terminating central office; and

service logic to identify a trunk route for connecting the originating central office with the terminating central office,

wherein the plurality of trunk routes are dedicated to carrying only data traffic.

2. The database of claim 1, wherein the routing table is operative to identify the plurality of telephone numbers associated with dial-up access lines to on-line data services by a ten-digit NPA-NXX-XXXX.

3. The database of claim 1, wherein the service logic is operative to identify the trunk route by identifying a ten-digit NPA-NXX-XXXX telephone number associated with the trunk route to the terminating central office.

4. A network for routing telephone calls directed to on-line computer data services from an originating central office to a terminating central office, the network comprising:

a database in communication with the originating central office, the database including a routing table that includes;

(i) a plurality of telephone numbers associated with dial-up access lines to on-line data services; and

(ii) a plurality of point codes that correspond to a plurality of originating central offices, wherein each point code uniquely identifies one of the originating central offices, and the database being operative to identify telephone calls to on-line computer data services;

a data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office, the data trunk being dedicated exclusively for carrying data transmissions; and

a circuit-switch at the terminating central office, the circuit switch being operative to connect the data trunk with the on-line data services.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the database is operative to identify telephone calls to on-line computer data services in response to an advanced intelligent network query.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the database is further operative to identify the data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the database is further operative to identify the data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office by indexing a dialed telephone number and a point code identifying the originating central office in the routing table.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the circuit-switch consolidates access to on-line data services within a local access and transport area (LATA).

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising a primary rate interface for connecting the circuit-switch with the on-line data services.

10. The system of claim 4, further comprising a T1/DS1 line for connecting the circuit-switch with the on-line data services.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the data trunk comprises a T1 trunk line.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the circuit-switch is dedicated to receive only calls to on-line data services.

13. A network for routing telephone calls directed to on-line computer data services from an originating central office to a terminating central office, the network comprising:

a database in communication with the originating central office, the database including a routing table that includes;

(i) a plurality of telephone numbers associated with dial-up access lines to on-line data services; and

(ii) a plurality of trunk route identifiers corresponding to a plurality of trunk routes for connecting a plurality of originating central offices with the terminating central office, and the database being operative to identify telephone calls to on-line computer data services;

a data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office, the data trunk being dedicated exclusively for carrying data transmissions; and

a circuit-switch at the terminating central office, the circuit switch being operative to connect the data trunk with the on-line data services, wherein the circuit-switch is dedicated to receive only calls to on-line data services.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the database is operative to identify telephone calls to on-line computer data services in response to an advanced intelligent network query.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the database is further operative to identify the data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the database is further operative to identify the data trunk for connecting the originating central office and the terminating central office by indexing a dialed telephone number and a trunk route identifier in the routing table.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the circuit-switch consolidates access to on-line data services within a local access and transport area (LATA).

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a primary rate interface for connecting the circuit-switch with the on-line data services.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a T1/DS1 line for connecting the circuit-switch with the on-line data services.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the data trunk comprises a T1 trunk line.