Direct Route ISDN Primary Route Interface

• US 20080165946A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Moss, John W., Buell, Donald W., Haeuser, Anthony A., Gruchala, Carol S., Wagner, Eugene J., Murphy, Melanie, Whiting, Timothy R., Bowers, Scott E., Blumenschein, Gordon L., Badillo, Gilbert, Rao, Uma, Tiliks, Dianna I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13146 Rerouting upon blocking/overload, rearrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13164 Traffic (registration, measurement,...)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13205 Primary rate access, PRI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A method of operating a telecommunications network includes, in one embodiment, detecting a call at an originating switch of the telecommunications network and, when a destination for the call matches a predetermined destination, routing the call on designated data trunks. When traffic on the designated data trunks exceeds a capacity threshold, the method further includes routing the call to a terminating switch using interoffice trunks and completing the call to the destination from the terminating switch.

Claims

1. A telecommunications network comprising:

an originating switch configured to receive a call from a calling communication station intended for a network subscriber and to generate a call routing query in response to the received call;

a terminating switch associated with the network subscriber;

interoffice trunk lines coupling the originating switch and the terminating switch;

direct interface trunk groups coupling the originating switch and the terminating switch; and

a controller including a controller database,

wherein the controller is in communication with the originating switch and configured to receive the call routing query and, in response thereto, to derive a trunk route index from the controller database, the trunk route index identifying a data trunk to a terminating switch associated with the network subscriber;

wherein the controller returns to the originating switch call routing information based on the derived trunk route index directing the call to a direct interface established at the originating switch, wherein the controller database further stores a capacity threshold associated with the network subscriber and, when traffic on the direct interface trunk groups exceeds the stored capacity threshold, the controller returns to the originating switch call routing information routing the call to the terminating switch using the interoffice trunk lines.

2. The telecommunications network of claim 1 wherein the controller database stores data including telephone numbers used to allow access to network subscribers which can be cross-referenced to derive the trunk route index, the trunk route index identifying the direct interface to the terminating switch associated with the network subscriber.

3. The telecommunications network of claim 2 wherein the controller database stores a list of telephone numbers associated with the network subscriber, and wherein the controller uses a called number contained in the call routing query received from the originating switch to derive the trunk route index for the network subscriber.

4. The telecommunications network of claim 3 wherein the controller uses the called number contained in the call routing query received from the originating switch to derive the capacity threshold for the network subscriber.

5. A method of operating a network, the method comprising:

receiving a communication at an originating switch from a user seeking access to a data network of a computer services provider;

generating, at the originating switch, a routing query including a number associated with the communication;

communicating the routing query from the originating switch to a controller of the network, the controller including an associated controller database storing data for routing;

identifying in the controller database a customer for which the communication is intended, based on the number contained in the routing query, and a list of numbers that are used for access to the customer and associated direct interface trunk groups coupling the originating switch and a terminating switch associated with the customer;

returning a direct interface trunk group associated with the computer services provider, based on the list in the controller database, to the originating switch from the controller routing instructions for routing the communication from the originating switch to the direct interface trunk group; and

returning to the originating switch, if a direct interface trunk group is associated with the computer services provider, the controller routing instructions for routing the communication to the terminating switch when traffic to the direct interface trunk group exceeds a capacity threshold associated with the computer services provider.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining, at the controller, the capacity threshold for the computer services provider based on the number associated with the communication and contained in the routing query.

7. A telecommunications network comprising:

a first switch configured to receive a call from a calling communication station intended for a network subscriber and to generate a routing query in response thereto;

a second switch associated with the network subscriber;

interoffice trunk lines coupling the first and second switches;

direct interface trunk groups coupling the first and second switches; and

a controller in communication with the first switch and configured to receive the routing query and, the controller further configured to;

derive, in response to the routing query, a trunk route identifying a trunk to the terminating switch associated with the network subscriber; and

return to the first switch routing information based on the derived trunk route directing the call to a direct interface established at the first switch;

store a capacity threshold associated with the network subscriber;

return, when traffic on the direct interface trunk groups exceeds the stored capacity threshold, to the first switch routing information routing the call to the second switch using the interoffice trunk lines.

8. The telecommunications network of claim 7 further comprising a controller database, wherein the controller database stores data including telephone numbers used to allow access to network subscribers which can be cross-referenced to derive the trunk route, the trunk route identifying the direct interface to the terminating switch associated with the network subscriber.

9. The telecommunications network of claim 8 wherein the controller database stores a list of telephone numbers associated with the network subscriber, and wherein the controller uses a called number contained in the routing query received from the first switch to derive the trunk route for the network subscriber.

10. The telecommunications network of claim 9 wherein the controller uses the called number contained in the routing query received from the originating switch to derive the capacity threshold for the network subscriber.