SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING A CALL WITH A TDM NETWORK AND ROUTING THE CALL WITH AN IP NETWORK

• US 20120155479A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fishman, Saul Daniel, Sheinbein, Daniel, Feinberg, Ellen B., Zahray, Walter Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A system for processing calls with a time division multiplexing (TDM) network and routing the calls via an internet protocol network is disclosed. The system may receive a call from a call originating device. The call may then be routed to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call. The routing information may then be received at a first VoIP media gateway, and the call may then be routed by the first VoIP media gateway. Once the call is answered, the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the VoIP media gateway may be terminated to enable the total number of terminations to be reduced, thereby creating a more efficient system.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call, comprising:

receiving the call from a call originating device in a time division multiplexing signal, the call being received at a first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network;

routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway over an intermediate connection to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call;

receiving the routing information at the first VoIP media gateway from the time division multiplexing switch for routing the call;

establishing a terminating connection from the first VoIP media gateway based on the received routing information;

bridging an originating connection at the first VoIP media gateway with a terminating connection at a second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon a trigger mechanism; and

terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon the trigger mechanism.

2. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein receiving a call from a call originating device at a first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network comprises receiving a time division multiplexing call.

3. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein receiving a call from a call originating device at a first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network comprises receiving a voice over internet protocol call.

4. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein bridging an originating connection at the first VoIP media gateway with a terminating connection at a second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon a trigger mechanism comprises bridging an originating connection at the first VoIP media gateway with a terminating connection at the second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon notification of the call being answered, and wherein terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon the trigger mechanism comprises terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon notification of the call being answered.

5. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway over an intermediate connection to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call comprises routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway to the time division multiplexing switch on a first trunk, and wherein receiving the routing information at the first VoIP media gateway from the time division multiplexing switch for routing the call comprises receiving the routing information for routing the call at the first VoIP media gateway from the time division multiplexing switch over a second trunk, wherein the first and second trunks are different trunks.

6. The method of processing a call of claim 1, further comprising generating a call reference number at the first VoIP media gateway, sending the call reference number to the time division multiplexing switch from the first VoIP media gateway and receiving the call reference number from the time division multiplexing switch, such that the call reference number is used for downstream recording and network management.

7. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein receiving a call from a call originating device at a first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network comprises receiving a call from a call originating device through an intermediate node.

8. The method of processing a call of claim 1, wherein terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon the trigger mechanism comprises terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway such that the time division multiplexing switch is only used for call processing and to determine routing.

9. A system for processing a call, comprising:

a first VoIP media gateway configured to;

receive a call from a call originating device in a time division multiplexing signal, the call being received at the first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network;

route the call from the first VoIP media gateway on a first trunk to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call;

receive the routing information for routing the call at the first VoIP media gateway over a second trunk, wherein the first and second trunks are different trunks;

establish a terminating connection from the first VoIP media gateway based on the received routing information;

bridge an originating connection at the first VoIP media gateway with a terminating connection at second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon a trigger mechanism; and

terminate the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon a trigger mechanism.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway is terminated upon notification of the call being answered.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the routing of the call is controlled by the first VoIP media gateway based on the routing information received.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the call originating device is coupled to the first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network through an intermediate node.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway is terminated upon a trigger mechanism such that the time division multiplexing switch is only used for call processing and to determine routing.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when loaded and executed by an electronic processor, causes the electronic processor to process a call, comprising:

receiving the call from a call originating device in a time division multiplexing signal, the call being received at a first VoIP media gateway within an internet protocol network;

routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway over an intermediate connection to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call;

receiving the routing information at the first VoIP media gateway for routing the call;

establishing a terminating connection from the first VoIP media gateway based on the received routing information;

bridging a originating connection at the first VoIP media gateway with a terminating connection at second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon a trigger mechanism; and

terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon a trigger mechanism.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein bridging an originating connection at the first VoIP with a terminating connection at second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon a trigger mechanism comprises bridging a originating connection at the first VoIP with a terminating connection at second VoIP media gateway within the internet protocol network upon notification of the call being answered, and wherein terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon the trigger mechanism comprises terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon notification of the call being answered.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway over an intermediate connection to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call comprises routing the call from the first VoIP media gateway to the time division multiplexing switch on a first trunk, and wherein receiving the routing information at the first VoIP media gateway from the time division multiplexing switch for routing the call comprises receiving the routing information for routing the call at the first VoIP media gateway from the time division multiplexing switch over a second trunk, wherein the first and second trunks are different trunks.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway upon the trigger mechanism comprises terminating the intermediate connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the first VoIP media gateway such that the time division multiplexing switch is only used for call processing and to determine routing.