Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Communicating Messages of Distributed Private Networks Over Multiple Public Communication Networks

• US 20160112310A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,116,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/72 Routing based on the source address

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating messages of distributed private network (DPN) over a plurality of communication networks including an inter-network interface and a message coordinator communicatively coupled. The inter-network interface is operable to receive a packetized message from a first DPN network element over a first communication network. The message coordinator receives the packetized message from the inter-network interface, assigns at least a transport route for the packetized message; and communicates the packetized message to a second DPN network element based on the assigned transport route over a second communication network. The message coordinator is further operable to assign priority protocol and security protocol to the packetized message.

Claims

1. A system for communicating messages of distributed private network (DPN) over a plurality of communication networks for critical infrastructure, the system comprising:

at least one of an inter-network interface and a message coordinator;

wherein the inter-network interface comprises at least one network interface, a processing function and a memory; and

wherein the message coordinator comprises at least one network interface, a processing device and a memory;

wherein the inter-network interface is communicatively coupled to the message coordinator;

wherein the inter-network interface is operable to receive a packetized message from a first DPN network element over a first communication network;

wherein the message coordinator is operable to;

receive the packetized message from the inter-network interface;

assign at least a transport route for the packetized message; and

communicate the packetized message to a second DPN network element based on the assigned transport route over a second communication network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message coordinator is further operable to assign priority to the packetized message based on a prioritization protocol for the distributed private network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the prioritization protocol includes several levels of priority based on various parameters including the function and/or participation of the first and second DPN network elements, the type of the packetized message, the current state of the distributed private network, the time of day, environmental conditions, a class of service supported by the public communication network providing communication service to the second DPN network element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the message coordinator is further operable to assign a security protocol to the packetized message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the inter-network interface is controlled by a first communication server provider or an independent private network message aggregator;

wherein the first public communication network is operated by a second communication service provider;

wherein the second communication network is operated by a third communication service provider.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the inter-network interface further comprises at least one packetized message point of interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the inter-network interface further comprises at least one voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) point of interface for supporting VoIP services.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one VoIP point of interface is operable to add the packetized message to a quantity, size and/or duration for periodically reporting VoIP call data to the first public communication network'"'"'s billing system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the public network'"'"'s billing system is operable to compute the first public communication network'"'"'s regulatory payment into the USF fund or another rural telephony service assistance fund under applicable communications regulations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the inter-network interface includes the message coordinator.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the message coordinator and the inter-network interface are co-located.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inter-network interface and the message coordinator is implemented at least partially as a cloud-based service.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed private network is a large composite distributed private network including multiple subnetworks, wherein the inter-network interface is operable to support multiple independent and dictated subnetworks based on prioritization and security requirements of the particular supported distributed private networks.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein assignment of the transport route is a fixed assignment as stored in routing tables stored in the memory of the inter-network interface.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein assignment of the transport route is based on at least one of (a) a state of the distributed private network at a time when the packetized message is received at the inter-network interface and (b) at least one of a function and a participation of the second DPN network element within the distributed private network.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first DPN network element is in a first distributed private network and the second DPN network element is in a second distributed private network.

17. A method for communicating messages of distributed private network (DPN) over a plurality of public communication networks, the system comprising:

providing an inter-network interface communicatively coupled to a message coordinator;

the inter-network interface receiving a packetized message from a first DPN network element over a first public communication network;

the message coordinator receiving the packetized message from the inter-network interface;

the message coordinator assigning at least a transport route for the packetized message; and

the message coordinator communicating the packetized message to a second DPN network element based on the assigned transport route over a second public communication network.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the message coordinator assigning priority to the packetized message based on a prioritization protocol for the distributed private network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the prioritization protocol includes several levels of priority based on various parameters including the function and/or participation of the first and second DPN network elements, the type of the packetized message, the current state of the distributed private network, the time of day, environmental conditions, a class of service supported by the public communication network providing communication service to the second DPN network element.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the message coordinator assigning a security protocol to the packetized message.