Call-routing method for a virtual private network as well as service computer and exchange therefor

• US 5,490,212 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Sel AG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Sel AG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lautenschlager, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/289,782
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/221, 379/132, 379/196, 379/211, 379/225, 379/113, 379/111, 379/115, 379/120, 379/246, 379/229, 379/114
• US Class Current: 379/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/622 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 Virtual networks or virtual private networks

Abstract

A call-routing method for a virtual private network consisting of two or more private communication units which are interconnected via switched connections of a public network as required, wherein to switch the switched connections, a service is dialled which then initiates further switching based on a private numbering plan, characterized in that to establish a connection to a subscriber of the private network, a subscriber of the public network dials the same service which then initiates further switching to one of the private communication units, that the service assigns tariffing attributes to each call initiated by it, and that the service assigns to a call between the private communication units other tariffing attributes than to the other calls. It is also directed to a service computer that supports switching calls both within and outside a private network, with different tariffing attributes assigned to the different type of calls. The service computer switches both calls between private branch exchanges of a private network and calls from outside with the aid of a private numbering plan, the latter being initiated with a different tariff. It is also directed to an exchange having at least one such service computer.

Claims

1. A call-routing method for a virtual private network (VPNET) consisting of two or more communication units (COM2 to COM4) which are interconnected via switched connections of a public network (PUBNET), wherein to make the switched connections associated with a call, a service is dialled which then initiates further switching based on a private numbering plan, characterized in that to establish a connection to a subscriber (A,B) of the virtual private network (VPNET), a subscriber (C) of the public network (PUBNET) dials said service which then initiates further switching to one of the communication units (COM2 to COM4), that the service assigns tariffing rate attributes (TAT) to each call serviced by it, and that the service assigns to a call between the communication units (COM2 to COM4) forming the virtual private network, different tariffing rate attributes (TAT) than it does for other calls serviced by it.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the communication units (COM2 to COM3) associated with the virtual private network (VPNET) as well as other communication units (COM1) are private branch exchanges (PBX1 to PBX3) provided with two or more terminals (E1, E2, E3;

E4, E5, E6;

E7, E8, E9).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a tariff group is a tariff rate attribute associated with a preselected group of terminals, and that via the tariffing rate attributes (TAT), it is determined which tariff group applies to a call.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the communication units (COM4 to COM6) are single terminals (E10 to E12).

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that via the tariffing rate attributes (TAT) it is determined which subscriber (A, B, C) pays for a call.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein an operator is associated with a virtual private network (VPNET), and that charges are associated with the making of calls, and characterized in that all calls within the virtual private network (VPNET) are paid for by the operator of said network, and that for all other calls, the charges are billed to the subscriber (C) making the call.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a telephone number (PU3, PU2, PU6;

NUM3) is transmitted with a call, and characterized in that the service determines that the call is made by the virtual private network (VPNET) by determining the telephone number (PU3, PU2, PU6;

NUM3) of the calling subscriber (A, B, C).

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein an identifying code is transmitted with a call, and characterized in that the service determines that the call is made by the virtual private network (VPNET) by the identifying code transmitted with said call.

9. A service computer (SERV) for connection to a network, comprising an interface for communication with at least one switching facility (SSP1, SSP2), a memory device (MEM) designed to store data on a private numbering plan which assigns public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) to private telephone numbers (PR4 to PR10), a translator (TRANS) for translating private telephone numbers (PR4 to PR10) into public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4), and a classification device (CLAS) for checking the association of a telephone number (NUM3) with the public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) stored in the memory device (MEM), characterized in that the service computer (SERV) includes a tariff rate device (TAR) for generating tariffing rate attributes (TAT), and that the classification device (CLAS) is designed to send to the tariff rate device (TAR) data on the association of a telephone number (NUM3) with the public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) stored in the memory device (MEM).

10. An exchange comprising at least one service computer (SERV) which is provided with a memory device (MEM) designed to store data on a private numbering plan which assigns public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) to private telephone numbers (PR4 to PR10), a translator (TRANS) for translating private telephone numbers (PR4 to PR10) into public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4), and a classification device (CLAS) for checking the association of a telephone number (NUM3) with the public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) stored in the memory device (MEM), characterized in that the server (SERV) includes a tariff rate device (TAR) for generating tariff rate attributes (TAT), and that the classification device (CLAS) is designed to send to the tariff rate device (TAR) data on the association of a telephone number (NUM3) with the public telephone numbers (PU2 to PU4) stored in the memory device (MEM).