System for connecting calls on physically distinct servers on an advanced intelligent network

• US 6,088,439 A
• Filed: 07/22/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Meyer, Dennis Frederick, Martz, Basia Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US08/898,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/219, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13342 Arrangement of switches in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13566 mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A bridge connection is made between interfaces on physically distinct telecommunication servers such that the two ends of the bridge can be used to connect existing calls that are terminated on each of the servers. To provide the bridge connection, a call using a standard outgoing T1 trunk on one of the servers is made through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to an incoming T1 trunk on the other server. The servers reserve a special directory number for such calls. When a bridge connection is required one of the servers is queried for its special directory number. The other server is then instructed to make a call to that number. When the called server recognizes the incoming call as using its special number, it answers the call. The calling server then outpulses information needed by the called server to associate the bridge connection with the pending action. In this manner, calls terminating on distinct servers can be connected without the need for additional hardware.

Claims

1. A method for connecting calls on physically distinct servers in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), comprising the steps of:

receiving a first call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a first server;

receiving a second call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a second server;

determining that the first call is to be connected to said second call;

transmitting a telephone number to said second server, said telephone number being reserved by said first server for inter-server connections;

said second server making a call to said first server using said telephone number to establish a circuit connection between the first and second servers over a public switched network;

said first and second server exchanging call identification information over said connection; and

said first server and said second server associating said circuit connection with the first call and second call, respectively.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of a control computer requesting the telephone number from the first server and providing the number to said second server.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of a control computer transmitting to said first server a call identification number for the second call.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of transmitting a code number correlated to a call identification number for the first call to said second server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is an in-band call made through the public switched telephone network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes the step of requesting acceptance of said connection by a customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating said connection includes the steps of connecting said first and second calls to said connection at said first and second servers, respectively.

8. In a system comprising a plurality of switching systems of a Public Switched telephone Network (PSTN) connected as an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), said Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), being a circuit network and including a plurality of servers connected to the switching systems over a plurality of trunks and a control computer connected to said servers, a method for connecting calls on said servers, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a first server;

receiving a second call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a second server;

transmitting a call identification number from said control computer to said first server, said first server associating the call identification number with a code;

transmitting a telephone number to said control computer, said telephone number being reserved by said first server for inter-server bridge connections, and said code associated with the call identification number from said first server to the control computer;

transmitting said telephone number and said code to said second server;

said second server making a call to said first server using said telephone number to establish an inband circuit connection between the first and second servers via at least one of said switching systems;

transmitting said code from the second server to the first server over said connection;

said first server using said code and identifying said call identification number associated with that code;

said first and second servers connecting said first call and said second call to said connection, respectively, to complete the inter-server bridge circuit connection.

9. In a system comprising a plurality of switching systems of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connected as an advanced intelligent network, said Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), being a circuit network and, including a plurality of servers connected to the switching systems over a plurality of trunks and a control computer connected to said servers, a method for connecting calls on said servers comprising the steps of:

receiving a first call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a first server;

receiving a second call on a circuit switched connection from a caller on a second server;

transmitting a call identification number from said control computer to said first server;

transmitting a telephone number to said control computer, said telephone number being reserved by said first server for inter-server bridge connections, and said call identification number from said first server to the control computer;

transmitting said telephone number and said call identification number to said second server;

said second server making a call to said first server using said telephone number to establish an inband circuit connection between the first and second servers via at least one of said switching systems;

transmitting said call identification number from the second server to the first server over said connection;

said first and second servers connecting said first call and said second call to said connection, respectively, to complete the inter-server circuit bridge connection.