Telephone communications network with enhanced signaling and call routing
First Claim
1. Apparatus for enhanced signaling and call routing in a first communications network that includes a local telephone central office having a POTS line communicating the domain of a first subscriber station with a first port in an access junction of the office, comprising in combination:
- a first signal path including first switching means for selectively communicating a second port of the access junction with a second communications network;
a second signal path including second switching means for selectively communicating a third port of the access junction with a third communications network;
control means interfacing the first and second switching means and responsive to predetermined incoming signals from the second and third networks and the subscriber station for selectively controlling the switching means to connect the station with respective ones of the first and second signal paths; and
means for acknowledging a service activate signal having a maximum call suspension time received at the control means from the first subscriber station and enabling the second switching means to complete the second signal path between the third communications network and the first subscriber station in response thereto, the acknowledgement including a set of parameters comprising;
a new controller identifier in the form of a new third network address allowing for scaleable networks;
a new maximum call suspension time should the original subscriber-specified time exceed a currently allowable maximum; and
data session identification to be used for reconnection by the first subscriber station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Enhanced signaling and call routing is provided in a telephone communications network that includes a local telephone central office having a POTS line connection between a subscriber station and an access junction of the office. A voice path interfaces the access junction with a circuit switch for conventional dial-up voice call placement. Modem data calls, however, follow an access path from the junction as a physical switched connection terminated in layer 1 of a network data-switching matrix. The access path continues therefrom to a data switch which interfaces an Internet service provider. Interfacing the data and circuit switches, a network controller functions to selectively configure communications paths within the central office and between the office and network in response to commands originating at the subscriber station or incoming from other networks. Additional controller functions include blocking subscriber-originated traffic from the access path and queuing incoming network-side traffic when an Internet call is on hold, invoking a tear-down of the physical switched connection to free the access path for incoming and outgoing call attempts, converting PSTN-based voice signals to an IP-based voice format and transmitting any queued data to the subscriber station followed by restoration of normal data communications.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus for enhanced signaling and call routing in a first communications network that includes a local telephone central office having a POTS line communicating the domain of a first subscriber station with a first port in an access junction of the office, comprising in combination:
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a first signal path including first switching means for selectively communicating a second port of the access junction with a second communications network; a second signal path including second switching means for selectively communicating a third port of the access junction with a third communications network; control means interfacing the first and second switching means and responsive to predetermined incoming signals from the second and third networks and the subscriber station for selectively controlling the switching means to connect the station with respective ones of the first and second signal paths; and means for acknowledging a service activate signal having a maximum call suspension time received at the control means from the first subscriber station and enabling the second switching means to complete the second signal path between the third communications network and the first subscriber station in response thereto, the acknowledgement including a set of parameters comprising; a new controller identifier in the form of a new third network address allowing for scaleable networks; a new maximum call suspension time should the original subscriber-specified time exceed a currently allowable maximum; and data session identification to be used for reconnection by the first subscriber station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for enhanced signaling and call routing in a first communications network that includes a local telephone central office having a POTS line communicating the domain of a first subscriber station with a first port in an access junction of the office, the method comprising the steps of:
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enabling a first signal path including first switching means for selectively communicating a second port of the access junction with a second communications network; enabling a second signal path including second switching means for selectively communicating a third port of the access junction with a third communications network; interfacing the first and second switching means with control means responsive to predetermined incoming signals from the second and third networks and the subscriber station for selectively controlling the switching means to connect the station with respective ones of the first and second signal paths; and acknowledging a service activate signal having a maximum call suspension time received at the control means from the first subscriber station and enabling the second switching means to complete the second signal path between the third communications network and the first subscriber station in response thereto, the acknowledgement including a set of parameters comprising; a new controller identifier in the form of a new third network address allowing for scaleable networks; a new maximum call suspension time should the original subscriber-specified time exceed a currently allowable maximum; and data session identification to be used for reconnection by the first subscriber station. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification