Telephony communication via varied redundant networks

• US 6,154,445 A
• Filed: 09/17/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Bartholomew, Dale L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/931,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 370/236, 370/237, 370/328, 370/400, 370/352, 370/401, 370/431, 370/354, 370/230, 395/200.75, 395/200.68, 395/200.7, 379/221
• US Class Current: 370/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/367 Traffic or load control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone teyminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is a preferred example.

A voice communication link may be established from telephone terminal to telephone terminal via the Internet, the quality of voice communication may be monitored, and the link may be transferred to the common channel interoffice signaling network if and when the quality of voice communication deteriorates beneath a pre-established norm. There is provided a means for monitoring the links of the common channel interoffice signaling system carrying the packetized voice communication and collecting the information needed to permit chargin'"'"'g for the voice communication by time duration or by cells used to carry the packetized voice signal. The customer may be provided with the option of establishing the norm for diversion of the communication, or may elect which path is to be selected as the primary path.

Claims

1. A method of voice communication between two terminals including the steps of:

establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a first packet network;

communicating by voice between said terminals over said link;

monitoring a parameter of said communication; and

establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via a second packet network when said monitored parameter departs from a predetermined value;

wherein said terminals are connected to said first and second voice communication links via a switched network and

wherein said second packet network comprises a control network for said switched network.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first packet network comprises a public packet data network.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein switched network comprises a telephone network and said terminals comprise telephone terminals.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said telephone terminals are connected to signal switching points and said second packet network is connected between said signal switching points.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said telephone terminals are connected to local loops.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said parameter is a measure of the quality of delivered voice signal.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said voice communication link between said terminals is established by dial up connection to said switched telephone network.

8. A method according to claim 1 including the step of recording the time duration of said voice communication link between said terminals via said control network.

9. A method of voice communication between two terminals including the steps of:

establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a first packet network;

communicating by voice between said terminals over said link;

monitoring a parameter of said communication; and

establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via a second packet network when said monitored parameter departs from a predetermined value;

wherein said terminals are connected to said first and second voice communication links via a switched network and

wherein said second packet network comprises a common channel signaling system for said switched network.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said first packet network comprises the Internet.

11. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network connected to said switched telephone network for controlling said switched telephone network, and a public packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein voice communication between two terminals connected to said switched telephone network is diverted from a voice link that includes said public packet switched network to a voice link that includes said packet switched control network.

12. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network controlling said switched telephone network, and a second packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein said terminals are connected sequentially to said packet switched networks for voice communication between said terminals via said packet switched networks;

and

wherein said terminals are connected to said second packet switched network and voice communication conducted via said second packet switched network and then connected to said packet switched control network and voice communication conducted via said packet switched control network.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein connection to said packet switched control network is made responsive to decrease in the quality of voice communication via said second packet switched network.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said second packet switched network comprises the Internet.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein said packet switched network comprises a common channel interoffice signaling network.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said terminals are connected for voice communication via a packet switched network responsive to establishing connection to a dialing terminal.