Network centric call processing architecture using distributed call segments

• US 6,282,190 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Helfand, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/992,263
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/395, 370/522
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13031 Pulse code modulation, PCM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13056 Routines, finite state machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention is accomplished in an embodiment by a means for and a method of allocating a data path during a call comprising the steps of establishing a first network call segment associated with an agent and sending a message with routing information across a tandem link using predetermined signaling paths. A second embodiment of the present invention further includes a method for allocating a data path during a call wherein the data path is also a voice path. A third embodiment of the present invention additionally includes means and method for allocating a data path during a call including establishing a two way connection.

Claims

1. A method for allocating a data path during a call setup comprising

performing call processing over a first path using a first network call segment associated with an agent;

and

sending a message with routing information across a tandem link separate from the first path using predetermined signaling paths to set up the data path over the tandem link, the tandem link having plural switches.

2. A method for allocating a data path during a call setup as in claim 1, wherein the data path comprises a voice path.

3. A method for allocating a data path during a call setup as in claim 1, further comprising establishing a two way connection.

4. A method for allocating a data path during a call setup as in claim 3 wherein establishing the two way connection comprises establishing a PCM connection.

5. A method for allocating a data path during a call setup as in claim 3, wherein sending the message comprises sending one of new message and a new parameter.

6. A method as in claim 5 further comprising establishing a voice path between a call origination device and a terminating call destination device, the agent including the call origination device.

7. A method as in claim 6 further comprising generating a unique call ID at the call origination device.

8. A method as in claim 7 further comprising passing said unique call ID to said terminating call destination.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein sending the message comprises sending a message having identifiers of switches in the tandem link.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein sending the message comprises sending an IAM message.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein sending the IAM message comprises sending an IAM message containing a path parameter, the path parameter containing the identifiers of the switches.

12. A method as in claim 9, further comprising each switch determining if the message contains at least one identifier and, if so, establishing a connection between the switch and another switch associated with the one identifier.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein performing the call processing comprises performing the call processing with a terminating call segment.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising:

the switch determining that the message does not contain the at least one identifier; and

associating the switch with the terminating call segment if the message does not contain the at least one identifier.

15. A method as in claim 12, wherein performing the call processing comprises performing the call processing with a terminating call segment.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein performing the call processing comprises performing the call processing through a middleware layer with the terminating call segment.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein performing the call processing comprises performing the call processing through a CORBA middleware layer with the terminating call segment.

18. A method as in claim 1, wherein sending the message comprises sending a message containing an identifier of a final destination of the data path, the routing information containing the identifier of the final destination.

19. A method as in claim 18, further comprising each switch in the tandem link selecting a best route to the final destination in response receiving the message.

27. A first device as in claim 15, wherein the module is adapted to establish a two-way connection with the termination device over the tandem link.

28. A first device as in claim 27, wherein the module is adapted to establish a two-way PCM connection.

20. A first device capable of initiating a data path, comprising:

a first interface adapted to communicate over a first path;

a second interface adapted to communicate over a tandem link having plural switches;

an originating call segment adapted to communicate with a terminating call segment associated with a termination device over the first path to establish end-to-end connectivity between the first device and the termination device; and

a module adapted to send a message containing routing information over the tandem link to establish the data path through the tandem link.

21. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the data path comprises a voice path.

22. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the message comprises an IAM message.

23. A first device as in claim 22, wherein the IAM message contains a path parameter, the routing information comprising the path parameter.

24. A first device as in claim 22, wherein the path parameter contains identifiers of the switches in the tandem link.

25. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the originating call segment is adapted to communicate directly with the terminating call segment over the first path without passing through a tandem switch.

26. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the first path comprises a wide area network.

29. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the originating call segment is adapted to further generate a unique call identifier.

30. A first device as in claim 29, wherein the module is adapted to further communicate the unique call identifier in the message.

31. A first device as in claim 20, wherein the originating call segment is adapted to perform service processing over the first path in parallel with the establishment of the data path over the tandem link.

32. A first device as in claim 20, further comprising a middleware layer to enable the originating call segment to communicate with the terminating call segment.

33. A first device as in claim 32, wherein the middleware layer comprises a CORBA middleware layer.

34. An article comprising at least one storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause a device to:

perform call processing between an originating call segment and a terminating call segment over a first path; and

send a message containing routing information over a tandem link separate from the first path to establish a data path over the tandem link, the tandem link comprising plural switches.