Telecommunication network with least cost routing

• US 6,295,350 B1
• Filed: 12/26/1997
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Gappisch, Holger, Schreyer, Oliver, Maab, Henning
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US08/973,913
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/114, 379/198, 379/220, 379/221, 379/225, 379/207, 379/111, 379/113, 379/115, 379/117, 379/133
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A telecommunication network includes a number of mutually coupled private branch exchanges to which are assigned respective storage locations for storing switching data and which include processors for determining the most favorable route in dependence on the stored switching data to a subscriber terminal arranged inside or outside the telecommunication network. In the network, an outgoing route from one of the private branch exchanges is led through one or more of the other private branch exchanges and/or through one or more other telecommunication networks.

Claims

1. A private telecommunication network comprising:

a plurality of mutually coupled private branch exchanges operating as network nodes to which are assigned respective storage means for storing LCR (Least Cost Routing) data and which include processing means for determining a favorable route in dependence on the stored LCR data to a subscriber terminal arranged inside or outside the private telecommunication network, and a central unit for determining the LCR data,

wherein the favorable route from one of the plurality of private branch exchanges includes a path through at least one of an other private branch exchange, a public network, and both said other private branch exchange and said public network, and wherein the central unit LCR data are calculate in advance for the entire private telecommunication network including all network nodes using data pertaining to the structure of the private telecommunication network and charge data.

2. A private telecommunication network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the private branch exchanges (2-1, 2-2, . . . 2-n, 21, 24, 30, 31, 32) comprises a PC (5-1, 5-2, . . . 5-n) which is used for influencing the switching functions of the associated private branch exchange and which includes said storage means (6-1, 6-2, . . . 6-n) and processing means (7-1, 7-2, . . . 7-n).

3. A private telecommunication network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the private branch exchanges (2-1, 2-2, . . . 2-n, 21, 24, 30, 31, 32) are mutually coupled by point-to-point lines (9, 21, 33, 34, 35).

4. A private branch exchange for a private telecommunication network (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that storage means (6-1, 6-2, . . . 6-n) are provided in which the switching data are stored and in that processing means (7-1, 7-2, . . . 7-n) are provided for influencing the switching functions of the private branch exchange in dependence on the switching data.

5. A private telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein the favorable route is determined in accordance with a least cost route.

6. A private telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein the favorable route is determined based upon transmission capacity.

7. A private telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein the favorable route is determined based upon data integrity of transmission.

8. A private telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of mutually coupled private branch exchanges are coupled using a wireless interface.

9. A private telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein the respective processing means comprise a stand-alone computer coupled to respective private branch exchanges through a communication interface.