Network architecture and call processing system

• US 6,385,204 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Michael, Hoefelmeyer, Ralph, OʼReilly, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Brenda H.
• Application Number:
  US09/444,099
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/405, 370/406, 370/402, 370/400, 370/395, 370/397, 370/399, 370/389, 370/230, 370/233, 370/235, 370/218, 370/285, 379/230
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay

Abstract

A LAN/WAN network topology and design methodology using Internet Protocol (IP) subnet topology, ATM WAN configuration, equipment placement, and device configuration to provide partitioning of a call processing application across multiple sites. The partitioning reduces latency for mission critical messages, while providing for necessary provisioning traffic needs. Further, the overall topology provides the redundancy and resiliency necessary for mission critical call processing application, utilizing the IP subnets, ATM permanent virtual circuits, network device configuration, and server segregation to achieve Quality of Service (QoS).

Claims

1. A system for implementing a call processing application across a plurality of local area network (LAN) sites interconnected via a wide area network (WAN), with each LAN site comprising:

(a) first high-speed network including one or more interconnected network elements for handling call processing traffic, each said network element of said first network having an associated internet protocol IP address;

(b) second high-speed network including one or more interconnected network elements for handling call provisioning traffic, each said network element of said second network having an associated internet protocol IP address, said associated IP addresses of said first and second high-speed networks being logically segregated into one or more subnets for handling call traffic according to traffic latency requirements; and

,

(c) a router device configured to interface with each said first and second high-speed networks at a site via said one or more subnets and enable traversal of call processing and provisioning traffic over said WAN destined from one LAN site to another of said LAN sites, whereby network traffic latencies are minimized by routing different network traffic types via said one or more subnets.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAN comprises an ATM network including one or more permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) for routing traffic over said WAN, each said one or more PVCs configured for interconnecting a router device at each said site and having an assigned IP address associated with a particular subnet, whereby network traffic of a particular type is routed across a WAN in accordance with its logical subnet.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, at each site, each said first and second high speed networks implementing a fiber distributed data interface ring (FDDI) configured for redundancy.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a network element of said first high-speed network includes one or more communicating server (CS) devices for receiving information relating to processing a received call event, and one or more transaction server (TS) devices for brokering call requests for call routing information, said CS and TS devices having interface addresses assigned to a first logical subnet address space.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a network element of said first high-speed network includes one or more advanced transaction server (ATS) devices for providing additional call routing information for received call events, said ATS devices having interface addresses assigned to a second logical subnet address space, wherein call processing traffic between said ATS and TS devices is communicated over said first redundant high-speed network.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein an IP/Reliable Datagram Protocol (RDP) is established for communication to network elements assigned to said second logical subnet address space.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein network elements of said first high speed network includes one or more global data server (GDS) devices for receiving call routing information, said one or more global data sever (GDS) devices having interface addresses associated with said first and second logical subnet address space.

8. The system as claimed in claim 4, further including IP provisioning links to said FDDI device of said second high-speed network, said FDDI device of said second high-speed network assigned interface addresses associated with a third logical subnet.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, further including one or more statistics server (SS) devices for collecting call statistics from said TS and ATS server devices, wherein call provisioning traffic between said TS and SS devices is communicated over said IP links associated with said third logical subnet.

10. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a network element includes one or more alarm distribution processor (ADP) devices for distributing alarm messages in said network, each said ADP device assigned interface addresses associated with said third logical subnet.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7, further including one or more communication links between said first high-speed network to said router device, wherein traffic destined for traversal to another site across said WAN is communicated over a first communication link associated with said first logical subnet addresses and over a second communication link associated with said second logical subnet addresses.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein network traffic provided from a first LAN site and destined for a GDS server device at another said LAN site is communicated via a PVC over said ATM network for receipt by a router device at said another site, and communicated to said GDS over second communication links.

13. The system as claimed in claim 4, further including intelligent peripheral call control server device, wherein traffic destined to an ATS from said call control server device is routed via said router across a fourth logical subnet for communicating intelligent peripheral type call processing traffic.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a network element of said second high-speed network includes a GIGAswitch switching device having port assignments associated with said third logical subnet address space for communicating network traffic said FDDI device of said second high speed network.

15. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein network elements of said second high speed network device includes overload control server (OCS) device having assigned interface addresses associated with said third logical subnet, said system further including IP communication interface between said OCS and said FDDI network device.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a network element includes a report server device for generating reports pertaining to call processing, said system further including IP communication links assigned to said second logical subnet addresses.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, further including ATM switching device for connection to said router via a PVC, said ATM switching device enabling traffic shaping of network according to specified quality of service parameters.

18. A method for partitioning call processing applications across multiple local area network (LAN) sites interconnected by a wide area network (WAN), said method comprising:

(a) assigning an associated internet protocol IP address to each network element of a first high-speed network for handling call processing traffic at a LAN site;

(b) assigning an associated internet protocol IP address to each network element of a second high-speed network for handling call provisioning traffic at a LAN site;

(c) logically segregating said associated IP addresses of said first and second high-speed network elements into one or more subnets for handling all call traffic and provisioning traffic according to traffic latency requirements; and

(d) configuring a router device to interface with each said first and second high-speed networks at a site via said one or more subnets for enabling call processing and provisioning traffic to traverse said WAN from one LAN site to another LAN site, whereby network traffic latencies are minimized by routing different network traffic types via said one or more subnets.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said WAN comprises an ATM network including one or more permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) for routing traffic over said WAN, the method including configuring each said one or more PVCs for interconnecting a router device at each said site and assigning IP address associated with a particular subnet, whereby network traffic of a particular type is routed across a WAN in accordance with its logical subnet.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, at each site, each said first and second high speed networks implements a fiber distributed data interface ring (FDDI) configured for redundancy.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further including the steps of receiving call processing events requesting call routing information and brokering said call processing requests among network elements having interface addresses assigned to a first logical subnet address space.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21, further including providing additional call routing information for received call events from network elements having interface addresses assigned to a second logical subnet address space.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further including establishing an IP/Reliable Datagram Protocol (RDP) for communication to network elements belonging to said second logical subnet address space.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, further establishing IP provisioning links to said FDDI device of said second high-speed network, and assigning ports of said FDDI device interface addresses associated with a third logical subnet.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further including the step of collecting call statistics information from said network elements and communicating said call statistics information over said IP links associated with said third logical subnet.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further including the step of distributing alarm messages at said network site and communicating said alarm messages over said IP links associated with said third logical subnet.