System and method for bypassing data from egress facilities

• US 6,442,169 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Shawn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/196,756
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 370/461, 370/462, 370/401, 370/349, 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/468, 379/221, 379/219, 379/215, 379/211, 379/230, 379/265, 379/266, 709/250, 395/114
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

An open architecture platform bypasses data from the facilities of a telecommunications carrier, e.g. an incumbent local exchange carrier, by distinguishing between voice and data traffic, and handling voice and data traffic separately. An SS7 gateway receives and transmits SS7 signaling messages with the platform. When signaling for a call arrives, the SS7 gateway informs a control server on the platform. The control server manages the platform resources, including the SS7 gateway, tandem network access servers (NASs) and modem NASs. A tandem NAS receives the call over bearer channels. The control server determines whether the incoming call is voice traffic or data traffic, by the dialed number, and instructs the tandem NAS how to handle the call. Voiced traffic is transmitted to a switch for transmission from the platform. Data traffic is terminated at a modem NAS, where it is converted into a form suitable for a data network, such as a private data network or an Internet services provider (ISP). The converted data is sent by routers to the data network. The data network need not convert the data, as the function has already been provided by the platform. In lieu of a conversion, the modems can create a tunnel (a virtual private network) between a remote server and the data network.

Claims

1. A system for bypassing one or more public switched telephone network (PSTN) facility switches, the system comprising:

(i) means for receiving signaling messages from a telecommunications carrier;

(ii) a network access server for receiving and terminating data calls, wherein said network access server extends a first network to a second network by establishing a protocol tunnel for said data calls; and

(iii) a control server for communicating with said means for receiving signaling messages, for accessing a database according to a called number to distinguish between voice calls and said data calls received from said telecommunications carrier, and for sending said data calls to said network access server according to an open architecture protocol.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first network is a virtual private network and said second network is a data network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said tunnel is established using a point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP).

4. A system for bypassing one or more public switched telephone network (PSTN) facility switches, the system comprising:

(i) means for receiving signaling messages from a telecommunications carrier;

(ii) a network access server for receiving and terminating data calls, wherein said network access server converts said data calls from a first digitized format into a second digitized format for delivery of said data calls to a destination data network; and

(iii) a control server for communicating with said means for receiving signaling messages, for accessing a database according to a called number to distinguish between voice calls and said data calls received from said telecommunications carrier, and for sending said data calls to said network access server according to an open architecture protocol.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said network access server comprises a first device for terminating said data calls on at least one modem.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first device comprises a modem network access server bay.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said first digitized format comprises one of:

a serial line interface protocol (SLIP) protocol format; and

a point-to-point (PPP) protocol format.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said second digitized format comprises one of:

a transmission control program, internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet format;

a user datagram protocol, internet protocol (UDP/IP) packet format;

an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell packet format;

a point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP) protocol format;

a NETBIOS extended user interface (NETBEUI) protocol format;

an AppleTalk protocol format;

a routing table protocol (RTP) Banyan VINES format;

A DECNet format;

a Netware internet packet exchange (IPX) protocol format; and

an internet control message protocol (ICMP) protocol format.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first protocol comprises one of:

a serial line interface protocol (SLIP) protocol format; and

a point-to-point (PPP) protocol format.

9. A method for bypassing data from one or more public switched telephone network (PSTN) facility switches, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from a telecommunications carrier having an open architecture telecommunications system;

using a telephone number of a called party to determine whether said call is a voice call or a data call; and

terminating said call onto a network access server for termination processing, if said call is a data call, wherein said terminating step comprises converting said call from a first protocol to a second protocol.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said second protocol comprises one of:

a transmission control program, internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet format;

a user datagram protocol, internet protocol (UDP/IP) packet format;

an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell packet format;

a serial line interface protocol (SLIP) protocol format;

a point-to-point (PPP) protocol format;

a NETBIOS extended user interface (NETBEUI) protocol format;

an AppleTalk protocol format;

a routing table protocol (RTP) Banyan VINES format;

a DECNet format;

a Netware internet packet exchange (IPX) protocol format; and

an internet control message protocol (ICMP) protocol format.