Apparatus and method of PSTN based network roaming and SCP based subscriber management for internet telephony systems

• US 6,519,242 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Gentry, William David, Emery, Jason Gerrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/207,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352-356, 370/351, 370/400, 370/401, 370/310, 370/338, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/445, 379/219, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/647 Frame Relay, X.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A system and method of PSTN based network roaming and SCP based subscriber management for internet telephony systems. When a call is incoming to the central office 60 of a subscriber'"'"'s home service area which supports packet data network telephony 10, such as for instance IP telephony, a home location register 40 translates the directory number into an IP address, URL address, or electronic mail address much the same that a local number portability node re-routes calls for non-IP telephony systems. When a subscriber is roaming in another network 100, the roamed into (visited) gateway 130 signals back to the home location register 40 of the subscriber'"'"'s network 20 and registers its (i.e., the visited gateway'"'"'s) public switching telephone network 70 telephone directory number and the IP address assigned to the subscriber while connected to the visited network 100. When subsequent calls are incoming to the subscriber'"'"'s home network switch, the home location register 40 provides the ten (10) digit directory number of the visited gateway 130 and the new IP address rather than the home gateway telephone number and IP address of the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of managing call origination for subscribers on a packet data telephony network to a third party on a different network, said packet data telephony network including a home location register, gatekeeper, and gateway nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a packet data communication device of a caller with the home location register of a packet data network, said packet data communication device having a directory number;

(b) originating a call from the packet data communication device to a third party on a different network;

wherein said registering step comprises;

connecting said packet data communication device to said packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

sending a registration initiation message to said gatekeeper;

forwarding said registration initiation message to said home location register for service profile and authentication data validation purposes;

returning, from said home location register, service profile and authentication data to said gatekeeper;

storing said service profile and authentication data in said gatekeeper; and

storing, in the home location register, the directory number of the gateway, the directory number of the packet data communication device, and the packet data address of the packet data communication device assigned during said connecting step;

and wherein said originating step comprises

initiating, via said gatekeeper, an origination in which the caller'"'"'s directory number and a third parry'"'"'s directory number are supplied to said gateway; and

routing the call from said gateway to said third party on said different network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said originating step further comprises the steps of:

(a) sending, from the gatekeeper, the packet data address of the packet data communication device in a query to the home location register; and

(b) returning, from the home location register to the gatekeeper, the caller'"'"'s directory number and authentication data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating a call from the packet data communication device with a third party on a different network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said terminating step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving a call into a central office;

(b) sending the called party'"'"'s directory number form the central office to the home location register;

(c) returning the directory number of the gateway and the packet data address of the packet data communication device; and

(d) routing the call to the gateway.

5. The method of claim 3 in which the third party'"'"'s network is a public switching telephone network.

6. The method of claim 3 in which the packet data network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

7. The method of claim 3 in which the packet data communication device is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the third party'"'"'s network is a public switching telephone network.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the packet data network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the packet data communication device is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein said registering step further comprises the steps of:

storing, in the home network home location register, the directory number of the remote network gateway and remote packet data network address assigned in said connection step;

sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

storing, in the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile arid authentication data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said terminating step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving a call over a public switching telephone network into the home network central office;

(b) querying the home network home location register by supplying the called party'"'"'s directory number and retrieving the remote network'"'"'s gateway directory number;

(c) routing the call from the home network gateway to the remote network gateway supplying the home directory number;

(d) supplying the remote network visitor location register with the called party'"'"'s home directory number;

(e) retrieving from the remote network visitor location register the packet data network address assigned during said connecting step corresponding to the called party'"'"'s home directory number; and

(f) routing the call from the remote network gateway using the packet data network address assigned during said connecting step.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said terminating step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving a call over a public switching telephone network into the home network central office;

(b) querying the home network home location register by supplying the called party'"'"'s directory number and retrieving the remote network'"'"'s gateway directory number;

(c) routing the call from the home network gateway to the remote network gateway supplying the called partly'"'"'s remote packet data network address; and

(d) routing the call from the remote network gateway to the called party using the packet data network address assigned during said connecting step.

11. A method of public switching telephone network based roaming call origination for subscribers roaming in remote packet data networks that are communicable with the subscriber'"'"'s home packet data network, wherein each packet data network includes a visitor location register, a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a placket data communication device of a caller on a remote packet data network, said packet date communication device having a directory number;

(b) originating a call from the packet data communication device on the remote network to a third party;

and wherein said registering comprises

connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

forwarding the registration request to the home network home location register supplying the home directory number;

returning, from the home network home location register to the remote network visitor location register, service profile and authentication data; and

storing, in the rewrote network visitor location register, the service profile and authentication data, the home network directory number, the packet data address assigned in said connecting step, and the remote network gateway directory number.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said registering step further comprises the steps of:

storing in the home location register, the directory number of the remote network gateway and the packet data network address assigned in said connecting step;

sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data;

storing, in the gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said originating step comprises the steps of:

(a) having the remote network gatekeeper request the directory number from the remote network visitor location register by supplying the packet data network address assigned during said connecting step;

(b) returning, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the home directory number and authentication data;

(c) initiating, via the remote network gatekeeper, a call through the remote network gateway by supplying the home directory number and the third party'"'"'s directory number; and

(d) routing the call over a public switching telephone network to the third party.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the packet data network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

15. The method of claim 11 in which the packet data communication device is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said registering step comprises the steps of:

(a) connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

(b) having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

(c) forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

(d) validating service profile and authentication data if the service profile and authentication data is currently registered on the remote network visitor location register;

(e) sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

(f) storing, in the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

17. A method of public switching telephone network based roaming call termination for subscribers roaming in remote packet data networks that are communicable with the subscriber'"'"'s home packet data network, wherein each packet data network includes a visitor location register, a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a packet data communication device of a called pat on a remote packet data network, said packet data communication device having a directory number;

(b) terminating a call from the packet data communication device on the remote network with a third party;

and wherein said registering step comprises the steps of;

connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

forwarding the registration request to the home network home location register supplying the home directory number;

returning, from the home network home location register to the remote network visitor location register, the service profile and authentication data; and

storing, in the remote network visitor location register, the service profile and authentication data, the home network directory number, the packet data address assigned in said connecting step, and the remote network gateway directory number.

21. The method of claim 17 in which the packet data network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

22. The method of claim 17 in which the packet data communication device is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said registering step comprises the steps of:

(a) connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

(b) having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

(c) forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

(d) validating service profile end authentication data if the service profile and authentication data are currently registered on the remote network visitor location register;

(e) sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

(f) storing, in the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

24. A computer program product for managing calls between subscribers on a packet data telephony network and subscribers not on a packet data telephony network from the packet data telephony network subscriber'"'"'s home area, wherein said packet data network includes a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program product comprising:

computer program code for registering a packet data communication device of a caller with the home location register of a packet data network, said packet data communication device having a directory number;

computer program code for originating a call from the packet data communication device to a third party on a different network;

computer program code for terminating a call to the packet data communication device from a third party on a different network;

wherein said computer program code for registering comprises;

computer program code for connecting said packet data communication device to said packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

computer program code for sending a registration initiation message to said gatekeeper;

computer program code for forwarding said registration initiation message to said home location register for service profile and authentication data validation purposes;

computer program code for returning, from said home location register, service profile and authentication, data to said gatekeeper;

computer program code for storing said service profile and authentication data in said gatekeeper;

computer program code for storing, in the home location register, the directory number of the gateway, the directory number of the packet data communication device, and the packet data address of the packet data communication device assigned by said computer program code for connecting;

and wherein said computer program code for originating comprises;

computer program code for initiating, via said gatekeeper, an origination in which the caller'"'"'s directory number and a third party'"'"'s directory number are supplied to said gateway, and

computer program code for routing the call from said gateway to said third party on said different network.

25. The computer program product of claim 24 wherein said originating computer program code further comprises:

computer program code for sending, from the gatekeeper, the packet data address of the packet data communication device in a query to the home location register; and

computer program code for returning, from the home location register to the gatekeeper, the caller'"'"'s directory number and authentication data.

26. The computer program product of clam 24 wherein said terminating computer program code comprises:

computer program code for sending the directory number from the central office to the home location register upon receipt of a call into the central office;

computer program code for returning the directory number of the gateway and the packet data address of the packet data communication devices;

computer program code for routing the call to the gateway, and

computer program code for routing the call from the gateway to the packet data communication device.

27. A computer program product for managing calls between subscribers on a packet data telephony network and subscribers not on a packet data telephony network while the packet data telephony network subscriber is roaming outside the subscriber'"'"'s home area on a remote packet data telephony network wherein each packet data network includes a visitor location register, a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program product comprising:

computer program code for registering a packet data communication device for a caller on a remote packet data network, said packet data communication device having a directory number;

computer program code for originating a call from the packet data communication device on the remote network to a third party;

computer program code for terminating a call to the packet data communication device on the remote network from a third party;

wherein said registering code comprises;

computer program code for connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

computer program code for having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

computer program code for forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

computer program code for forwarding the registration request to the home network home location register supplying the home directory number;

computer program code for returning from the home network home location register to the remote network visitor location register, service profile and authentication data; and

computer program code for storing, in the remote network visitor location register, the service profits and authentication data, the home network directory number, the packet data address assigned in said connecting step, and the remote network gateway directory number.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein said registering computer program code further comprises:

computer program code for storing, in the home network home location register, the directory number of the remote network gateway and the packet data network address assigned in said connecting;

computer program code for sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

computer program code for storing, in the gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein said originating computer program code comprises:

computer program code for having the remote network gatekeeper request the directory number from the remote network visitor location register by supplying the packet data network address assigned during said connecting,

computer program code for returning, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the home directory number and authentication data;

computer program code for initiating, via the remote network gatekeeper, a call through the remote network gateway by supplying the borne directory number and the third party'"'"'s directory number; and

computer program code for routing the call over a public switching telephone network to the third party.

30. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein said terminating computer program code comprises:

computer program code for receiving a call over a public switching telephone network into the home network central office;

computer program code for querying the home network home location register by supplying the called party'"'"'s directory number ands retrieving the remote network'"'"'s gateway directory number;

computer program code for routing the call from the home network gateway to the remote network gateway supplying the home directory number;

computer program code for supplying the remote network visitor location register with the called party'"'"'s home directory number;

computer program code for retrieving from the remote network visitor location register the packet data network address assigned during said connecting step corresponding to the called party'"'"'s home directory number; and

computer program code for routing the call from the remote network gateway using the packet data network address assigned during said connection step.

31. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein said registering computer program code comprises:

computer program code for connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

computer program code for having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

computer program code for forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

computer program code for validating service profile and authentication data if the service profile and authentication data are currently registered on the remote network visitor location register;

computer program code for sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

computer program code for storing, in the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

32. An apparatus for managing calls between subscribers on a packet data telephony network and subscribers not on a packet data telephony network from the packet data telephony network subscriber'"'"'s home area, wherein said packet data network includes a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, said apparatus comprising:

means for registering a packet data communication device with the home location register of a packet data network;

means for originating a call from the packet data communication device to a third party on a different network means;

for terminating a call to the packet data communication device from a third party on a different network;

wherein said registering means comprises;

means for connecting said packet data communication device to said packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

means for sending a registration initiation message to said gatekeeper;

means for forwarding said registration initiation message to said home location register for service profile and authentication data validation purposes;

means for returning, from said home location register, service profile and authentication data to said gatekeeper;

means for storing said service profile and authentication data in said gatekeeper; and

means for storing, in the home location register, the directory number of the gateway, the directory number of the packet data communication device, and the packet data address of the packet data communication device assigned during said connecting step.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said originating means comprises:

means for sending from the gatekeeper, the packet data address of the packet data communication device in a query to the home location register; and

means for returning, from the home location register to the gatekeeper, the caller'"'"'s directory number and authentication data.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said terminating means comprises:

means sending the directory number form the central office to the home location register upon receipt of a call into the central office;

means for returning the directory number of the gateway and the packet data address of the packet data communication device;

means for routing the call to the gateway; and

means for routing the call from the gateways to the packet data communication device.

35. An apparatus for managing calls between subscribers on a packet data telephony network and subscribers not on a packet data telephony network while the packet data telephony network subscriber is roaming outside the subscriber'"'"'s home area on a remote packet data telephony network, wherein each packet data network includes a visitor location register, a home location register, a gatekeeper, and a gateway node, said apparatus comprising:

means for registering a packet data communication device of a caller on a remote packet data network, said packet data communication device having a directory number;

means for ongoing a call from the packet data communication device on the remote network to a third party;

means for terminating a call to the packet data communication device on the remote network from a third party; and

wherein said registering means comprises;

means for connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

means for having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

means for forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

means for forwarding the registration request to the home network home location register supplying the home directory number;

means for returning, from the home network home location register to the remote network visitor location register, service profile and authentication data; and

means for storing, in the remote network visitor location register, the service profile and authentication data, the home directory number, the packet data address assigned by said connecting means, and the remote network gateway directory number.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said registering means further comprises:

means for storing, in the home network home location register, the directory number of the remote network gateway and the packet data network address assigned by said connecting means;

means for sending from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

means for storing, in the gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said originating means comprises:

means for having the remote network gatekeeper request the directory number from the remote network visitor location register by supplying the packet data network address assigned by said connecting means;

means for returning, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the home directory number and authentication data;

means for initiating, via the remote network gatekeeper, a call through the remote network gateway by supplying the home directory number and the third party'"'"'s directory number; and

means for routing the call over a public switching telephone network to the third party.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said terminating means comprises:

means for receiving a call over a public switching telephone network into the home network central office;

means for querying the home network home location register by supplying the called party'"'"'s directory number and retrieving the remote network'"'"'s gateway directory number;

means for routing the call from the home network gateway to the remote network gateway supplying the home directory number;

means for supplying the remote network visitor location register with the called party'"'"'s home directory number;

means for retrieving from the remote network visitor location register the packet data network address assigned by said connecting means corresponding to the called parry'"'"'s home directory number; and

means for routing the call from the remote network gateway using the packet data network address assigned by said connecting means.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said registering means comprises:

means for connecting said packet data communication device to said remote packet data network wherein a packet data network address is assigned to said packet data communication device;

means for having said remote network initiate a registration request with the remote gatekeeper by supplying the remote gatekeeper with the home directory number;

means for forwarding said registration request from the remote gatekeeper, upon recognition of a non-local directory number, to the remote network visitor location register;

means for validating service profile and authentication data if the service profile and authentication data are currently registered on the remote network visitor location register;

means for sending, from the remote network visitor location register to the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data; and

means for storing, in the remote network gatekeeper, the service profile and authentication data.