Method and apparatus for distributing access devices for voice/data communication in a communication system over packet based networks

• US 6,546,004 B2
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Gullicksen, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, DUNG N
• Application Number:
  US09/223,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20020122425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/420, 370/463, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/522, 370/395, 370/397, 370/399, 370/395.2, 370/395.3, 370/395.31
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks

Abstract

A method and system is provided for associating private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network. The remote access device can be connected to a number of communication devices suitable for processing voice or data. The PBX equipment receives a request to initiate communication from the communication device over a signaling virtual channel provisioned from the packet network, provisions a communication virtual channel from the packet based network to carry communication information provided by the communication device, transmits control signals over the signaling virtual channel to control the timing and transfer of information associated with the communication device and the corresponding remote access device, exchanges communication information over the communication virtual channel, and transmits control signals over the signaling virtual channel that terminates the communication virtual channel and relinquishes resources provisioned from the packet network.

Claims

1. A method for associating private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network, wherein the remote access device includes a corresponding communication device for facilitating communication between the remote access device and the PBX equipment using a processor coupled to the PBX equipment through the packet network, the method comprising:

discovering a remote access device operatively coupled to the packet network;

associating the remote access device and the corresponding communication device into a logical group;

provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the logical group; and

associating the signaling virtual channel with the logical group to facilitate the transportation of signaling and timing information from the PBX equipment to the remote access device and accommodate communications with the corresponding communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein discovering the remote access device further comprises:

receiving a unique identifier associated with the remote access device over the packet network when the remote access device is communicating over the packet network.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing information describing the communication device corresponding to the remote access device coupled to the packet network.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

allocating a network address to each remote access device dynamically that allows the PBX equipment to address the remote access device on the packet network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each remote access device includes a unique identifier, and associating the remote access device into a logical group further comprises,

storing the unique identifier associated with the remote access device in a table that maps the at least one remote access device and corresponding communication devices to the logical group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet network comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and wherein provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network further comprises,

allocating a virtual channel from the ATM network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and wherein provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network further comprises,

allocating a socket from the Internet Protocol (IP) network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet network comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and wherein associating the signaling virtual channel from the packet network further comprises,

creating virtual path identifiers (VPIs) and virtual channel identifiers (VCIs) for each remote access device and associated communication devices in the logical group.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

distributing the virtual path identifiers (VPIs) and virtual channel identifiers (VCIs) to each remote access device and associated communication devices in the logical group.

10. A method for associating private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network, wherein the remote access device includes a corresponding communication device, the method comprising:

discovering a remote access device operatively coupled to the packet network, wherein said discovering includes receiving a unique identifier associated with the remote access device over the packet network when the remote access device is communicating over the packet network;

allocating a network address to the remote access device using a Dynamic Host Configuration protocol (DHCP) that allows the PBX equipment to address the remote access device on the packet network;

associating the remote access device and the corresponding communication device into a logical group;

provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the logical group of remote access device and communication device;

associating the signaling virtual channel with the logical group to facilitate the transportation of signaling and timing information from the PBX equipment to the remote access device and to accommodate communications with the corresponding communication device.

11. A method for associating private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network, wherein the remote access device includes a corresponding communication device, the method comprising:

discovering a remote access device operatively coupled to the packet network;

associating the remote access device and the corresponding communication device into a logical group;

provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the logical group of remote access device and communication device, wherein said provisioning further comprises;

reserving a first portion of a packet on the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the remote access device and corresponding communication device, and

reserving a second portion of the packet to carry communication information to the remote access device and corresponding communication device; and

associating the signaling virtual channel with the logical group to facilitate the transportation of signaling and timing information from the PBX equipment to the remote access device and accommodate communications with the corresponding communication device.

12. A method for private branch exchange (PBX) equipment to communicate over an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) packet network with a remote access device having a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate communication from the communication device over a signaling virtual channel provisioned from the packet network;

provisioning a communication virtual channel from the packet based network to carry communication information provided by the communication device, wherein the provisioning the communication virtual channel further comprises,

allocating a portion of the packet carrying the signaling virtual channel to the communication virtual channel;

transmitting control signals over the signaling virtual channel to control the timing and transfer of information associated with the communication device and the corresponding remote access device;

exchanging communication information over the communication virtual channel, and

transmitting control signals over the signaling virtual channel that terminates the communication virtual channel and relinquishes resources provisioned from the packet network.

13. A method for private branch exchange (PBX) equipment to communicate over an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) packet network with a remote access device having a communication device, the method comprising;

receiving a request to initiate communication from the communication device over a signaling virtual channel provisioned from the packet network;

provisioning a communication virtual channel from the packet based network to carry communication information provided by the communication device, wherein the provisioning the communication virtual channel further comprises,

allocating the communication virtual channel separately from a packet not used to carry the signaling virtual channel;

transmitting control signals over the signaling virtual channel to control the timing and transfer of information associated with the communication device and the corresponding remote access device;

exchanging communication information over the communication virtual channel; and

transmitting control signals over the signaling virtual channel that terminates the communication virtual channel and relinquishes resources provisioned from the packet network.

14. An apparatus that associates private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network, the remote access device including a communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor, coupled to the PBX equipment through the packet network, that facilitates communication between the remote access device and the PBX equipment;

a discovery module operable for discovering the remote access device operatively coupled to the packet network;

an association module operable for associating the remote access device and corresponding communication device devices into a logical group;

a provisioning module operable for provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the logical group of remote access devices and communication devices; and

an associated module operable for associating the signaling virtual channel with the logical group to facilitate the transportation of signaling and timing information from the PBX equipment to the remote access device and accommodate communications with the at least one communication device.

15. An apparatus that associates private branch exchange (PBX) equipment with a remote access device over a packet network wherein the remote access device includes at least one communication device, the apparatus comprising:

means for facilitating communication between the remote access device and the PBX equipment using a processor coupled to the PBX equipment through the packet network;

means for discovering the remote access device operatively coupled to the packet network;

means for associating the remote access device and corresponding communication devices into a logical group;

means for provisioning a signaling virtual channel from the packet network to carry signaling and timing information to the logical group of remote access devices and communication devices; and

means for associating the signaling virtual channel with the logical group to facilitate the transportation of signaling and timing information from the PBX equipment to the at least one remote access device and accommodate communications with the at least one communication device.

16. A communication system, comprising:

private branch exchange (PBX) equipment coupled to a packet network;

a remote access device coupled to the packet network;

a communication device coupled to the remote access device;

a remote access device server, coupled to the PBX equipment through the packet network, having a table that associates the remote access device and the communication device into a logical group; and

a signaling virtual channel provisioned from the packet network to exchange signaling and timing information between the logical group and the PBX equipment.

17. A communication system comprising:

a private branch exchange (PBX) equipment coupled to a packet network;

a remote access device coupling a communication device to the packet network;

a processor, coupled to the PBX equipment through the packet network and also coupled to the remote access device through the packet network, that facilitates communication between the remote access device and the PBX equipment;

a signaling virtual channel, provisioned from the packet network, initiating and terminating communication between the PBX equipment and the communication device coupled to the remote access device; and

a communication virtual channel, provisioned from the packet based network, exchanging communication information between the PBX equipment and the communication device coupled to the remote access device.