Method and apparatus for providing virtual facility communication service

• US 6,643,253 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Smith, Nicholas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/281,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352-356, 370/217, 370/218
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6402 Hybrid switching fabrics

Abstract

A system for establishing a virtual facility connection so that services provided by a main location private branch exchange are accessible by affiliated or remote locations via a concentrator, such as a relatively small on premises asynchronous transfer mode switch, that transmits/receives control signals to and from the private branch exchange over the Internet or a private data network. Terminals at affiliate or remote locations are connected to the main location PBX by way of a concentrator, an “always on” connection link, a public network and an Internet interface. For relatively small remote locations, virtual connections are established via the Internet, whereas for larger locations a physical connection is formed using the corporation'"'"'s own private network. This system for tapping into the services provided by a main location PBX at a remote location terminal is less expensive than conventional private tie lines.

Claims

1. A system for accessing services of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

a concentrator at said remote location for formatting a message transmitted from said remote terminal to said main location private branch exchange as an Internet message; and

a public network for connecting the message from the concentrator to the main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface;

wherein

in the event of an Internet failure, the concentrator transmits an analog portion of said message directly to the main location branch exchange.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said message is a control message and said concentrator automatically formats said control message when said remote terminal goes off hook.

3. A system for accessing services of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

a concentrator at said remote location for unformatting an Internet formatted message transmitted from said main location private branch exchange to said remote terminal; and

a public network for connecting the message from the concentrator to the main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface;

wherein in the event of an Internet failure, the concentrator receives an analog portion of said message directly from the main location branch exchange.

4. A system for accessing services of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

a concentrator at said remote location for formatting an Internet provider message, said concentrator being connected to said remote terminal;

a public network;

a connection link connecting said concentrator to said public network; and

an Internet interface connecting said pubic network to said main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface,

wherein in the event of an Internet failure, the concentrator transmits an analog portion of said message directly to the main location branch exchange.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said main location private branch exchange includes software for unformatting the Internet provider message.

6. A system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a router connected between said Internet interface and said main location private branch exchange.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a server connected between said router and said main location private branch exchange for unformatting the Internet provider message.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a computer/telephone interface link for connecting said server to said main location private branch exchange.

9. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said public network is a voice and data network.

10. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said connection link is of the “

always on”

type.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said connection interface is a digital subscriber line having a digital output and an analog output.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said public network comprises:

a digital subscriber line access multiplexer having an input connected to the digital output of said digital subscriber line and an output; and

an Internet point of presence connected between the output of said digital subscriber line access multiplexer and said Internet interface.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said public data network further comprises a public switch telephone network connected to the analog output of said digital subscriber line.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said public data network further comprises a private network.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising voice and data trunks for connecting said public switch telephone network and said private network to said main location private branch exchange.

16. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said connection link is an OC3 interface.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said public data network comprises:

a digital subscriber line access multiplexer having an input connected to said OC3 link;

a private data network connected to said digital subscriber line access multiplexer; and

an Internet point of presence connected between said private data network and said Internet interface.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said public data network further comprises a public switched telephone network.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, further comprising voice and data trunks for connecting said public switched telephone network and said private network to said main location private branch exchange.

26. The system for accessing services of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location according to claim 4, wherein said connection link is provided with a splitter for enabling said analog portion of said message to be optionally transmitted directly to the main location branch exchange via an analog connection.

20. A method for accessing service of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

formatting a message transmitted from said remote terminal to said main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface as an Internet message using a concentrator,

wherein in the event of an Internet failure, transmitting an analog portion of said message from said remote terminal directly to the main location branch exchange via an analog connection.

21. A method for accessing service of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

unformatting an Internet message transmitted by said main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface to said remote terminal using a concentrator,

wherein in the event of an Internet failure, transmitting an analog portion of said message from said main location branch exchange directly to said remote terminal via an analog connection.

22. A method for accessing services of a main location private branch exchange by a terminal at a remote location, comprising:

(a) formatting an Internet provider message at a concentrator at said remote location when said remote terminal goes off hook;

(b) routing the formatted Internet provider message over a path including a connection link, a public network and an Internet interface;

(c) unformatting the Internet provider message; and

(d) transmitting the unformatted Internet provider message to the main location private branch exchange via a LAN interface,

wherein in the event of an Internet failure, transmitting an analog portion of said message from said remote terminal directly to the main location branch exchange via an analog connection.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising transmitting an acknowledgment signal from the main location private branch exchange to said remote terminal.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said unformatting step (c) comprises unformatting the Internet provider message using software at said main location private branch exchange.

25. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said unformatting step (c) comprises unformatting the Internet provider message using a server connected between said Internet interface and said main location public branch exchange.