Method of operating a virtual private network

• US 6,741,693 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malinowski, Walter Martin, Madoch, Pitsa, LeBeau, Christopher Michael, Tiliks, Dianna Inara, Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Moss, John Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/599,843
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221-8-2, 379/221.15, 379/229, 379/230, 379/901, 379/207.02
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 Virtual networks or virtual private networks

Abstract

A method of operating a virtual private network includes the steps of: (a) dialing a custom number; (b) receiving the custom number at a switch (20) of a first carrier; (c) routing the call to a switch (18) of a second carrier based on having received the custom number; and (d) when the call to the switch (18) of the second carrier includes a plain old telephone number translation of the customer number, routing the call over the second carrier to a service switching point (26) of a third carrier.

Claims

1. A method of operating a virtual private network, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a number at a service switching point of a first carrier;

(b) sending a query to a service control point;

(c) receiving a response containing a routing instructions including a plain old telephone number translation of the number;

(d) routing a call over a private line to a switch of an intermediate carrier;

(e) routing the call based on the routing instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further includes the steps of:

(e1) routing the call over the private line from the intermediate carrier to a service switching point of a terminating carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) consists of receiving four dialed digits.

4. A method of operating a virtual private network, comprising the step of:

(a) receiving a number at a service switching point of a first carrier;

(b) sending a query to a service control point;

(c) receiving a billing information

(d) routing a call over a private line to a switch of an intermediate carrier; and

(e) routing the call over the private line from the intermediate carrier to a service switching point of a terminating carrier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

(b1) receiving a response containing a routing instructions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

(b2) receiving a response containing a plain old telephone number translation of the number.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b1) consists of receiving a signaling indicator as part of the routing instructions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (e) further includes the steps of:

(e1) determining if the routing instructions include the signaling indicator; and

(e2) when the routing instructions include the signaling indicator, routing the call over the private line.