Method and system for routing telephone calls between a public switched telephone network and an internet protocol network

• US 6,775,269 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telecom One Technologies Incorporated (Earthshine International Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chen, Bo, Ravikumar, Sivakumar, Cowgill, George A., Raissyan, Atousa, Kaczmarczyk, Casimir M., Mock, Hilder, Chillara, Ravindra K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/539,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/356, 370/385, 370/392, 370/401, 370/402, 370/400, 370/420, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 379/15.02, 379/15.04, 379/88.17, 709/219, 709/227, 709/230, 709/238
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A method for routing a telephone call originating at a first network that utilizes a first signaling protocol to a termination in a second network that uses a second signaling protocol includes receiving a services request associated with a calling party from the first network and translating the service request. The method also includes determining a route for processing the service request over the second network and generating signaling specifying the determined route. Determining the route for processing the request over the second network includes determining an address for the calling party and accessing a table associated with the address. The table includes a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables. Determining the route also includes accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers, and, in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

Claims

1. A method for routing a telephone call originating at a first network that utilizes a first signaling protocol to a termination in a second network that uses a second signaling protocol comprising:

receiving a service request associated with a calling party from the first network;

translating the service request;

determining a route for processing the service request over the second network;

generating signaling specifying the determined route; and

wherein determining the route for processing the request over the second network comprises;

determining an address for the calling party;

accessing a table associated with the address, the table comprising a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables;

accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers; and

in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with calling digits associated with the service request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the calling party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with a route plan associated with the calling party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with a privacy setting associated with the calling party.

7. The method of claim 2, and further comprising accessing the table associated with called digits associated with the service request and determining from the table a call type for the service request.

8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising accessing a table associated with privileges for the calling party and determining from the table privileges for the calling party.

9. The method of claim 7, and further comprising accessing a table storing a plurality of possible routes for the service request, and selecting an appropriate route based on the call type.

10. The method of claim 2, and further comprising compiling a profile associated with the service request, the profile comprising a type of call associated with the service request and a route plan table storing a plurality of possible routes for the calling party.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is Signaling System 7 protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second protocol is Internet Protocol.

13. The method of claim 7, and further comprising determining whether the type of call is permitted for the calling party.

14. The method of claim 7, and further comprising selecting the route based on the calling party and calling type.

15. The method of claim 1, and further comprising creating and transmitting a message to effect the call over the selected route.

16. The method of claim 1, and further comprising storing information from the service request for generation of a bill associated with the service request.

17. The method of claim 1, and further comprising storing information retrieved from the at least one table for generation of a bill associated with the service request.

18. The method of claim 1 and further comprising controlling media transport of content associated with the service request.

19. A method for routing a telephone call originating at a first network that utilizes a first signaling protocol to a termination in a second network that uses a second signaling protocol comprising:

receiving a service request from the first network, the service request destined for a called party within the second network;

translating the service request;

determining a route for processing the service request over the second network;

generating signaling specifying the determined route; and

wherein determining the route for processing the request over the second network comprises;

determining an address for the called party;

accessing a table associated with the address, the table comprising a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables;

accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers; and

in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with calling digits associated with the service request.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the called party.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the called party.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with a route plan associated with the called party.

24. The method of claim 20, and further comprising accessing the table associated with the called digits and determining from the table a call type for the service request.

25. The method of claim 24, and further comprising accessing a table storing a plurality of possible routes for the service request, and selecting an appropriate route based on the call type.

26. The method of claim 20, and further comprising compiling a profile associated with the service request the profile comprising a type of call associated with the service request and a route plan table storing a plurality of possible routes for the called party.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the first protocol is Signaling System 7 protocol.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the second protocol is Internet Protocol.

29. The method of claim 19, and further comprising creating and transmitting a message to effect the call over the selected route.

30. The method of claim 19, and further comprising storing information from the service request for generation of a bill associated with the service request.

31. The method of claim 19, and further comprising storing information retrieved from the at least one table for generation.

32. The method of claim 19 and further comprising controlling media transport of content associated with the service request.

33. A system for routing a telephone call originating at a first network that utilizes a first signaling protocol to a termination in a second network that uses a second signaling protocol, the system comprising:

a signaling agent operable to;

receive and translate signaling according to the first protocol;

receive and translate signaling according to the second protocol; and

generate signaling according to the first and according to the second protocol; and

a call control and router engine operable to;

receive a translated signaling message from the signaling agent; and

determine a route for a service request associated with a translated signaling message received from the signaling agent by;

determining an address for a calling party associated with the service request;

accessing a table associated with the address, the table comprising a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables;

accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers; and

in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

34. A system interconnecting a plurality of networks including at least two networks that utilize different communications protocols, the system comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the plurality of networks and operable to receive an incoming signaling message associated with a service request, translate the incoming signaling messages to a translated message, and translate outgoing signaling messages to a format understandable by at least one of the plurality of networks;

a call control engine operable to receive the translated message, generate an outgoing signaling message, and send the outgoing message to the signaling agent, the outgoing signaling message indicative of the route over which the service request will be filled;

wherein the translated message is a message understandable by the call control engine; and

wherein the call control engine is operable to generate the outgoing signaling message indicative of the route over which the service request will be filled by;

determining an address for a calling party associated with the service request;

accessing a table associated with the address, the table comprising a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables;

accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers; and

in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

35. A method for routing a telephone call comprising:

receiving a service request associated with a party;

translating the service request;

determining a route for processing the service request; and

generating signaling specifying the determined route; and

wherein determining the route for processing the request comprises;

determining an address for the party;

accessing a table associated with the address, the table comprising a plurality of pointers to a plurality of additional tables;

accessing at least one of the additional tables specified by at least one of the pointers; and

in response to accessing the at least one of the additional tables, determining the route for processing the request based on the at least one of the additional tables.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with calling digits associated with the service request.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the party.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with call privileges associated with the party.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with a route plan associated with the party.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein assessing a table associated with the address comprises accessing a table having a pointer to a table associated with a privacy setting associated with the party.

41. The method of claim 36, and further comprising accessing the table associated with the called digits and determining from the table a call type for the service request.