Method of and system for extending internet telephony over virtual private network direct access lines

• US 6,879,680 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MC, Inc.
• Inventors: Donovan, Steven R., Cannon, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/045,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/354, 370/356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/410, 370/466, 370/467, 379/90.01, 379/93.07, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.15, 379/230, 379/231, 379/232, 379/233, 379/234, 379/900, 379/901
• 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: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 Virtual networks or virtual private networks

Abstract

A virtual private network includes an internet protocol (IP) network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). An enterprise gateway is operably connected to the IP network. The enterprise gateway is operably connected to a switch of the PSTN through a direct access line (DAL). The set-up signaling for virtual private network calls and the calls themselves are transported across the internet protocol network and the public switched telephone network through the direct access line.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing virtual private network services, comprising:

an enterprise gateway configured to translate between virtual private network internet telephony signal protocol signals and virtual private network telephony signaling protocol signals between virtual private network internet protocol transport signals and virtual private network telephony time division multiplexed signals;

a direct access line operably connected to the enterprise gateway; and

a switch of a public switched telephone network operably connected to the direct access line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enterprise gateway includes a packet switched network interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enterprise gateway comprises:

a signaling gateway; and

a media gateway.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet protocol call set-up messages to telephone call set-up messages.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet session initiation protocol messages to telephone call set-up messages.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a second enterprise gateway operably connected to an internet protocol network; and

,

an originating private branch exchange operably connected to the second enterprise gateway.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second enterprise gateway comprises:

a signaling gateway; and

a media gateway.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signaling gateway of the second enterprise gateway comprises means for converting telephone call set-up messages to internet protocol call set-up messages.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signaling gateway of the second enterprise gateway comprises means for converting telephone call set-up messages to internet session initiation protocol messages.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a terminating private branch exchange operably connected to the public switched telephone network.

11. A virtual private network apparatus for providing virtual private network services between a public switched telephone network and an internet protocol network, comprising:

a signaling gateway configured to receive telephony signaling protocol signals, the telephony signaling protocol signals providing call signaling for a virtual private network call initiated by a caller, the signaling gateway being configured to convert the telephony signaling protocol signals to internet telephony signaling protocol signals, the signaling gateway being further configured to receive internet telephony signaling protocol signals and convert the received internet telephony signaling protocol signals to telephony signaling protocol signals; and

a media gateway coupled to the signaling gateway, the media gateway configured to translate between telephony time division multiplexed signals and internet protocol transport signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are signaling system 7 signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are ISDN signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are channel associated signaling signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internet telephony signaling protocol signals are session initiation protocol signals.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internet telephony signaling protocol signals are H.323 signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internet protocol transport signals are real-time transport protocol signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet protocol call set-up messages to telephone call set-up messages.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet session initiation protocol messages to telephone call set-up messages.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signaling gateway is also configured to convert telephone call set-up messages to internet protocol call set-up messages.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signaling gateway is also configured to convert telephone call set-up messages to internet session initiation protocol messages.

22. A virtual private network apparatus for providing virtual private network services between a public switched telephone network and an internet protocol (IP) network, comprising:

a signaling gateway configured to receive internet telephony signal protocol signals, the internet telephony signal protocol signals providing call signaling for a virtual private network call initiated by a caller, the signaling gateway being configured to convert the internet telephony signal protocol signals to telephony signaling protocol signals; and

a media gateway coupled to the signaling gateway, the media gateway being configured to translate between internet protocol transport signals and telephony time division multiplexed signals.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are signaling system 7 signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are ISDN signals.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the telephony signaling protocol signals are channel associated signaling signals.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the internet telephony signaling protocol signals are session initiation protocol signals.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the internet telephony signaling protocol signals are H.323 signals.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the internet protocol transport signals are real-time transport protocol signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet protocol call set-up messages to telephone call set-up messages.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signaling gateway comprises means for converting internet session initiation protocol messages to telephone call set-up messages.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signaling gateway is also configured to convert telephone call set-up messages to internet protocol call set-up messages.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signaling gateway is also configured to convert telephone call set-up messages to internet session initiation protocol messages.

33. A method for providing virtual private network (VPN) services in a virtual private network that includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an Internet Protocol (IP) network, the method comprising:

receiving a first call setup message from a first device for establishing a VPN call to a second device, the first call setup message including a VPN number;

translating the first call setup message to an IP protocol message, the IP protocol message including the VPN number;

transmitting the IP protocol message across the IP network;

translating the IP protocol message to a second call setup message, the second call setup message including the VPN number; and

establishing the VPN call with the second device through the PSTN using the second call setup message.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first call setup message is received from a private branch exchange.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the IP protocol message includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the establishing the VPN call includes:

transmitting the second call setup message to a switch associated with the PSTN via a direct access line.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the establishing the VPN call further includes:

obtaining routing instructions based on the VPN number, an identifier associated with the switch, and an identifier of the direct access line.

38. A method for providing virtual private network (VPN) services in a virtual private network that includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an Internet Protocol (IP) network, the method comprising:

receiving a first call setup message from a first device for establishing a VPN call to a second device, the first call setup message being received from the PSTN and icluding a VPN number;

translating the first call setup message to an IP protocol message, the IP protocol message including the VPN number;

transmitting the IP protocol message across the IP network;

translating the IP protocol message to a second call setup message, the second call setup message including the VPN number; and

establishing the VPN call with the second device using the second call setup message.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the first call setup message is received from a switch associated with the PSTN via a direct access line.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the IP protocol message includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the establishing the VPN call includes:

transmitting the second call setup message to a private branch exchange associated with the second device.