Automated mass calling control for public switched telephone networks employing a packet based virtual tandem

• US 7,002,915 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gans, Edwin M., Ho, Ka K., Huberman, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Van Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/447,351
• Time in Patent Office: 2,283 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-235, 370252-253, 370/400, 370/419, 370/420, 370/463, 370/522, 370352-356, 370493-495, 379/112.03, 379/112.04, 379/112.05, 379/112.06, 379/142.07, 455/26.1, 455/527, 455/445, 709/207, 709/103, 709/229, 709/239, 709/240, 710/44, 710/200, 710/244, 710/262, 710/264
• US Class Current: 370/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control

Abstract

This patent concerns a system and method for detecting a mass calling event in a telephone system and to regulate telephone calls to a call destination for which a mass calling event has been detected where a packet transport network and Call Server is integrated into the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A packet transport network and a central Call Server implement switching functionality traditionally provided by numerous Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) switches within the PSTN. A credit bucket mechanism is used for call regulation in a mass calling event. The packet network may be based on (but is not limited to) ATM, Frame Relay, or IP packet protocols.

Claims

1. A system for controlling telephone calls through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) wherein a packet transport network is employed to transport telephone calls between end systems within the PSTN, the system comprising:

a plurality of interworking elements to provide interworking functionality between TDM switches in the PSTN and said packet transport network; and

a centralized call server to independently provide tracking and recording functionality respecting telephone calls through said system;

said call server including means to detect a mass calling event and to regulate calls to a dialed number for which a mass calling has been detected; and

said call server including means to detect the end of a mass event and to end regulation of calls to a dialed number upon detection of an end to a mass calling events, further having a credit bucket mechanism for use in controlling to a dialed number in which a mass calling event has been detected, said credit mechanism including a timer to set an interval for issuing credit tokens to said bucket and a detector to determine if any credits are in the bucket upon receipt of a new call attempt to said dialed number.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said packet transport network is based on an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) packet protocol.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said packet transport network is based on a Frame Relay protocol.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said packet transport network is based on IP packet protocol.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein a mass calling event is detected by a credit mechanism which monitors the ratio of failed call events to calls initiated to a call destination.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 having means to convert directory numbers to un-translated dialed numbers and to convert un-translated dialed numbers to directory numbers.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 having memory means for storing a directory number of a call terminator.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket is associated with multiple dialed numbers.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein a credit overflow threshold is provided whereby no new credit tokens are assigned to said bucket when said threshold has been reached.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein credit tokens are assigned to said bucket in accordance with configurable end system determined parameters.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said configurable end system determined parameters include the time interval between assigning credit tokens to a bucket.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 for use in a Voice over Packet (VoP) network.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 including means to block a call to said dialed number if there are no tokens in the associated bucket and to permit the call to continue if there is at least one token.

14. The system as defined in claim 13 including an overflow threshold unit to limit the number of tokens in said bucket to a configurable value.

15. A method of controlling telephone calls through the public switch telephone network wherein a packet transport network is employed to transport telephone calls between end systems within the PSTN the method comprising:

providing a plurality of internetworking elements to provide inter-working functionality between TDM switches in the PSTN and said packet transport and providing a centralized call server to independently provide tracking and recording functionality through the PSTN the call server including means to detect a mass calling event and to regulate calls to a dialed number for which a mass calling event has been detected, and said call server including means to detect the end of a mass calling event and to end regulation of calls to a dialed number upon detection of an end to a mass calling events, further having a credit bucket mechanism for use in controlling calls to a dialed number in which a mass calling event has been detected, said credit mechanism including a timer to set an interval for issuing credit tokens to said bucket and a detector to determine if any credits are in the bucket upon receipt of a new call attempt to said dialed number.