Telephony communication via varied redundant networks

• US 7,012,898 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Bartholomew, Dale L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/617,816
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/252, 370229-238, 370/349, 370/278, 370/389, 370/392, 370/253, 379/88.17, 709/227, 340/825.05
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/367 Traffic or load control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone terminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is one such example.

Claims

1. A method of voice communication between two terminals including the steps of:

establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a first landline public packet switched network;

carrying voice information between said terminals over said link;

monitoring quality of service of communication in said public packet switched network;

establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via only a second landline packet switched network when said monitored quality of service departs from a predetermined value.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said parameter comprises a measure of the quality of delivered voice signal.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said establishment of said second voice communication link occurs automatically in response to the monitored quality of service falling below a predetermined threshold.

4. A method according to claim 1 including the step of transmitting a recorded voice message to the terminal which initiated the communication prior to establishing said second voice communication link.

5. A method according to claim 4 including the step of transmitting a response to said message from said terminal which initiated said communication prior to establishing said second voice communication link.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said terminals are connected to said first and second voice communication links via a switched network.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said switched network comprises a public switched telephone network.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said terminals comprise telephone terminals.

10. A method according to claim 6 wherein said second packet network comprises a common channel signaling system for said switched network.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said first packet network comprises the Internet.

9. A method of voice communication between two terminals including the steps of:

establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a first packet network;

communicating by voice between said terminals over said link;

monitoring a parameter of said communication; and

establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via a second packet network when said monitored parameter departs from a predetermined value;

wherein said terminals are connected to said first and second voice communication links via a switched network and

wherein said second packet network comprises a control network for said switched network.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said first packet network comprises a public packet data network.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein switched network comprises a telephone network and said terminals comprise telephone terminals.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said telephone terminals are connected to signal switching points and said second packet network is connected between said signal switching points.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said telephone terminals are connected to local loops.

16. A method of voice communication between two terminals connected to a switched telephone network having a packet switched control network separate from said switched telephone network controlling operation of said switched telephone network, including the steps of:

a) establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a second packet network;

b) communicating by voice between said terminals over said link;

c) monitoring a parameter of said communication;

d) establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via said control network when said monitored parameter departs from a predetermined value.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said control network comprises a common channel signaling system controlling said switched telephone network.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said second packet network comprises an internetwork using a first protocol and said control network uses a second protocol for controlling said switched telephone network and for establishing said second voice communication link.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein said parameter is a measure of the quality of delivered voice signal.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein said voice communication link between said terminals is established by dial up connection to said switched telephone network.

21. A method according to claim 16 including the step of testing the load on said control network prior to establishing said second voice communication link between said terminals.

22. A method according to claim 16 including the step of recording the time duration of said voice communication link between said terminals via said control network.

23. A method according to claim 16 including the step of recording a count of cells used during a voice communication via said second voice communication link.

24. A method of voice communication between two terminals connected to signal switching points of a switched telephone network having a packet switched control network separate from said switched telephone network connected to said signal switching points and controlling operation of said switched telephone network, including the steps of:

a) establishing a voice communication link between said terminals via a second packet network;

b) communicating by voice between said terminals over said link;

c) monitoring a parameter of said communication;

d) establishing a second voice communication link between said terminals via said control network when said monitored parameter departs from a predetermined value.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said terminals comprise telephone terminals connected to said signal switching points via local loops.

26. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network controlling said switched telephone network, and a second packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein said terminals are connected to said second packet switched network and subsequently to said control network via said switching systems for voice communication between said terminals via said packet switched networks.

27. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network controlling said switched telephone network, and a second packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein said terminals are connected sequentially to said packet switched networks for voice communication between said terminals via said packet switched networks.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said terminals are connected to said second packet switched network and voice communication conducted via said second packet switched network and then connected to said packet switched control network and voice communication conducted via said packet switched control network.

29. A system according to claim 28 wherein connection to said packet switched control network is made responsive to decrease in the quality of voice communication via said second packet switched network.

30. A system according to claim 29 wherein said second packet switched network comprises the Internet.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said packet switched network comprises a common channel interoffice signaling network.

32. A system according to claim 31 wherein said terminals are connected for voice communication via a packet switched network responsive to establishing connection to a dialing terminal.

33. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network controlling said switched telephone network, and a second packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein said terminals are linked sequentially to said packet switched networks via said switching systems for voice communication between said terminals via packetized voice signals over at least one of said packet switched networks.

34. A system according to claim 33 including means for totalizing the units comprising said packetized voice signals over said at least one of said packet switched networks during said voice communication thereover.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein said at least one packet switched network comprises said control network and said means for totalizing includes means monitoring said packetized voice signals and totalizing said units.

36. A system according to claim 35 including monitor control means for initiating said totalization for individual voice communications.

37. A system according to claim 36 including means for storing the results of said totalization.

38. A system according to claim 37 including means utilizing said results of said totalization for billing for said voice communication.

39. A communication system comprising in combination a switched telephone network having spaced switching systems connected to terminals, a packet switched control network controlling said switched telephone network, and a second packet switched network connectable to said switching systems, wherein said terminals are linked to at least one of said packet switched networks via said switching systems for voice communication between said terminals over said at least one of said packet switched networks via packetized voice signals, and means for totalizing the units comprising said packetized voice signals over said at least one of said packet switched networks during said voice communication thereover.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein said at least one of said packet switched networks comprises said control network.

41. A system according to claim 40 wherein said means for totalizing includes means monitoring said packetized voice signals and totalizing said units.

42. A system according to claim 41 including monitor control means for initiating said totalization for individual voice communications.

43. A system according to claim 42 including means for storing the results of said totalization.

44. A system according to claim 43 including means utilizing said results of said totalization for billing for said voice communication.