Method and apparatus for providing integrated voice and data services over a common interface device

• US 7,020,130 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Haltom, Jeffery A., Truetken, John L., Martin, Christopher A., Lockhart, G. Lance, Krause, Joel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, ANH VU H
• Application Number:
  US10/800,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/230.1, 370/231, 370/235, 370/263, 370/269, 370/271, 370/286, 370/352, 370/392, 370/395.54, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6445 Admission control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• 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 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

An approach is provided for supporting integrated voice and data services over a common Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) device. The device includes a network interface that receives a call from a calling party device to a called party device. Also, the device has signaling conversion logic configured to convert between Session Initation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion. The called party device includes one of a telephone station and a SIP client. The device further includes a voice port coupled to the signaling conversion logic and configured to communicate selectively with the telephone station; and a data port configured to communicate selectively with the SIP client.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of data and voice services, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to receive a call from a calling party device to a called party device;

signaling conversion logic configured to convert between Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion and the called party device includes one of a telephone station or a SIP client, wherein a nature of address indicator is determined in the telephony signaling, and the address information pertaining to the calling party is formatted based on a state of the nature of the address indicator, the formatted address information being provided in an address specification parameter in a call setup message;

a voice port coupled to the signaling conversion logic and configured to communicate selectively with the telephone station; and

a data port configured to communicate selectively with the SIP client.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network interface receives a data stream, the apparatus further comprising:

a firewall logic configured to filter the data stream.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the network interface communicates with one of a Digital Subscriber Line (DLS) network and a frame relay network.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data stream includes a plurality of packets, the apparatus further comprising:

Quality of Service (QoS) logic configured to classify the packets according to a predetermined QoS policy.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

network management logic configured to detect and report fault within the apparatus, to monitor configuration information of the apparatus, to measure a network utilization parameter for billing and accounting, and to determine performance statistics.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

another voice port communicating with a telephone switch configured to terminate the call to the called party station.

7. A method for supporting a plurality of data and voice services over a common customer premise equipment (CPE) device, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party device to a called party device;

converting between Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion, and the called party device includes one of a telephone station or a SIP client, wherein a nature of address indicator is determined in the telephony signaling, and the address information pertaining to the calling party is formatted based on a state of the nature of the address indicator, the formatted address information being provided in an address specification parameter in a call setup message;

selectively communicating via a voice port interfacing the telephone station; and

selectively communicating via a data port interfacing the SIP client.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the network interface receives a data stream, the method further comprising:

filtering the data stream using a firewall.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the network interface communicates with one of a Digital Subscriber Line (DLS) network and a frame relay network.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the data stream includes a plurality of packets, the method further comprising:

classifying the packets according to a predetermined QoS policy.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting and reporting fault within the CPE device;

monitoring configuration information of the CPE device;

measuring a network utilization parameter for billing and accounting; and

determining performance statistics.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

communicating with a telephone switch configured to terminate the call to the called party station.

13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for supporting a plurality of data and voice services over a common customer premise equipment (CPE) device, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a call from a calling party device to a called party device;

converting between Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion, and the called party device includes one of a telephone station and a SIP client, wherein a nature of address indicator is determined in the telephony signaling, and the address information pertaining to the calling party is formatted based on a state of the nature of the address indicator, the formatted address information being provided in an address specification parameter in a call setup message;

selectively communicating via a voice port interfacing the telephone station; and

selectively communicating via a data port interfacing the SIP client.

14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein a network interface receives a data stream, the computer-readable medium further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

filtering the data stream using a firewall.

15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the network interface communicates with one of a Digital Subscriber Line (DLS) network or a frame relay network.

16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the data stream includes a plurality of packets, the computer-readable medium further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

classifying the packets according to a predetermined QoS policy.

17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further includes instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

detecting and reporting fault within the CPE device;

monitoring configuration information of the CPE device;

measuring a network utilization parameter for billing and accounting; and

determining performance statistics.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 13, further includes instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

communicating with a telephone switch configured to terminate the call to the called party station.

19. A method for providing multiple communication services over a common interface device, the method comprising:

receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

determining state of a screening indicator associated with the telephony signaling; and

responsive to said state, providing a value of a screening parameter in the call setup message.

20. A method for providing multiple communication services over a common interface device, the method comprising:

receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

determining a state of a presentation indicator associated with the telephony signaling; and

responsive to said state, providing a value of a privacy parameter in the call setup message.

21. A method for providing multiple communication services over a common interface device, the method comprising:

receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

determining state of a nature of address indicator in the telephony signaling;

responsive to the state of the nature of address indicator, formatting the address information pertaining to the calling party; and

providing the formatted address information in an address specification parameter in the call setup message.

22. A method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying a trunk group associated with the telephony signaling;

determining a country code associated with the trunk group; and

including the country code in the formatted address information responsive to the state of the nature of address indicator.

23. A network device for providing multiple communication services, the device comprising:

means for receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

means for generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

means for determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

means for inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

means for determining state of a screening indicator associated with the telephony signaling; and

means for, responsive to said state, providing a value of a screening parameter in call setup message.

24. A network device for providing multiple communication services, the device comprising:

means for receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

means for generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

means for determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

means for inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

means for determining a state of a presentation indicator associated with the telephony signaling; and

means for providing a value of a privacy parameter in the call setup message responsive to said determined state.

25. A network device for providing multiple communication services, the device comprising:

means for receiving telephony signaling pertaining to a call from a calling party according to a first signaling protocol compatible with a circuit-switched network;

means for generating a call setup message according to a second signaling protocol compatible with a data network, the second signaling protocol including a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

means for determining whether the telephony signaling comprises address information pertaining to the calling party;

means for inserting a header into the call setup message, the header containing a network address corresponding to the address information;

means for determining state of a nature of address indicator in the telephony signaling;

means for formatting the address information pertaining to the calling party, responsive to the determined state of the nature of address indicator; and

means for providing the formatted address information in an address specification parameter in the call setup message.

26. A device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for identifying a trunk group associated with the telephony signaling;

means for determining a country code associated with the trunk group; and

means for including the country code in the formatted address information responsive to the state of the nature of address indicator.

27. A method for managing signaling in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signaling message compliant with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and indicative of a call to a telephony system that uses a telephony signaling protocol that is not compliant with SIP;

creating a second signaling message according to the telephony signaling protocol;

setting a privacy indicator in the second signaling message responsive to the value of a screening indicator in the first signaling protocol; and

responsive to whether the first signaling message includes a remote party identification header, providing a calling party number element in the second signaling message, wherein the content of the calling party number element is derived from the content of the remote party identification header.

28. A method of claim 27, further comprising:

from the remote party identification header, identifying a trunk group in the telephony system to which the call is addressed;

determining a country code configured to be associated with the trunk group; and

providing the country code in the content of the calling party number.

29. A method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining a country designation in an address specification of the remote party identification header of the first signaling message;

comparing the country code to the country designation; and

selectively providing the country code responsive to whether the country code corresponds to the country designation.

30. A method of claim 27, wherein a SIP network server acts upon the first signaling message to communicate over a trunk group with a SIP client.

31. A method of claim 30, wherein privacy restrictions are conveyed from the trunk group to the SIP client.

32. A method for managing signaling in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signaling message compliant with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and indicative of a call to a telephony system that uses a telephony signaling protocol that is not compliant with SIP;

creating a second signaling message according to the telephony signaling protocol; and

responsive to whether the first signaling message includes a remote party identification header, providing a calling party number element in the second signaling message, wherein the content of the calling party number element is derived from the content of the remote party identification header;

determining whether the first signaling message includes a screening parameter indicating that the calling party number is to be conveyed to the telephony system;

obtaining a configuration value indicating whether the calling party number is to be conveyed to the telephony system; and

selectively conveying the calling party number responsive to at least one of the configuration value or whether the first signaling message includes the screening parameter indicating that the calling party number is to be conveyed to the telephony system.