Call-routing apparatus, and associated method, for providing local call handling functions in a communication network
DCFirst Claim
1. In a communication system having a communication network, the communication system controlled by a communication system controller also connected to the communication network, and to an originating station operable to originate a call of at least a first selected call-type therefrom, the call routable by way of a normal-operation communication link, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating call completion of the call when the call is of the at least the first selected call-type and subsequent to failure of the normal-operation communication link, said apparatus comprising:
- an emergency call router at least coupled to the access gateway, said emergency call router selectably operable responsive to failure of the normal-operation communication link for routing the call of the first selected call-type, thereby to facilitate call completion of the first selected call-type originated by the origination station; and
a target gateway coupled to the emergency call router;
said emergency call router determines whether the call request is for a call of the first selected call-type prior to said operation of routing the call of the first selected call-type.
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Abstract
Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded. Calls of higher priority are permitted while calls of lower priority are blocked.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a communication system having a communication network, the communication system controlled by a communication system controller also connected to the communication network, and to an originating station operable to originate a call of at least a first selected call-type therefrom, the call routable by way of a normal-operation communication link, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating call completion of the call when the call is of the at least the first selected call-type and subsequent to failure of the normal-operation communication link, said apparatus comprising:
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an emergency call router at least coupled to the access gateway, said emergency call router selectably operable responsive to failure of the normal-operation communication link for routing the call of the first selected call-type, thereby to facilitate call completion of the first selected call-type originated by the origination station; and a target gateway coupled to the emergency call router; said emergency call router determines whether the call request is for a call of the first selected call-type prior to said operation of routing the call of the first selected call-type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a method of communicating in a communication system having a communication network, the communication system controlled by a communication system controller also connected to the communication network, and to an originating station operable to originate a call of at least a first selected call-type therefrom, the call routable by way of a normal-operation communication link, an improvement of a method for facilitating call completion of the call when the call is of the at least the first selected call-type and subsequent to failure of the normal-operation communication link, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of the normal-operation communication link; selectably routing a call request of the selected call-type by way of an emergency call router, thereby to facilitate call-completion of the selected call-type between the origination station and the terminating station; connecting the emergency call router, as a preliminary operation, between at least a first access gateway and a target gateway of the communication system; and determining whether the call request is for a call of the selected call-type prior to said operation of selectably routing.
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Specification