Distributed switching platform and method of operating the same

• US 7,515,597 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2000
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Communications Inc. (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EADS Telecom North America Incorporated
• Inventors: Chambers, L. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam; Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US09/678,338
• Time in Patent Office: 3,108 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/360, 370/367, 370/368, 370/371, 370/386, 370/396, 370/395.52, 370/400, 370/410, 370/216, 370/260, 370/270, 370/401, 370/419, 370/420, 379/219, 379/225, 379/420, 379/900, 709/201, 709/220, 709/226, 709/238, 709/328
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5237 Interconnection arrangements between ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/64 Distributing or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A distributed switching platform coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the distributed switching platform includes a main control unit (MCU), coupled to the IP network, that generates call and control processing commands. The distributed switching platform also includes a switching partition coupled to the IP network. The switching partition includes an input-output distributor (IOD) and a circuit-switched matrix and line interface, coupled to the IOD, that provides an interface to a plurality of access nodes. The IOD conveys the call and control processing commands to the circuit-switched matrix and line interface to allow the circuit-switched matrix and line interface to control access to the plurality of access nodes.

Claims

1. A distributed switching platform coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

a main control unit (MCU) coupled to said IP network and configured to generate call and control processing commands;

a switching partition coupled to said IP network and including;

an input-output distributor (IOD) configured to receive said call and control processing commands in a packet based protocol, and

a circuit-switched matrix and line interface coupled to said IOD and configured to provide a sole interface between a plurality of access nodes and said MCU, said IOD configured to convey said call and control processing commands to said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to allow, based thereon, said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to control access to said plurality of access nodes, wherein each connection between said access nodes and said MCU traverses said circuit-switched matrix and line interface; and

wherein ones of said plurality of access nodes are selected from the group consisting of;

a digital instrument;

a digital trunk; and

an analog trunk.

2. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 1 wherein said MCU and said switching partition are adapted to communicate employing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

3. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 1 wherein said MCU and said switching partition are geographically separable.

4. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 1 further comprising an application server coupled to and configured to communicate with said MCU.

5. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 1 wherein said MCU is a primary MCU, said distributed switching platform further comprising a secondary MCU couplable to said IP network.

6. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 5 wherein said primary and secondary MCUs are geographically separable.

7. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 5 wherein only one of said primary and secondary MCUs is configured to provide said call and control processing commands at any time, said one of said primary and secondary MCUs being in control of said distributed switching platform.

8. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 7 wherein said one of said primary and secondary MCUs which is in control of said distributed switching platform is configured to update a database associated with said other one of said primary and secondary MCUs.

9. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second switching coupled to said IP network and including:

a second IOD, and

a second circuit-switched matrix and line interface coupled to said second IOD and configured to provide an interface to additional access nodes.

10. A method of operating a distributed switching platform coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

generating call and control processing commands with a main control unit (MCU) coupled to said IP network;

coupling an input-output distributor (IOD) to said IP network;

providing a sole interface between a plurality of access nodes and said MCU via a circuit-switched matrix and line interface coupled to said IOD, said IOD receiving said call and control processing commands in a packet based protocol and conveying said call and control processing commands to said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to allow said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to control access to aid plurality of access nodes, wherein each connection between said access nodes and said MCU traverses said circuit-switched matrix and line interface; and

wherein ones of said plurality of access nodes are selected from the group consisting of;

a digital instrument;

a digital trunk; and

an analog trunk.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said MCU and said IOD communicate employing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said MCU and said IOD are geographically separated.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising coupling an application server to said MCU.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said MCU is a primary MCU, said distributed switching platform further comprising a secondary MCU coupled to said IP network.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said primary and secondary MCUs are geographically separated.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein only one of said primary and secondary MCUs provides said call and control processing commands at any time, said one of said primary and secondary MCUs being in control of said distributed switching platform.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising updating a database associated with at least one of said one of said primary and secondary MCUs.

18. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

coupling a second IOD to said IP network; and

providing an interface to additional access nodes via a second circuit switched matrix and line interface coupled to said second IOD.

19. A distributed switching platform means coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

a main control unit (MCU) means, coupled to said IP network, that generates call and control processing commands;

a switching partition means coupled to said IP network and including;

an input-output distributor (IOD) means configured to receive said call and control processing commands in a packet based protocol, and

a circuit-switched matrix and line interface means, coupled to said IOD, that provides a sole interface between a plurality of access nodes and said MCU means, said IOD means conveying said call and control processing commands to said circuit-switched matrix and line interface means to allow, based thereon, said circuit-switched matrix and line interface means to control access to said plurality of access nodes; and

wherein ones of said plurality of access nodes are selected from the group consisting of;

a digital instrument;

an analog instrument;

a digital trunk; and

an analog trunk.

20. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 19 wherein said MCU means and said switching partition means are adapted to communicate employing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

21. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 19 wherein said MCU means and said switching partition means are geographically separable.

22. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 19 further comprising an application server means coupled to said MCU.

23. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 19 wherein said MCU means is a primary MCU means, said distributed switching platform means further comprising a secondary MCU means coupled to said IP network.

24. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 23 wherein said primary and secondary MCU means are geographically separated.

25. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 23 wherein only one of said primary and secondary MCU means provides said call and control processing commands at any time, said one of said primary and secondary MCU means being in control of said distributed switching platform means.

26. The distributed switching platform means as recited in claim 25 wherein said one of said primary and secondary MCU means which is in control of said distributed switching platform means updates a database means associated with said other one of said primary and secondary MCU means.

27. The distributed switching platform as recited in claim 19 further comprising a second switching partition means coupled to said IP network and including:

a second IOD means, and

a second circuit-switched matrix and line interface means, coupled to said second IOD means, that provides an interface to additional access nodes.

28. An enterprise call center coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

a primary main control unit (MCU) coupled to a first location associated with said IP network;

a secondary MCU coupled to a second location associated with said IP network, at least one of said primary and secondary MCUs generating call and control processing commands;

a first switching partition coupled to said IP network and including;

an input-output distributor (IOD) configured to receive said call and control processing commands in a packet based protocol; and

a circuit-switched matrix and line interface coupled to said IOD, that provides a sole interface between a plurality of access nodes and said primary and secondary MCUs, said IOD conveying said call and control processing commands to said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to allow, based thereon, said circuit-switched matrix and line interface to control access to said plurality of access nodes, wherein each connection between said access nodes and said MCU traverses said circuit-switched matrix and line interface; and

wherein ones of said plurality of access nodes are selected from the group consisting of;

a digital instrument;

an analog instrument;

a digital trunk; and

an analog trunk.

29. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 wherein said primary and secondary MCUs and said first switching partition communicate employing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

30. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 wherein said first switching partition is coupled to a third location associated with said IP network.

31. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 further comprising an application server coupled to at least one of said primary and secondary MCUs.

32. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 wherein only one of said primary and secondary MCUs provides said call and control processing commands at any time, said one of said primary and secondary MCUs being in control of said enterprise call center.

33. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 32 wherein said one of said primary and secondary MCUs which is in control of said enterprise call center updates a database associated with said other one of said primary and secondary MCUs.

34. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 wherein said enterprise call center is coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via one of said plurality of access nodes.

35. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 further comprising a second switching partition coupled to said IP network, including:

a second IOD, and

a second circuit-switched matrix and line interface, coupled to said second IOD, that provides an interface to additional access nodes.

36. The enterprise call center as recited in claim 28 wherein at least one of said primary and secondary MCUs and said switching partition are embodied in a sequence of instructions executable on a general purpose computer system.