VPN PRI OSN independent authorization levels

• US 7,773,736 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendricks, Thomas A., Karnalkar, Anup D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quynh H
• Application Number:
  US11/132,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060262918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 379/200, 379/221.03, 726/2, 726/4, 726/15, 726/17
• US Class Current: 379/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for determining an authorization for a call based on an Originating Station Number (OSN) in a Primary Rate Interface (PRI) in a virtual private network (VPN) customized dialing plan. A new access type is defined enabling first authorization levels to be assigned at the level of the OSN. A service logic database at a Service Control Point stores second authorization level required to complete the call. A combination of a Switch ID (SwID) of the Service Switch Point (SSP) through which the call is being made and the Trunk Group Number (TGN) of the Private Branch Exchange (PBX) along with the OSN or range of OSNs serves as a primary key to the database. The first authorization level is compared to the second authorization level required to proceed with a call, and an action is selected based on the results of the comparison.

Claims

1. A computerized method for determining an authorization level for a call in a communication network comprising:

accessing, by a service control point in the communication network, a service logic database to compare a first authorization level for the call assigned at an Originating Station Number (OSN) level with a second authorization level required to proceed with the call, wherein accessing the service logic database comprises combining a Service Switch Point identifier (SWID) and a Trunk Group Number identifier (TGN) to obtain a primary key to the database, wherein the call accesses a virtual private network (VPN); and

selecting, by the service control point, an action based on a comparison of the first authorization level to the second authorization level;

wherein the combination of the SWID and the TGN is further combined with the OSN to identify the first authorization level associated with the OSN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is transmitted over a Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an action further comprises processing the call based on the comparison of the first and second authorization levels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said Trunk Group Number identifier comprises a Trunk Group Number associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) connected to the Service Switch Point.

4. A tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for determining an authorization level for a call in a communication network comprising:

accessing, by a service control point in the communication network, a service logic database to compare a first authorization level for the call assigned at an Originating Station Number (OSN) level with a second authorization level required to proceed with the call, wherein accessing the service logic database comprises combining a Service Switch Point identifier (SWID) and a Trunk Group Number identifier (TGN) to obtain a primary key to the database, wherein the call accesses a virtual private network (VPN); and

selecting, by the service control point, an action based on a comparison of the first authorization level to the second authorization level;

wherein in the method a combination of the SWID and the TGN is further combined with the OSN to identify the first authorization level associated with the OSN.

5. The non-transitory medium of claim 4, wherein in the method the call is transmitted over a Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

6. The non-transitory medium of claim 4, wherein in the method selecting an action further comprises proceeding with the call based on the comparison of the first and second authorization level.

11. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein said Trunk Group Number identifier comprises a Trunk Group Number associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) connected to the Service Switch Point.

7. A system for determining an authorization level for a call in a communication network comprising:

a service logic database; and

a processor for;

accessing, by a service control point in the communication network, a service logic database to compare a first authorization level for the call assigned at an Originating Station Number (OSN) level with a second authorization level required to proceed with the call, wherein accessing the service logic database comprises combining a Service Switch Point identifier (SWID) and a Trunk Group Number identifier (TGN) to obtain a primary key to the database, wherein the call accesses a virtual private network (VPN); and

selecting, by the service control point, an action based on a comparison of the first authorization level to the second authorization level;

wherein a combination of the SWID and the TGN is further combined with the OSN to identify the first authorization level associated with the OSN.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the call is transmitted over a Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

9. The system of claim 7, wherein selecting an action further comprises proceeding with the call based on the comparison of the first and second authorization levels.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said Trunk Group Number identifier comprises a Trunk Group Number associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) connected to the Service Switch Point.