Methods and systems for processing calls in a packet network using peer call servers

• US 7,801,157 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Xuewen, Ress, David P., Hinchey, Allan Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/852,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,310 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-357, 370/389, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method for processing calls in a packet network using peer call servers includes receiving a setup message from a first gateway in the packet network. The setup message includes a first address for a called endpoint. The call server that receives the setup message translates the message into a call server ID and an endpoint ID specifying the remote call server corresponding to the called party. The call server sends the call server ID and the endpoint ID to the remote call server. The remote call server obtains a call signaling transport address to the called end user based in the endpoint ID.

Claims

1. A method for processing calls in a packet network using call servers, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a SETUP message from a first gateway in the packet network, the SETUP message including a first address for a called endpoint;

(b) executing a translation based on the first address to obtain at least one entity address, the at least one entity address including a unique call server identification (ID) and a unique endpoint identification (ID);

(c) transmitting the at least one entity address to a call server specified by the unique call server ID; and

(d) at the call server, locating a call signaling transport address for the called endpoint based on the unique endpoint ID,

wherein executing the translation based on the first address includes utilizing a digilator tree to locate the at least one entity address.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first address is a numbering plan address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling transport address includes an interne protocol (IP) address and a port number for the called endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the at least one entity address to the call server includes transmitting the at least one entity address over a multi-user transport control protocol (TCP) connection to the call server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein locating the call signaling transport address based on the unique endpoint ID includes using the unique endpoint ID as a key to locate the call signaling transport address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a combination of the unique call server ID and the unique endpoint ID is itself unique within the packet network.

7. A method for processing calls in a packet network using call servers, the method comprising:

(a) at a first call server, receiving a SETUP message from a first gateway in the packet network, the SETUP message including a first address corresponding to a called endpoint in the packet network;

(b) formulating a query including the first address and transmitting the query to a network translation server;

(c) at the network translation server, executing a translation to determine at least one entity address corresponding to the first address, the at least one entity address including a unique call server identification (ID) and a unique endpoint identification (ID) corresponding to the first address;

(d) transmitting a response to the first call server, the response including the at least one entity address;

(e) at the first call server, receiving the response, formulating a first call signaling message including the unique call server ID and the unique endpoint ID, and sending the first call signaling message to a second call server specified by the unique call server ID; and

(f) at the second call server, receiving the first call signaling message and locating a call signaling transport address for the called endpoint based on the unique endpoint ID.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein formulating the query includes formulating a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) query.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein executing the translation to obtain the at least one entity address includes utilizing dialed digits in the SETUP message to traverse a digilator tree.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising locating the call signaling transport address including locating an internet protocol (IP) address and a port number for the called endpoint.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the first address is a numbering plan address.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second call servers comprise peer call servers.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein sending the first call signaling message to the second call server includes sending the first call signaling message over a multi-user Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection to the second call server.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein executing the translation includes utilizing a digilator tree to locate the at least one entity address.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein executing the translation includes using the unique endpoint ID as a key to locate the call signaling transport address.