Traffic load balancing

• US 8,228,891 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Meis, Jeffrey, Chavez, David L., Bertagnole, Albert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US11/734,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20080181106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1056 Multi-site
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, an enterprise network is provided that includes a mobility module 150 associated with a first or second switch/server 100 or 104, respectively. On the second switch/server, the mobility agent manages a pool of mobility user station records 168a-j and creates visitor application records 172a-i associated with a external subscriber communication devices 136a-n. Each visitor application record is associated with a subscriber whose communication device is controlled by the first switch/server 100. In response to a selected stimulus, outgoing call processing for selected communication devices on the first switch/server is moved to the second switch/server 104 by associating, for each such device, a selected record 168 with a corresponding record 172.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a load balance stimulus to migrate call origination from a first switch/server to a second switch/server, wherein the first switch/server controls two or more subscriber communication devices including a first subscriber'"'"'s first communication device, and wherein the second switch/server controls two or more subscriber communication devices;

providing, at the second switch/server, a virtual communication device and a second electronic address, wherein calls directed to or coming from the first communication device are routed through the virtual communication device controlled by the second switch/server;

the second switch/server receiving a registration message from the first communication device;

thereafter creating, at the second switch/server, a visitor application record associated with the first subscriber'"'"'s first communication device, wherein the visitor application record comprises at least the following information;

a first subscriber'"'"'s name, the second electronic address, a first subscriber'"'"'s home security information, a first communication device type, call state information, a button record having a set of a plurality of buttons identical to a set of a plurality of buttons on the first communication device, and a first electronic address;

in response to creating the visitor application record, associating the second electronic address of the virtual communication device with the visitor application record, the second electronic address being different from the first electronic address associated with the first communication device; and

after and while the virtual communication device is associated with the visitor application record, receiving, from the first switch/server, an incoming call at the second electronic address associated with the second switch/server to set up the incoming call with the first subscriber'"'"'s first communication device, wherein the incoming call is directed to the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, at the second switch/server, a mobility user station record corresponds to the virtual communication device and further comprising:

while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record, the first switch/server maintaining a home communication device record for the first communication device, the home communication device record configuring the first communication device for the first subscriber; and

while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record, the first switch/server maintaining a home application record to redirect incoming calls for the first communication device to the second switch/server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, associating the virtual communication device with the visitor application record is performed when a selected stimulus is detected and is discontinued at a later time when the selected stimulus is no longer detected and wherein the selected stimulus is related to an inability of the first switch/server to initiate outgoing calls.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is packet-switched and further comprising before associating the virtual communication device with the visitor application record:

the first switch/server sending a deregister message to the first communication device, the deregister message terminating registration of the first communication device with the first switch/server; and

in response to the first switch/server sending a deregister message, the second switch/server receiving, from the first communication device, a register message requesting registration of the first communication device with the second switch/server, wherein associating the virtual communication device with the visitor application record is performed when the first communication device is registered successfully with the second switch/server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the register message comprises the first electronic address and authentication information of the first subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disassociating the visitor application record from the first communication device; and

thereafter associating the visitor application record with a second communication device controlled by the first switch/server, the first and second communication devices being different.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is circuit-switched and further comprising before associating the virtual communication device with the visitor application record:

the first switch/server sending a link creation message to the second switch/server, the link creation message requesting creation of a dedicated link between the first communication device and the second switch/server; and

creating the dedicated link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is circuit-switched and wherein, associating the virtual communication device with the visitor application record is performed when a selected stimulus is detected and wherein the selected stimulus is related to the first communication device being disconnected physically from the first switch/server and connected physically to the second switch/server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following features are available to the first subscriber while the first subscriber is associated with the visitor application record:

bridging an incoming call to the first subscriber onto the first communication device, call coverage, speed-dialing, ringing patterns, customized button labels, abbreviated dial list, automatic call back, automatic message waiting, automatic intercom, busy indication for an extension or trunk, call appearance, call forwarding, call forward (busy/do not answer), dial intercom, extension to cellular, exclusion, personal Central Office-line, send all calls, internal extension group, priority calling, and attendant calling, wherein, for outgoing calls from the first communication device while the first communication device is associated with the mobility user station record, a number of the first communication device is sent as calling party information, and wherein, when an outgoing call to a universal emergency number is made from the first communication device, the first subscriber is disassociated automatically with the visitor application record.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, while the first subscriber is associated with the visitor application record, incoming calls to the first subscriber are directed by the first switch/server to the second switch/server and by the second switch/server to the first communication device, and outgoing calls, originated by a call origination button, from the first subscriber initiated using the first communication device are directed by the first switch/server to the second switch/server setup with a called destination.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising processor executable instructions to perform the steps of claim 1.

12. An enterprise network, comprising:

a second mobility agent associated with a second switch/server, the second mobility agent operable to;

provide a mobility user station record associated with a virtual communication device, the virtual communication device being associated with a second electronic address, wherein calls directed to or coming from a first communication device are routed through the virtual communication device controlled by the second switch/server;

create a visitor application record associated with the first communication device, wherein a first subscriber is normally associated with the first communication device and a first electronic address is associated with the first communication device, and wherein the visitor application record includes information to make a call from the virtual communication device, wherein the visitor application record comprises at least the following information;

a first subscriber'"'"'s name, the second electronic address, a first subscriber'"'"'s home security information, a first communication device type, call state information, a button record having a set of a plurality of buttons identical to a set of a plurality of buttons on the first communication device, and a first electronic address;

associate the mobility user station record with the first communication device, wherein the first and second electronic addresses are different;

a first mobility agent associated with a first switch/server, the first mobility agent operable to;

determine if mobility registration is in effect; and

if mobility registration is in effect, forward an incoming call directed to the first communication device to the second mobility agent to set up the incoming call.

13. The enterprise network of claim 12, wherein the first communication device is controlled by the first switch/server and wherein the first switch/server is further operable to:

while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record, maintain a home communication device record for the first communication device, the home communication device record configuring the first communication device for the first subscriber; and

while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record, maintain a home application record to redirect incoming calls for the first communication device to the second switch/server.

14. The enterprise network of claim 12, further comprising:

a load balancing module operable to detect a limitation on the ability of the first switch/server to make an outgoing call, wherein, associating the mobility station user record with the first communication device is performed in response to detection of the limitation and wherein the limitation is related to at least one of an available processing resources and an unavailable processing resources of the first switch/server.

15. The enterprise network of claim 14, wherein the first communication device is packet-switched and further comprising before associating the mobility station user record with the first communication device:

the first switch/server sending a deregister message to the first communication device, the deregister message terminating registration of the first communication device with the first switch/server; and

in response to the first switch/server sending a deregister message, the second switch/server receiving, from the first communication device, a register message requesting registration of the first communication device with the second switch/server, wherein associating the mobility station user record with the first communication device is performed when the first communication device is registered successfully with the second switch/server.

16. The enterprise network of claim 15, wherein the register message comprises the first electronic address and authentication information of the first subscriber.

17. The enterprise network of claim 15, wherein the first communication device is controlled by the first switch/server and the mobility user station record is controlled by the second switch/server wherein, while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record, incoming calls to the first subscriber are directed by the first switch/server to the second switch/server and by the second switch/server to the first communication device, and outgoing calls, originated by a call origination button, from the first subscriber initiated using the first communication device are directed by the first switch/server to the second switch/server setup with a called destination.

18. The enterprise network of claim 12, further comprising the operations:

disassociating the mobility user station record from the first communication device; and

thereafter associating the mobility user station record with a second communication device controlled by the first switch/server, the first and second communication devices being different.

19. The enterprise network of claim 12, wherein the first communication device is circuit-switched and further comprising before associating the mobility station user record with the first communication device:

the first switch/server sending a link creation message to the second switch/server, the link creation message requesting creation of a dedicated link between the first communication device and the second switch/server; and

creating the dedicated link.

20. The enterprise network of claim 12, wherein the first communication device is circuit-switched and wherein associating the mobility station user record with the first communication device is performed when a selected stimulus is detected and wherein the selected stimulus is related to the first communication device being disconnected physically from the first switch/server and connected physically to the second switch/server.

21. The enterprise network of claim 12, wherein at least one of the following features are available to the first subscriber while the first subscriber is associated with the mobility user station record:

bridging an incoming call to the first subscriber onto the first communication device, call coverage, speed-dialing, ringing patterns, customized button labels, abbreviated dial list, automatic call back, automatic message waiting, automatic intercom, busy indication for an extension or trunk, call appearance, call forwarding, call forward (busy/do not answer), dial intercom, extension to cellular, exclusion, personal Central Office-line, send all calls, internal extension group, priority calling, and attendant calling, wherein, for outgoing calls from the first communication device while the first communication device is associated with the mobility user station record, a number of the first communication device is sent as calling party information, and wherein, when an outgoing call to a universal emergency number is made from the first communication device, the first subscriber is disassociated automatically with the mobility user station record.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

a plurality of visitor application records associated with a plurality of communication devices, the communication devices having a first set of electronic addresses associated with at least a first switch/server;

a plurality of mobility user station records associated with a plurality of virtual communication devices, the virtual communication devices being controlled by a second switch/server different from the at least a first switch/server and the virtual communication devices having a second set of electronic addresses associated with the second switch/server, wherein each of the plurality of visitor application records is associated with a specific one of the mobility user station records, wherein a first of the mobility user station records and virtual communication devices is associated with a first subscriber, wherein the first subscriber generates a call from a first communication device that is associated, by a visitor application record and a mobility user station record, with the first virtual communication device such that the first virtual communication device completes the call through the second switch/server rather than the first switch/server;

wherein, when the first communication device, associated with the first switch/server, receives a call origination for the first subscriber, the call origination being received through the first switch/server, the first switch/server transmits the call origination to the second switch/server, a first visitor application record associated with the first mobility user station record causes the second switch/server to access the mobility user station record associated with the first subscriber, the mobility user station record causes the second switch/server to send the call origination through the first virtual communication device associated with the first subscriber; and

wherein the first communication device of the first subscriber is controlled by the first switch/server and has a first electronic address in the first set of electronic addresses, wherein the first mobility user station record has a second electronic address in the second set of electronic addresses, and wherein the first visitor application record on the second switch/server comprises at least the following information;

a first subscriber'"'"'s name, the first electronic address, a first subscriber'"'"'s home security information, a first communication device type, call state information, a button record having a set of a plurality of buttons identical to a set of a plurality of buttons on the first communication device and the second electronic address.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein a home station record on the first switch/server comprises at least the following information:

the first subscriber'"'"'s name, first electronic address, first subscriber'"'"'s home security information, first communication device type, first communication device button record configured for the first subscriber, class of service for the first communication device, and call state information and wherein a home application record on the first switch/server comprises at least the following information;

the second electronic address and a pointer to the first mobility user station record.