Embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) endpoint redirect mode

• US 8,233,491 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burns, James M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Kharye
• Application Number:
  US11/536,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 370/352, 370/360, 370/401, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 379/211.02, 379/207.16
• US Class Current: 370/395.54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) with included MIB objects to redirect a received telephone call. Based on the MIB objects, the EMTA communicates with a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to set up two service flows where one flow is set up between two EMTAs and one flow is set up between the endpoint EMTA and the NOC.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

downloading, to a computing device, management information base (MIB) objects, wherein a first MIB object specifies a redirect address and a second MIB object specifies enabling a redirect mode;

storing the MIB objects a MIB objects table, wherein each MIB object is stored with an associated operation identification number, wherein the operation identification number associated with the first MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect address and the operation identification number associated with the second MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect mode;

receiving a redirect enable signal and the redirected address at a desired endpoint;

receiving a call signal at the desired endpoint;

based on the redirect enable signal, redirecting voice packets associated with the call signal to the redirected address according the redirect mode, and

receiving a redirect disable signal at the desired endpoint, wherein receiving the redirect disable signal at the desired endpoint comprises;

receiving a third MIB object at the desired endpoint, wherein the third MIB object specifies the disabling of the redirect mode, and

replacing the second MIB object with the third MIB object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

setting up two service flows for the voice packets, wherein a first service flow is between the desired endpoint and the redirected address and a second service flow is between the desired endpoint and an originating endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a hang up signal from the redirected endpoint; and

terminating the two service flows.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the originating endpoint is one of a telephone, computer softphone, and wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the call signal from the desired endpoint to at least one of a coupled telephone and computer softphone of the call signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a connection between an originating endpoint and the desired endpoint.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of deleting the connection upon receiving a hang up signal.

8. An embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) comprising:

management information base (MIB) objects, wherein a first MIB object specifies a redirect address, a second MIB object specifies enabling a redirect mode, and a third MIB object specifies disabling of the redirect mode, wherein the MIB objects are stored in a MIB objects table, wherein each MIB object is stored with an associated operation identification number, wherein the operation identification number associated with the first MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect address and the operation identification number associated with the second MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect mode; and

a processor for;

receiving a call signal from an originating endpoint and for redirecting voice packets associated with the call signal to the redirected address according the redirect mode, and

replacing the second MIB object with the third MIB object for disabling the redirect mode.

9. The EMTA of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured for transmitting a signal to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) for setting up two service flows.

10. The EMTA of claim 9, wherein the CMTS responds to the EMTA with the two service flows, wherein a first service flow is between the EMTA and the redirected address and a second service flow is between the EMTA and the originating endpoint.

11. The EMTA of claim 9, wherein the voice packets associated with the call signal freely flow across the two service flows.

12. The EMTA of claim 9, wherein upon receiving a hang up signal, the EMTA for transmitting a hang up signal to the CMTS for deleting the two service flows.

13. The EMTA of claim 8, wherein upon receiving a MIB object specifying normal call processing, the processor for receiving voice packets from a call and for forwarding the voice packets to at least one of a coupled telephone, computer softphone, and wireless telephone.

14. A communications system comprising:

an embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) for;

receiving management information base (MIB) objects from an operations center, wherein a first MIB object specifies a redirect address, a second MIB object specifies enabling a redirect mode, and a third MIB object specifies disabling the redirect mode,

receiving a call signal from an originating endpoint,

redirecting voice packets associated with the call signal to the redirected address, wherein the MIB objects are stored in a MIB objects table, wherein each MIB object is stored with an associated operation identification number, wherein the operation identification number associated with the first MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect address and the operation identification number associated with the second MIB object is a numerical representation of the redirect mode, and

replacing the second MIB object with the third MIB object for disabling the redirect mode.

15. The communications system of claim 14, further comprising:

a CMTS for setting up two service flows in response to an EMTA dynamic service add signal, wherein a first service flow is between the EMTA and the redirected address and a second service flow is between the EMTA and the originating endpoint.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the voice packets associated with the call signal freely flow across the two service flows.

17. The communications system of claim 14, wherein upon receiving a hang up signal, the EMTA for transmitting a hang up signal to the CMTS for deleting the two service flows.

18. The communications system of claim 14, wherein analysis of the voice packets received by the redirected address is performed.

19. The communications system of claim 14, the EMTA for transmitting the voice packets to at least one of a coupled telephone, computer softphone, and wireless telephone, and for transmitting voice packets received from the at least one of the coupled telephone, computer softphone, and wireless telephone to the redirected address and the originating endpoint.

20. The communications system of claim 14, the EMTA for receiving a MIB object specifying normal call processing, wherein the EMTA receives voice packets from a call and forwards the voice packets to a coupled telephone, and wherein the EMTA forwards voice packets received from the coupled telephone to the originating endpoint.