Private IP communication network architecture

• US 8,295,271 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Counsel RB Capital Incorporated
• Inventors: Radulovic, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASSIM, KHALED M
• Application Number:
  US11/745,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/230, 370/468, 709/223
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

A disclosed Internet Linked Network Architecture delivers telecommunication type services across a network utilizing digital technology. The unique breadth and flexibility of telecommunication services offered by the Internet Linked Network Architecture flow directly from the network over which they are delivered and the underlying design principles and architectural decisions employed during its creation. The present invention supports current telecommunication and voice over IP standards and applications. This new network not only replaces the telecommunication network presently in place, but it also offers a more feature rich and cost effective alternative. For example, traditional telecommunication switches are more expensive, less reliable and slower than the faster digital data switches utilized in the present invention. Furthermore, the programmable nature of the digital devices comprising the present invention allows the new network to be built with a scalable and extensible architecture, providing the flexibility necessary to incorporate new or future digital enhancements. The inventive network is designed as a complete replacement for the traditional telecom network. The disclosed architecture allows for this network to connect to traditional networks and allows for an upgrade path. The design is robust and scalable so this network can introduce new features and functionality while preserving the quality of traditional networks.

Claims

1. A method for supplying communication and data services across a dispersed Internet protocol capable network selectively connecting devices that are electrically attached to the network, the method comprising:

initiating a control path connection on a network layer between individual components attached to the dispersed network and at least one central arbitration server;

receiving a service request;

initiating a data path connection between the individual components designated by the service request;

initiating a service layer to supply the requested service; and

allowing an application corresponding to the requested service to extensibly add a generic field within a call detail record for the service request, wherein the call detail record comprises network level call details, and to populate the generic field within a call detail record for the service request, the generic field being populated with information specific to the requested service, and wherein the generic field can be populated by a plurality of applications to add information specific to services offered by each of the plurality of applications.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving a service request further comprises determining whether the requested service will require real-time responsiveness.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initiating a control path connection further comprises:

logging into the central arbitration server; and

delivering information concerning available resources associated with the individual components.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initiating a control path connection further comprises communicating call control information, DTMF, application specific messages, and application specific call detail information to the at least one central arbitration server.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein initiating a data path connection further comprises establishing a real time data path between devices to deliver data packets containing voice, facsimile, DTMF tones, silence background noises, modem data, and video data.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprises forwarding control path information to a termination device.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

recording call detail records based in part on received call control messages and application specific messages; and

monitoring the call control messages and other data derived from the control path connection and the data path connection.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of initiating the data path and control path connections further comprise:

optimizing the routing resources available for the connection, wherein the optimization is determined according to at least one of the following data packet prioritization systems;

least cost, failure bypass, load balancing, and class of service; and

determining the necessary bandwidth of the connection to be allocated for the requested service.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initiating a connection further comprises:

reviewing service tables to determine whether a requested resource required by the service request is available; and

when the requested resource is available, locking both sides of connection in preparation for supplying the requested service.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the steps of reviewing the service tables and locking both sides of connection is controlled via the arbitration server, such that the requested resource is locked by the arbitration server after verifying availability.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein locking both sides of connection in preparation for supplying the requested resource is locked by the individual components making the requests.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initiating a data path connection further comprises:

encapsulating data into data packets for transmission across the distributed network.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein encapsulating data further comprises determining a type of data being encapsulated into packets, wherein the type of data is at least one of:

voice, DTMF tones, facsimile, background noise, digital data, modem and silence.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein encapsulating data further comprises:

supplying signaling information about the destination of the packet;

assigning a data type label to the packet;

attaching data payload to the packet;

when the packet will be transmitted through a public network area, encrypting the contents of the packet; and

varying a call detail record based in part upon the data type label.

15. A communication and data services network predominately using a packetized transmission protocol, the communication and data network comprising:

means for requesting a communication data service;

means for initiating a network layer between attached components of the dispersed network, wherein the network layer initiates a control path for the attached components and a data path for select components designated in the requested communication data service, wherein the means for initiating the network layer utilizes messages conforming to Internet Media Control Protocol (IMCP), the messages being configured to traverse both the control path and the data path, wherein the messages conforming to IMCP are text-based and parseable without special compilers or field allocations the means for initiating a network layer being configured to allow an application requesting a communication data service to extensibly add a generic field within a call detail record for the request of a communication data service, wherein the call detail record comprises network level call details, and to populate the generic field within a call detail record for the request of a communication data service the generic field being populated with information specific to the requested service, and wherein the generic field can be populated by a plurality of applications to add information specific to services offered by each of the plurality of applications; and

a service layer configured to supply the requested communication data service.

16. The network as recited in claim 15, wherein the packetized transmission protocol is the Internet Media Control Protocol (IMCP) running on the at least one CAS and the plurality of CEs, the IMCP pooling data into categorized packet types exchanged between servers along the available routing resources enabling multiple data path connections to share the same packet and determining the necessary bandwidth allocation for the requested communication data service.