Apparatus and method for delivering public switched telephone network service and broadband internet access

• US 8,488,573 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midwest Telecom Of America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Midwest Telecom Of America, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramos, Jesse, Smith, Cary, Kovacik, Christopher M
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US12/393,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for delivering Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Broadband Internet access and Private Data services using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over an Ethernet based transport network though a private fixed wireless network. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a Class 4/5 soft switch connected to a private fixed wireless network designed and constructed to deliver near toll quality PSTN, Broadband Internet and Private Data services to a Subscriber. Specifically, a combination of known managed routers, switches, Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA), Integrated Access Devices (IAD), and fixed wireless equipment based on IEEE 802.11x standards may be interconnected with a Class 4/5 soft switch. The resulting network may be uniquely configured to utilize redundant automatic failover backbone connectivity to access points (AP) within the private fixed wireless network. Additionally, the network may utilize TCP/IP prioritization standards throughout the private fixed wireless network to consistently deliver near toll grade quality Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Claims

1. A system for delivering public switched telephone network service and broadband internet access using Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over an Ethernet based transport network through a private fixed wireless network, the system comprising:

a subscriber station radio;

a first fixed wireless distribution point; and

a network operations center;

wherein

the subscriber station radio is wirelessly connected to the first fixed wireless distribution point;

the first fixed wireless distribution point is wirelessly connected to the network operations center; and

wherein the network operations center comprises;

a backhaul radio;

a managed Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS);

a core router;

a Class 4/5 Softswitch;

a Session Border Controller;

a Voicemail Platform;

a management server; and

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Clock, wherein

the backhaul radio wirelessly connects the network operations center to the first fixed wireless distribution point,

the core router is connected to the backhaul radio via Ethernet trunk,

the core router is connected to an upper level Internet provider using a Digital Service-3 (DS-3) coaxial circuit, fiber circuit, or Ethernet circuit,

the managed UPS is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Session Border Controller is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to at least one Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) using at least one fiber Point Of Interconnection (POI),

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to two Signaling System 7 (SS7) links, a Signal Transfer Point (STP), and a Signal Control Processor (SCP),

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to the GPS Clock,

the Voicemail Platform is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the management server is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) long distance carrier using Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP),

the Session Border Controller is connected to the VOIP long distance carrier using TCP/IP, and

the Session Border Controller receives incoming data packets from the VOIP long distance carrier.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an Ethernet surge/lightning arrestor connected between the backhaul radio and the core router via Ethernet trunk.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPS Clock is connected to an antenna.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPS Clock is connected to the Class 4/5 Softswitch using redundant T1 circuits.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the incoming data packets comprise voice data packets and Internet data packets;

the Session Border Controller blocks all incoming data packets other than voice data packets; and

the Session Border Controller routes the voice data packets to the Class 4/5 Softswitch.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the Voicemail Platform connected to the core router via Ethernet.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the incoming data packets comprise voice data packets and Internet data packets; and

the Class 4/5 Softswitch terminates the voice data packets to the Voicemail Platform.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a management server connected to the core router to monitor the private fixed wireless network using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) queries.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the management server generates alerts indicative of a condition on the private fixed wireless network, said condition being selected from the group consisting of:

low signal level of wireless equipment, power level at a fixed wireless distribution point, packet loss, packet latency, packet jitter, Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of voice paths, and equipment failure.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the management server stores historical information indicative of a condition on the private fixed wireless network, said condition being selected from the group consisting of:

low signal level of wireless equipment, power level at a fixed wireless distribution point, packet loss, packet latency, packet jitter, Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of voice paths, and equipment failure.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the management server generates reports on equipment within the network to guarantee Service Level Agreements (SLA).

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber POI comprises at least one Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) trunk.

13. A system for delivering public switched telephone network service and broadband Internet access using Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over an Ethernet based transport network through a private fixed wireless network, the system comprising:

a subscriber station radio having an integrated access device and a fixed wireless radio;

a fixed wireless distribution point having an access point radio, a backhaul radio, a managed UPS and a switch/router; and

a network operations center having a network operations center backhaul radio, a network operations center managed Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), a core router, a Class 4/5 Softswitch, a Session Border Controller, a GPS Clock, a voicemail platform, and a management server;

wherein

the integrated access device marks outbound data packets with a Class of Service marking,

the outbound data packets comprise voice data packets and Internet data packets,

the fixed wireless radio is connected to the integrated access device via Ethernet,

the fixed wireless radio is wirelessly connected to the access point radio,

the switch/router is connected to the access point radio via Ethernet trunk,

the backhaul radio is connected to the switch/router via Ethernet trunk,

the managed UPS is connected to the switch/router via Ethernet,

the voicemail platform is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the management server is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the backhaul radio is wirelessly connected to the network operations center backhaul radio,

the core router is connected to the network operations center backhaul radio via Ethernet trunk,

the core router is connected to an upper level Internet provider using a Digital Service-3 (DS-3) coaxial circuit, fiber circuit, or Ethernet circuit,

the network operations center managed UPS is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Session Border Controller is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to the core router via Ethernet,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to at least one Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) using at least one fiber point of interconnection (POI),

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to two Signaling System 7 (SS7) links, a Signal Transfer Point (STP) and a Signal Control Processor (SCP),

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to the GPS Clock,

the Class 4/5 Softswitch is connected to at least one Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) long distance carrier using TCP/IP, and

the Session Border Controller is connected to the at least one VOIP long distance carrier using TCP/IP.