Hybrid switching architecture having dynamically assigned switching models for converged services platform

• US 20050105541A1
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialogic, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dialogic, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Jain, Rajnish, Tavares, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A converged services platform based on a hybrid switching architecture in which either a traditional switching model or a soft-switching model may be selected on a call-by-call basis. In addition, the assigned switching model may be dynamically changed while a call is in progress in order to gain access to desired media services while avoiding network latencies and undesirable service delays.

Claims

1. A method for controlling calls in a telecommunication system comprising the steps of:

defining a first switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively coupled;

defining a second switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively decoupled; and

at the initiation of a call or during the progress of the call assigning one of said first and second switching models to said call.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system is a converged services platform (CSP).

3. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

configuring said telecommunication system to switch substantially no bearer traffic during said second switching model.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein said step of assigning is performed on a call-by-call basis.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein said step of assigning is performed according to a host message.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein said step of assigning defaults to a particular switching model in the event said host message is unavailable.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein said step of assigning is performed dynamically one or more times during said call.

8. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing media resources arranged on a media server.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein said media resources are selected from a group consisting of:

generating tones, detecting tones, providing conferencing, recording announcements, and playing announcements.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein said media server is co-located with switching hardware of said telecommunication system.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein said media server is geographically remote from said switching hardware of said telecommunication system.

12. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

modifying existing telecommunication switching platforms with operating software to meet capabilities of assigning one of said first and second switching models to said call.

13. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

establishing an early media path prior to receiving an answer to said initiation of said call.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein said early media path plays a recorded announcement.

15. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transitioning between a 2-way voice path and a 2-way data path during said call.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein said data path is used for transmitting data from a data communication device, such as a fax or modem.

17. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

augmenting a 2-way voice path with a 2-way data path during said call.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein said data path is used for transmitting data from a data communication device, such as a fax or modem.

19. The method as in claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system is configured as an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein said IVR system provides a prepaid calling service.

21. The method as in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing a two-way RTP voice path from a first session initiation protocol end-point to a second telecommunication system having said interactive voice response system;

establishing a two-way TDM voice path between said interactive voice response system and with said second telecommunication system;

obtaining DTMF digits from said interactive voice response system;

after information is obtained from said interactive voice response system;

i) issuing messages to a second session initiation protocol end-point;

ii) establishing a two-way RTP voice path between said first session initiation protocol end-point and said second session initiation protocol end-point; and

iii) releasing said channel established between said interactive voice response system and said second telecommunication system; and

establishing a two-way RTP voice path between said first end-point and said second end-point.

22. The method as in claim 1, wherein assigning said second switching model further comprises the steps of:

establishing a two-way RTP voice path between a first session initiation protocol end-point and a second session initiation protocol end-point, by said telecommunication system performing the following;

i) receiving a message from said first end-point and in response thereto, issuing a Request for Service with a data message to an associated host, with Session Description Protocol data of said first end-point contained within said data message, via an application programming interface with said host;

ii) receiving a Route Control message generated by said host, and in response signaling a call to said second end-point using an available voice over IP channel;

iii) issuing to said second end-point an invite message, which includes said first end-point Session Description Protocol as data, and waiting for said second end-point to return a ringing message;

iv) in response, issuing a ringing message to said first end-point and subsequently receiving from said second end-point, an OK message indicating that said second end-point is available to accept said call initiated by said first end-point;

V) issuing a message to said host with information regarding said first and second end-points and waiting for said host to respond with a message instructing said telecommunication system to process said call in accordance with said second switching model; and

vi) issuing further messages to establish a two-way RTP voice path between said first and second end-points.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein said invite message is a SIP INVITE message.

24. The method as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

establishing an early media path between said telecommunication system and said host to establish a two-way RTP early voice path between said first and second end-points.

25. The method as in claim 24, wherein said second end-point plays a recorded announcement via said RTP early voice path.

26. The method as in claim 25, wherein a media server is acting on behalf of said second end-point.

27. The method as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

transitioning from said two-way RTP voice path to a two-way RTP data path upon said telecommunication system receiving a re-invite message from said second session initiation protocol end-point.

28. The method as in claim 27, wherein said re-invite message is a SIP RE-INVITE message.

29. The method as in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

providing an internal media data transfer at said telecommunication system; and

issuing a re-invite message to said first end-point, to establish a two-way RTP Data path between said first end-point and said second end-point.

30. A telecommunication system comprising:

switching hardware having circuitry for operating under a first switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively coupled, and a second switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively decoupled; and

a processor to assign one of said first and second switching models to said call at the initiation of a call or during the progress of the call.

31. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said telecommunication system is a converged services platform (CSP).

32. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said telecommunication system is configured to switch substantially no bearer traffic during said second switching model.

33. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said processor assigns said switching models on a call-by-call basis.

34. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said processor assigns said switching models in response to a host message.

35. The telecommunication system as in claim 34, wherein said step of assigning defaults to a particular switching model in the event said host message is unavailable.

36. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said processor assigns said switching models dynamically one or more times during said call.

37. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, further comprising:

a media server for providing media resources.

38. The telecommunication system as in claim 37, wherein said media resources are selected from a group consisting of:

generating tones, detecting tones, providing conferencing, recording announcements, and playing announcements.

39. The telecommunication system as in claim 37, wherein said media server is co-located with switching hardware of said telecommunication system.

40. The telecommunication system as in claim 37, wherein said media server is geographically remote from said switching hardware of said telecommunication system.

41. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, further comprising:

operating software for modifying existing telecommunication switching platforms to meet capabilities of assigning one of said first and second switching models to said call.

42. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein an early media path is established prior to receiving an answer to said initiation of said call.

43. The telecommunication system as in claim 42, wherein said early media path is utilized for playing a recorded announcement.

44. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said switching hardware transitions between a 2-way voice path and a 2-way data path during said call.

45. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said switching hardware augments a 2-way voice path with a 2-way data path during said call.

46. The telecommunication system as in claim 44, wherein said data path is used for transmitting data from a data communication device, such as a fax or modem.

47. The telecommunication system as in claim 30, wherein said telecommunication system is configured as an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

48. The telecommunication system as in claim 47, wherein said IVR system provides a prepaid calling service.

49. A telecommunication system comprising:

means for defining a first switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively coupled;

means for defining a second switching model in which call control signaling and media switching are effectively decoupled; and

means for assigning one of said first and second switching models to said call at the initiation of a call or during the progress of the call.