Network resource conservation system

• US 6,636,508 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Christie, IV, Samuel Henry, Li, Xuewen
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/249,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/248, 370/249, 370/241, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/445, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/395.2, 370/431
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• 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 7/0093 signalling arrangements in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A communications network resource conservation system is provided for that conserves network bandwidth and improves voice quality. The method and apparatus permit users of H.323 terminal devices to talk to each other directly over the Internet thereby eliminating the need to use the resources of a telephone switch and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Communication between users is established directly via packet network. In one embodiment, a voice path between users is directly established without routing the voice through a PSTN as for a typical telephone call and yet get supplementary services from the PSTN switch. The telephone call will be set up through the telephone switch and the PSTN as for a normal call, but, the voice path will be Intraswitched directly between the calling party and the called party via their packet network. In another embodiment, the invention provides a way to revert an Intraswitched call through the telephone switch automatically when needed to invoke supplemental features of telephony service.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a voice communications pat between a caller and a called party, comprising:

receiving a request at a switch, said request comprising a request to establish a telephone call;

determining, at the switch, that the caller and the called party are capable of receiving packet-based communications; and

creating a voice path between the caller and the called party by routing the voice path through a packet-based network and by not routing the voice path through the switch.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a voice path between the caller and the called party comprises creating a voice path on a single LAN between the caller and the called party.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a request at a switch comprises receiving a request at a switch in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the caller and the called party are capable of receiving packet-based communications comprises determining if the caller and the called party are using H.323 compliant equipment.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring at the switch requests for supplemental features.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein monitoring requests for supplemental features comprises monitoring for requests selected from the group consisting of:

flexible calling and three way calling.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising bringing the voice path onto a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) after receipt of a request for supplemental features.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising routing the voice path through the switch after receipt of a request for supplemental features.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a voice path comprises sending a first setup message to the caller and a second setup message to the called party.

10. A switch in a telecommunications network, said switch adapted to establish a voice communication path between a caller and a called party, comprising:

a control system adapted to;

receive a request to establish a telephone call;

determine that the caller and the called party are capable of receiving packet-based communications; and

create a voice path between called and the called party by routing the voice path through a packet-based network and by not routing the voice path through the switch.

11. The switch of claim 10 wherein said control system adapted to create a voice path creates a voice path on a single LAN between the caller and the called party.

12. The switch of claim 10 wherein the switch is adapted to function with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

13. The switch of claim 10 wherein said control system is adapted to monitor requests for supplemental features.

14. The switch of claim 13 wherein said control system is further adapted to bring the voice path onto a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) after receipt of a request for supplemental features.

15. The switch of claim 13, wherein said control system is further adapted to send a first setup message to the caller and a second setup message to the called party.

16. A computer readable medium comprising software adapted to operate on a switch in a telecommunications network, said software to establish a voice communications path between a caller and a called party, said software adapted to:

receive a request at the switch, said request comprising a request to establish a telephone call;

determine, at the switch, that the caller and the called party are capable of receiving packet-based communications; and

create a voice path between the caller and the called party by routing the voice path through a packet-based network and by not routing the voice path through the switch.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said software adapted to create a voice path between the caller and the called party comprises software adapted to create a voice path on a single LAN between the caller and the called party.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said software adapted to receive a request at the switch comprises software adapted to receive a request at the switch in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said software is further adapted to monitor requests for supplemented features.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said software adapted to monitor requests for supplemental features comprises software adapted to monitor for requests selected from the group consisting of flexible calling and three way calling.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said software is further adapted to bring the voice path onto a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) after receipt of a request for supplemental features.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said software is further adapted to route the voice path through the switch after receipt of a request for supplemental features.

23. The compute readable medium of claim 16 wherein the software adapted to create a voice path is further adapted to send a first setup message to the caller and a second setup message to the called party.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the software adapted to determine that the caller and the called party are capable of receiving packet-based communications comprises software adapted to determine if the caller and the called party are using H.323 compliant equipment.