System and method to internetwork telecommunication networks of different protocols

• US 6,950,441 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sonus Networks Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ravikumar, Sivakumar, Kaczmarczyk, Casimir M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/538,040
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401, 370/410, 370465-467, 370/353, 370/357
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks

Abstract

A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols is provided. The softswitch includes a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event. The softswitch further includes a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generate outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent. The signaling agent then terminates the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources.

Claims

1. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event; and

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generate outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent, the signaling agent further terminating the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources; and

further comprising a network directory server operable to receive requests for routing information to establish data sessions from the call agent, and provide routing information to the call agent.

2. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a resource manager operable to receive outgoing resource requests from the call agent, and provide outgoing resource availability responses to the call agent.

13. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the networks comprise a public switched telephone network.

14. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the networks comprise a packet network.

15. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the networks comprise a wireless network.

16. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the call agent comprises a protocol-independent logic engine operable to execute a function-specific logic control program.

17. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a billing sub-system in communication with the call agent and operable to generate call detail records.

3. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event; and

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generates outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent, the signaling agent further terminating the data session on the requested outgoing resources; and

further comprising a network directory server operable to receive requests for address resolution to establish data sessions from the call agent, and provide address resolution responses to the call agent.

4. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event; and

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generate outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent, the signaling agent further terminating the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources; and

further comprising a network gateway operable to receive request for address locations of called parties in external networks to establish data sessions from the call agent, and provide the address locations to the call agent.

5. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event; and

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generate outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent, the signaling agent further terminating the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources; and

wherein the signaling agent comprises;

a logic control executing a logic control program and operable to process signaling messages of a particular signaling protocol;

a codec specialized in the signaling protocol of an access network and operable to parse and format signaling messages according to the signaling protocol; and

a filter operable to filter and route signaling messages from the codec to the logic control.

6. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the signaling protocol is SS7.

7. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the signaling protocol is session initiation protocol.

8. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the signaling protocol is H.323.

9. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call model event, and route the call model event; and

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call model event, request outgoing resources for establishing data sessions, generate outgoing signaling messages, and send the outgoing signaling messages to the signaling agent, the signaling agent further terminating the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources; and

further comprising a network gateway which comprises;

a logic control executing a logic control program and operable to process messages of a particular transport protocol;

a codec specialized in the transport protocol of a media gateway and operable to parse and format the messages according to the transport protocol; and

a filter operable to filter and route signaling messages from the codec to the logic control.

10. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the transport protocol is media gateway control protocol.

11. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the transport protocol is Internet protocol device control protocol.

12. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the transport protocol is simple gateway control protocol.

18. A softswitch interconnecting networks of different transport and signaling protocols, comprising:

a signaling agent coupled to the networks and operable to receive incoming signaling messages, translate the incoming signaling messages to a call event, and route the call event;

a call agent in communication with the signaling agent and operable to receive the call event, verify the validity of incoming circuits of inbound calls, generate a request for an outgoing resources for establishing data sessions;

a network directory server in communication with the call agent and operable to receive the request for an outgoing resource, and provide information on the outgoing resource;

a network gateway agent operable to receive a request to establish a data session on the selected outgoing resource, and set up an open session; and

the call agent operable to terminate the data sessions on the requested outgoing resources, and generate a call detail record in response to disconnecting the data session.

19. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a resource manager operable to receive outgoing resource requests from the call agent, and provide outgoing resource availability responses to the call agent.

20. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the network directory server is further operable to receive requests for address resolution to establish data sessions from the call agent, and provide address resolution responses to the call agent.

21. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the signaling agent comprises:

a logic control executing a logic control program and operable to process signaling messages of a particular signaling protocol;

a codec specialized in the signaling protocol of an access network and operable to parse and format signaling messages according to the signaling protocol; and

a filter operable to filter and route signaling messages from the codec to the logic control.

22. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the signaling protocol is SS7.

23. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the signaling protocol is session initiation protocol.

24. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the signaling protocol is H.323.

25. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the network gateway comprises:

a logic control executing a logic control program and operable to process messages of a particular transport protocol;

a codec specialized in the transport protocol of a media gateway and operable to parse and format the messages according to the transport protocol; and

a filter operable to filter and route signaling messages from the codec to the logic control.

26. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the transport protocol is media gateway control protocol.

27. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the transport protocol is Internet protocol device control protocol.

28. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the transport protocol is simple gateway control protocol.

29. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the networks comprise a public switched telephone network.

30. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the networks comprise a packet network.

31. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the networks comprises a wireless network.

32. The softswitch, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the call agent comprises a protocol-independent logic engine operable to execute a function-specific logic control program.