Special gateway for multimedia networks

• US 7,058,714 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cretch, Phil, Taeymans, Jean, Michielsens, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
• Application Number:
  US09/939,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/231, 370/400, 370/401, 370/389, 713/200
• US Class Current: 709/225
• 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 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A communications network that includes an originating Real Time Data over IP host and a terminating Real Time Data over IP host between which communication is to be effected. The network also includes communication controller for receiving information relating to the communication. The network also includes a communication forwarder that receives at least some data sent between the two Real Time Data over IP hosts and which sends to the communication controller information relating to the communication.

Claims

1. A communications network comprising:

an originating Real Time Data over IP host;

a terminating Real Time Data over IP host;

communication control means for at least receiving information relating to a communication;

a first communication forwarding means that replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet sent from the terminating Real Time Data over IP host to the originating Real Time Data over IP host with a first dynamic IP address to conceal the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, wherein the fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the first communication forwarding means; and

a second communication forwarding means that replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet from the originating Real Time Data over IP host to the terminating Real Time Data over IP host with a second dynamic IP address to conceal the fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host, wherein the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the second communication forwarding means,

wherein, during the setup of a communication session between the originating Real Time Data over IP host and the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, the communication control means exchanges only the dynamic IP addresses between the first and second communications forwarding means.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the network between one of the communication forwarding means and one of the Real Time Data over IP hosts is a Real Time Data over IP network.

3. The network according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of communication forwarding means, wherein each of the Real Time Data over IP hosts is connected to a selected one of the communication forwarding means.

4. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication forwarding means comprises a translation means that translates an external reference of one or both of the hosts into an internal reference.

5. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication forwarding means further comprises tracking means for measuring at least one predefined parameter related to the communication and the communication forwarding means comprises transmitting means for transmitting the measured value to a selected data receiver.

6. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the Real Time Data over IP hosts comprises message means for transmitting a message to the communication control means to indicate that a communication session is in progress.

14. The network according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communication forwarding means each comprise a translation means for translating a fixed IP address of a Real Time Data over IP host into a dynamic IP address.

7. A method of controlling communication on a communications network comprising an originating Real Time Data over IP host and a terminating Real Time Data over IP host between which communication is to be effected and a communication control means for receiving information relating to the communication, wherein the method comprises:

transmitting at least some data from the originating Real Time Data over IP host to a first communication forwarding means, wherein the first communication forwarding means replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet sent from the originating Real Time Data over IP host to the terminating Real Time Data over IP host with a first dynamic IP address to conceal the fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host, and wherein the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the first communication forwarding means;

transmitting at least some data from the terminating Real Time Data over IP host to a second communication forwarding means, wherein the second communication forwarding means replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet sent from the terminating Real Time Data over IP host to the originating Real Time Data over IP host with a second dynamic IP address to conceal the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, and wherein the fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the second communication forwarding means;

using the communication forwarding means to direct communication between the Real Time Data over IP hosts; and

sending information relating to the communication from the communication forwarding means to the communication control means,

wherein, during the setup of a communication session between the originating Real Time Data over IP host and the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, the communication control means exchanges only the dynamic IP addresses between the first and second communications forwarding means.

8. A communications network comprising:

an originating Real Time Data over IP host;

a terminating Real Time Data over IP host;

a communications controller for at least receiving information relating to a communication;

a first gateway that replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet sent from the terminating Real Time Data over IP host to the originating Real Time Data over IP host with a first dynamic IP address to conceal the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, wherein the fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the first gateway; and

a second gateway that replaces a fixed IP address in a data packet from the originating Real Time Data to the terminating Real Time Data over IP host with a second dynamic IP address to conceal a fixed IP address of the originating Real Time Data over IP host, wherein the fixed IP address of the terminating Real Time Data over IP host is unknown to the second gateway,

wherein, during the setup of a communication session between the originating Real Time Data over IP host and the terminating Real Time Data over IP host, the communication controller exchanges only the dynamic IP addresses between the first and second gateways.

9. The network according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the network between one of the gateways and one of the Real Time Data over IP hosts is a Real Time Data over IP network.

10. The network according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of gateways, wherein each of the Real Time Data over IP hosts is connected to a selected one of the gateways.

11. The network according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the gateways comprises a translator that translates an external reference of one or both of the hosts into an internal reference.

12. The network according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the gateways further comprises a tracker for measuring at least one predefined parameter related to the communication and the gateway comprises a transmitter for transmitting the measured value to a selected data receiver.

13. The network according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the Real Time Data over IP hosts comprises a message transmitter for transmitting a message to the communications controller to indicate that a communication session is in progress.

15. The network according to claim 8, wherein the first and second gateways each comprise a translator for translating a fixed IP address of a Real Time Data over IP host into a dynamic IP address.