System, method and article of manufacture for selecting a gateway of a hybrid communication system architecture

• US 7,145,898 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1996
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, Isaac K.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US08/746,901
• Time in Patent Office: 3,669 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/256, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/406, 370/392, 370/393, 370/394, 370/396, 370/397, 370/399, 370/248, 370/254, 370/255, 370/398, 370217-228, 370237-238, 370/249, 370/252, 379/220, 379/221, 379/93.07, 379/88.17, 379/90.01, 379/114, 379/67, 379/89, 379/93.08, 379/93.25, 379/100.11, 379/201, 379/207, 709223-227, 709228-229, 709/239
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• 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 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. A media order entry captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is utilized by the system throughout the media experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other media control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site. A directory service that supports a hybrid communication system architecture is provided for routing traffic over the hybrid network and the internet and selecting a network proximal to the origination of the call.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a gateway proximal to a network access point that satisfies a predefined call service on a hybrid network, wherein the hybrid network includes a circuit switched network, a packet switched network and a directory service to route a call, comprising:

transmitting a query including a type of call service to the directory service to identify a plurality of gateways between the packet switched network and circuit switched network that match the predefined call service criteria;

sending a message to each of said plurality of gateways to obtain a trace route;

ranking the plurality of gateways based on the trace route of each of said plurality of gateways;

translating an identifier of a destination of the call from a listing of telephone numbers and associated internet protocol addresses in the directory service;

selecting a gateway with a highest ranking from said plurality of gateways; and

attempting to route the call over the selected gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attempting to route the call over a next ranked gateway upon a failure of said attempting to route the call over the selected gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said ranking includes:

ranking highest any of said plurality of gateways that are accessible without traveling through any intervening router;

ranking all of said plurality of gateways that are accessible without traveling through any intervening router in order of lowest latency, if more than one of said plurality of gateways are accessible without traveling through any intervening router; and

ranking lowest any remaining gateways of said plurality of gateways.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said ranking lowest any remaining gateways further includes:

ranking any remaining gateways of said plurality of gateways in order of lowest latency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined call service comprises parameters based on a quality of service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching the predefined call service by accessing a gateway registration scheme.

5. A hybrid network that includes a circuit switched communications network and a packet transmission network coupled to the circuit switched communications network, the hybrid network comprising:

a directory service;

a plurality of gateways connecting the circuit switched communication network and the packet network; and

a call router coupled to the circuit switched communications network with logic that transmits a query including a type of call service to the directory service to identify a plurality of gateways between the packet transmission network and the circuit switched communications network that match predefined call service criteria, sends a message to each of said plurality of gateways to obtain a trace route, ranks the plurality of gateways based on the trace route of each of said plurality of gateways, translates an identifier of a destination of the call from a listing of telephone numbers and associated internet protocol addresses in the directory service, selects a gateway with a highest ranking from said plurality of gateways, and attempts to route the call over the selected gateway.

6. The hybrid network of claim 5, wherein said logic attempts to route the call over a next ranked gateway upon a failure of the attempt to route the call over the selected gateway.

7. The hybrid network of claim 5, wherein said logic ranks highest any of said plurality of gateways that are accessible without traveling through any intervening router, ranking all of said plurality of gateways that are accessible without traveling through any intervening router in order of lowest latency, if more than one of said plurality of gateways are accessible without traveling through any intervening router;

and ranks lowest any remaining gateways of said plurality of gateways.

8. The hybrid network of claim 7, wherein said logic ranks lowest any remaining gateways of said plurality of gateways in order of lowest latency.