The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The gateway sites include network access devices to provide access to network resources. The data network connects one or more of the soft switch sites to one or more of the gateway sites. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.

Voice over data telecommunications network architecture

The present invention is related to the delivery of requests for emergency service initially handled by an emergency service call center (212) to a public safety answering point (244). The invention additionally allows for enhancement information to be provided to a public safety answering point (244) operator visually in connection with calls routed to that public safety answering point (244). This information may include caller identification, and additional information, such as information regarding the location of the caller and the nature of the emergency. Furthermore, the routing of requests for emergency service to an appropriate public safety answering point (244) can be accomplished for requests received over a wide geographic area. In particular, requests can be appropriately routed even though they may originate from locations encompassed by different emergency services network tandems.

Routing of emergency calls based on geographic location of originating telephone end office

The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled with a communications architecture, in which one or more Media Gateways (MGs) that include broadband switching fabric are controlled by a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) that includes switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric. A new data structure is provided in the MGC to identify bandwidth allocation on all traffic trunks interconnecting MGs controlled by the MGC. The new data structure can further maintain quality data representing the quality of packet transmissions in the broadband network data. The new data structure enables the MGC to monitor congestion in the broadband network and to allocate bandwidth more efficiently.

Combining narrowband applications with broadband transport

The quality of service existing in a data packet network during the course of communication of a voice call through a data network, such as the Internet, is monitored. A minimum acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). If the monitored quality is maintained in excess of the stored threshold, communication of the call continues through the established course of transmission. If the measured quality of service on the data network is not satisfactory, the routing of the call is changed to communication solely through a voice telephone network connection, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link, without terminating the call. The packet data network is thereby bypassed to obtain voice grade quality while maintaining the call.

Packet data network voice call quality monitoring

A method and device for distributing both high-speed data service, such as digital computer, video and multimedia data, and lower speed data service, such as POTS voice telephone signals, throughout a customer premises. High-speed digital data and lower speed POTS voice signals are separated by a POTS splitter and distributed throughout the customer premises on separate distribution networks. The lower speed POTS is carried on a wireless distribution network and the high-speed data carried on the existing customer premises wiring ordinarily used for POTS.

System and method for distributing voice and data information over wireless and wireline networks

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed virtual tandem switching system is provided in which a network of ATM-based devices is combined to create a distributed virtual tandem switch. The system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes a trunk interworking function (T-IWF) device and a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device. The trunk interworking function device converts end office voice trunks from TDM channels to ATM cells by employing a structured circuit emulation service. The centralized control and signaling interworking function device performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband signaling and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. Consequently, the ATM based distributed virtual tandem switching system replaces a standard tandem switch in the PSTN.

Atm-based distributed virtual tandem switching system

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed network switching system includes an ATM switching network (26) that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the distributed ATM switching fabric. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and adminstrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network (26). The CS-IWF device (30) may be a server farm.

ATM-based distributed network switching system

A distributed network switching system includes a data network. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the data network. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and administrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the data network.

Samuel Sigarto

Papers

Atm-based distributed virtual tandem switching system

ATM-based distributed network switching system

Distributed virtual tandem switch

Virtual tandem switch

Atm-basiertes, verteiltes, virtuelles tandemvermitlungssystem