Method and apparatus for monitoring a network for customer signaling during the term of a call
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsThomas W. Anderson, Elliott Baral, Ronald S. Byrd, Bernard W. Fecht, David S. Isenberg, Larry W. Kirsch, Frederick W. Korty, Ronald B. Martin, Dario L. Parola
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Abstract
A network monitor and associated control system is provided to monitor a toll network for customer signaling. A multi-tone signal processor and associated control is provided such that when signaling is detected, such signaling is validated against a provisioned list. A valid signal is reported to a central control of the network switch, which takes action in response to the signal.
Claims25
In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected to said network switches, and a plurality of network monitors each under the control of one of said network switches and connected in pairs to respective opposite ends of one of said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor and an echo canceler, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call origination from an identified calling line on said one channel at a first of said plurality of network switches,
- said first network switch determining that said identified calling line subscribes to network services,
- said first network switch enabling said multi-tone signal processor in one of said pair of network monitors to monitor said channel for signaling during a period from a call set-up continuing throughout a connection of said identified calling line and a terminating line, and ending upon a termination of the call by said identified calling line,
- a second of said pair of network monitors canceling echoes of said signaling;
- said one of said pair of network monitors reporting said signaling to said first network switch in response to its detection of signaling;
- and
- said first network switch providing access to network services for said one of said channels.
In a network switching system comprising one or more network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected under control of said one or more network switches, and a plurality of network monitors under the control of each of said one or more network switches and connected, in pairs to said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor and an echo canceler, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call origination on one of said channels at an originating one of said one or more network switches, said call origination comprising a destination number and an identification of a calling line;
- said originating switch enabling said multi-tone signal processor of one of said pair of network monitors connected to said originating channel to monitor said channel for signaling;
- another of said pair of network monitors canceling echo of said signaling;
- in response to said signaling, said one of said one or more network monitors reporting said signaling to said originating switch;
- and
- said originating switch providing access to network services for said one of said channels in response to verifying that said calling line may have access to network services.
A network monitor comprising:
- signal detection means connected to a call path at a call origination network switch for detecting signals communicated on said call path through said call origination network switch and through a call destination network switch;
- echo cancellation means connected to said call path in conjunction with said signaling detection means for canceling echoes of signaling from said call destination network switch;
- and
- controller means connected to said signaling detector means responsive to said signaling detection means for determining validity of said detected signals and for initiating network services responsive to ones of said signals determined to be valid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.