US 6,134,235 A · Pots/packet bridge

Abstract

A system and method for bridging the POTS network and a packet network, such as the Internet, uses a set of access objects that provide the interfacing and functionality for exchanging address and payload information with the packet network, and for exchanging payload information with the payload subnetwork and signaling information with the signaling subnetwork of the POTS network. The system includes a communications management object that coordinates the transfer of information between the POTS network and the packet network; a payload object that transfers payload information between the system and the payload subnetwork of the first communications network; a signaling object that transfers signaling information between the system and the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork; and a packet object that transfers payload and address information between the system and the second communications network in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network. An alternative embodiment uses a plurality of payload, signaling and packet objects to provide a scalable system.

Claims65

Dependent claims

A system for bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising:

a. a communications management object that coordinates the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network, wherein the communications management object coordinates the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network by initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down, bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network.
b. a payload object linked to the communications management object, wherein said payload object transfers payload information between the system and the payload subnetwork of the first communications network;
c. a signaling object linked to the communications management object, wherein said signaling object transfers signaling information between the system and the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork;
and
d. a packet object linked to the communications management object, wherein said packet object transfers payload and address information between the system and the second communications network in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network.

2 more elements

A system for bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising:

a. a communications management object that coordinates the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network wherein the communications management object coordinates the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network by initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network.
b. a plurality of payload objects linked to the communications management object, wherein each payload object transfers payload information between the system and the payload subnetwork of the first communications network;
c. a plurality of signaling objects linked to the communications management object, wherein each signaling object transfers signaling information between the system and the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork;
and
d. a plurality of packet objects linked to the communications management object, wherein each packet object transfers payload and address information between the system and the second communications network in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network.

2 more elements

A method of bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a first communications link to the payload subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating payload information;
b. establishing a second communications link to the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating signaling information in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork;
c. establishing a third communications link to the second communications network for communicating information in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network;
and
d. coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network using the first communications link, the second communications link and the third communications link, wherein the step of coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network includes initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down, bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network.

2 more elements

A method of bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a first plurality of communications links to the payload subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating payload information;
b. establishing a second plurality of communications links to the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating signaling information in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork;
c. establishing a third plurality of communications links to the second communications network for communicating information in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network;
and
d. coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network using one of the first plurality of communications links, one of the second plurality of communications links and one of the third plurality of communications link, wherein the step of coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network includes initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down, bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pots/packet bridge

Life of this patent

Pots/packet bridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims65