Method and apparatus using enhanced attachment for improved connectivity in telecommunications
AssigneeMCI Communications Corporation
InventorsChristopher L. Boyd, Hassen Pruitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Voice services provided over a packet switched facility such as a Frame Relay network are enhanced with routing capability by providing for attachment devices which, on initialization with the network, attempt to discover other similar attachment devices on the network. Thereafter the attachment devices exchange information on terminal accessibility to improve connectivity over the network.
Claims23
A method of enhancing the provision of voice services via packet switched facilities in which a voice switch is connected to the packet switched facilities using an associated attachment device, the method including:
- storing, in plural attachment devices, information respecting voice terminals accessible through the associated voice switch,
- generating a request from a particular attachment device to another attachment device for information respecting voice terminals accessible via the another attachment device's associated voice switch, and
- storing at the particular attachment device information received in response to the request from the particular attachment device.
A system for providing enhanced voice services via packet switched facilities including a voice switch connecting to the packet switched facilities with an associated attachment device, said system including:
- means in plural attachment devices for storing information respecting voice terminals accessible through the associated voice switch,
- means in a particular attachment device for generating a request to another attachment device for information respecting voice terminals accessible via the another attachment device's associated voice switch, and
- second storing means in the particular attachment device for storing information received in response to the request.
A system for provisioning voice services over a frame relay network, comprising:
- a plurality of voice switch private branch exchanges coupled via respective frame relay attachment devices to a first frame relay network;
- and
- a first plurality of voice terminals coupled to the plurality of private branch exchanges, respectively,
- wherein each frame relay attachment device is configured to store an identification of all first voice terminals accessible, without incurring toll charges, to the respective private branch exchange of the frame relay attachment device, and
- each frame relay attachment device is configured to store an identification of all first voice terminals accessible, without incurring toll charges, to the other private branch exchanges of the other frame relay attachment devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.