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US 6,807,170 B1Granted
System and method for implementing user-to-user information transfer services
AssigneeWorldCom, Inc.
InventorsRanga R. Dendi, Paul D. Litzenberger, Timothy A. Morgan, Shailin Sehgal
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Abstract
A system and method for implementing user-to-user information transfer services over a communications network having switches, a voice network, and a signaling network. The invention establishes a connection path over both the voice network and the signaling network for connections requested by users to follow such that multiple connections may utilize the same connection paths. Each of switches have available a database for tracking and maintaining current connection information for connections with other switches.
Claims36
A communications network comprising:
- at least first and second switches, each of said first and second switches having a database that stores connection information,
- a signaling network connecting said first and second switches, and
- a voice network connecting said first and second switches;
- and wherein said first and second switches update the respective databases when at least one of the following occurs:
- (a) a path over each of said signaling network and said voice network is established,
- (b) a connection over an established path on one of said signaling network and said voice network is established,
- (c) a connection over one of said signaling network and said voice network is released, and
- (d) the path over said signaling network and the path over said voice network are cleared.
5 more elements
A method for establishing multiple connections comprising:
- (a) receiving a first connection request from a first device at a first switch,
- (b) establishing a first connection between the first switch and the first device,
- (c) entering connection and circuit information into a first database,
- (d) establishing a signaling path between the first switch and a second switch,
- (e) establishing a voice path between the first switch and the second switch,
- (f) establishing the first connection between the second switch and a second device,
- (g) entering connection and circuit information into a second database,
- (h) receiving a second connection request from a third device for communication between the first switch and the second switch at at least one of the first switch and the second switch,
- (i) checking the database of the switch receiving the second connection request,
- (j) establishing a second connection between the switch receiving the second request and the third device,
- (k) establishing communication through at least one of the signaling path and the voice path previously established between the first switch and the second switch, and
- (l) establishing the second connection between the other of said first and second switches and a fourth device.
9 more elements
A communications network, comprising
- a first switch,
- a second switch,
- a voice network connecting said first switch with said second switch,
- a signaling network connecting said first switch with said second switch;
- wherein said first switch includes
- means for receiving a connection request from a first device to transfer information to a second device,
- means for establishing a connection between the first device and said first switch,
- means for establishing a voice path over said voice network to said second switch,
- means for establishing a signaling path over said signaling network to said second switch, and
- first storing means for storing connection and path information;
- said second switch includes
- means for establishing a connection with the second device, and
- second storing means for stored connection and path information;
- and
- each of said first switch and said second switch further including
- means for receiving additional connection requests for communication,
- means for determining if a connection currently exists between said first switch and said second switch when the additional connection travels over at least one of the voice path and the signaling path between said first and second switches based on connection and path information in at least one of said first storing means and said second storing means,
- means for establishing a connection responsive to each additional connection request over at least one of the signaling path and the voice path.
15 more elements
A switch for facilitating communication between devices on a communications network having a plurality of such switches each connected to at least one device, said switch comprising:
- means for receiving from a first device a connection request to a second device,
- a database having the following information:
- a list of switches with which at least one of a signaling path and a voice path exists from said switch,
- information regarding devices connected to said switch and the switches included in the list of switches, and
- a circuit identification code for each path involving said switch,
- means for establishing a signaling path and a voice path to another switch when the other switch is not included within the list of switches in said database, and
- means for routing the requested connection through at least one of the signaling path and the voice path when the other switch is included in the list of switches in said database.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.