US 8,275,112 B1Granted

Systems and methods of providing multi-homed tandem access

AssigneePeerless Network, Inc.

InventorsScott D. Kell, James E. Brewer, Anthony J. Hiller

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Abstract

Systems and methods for providing multi-homed tandem access in a communication system are disclosed. The disclosure may include a private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) in connection with a set of access tandems and with a call destination such as an end-user or a communications service. A set of LRNs may be homed across the set of access tandems, with each of the set of LRNs mapped to one or more TNs corresponding to the call destination. An originating party may use any of the TNs to reach the call destination. A plurality of originating calls each including one of the TNs may be received at the PPNBE from any of the access tandems and routed to the call destination. Thus, the present disclosure provides greater call capacity than available access tandem architectures as well as optimizes a maximum number of call paths to a particular call destination.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) for accessing a communications service using multi-homed tandem access, comprising:

a private packet network;
a logical call control entity coupled to the private packet network and in signaling communication with a plurality of access tandems and with an endpoint, the endpoint configured to support the communications service;
a single logical routing database coupled to the logical call control entity;
a signaling connection enabling the logical call control entity to be in signaling communication with the plurality of access tandems and with the endpoint;
an originating connection between the private packet network and each of the plurality of access tandems;
and
a terminating connection between the private packet network and the endpoint, wherein:
the endpoint is indicated by each Terminal Number (TN) in a set of TNs;
each TN in the set of TNs corresponds to a respective LRN (Local Routing Number) in a set of LRNs;
each LRN in the set of LRNs is homed to a respective access tandem of the plurality of access tandems;
the private packet network is configured to receive a call where:
the call is at least one of a data or a voice call,
the call includes a selected TN from the set of TNs,
a call content of the call is received over a corresponding originating connection from a corresponding access tandem, and
signaling for the call is received over the signaling connection;
and
the private packet network is further configured, based on an indication from the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database, to deliver the call from the corresponding originating connection over the private packet network to the terminating connection and the endpoint.

14 more elements

A method of delivering an increased volume of calls to an endpoint, comprising at a communications exchange:

communicating a homing arrangement to at least one other communications exchange, the homing arrangement including a mapping of each of a plurality of local routing numbers (LRNs) to a respective Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) access tandem in a set of ILEC access tandems;
communicating an assignment arrangement to the at least one other communications exchange, the assignment arrangement including a mapping of each Terminating Number (TN) of a set of TNs to a respective LRN from the plurality of LRNs so that members of the set of TNs are distributed for routing purposes across the set of ILEC access tandems;
coupling a single logical routing database to a logical call control entity at a private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE);
coupling a private packet network to the logical call control entity;
coupling an originating PPNBE gateway to the private packet network and to at least one originating trunk group in a set of originating trunk groups;
coupling a terminating PPNBE gateway to the private packet network and to a terminating trunk group, the terminating trunk group being an only trunk group in connection with both the PPNBE and the endpoint;
receiving a plurality of calls from at least one of the set of ILEC access tandems, each of the plurality of calls being one of a voice, data or hybrid call and including a selected TN from the set of TNs;
and
routing the plurality of calls to the endpoint, the endpoint being configured to support a communications service, wherein:
receiving the plurality of calls comprises receiving a call content of each of the plurality of calls at the originating PPNBE gateway via a corresponding originating trunk group connected to a respective ILEC access tandem of the set of ILEC access tandems, and
routing the plurality of calls to the endpoint comprises routing the call content of each of the plurality of calls, based on an indication from the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database, from the corresponding originating trunk group and corresponding originating PPNBE gateway to the terminating PPNBE gateway and the terminating trunk group via the PPNBE.

8 more elements

A method of delivering an increased volume of essentially simultaneous calls to an endpoint, comprising:

coupling an end-office communications exchange to each of a plurality of access tandems, each of the plurality of access tandems corresponding to a specific LRN (Local Routing Number) in a set of LRNs;
receiving, at the end-office communications exchange coupled to the plurality of access tandems, an originating call from a customer of a service provider corresponding to the end-office communications exchange, wherein the originating call includes a selected terminating number (TN) from a list of TNs provided to the customer, and each TN included in the list of TNs indicates the endpoint and corresponds to a respective LRN from the set of LRNs;
and
routing, by the end-office communications exchange, the originating call to a corresponding access tandem based on the selected TN.

1 more element

A method for accessing a communication service using multi-homed tandem access, comprising:

receiving an indication of an assignment of each TN included in a set of TNs to correspond to a specific local routing number (LRN) from a plurality of LRNs;
receiving, at a computing device associated with a communications exchange, a plurality of calls from at least one of a set of access tandems, wherein:
each call of the plurality of calls includes a Terminal Number (TN) that is selected, by an originating party of the each call, from the set of TNs;
each LRN of the plurality of LRNs is homed to a respective access tandem from the set of access tandems;
each TN of the set of TNs corresponds to a common destination endpoint, the common destination endpoint being configured to support the communications service;
and each of the plurality of calls is at least one of a voice or a data call;
and
routing, by the computing device associated with the communications exchange, the plurality of calls to the common destination endpoint.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/469,511Filed 20 May 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 20 May 2008
Granted: 25 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04M 15/47
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: fraud…
H04M 3/42238
Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location: in systems with telephone…
H04M 3/42314
Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers: in private branch exchanges
H04M 7/1285
Where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet…:…