System and method of providing communication service using a private packet network backbone exchange

A method of providing cost-efficient communication service between an inter-exchange carrier (IXC) and a plurality of end-office exchanges, comprising:

• providing an IXC trunk group connection to an only IXC trunk group between the IXC and a private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE);
• providing a local trunk group connection to a local trunk group between the PPNBE and each of the plurality of end-office exchanges;
• controlling traffic within the PPNBE with a logical call control entity in signaling communication with the IXC and with each of the plurality of end-office exchanges;
• coupling a single logical routing database to the logical call control entity;
• providing a signaling connection at the PPNBE to a signaling network, the signaling connection enabling the signaling communication to and from the logical call control entity;
• coupling a private packet network to the logical call control entity, and configuring the private packet network to carry call content and optionally signaling corresponding to a call established by the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database;
• coupling the private packet network to the IXC trunk group connection;
• coupling the private packet network to each of the local trunk group connections;
• establishing, by the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database, a call instance in the PPNBE corresponding to each call in a volume of communication traffic between the IXC and the plurality of end-office exchanges;
• and
• routing the volume of communication traffic over the only IXC trunk group, wherein the volume of communication traffic:
• includes a plurality of calls each of which terminates to or originates from any of the plurality of end-office exchanges over a corresponding local trunk group,
• is greater than a maximum volume of communication traffic serviced by a maximally-apportioned trunk group between the IXC and a tandem exchange, and
• includes at least one of voice calls, data calls or hybrid voice and data calls.

A method for providing communication service, comprising:

• receiving a call at a private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) via a first connection between a first exchange and a first gateway of the PPNBE, the call being one of a voice, data or hybrid voice and data call and the first exchange supporting a first local access technology from a group of local access technologies including wireless, wireline, data communication, VoIP and cable telephony;
• controlling traffic within the PPNBE with a logical call control entity in signaling communication with the first and a second exchange, the second exchange supporting a second local access technology;
• coupling a single logical routing database to the logical call control entity;
• coupling a signaling connection to a signaling network to the logical call control entity, the signaling connection enabling the logical call control entity to be in signaling communication with the first and the second exchanges;
• coupling the first gateway of the PPNBE and a second gateway of the PPNBE to a private IP packet network;
• establishing, by the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database, a call instance in the PPNBE corresponding to the call;
• and
• routing, within the PPNBE via the private IP packet network and a second connection between the second gateway of the PPNBE and the second exchange, the call to the second exchange;
• and
• enabling the PPNBE to establish:
• a local call between an originating local exchange and a terminating local exchange,
• a long distance call between the originating local exchange and a different terminating local exchange,
• a first tandem call between the originating local exchange and a terminating tandem exchange,
• a second tandem call between an originating tandem exchange and the terminating local exchange;
• an first inter-exchange call between the originating local exchange and a terminating inter-exchange carrier (IXC), and
• a second inter-exchange call between an originating IXC and the terminating local exchange.

A private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) for providing communication service, comprising:

• means for providing an IXC trunk group connection to an only IXC trunk group between the IXC and a private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE);
• means for providing a local trunk group connection to a local trunk group between the PPNBE and each of a plurality of end-office exchanges;
• means for controlling traffic within the PPNBE with a logical call control entity in signaling communication with the IXC and with each of the plurality of end-office exchanges;
• means for providing a signaling connection at the PPNBE to a signaling network, the signaling connection enabling the signaling communication to and from the logical call control entity;
• means for coupling a private packet network to the logical call control entity, and configuring the private packet network to carry call content and optionally signaling corresponding to a call established by the logical call control entity by using a packet or cell switching technology;
• means for coupling the private packet network to the IXC trunk group connection;
• means for coupling the private packet network to each of the local trunk group connections;
• means for establishing, by the logical call control entity, a call instance in the PPNBE corresponding to each call in a volume of communication traffic between the IXC and the plurality of end-office exchanges;
• and
• means for routing the volume of communication traffic over the only IXC trunk group, wherein the volume of communication traffic:
• includes a plurality of calls each of which terminates to or originates from any of the plurality of end-office exchanges over a corresponding local trunk group,
• is greater than a maximum volume of communication traffic serviced by a maximally-apportioned trunk group between the IXC and a tandem exchange, and
• includes at least one of voice calls, data calls or hybrid voice and data calls.