公开(公告)号：US20040022237A1

公开(公告)日：2004-02-05

申请号：US10366061

申请日：2003-02-12

Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Inventor： Isaac K. Elliott ,  Steven P. Higgins ,  Andrew John Dugan ,  Jon Peterson ,  Robert L. Hernandez ,  Rick D. Steele ,  Bruce W. Baker ,  Rich Terpstra ,  Jonathan S. Mitchell ,  Jin-Gen Wang ,  Harold Stearns ,  Eric Zimmerer ,  Ray Waibel ,  Kraig Owen ,  Shawn M. Lewis

IPC: H04L012/66

CPC classification number: H04L29/06027 ,  H04L12/6418 ,  H04L12/66 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L65/1006 ,  H04L65/1009 ,  H04L65/1026 ,  H04L65/1036 ,  H04L65/1043 ,  H04L65/1069 ,  H04L65/1083 ,  H04L65/4007 ,  H04L65/605 ,  H04L69/08 ,  H04L2012/6472 ,  H04M3/42 ,  H04M7/1245 ,  H04M7/1255 ,  H04Q3/0025 ,  H04Q3/0045

Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The gateway sites include network access devices to provide access to network resources. The data network connects one or more of the soft switch sites to one or more of the gateway sites. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.

Abstract translation: 本发明描述了一种用于在适于与传统PSTN共存和通信的分组交换网络上传送语音和数据的系统和方法。 系统允许通过数据网络从数据网络上的任何LEC，客户设施或直接IP连接到数据网络进行语音呼叫和数据呼叫的分组交换。 该系统包括软交换站点，网关站点，数据网络，配置组件，网络事件组件和网络管理组件。 系统与客户设施（例如，PBX），运营商设施（例如，LEC）和传统信令网络（例如，SS7）接口，以处理在网络和非网络呼叫者的任何组合之间的呼叫。 软切换站点为语音网络架构提供核心呼叫处理。 在优选实施例中，使用诸如因特网协议设备控制（IPDC）协议的协议来请求建立和拆除呼叫的软交换站点管理网关站点。 网关站点通过数据网络发起和终止主叫方和被叫方之间的呼叫。 网关站点包括网络访问设备以提供对网络资源的访问。 数据网络将一个或多个软交换站点连接到一个或多个网关站点。 配置和网络事件组件收集在软交换站点记录的呼叫事件。 网络管理组件包括用于集中式网络管理的网络运营中心（NOC）。

公开(公告)号：US20030198216A1

公开(公告)日：2003-10-23

申请号：US10179613

申请日：2002-06-24

Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Inventor： Shawn M. Lewis

IPC: H04L012/66 ,  H04L012/56 ,  H04J003/12

CPC classification number: H04L65/104 ,  H04L12/2856 ,  H04L12/2876 ,  H04Q3/0025 ,  H04Q3/0029 ,  H04Q3/0045

Abstract: An open architecture platform bypasses data from the facilities of a telecommunications carrier, e.g. an incumbent local exchange carrier, by distinguishing between voice and data traffic, and handling voice and data traffic separately. An SS7 gateway receives and transmits SS7 signaling messages with the platform. When signaling for a call arrives, the SS7 gateway informs a control server on the platform. The control server manages the platform resources, including the SS7 gateway, tandem network access servers (NASs) and modem NASs. A tandem NAS receives the call over bearer channels. The control server determines whether the incoming call is voice traffic or data traffic, by the dialed number, and instructs the tandem NAS how to handle the call. Voiced traffic is transmitted to a switch for transmission from the platform. Data traffic is terminated at a modem NAS, where it is converted into a form suitable for a data network, such as a private data network or an Internet services provider (ISP). The converted data is sent by routers to the data network. The data network need not convert the data, as the function has already been provided by the platform. In lieu of a conversion, the modems can create a tunnel (a virtual private network) between a remote server and the data network.