Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-05
2002-06-11
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
C379S112070, C379S112060, C379S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06404864
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telephony. More particularly, in some embodiments, the present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring, evaluating and actively managing telephone-call quality in data-network-based telephony networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Data networks such as the Internet are now being used to transmit voice. Such data-network-based telephony networks provide an alternative to public-switched telephone networks (“PSTNs”) for placing telephony calls.
FIG. 1
depicts a schematic diagram of a system
100
for voice communications over a data network in the prior art. The system includes data network
102
and public-switched telephone networks (“PSTN”)
120
and
122
. The specifics of the architectures and communications protocols of such systems are not described herein except to note that they are quite different from one another such that direct communication therebetween is not possible. It will be appreciated that while two PSTNs (i.e., PSTN
120
and
122
) are depicted, there is, at least functionally, only one worldwide PSTN.
Communication between a PSTN and a data network is implemented via a “gateway.” A gateway is an entrance to and an exit from a communications network. A gateway is typically an electronic repeater device that intercepts and translates signals from one network to another. A gateway often includes a signal conditioner that filters out unwanted noise and controls characters. In data networks, gateways are typically a “node” on both networks that connects two otherwise incompatible networks. Thus, gateways often perform code and protocol conversions. Such an operation would be required for communication between a PSTN and a data network. Assuming an analog voice signal is delivered from the PSTN, the gateway digitizes that signal from the PSTN and encodes it and transmits it as “packets” (hereinafter “digitized voice signal”) over the data network according to data network protocols. In other embodiments, the signal from the PSTN is a digital signal, such that analog-to-digital conversion is not required. Protocol conversion is still required.
An element associated with a gateway is a “gatekeeper.” A gatekeeper is responsible for gateway registration, address resolution and the like. A gatekeeper may be viewed as the router that directs a digitized voice signal to a “terminating” gateway (i.e., a gateway that provides protocol conversion for transmission over a PSTN, for example, to a telephone). As used herein, the term “gateway” includes both the gateway and gatekeeper functions.
System
100
therefore also includes gateway
110
that acts as a conduit between PSTN
120
and data network
102
, and gateway
112
serving as a conduit between data network
102
and PSTN
122
. The system further includes telephone
130
that is
20
connected, via link L
1
, to PSTN
120
and telephone
136
that is connected, via link L
8
, to PSTN
122
. The links that are depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2
are, as is well known, trunk lines, trunk groups, etc., as appropriate.
In operation, voice message
140
from telephone
130
is transmitted over link L
1
to PSTN
120
. Within PSTN
120
, voice message
140
is routed to switch S
2
over link L
2
. Switch S
2
, the operation of which is well known in the art, will typically route voice message
140
to another switch (not shown) over a trunk group (not shown). In such a manner, voice message
140
moves through PSTN
120
being routed from switch to switch until it is carried over a final link L
3
out of PSTN
120
. Voice message
140
is then carried, over L
4
, to gateway
110
. “Originating” gateway
110
performs protocol conversion and digitizes, as required, voice signal
140
. Voice message
140
is then routed (the gatekeeper's function) into data network
102
. For clarity of presentation, the voice message will be assigned the same reference numeral (e.g.,
140
), notwithstanding the fact that the signal carrying the message is physically changed during transmission through the system.
Message
140
is transmitted over call path DNCP to (call-) “terminating” gateway
112
wherein the signal leaves data network
102
. Note that the designation “originating” or “terminating” applies on a call-by-call basis. In other words, for a first call, a particular gateway can be an originating gateway, while for a second call, that same gateway can be a terminating gateway. Moreover, packets typically flow in both directions since both parties typically talk.
A call path through a data network, such as call path DNCP through data network
102
, is not fixed according to a defined hierarchy as in a PSTN. Rather, an originating gateway “selects” a terminating gateway and the voice signal is routed by successive network elements (e.g., routers, bridges, etc.) through the data network to the terminating gateway. Since routing decisions are made by each network element, call path DNCP is not a priori known or set.
Gateway
112
receives voice message
140
and converts it to a form suitable for transmission through PSTN
122
. Voice message
140
is delivered over link L
5
to PSTN
122
. Within PSTN
122
, voice message
140
is routed via over links, such as link L
6
, to switches, such as switch S
4
. Voice message
140
is carried over link L
7
out of PSTN
122
to link L
8
to telephone
136
to complete the call.
Such prior art systems typically suffer from significant drawbacks. Perhaps the most significant drawback is that on some data networks, such as the Internet, there are no means by which call (e.g., voice) quality is monitored and actively managed. As such, a need exists for a data-network-based telephony system that efficiently transmits telephone calls while actively managing the quality of such transmissions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In some embodiments, the present invention provides a distributed monitoring, evaluation and routing (“DiMER”) system that provides active management of a data-network based telephony networks. Among other benefits, the DiMER system enhances voice quality of telephone calls that are placed over such networks.
In accordance with the present teachings, such a system, and data-network-based telephony networks incorporating the same, advantageously route calls to meet call-quality standards and/or cost goals, among other targets. Telephony networks in accordance with the present invention advantageously comprise the DiMER system, PSTNs, gateways and a data network.
In data-network-based telephony networks, problems can arise within the data network at any of a plurality of network elements, or, alternatively, at gateways themselves. Unlike PSTNs, which have a rigid, well-defined routing hierarchy, no fixed call route is a priori defined through a data network. As such, identifying a problematic network element, and rerouting to avoid such an element, is problematic.
In accordance with the present invention, the cause of problems arising within the data network is “ignored” for routing purposes. Rather, in the present invention, routing is addressed by focusing on the originating and terminating gateways. This approach is advantageously used because call routes over a data network to different terminating gateways are typically different. Thus, even though the route to a terminating gateway is not a priori known, whatever route is taken, that route is reasonably assumed to be uniquely associated with that gateway. As such, if compromised performance or a failed call attempt is detected, the terminating gateway (which is known) is the focus, regardless of the actual location of the problem (which can be hard to locate).
In view of the foregoing, and in accordance with the present teachings, the network is operated/administered/managed (i.e., operating goals for the network, whether they be cost, quality or other targets, are achieved) by shifting or reallocating call traffic between available terminating gateways based on system performance.
To implement such an approach, “problem” gateways must be identified. In t
Evslin Tom
Hirschman Edward
Meranchik Jay
Yu James
Barnie Rexford N
ITXC Corp
Kaplan & Gilman LLP
Kuntz Curtis
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