Telephonic communications – Centralized switching system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-28
2004-04-27
Deane, Jr., William J. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Centralized switching system
C379S088170, C379S229000, C370S385000, C370S467000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06728362
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to communication networks, and specifically, to a method and system for providing continuity testing and call tones in a communication network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The development of advanced communication networks has taken on critical importance with the dramatic rise in consumer demand for: higher quality services. Continuity testing in communication networks is one method of ensuring the quality of services. A continuity test ensures bearer channel connectivity prior to call completion. The continuity test is generally performed on a pre-determined percentage, of calls to verify bearer channel connectivity between a pair of switches.
FIG. 1
illustrates an example of a continuity test in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using signaling system 7 (SS7). On
FIG. 1
the calling party removes the receiver from the calling party's telephone
100
. The originating switch
101
detects the off-hook and provides a dial tone to telephone
100
. Responsive to receiving the dial tone, the user enters the digits for a call destination. The originating switch
101
processes the entered digits and provides an initial address message (LAM) to the network
102
. The IAM message includes a continuity test flag that indicates to the network
102
that a continuity test will be performed on the bearer channel between the network
102
and the originating switch
101
. The originating switch
101
then sends a test tone over the bearer channel to the network
102
. Responsive to sending the test tone, the originating switch
101
starts a timer. The network
102
loops the test tone back to the originating switch
101
. If the test tone is received back in the originating switch
101
before the timer times-out, the continuity test is successful and the originating switch
101
sends a continuity message to the network
102
. The continuity message confirms the continuity test is complete and successful. If the test tone is not received back in the originating switch
101
before the timer times-out, the continuity test is failed and the call is cleared Responsive to a successful continuity test, the network
102
provides an IAM message to the terminating switch
103
and reserves a call connection between the originating switch
101
and the terminating switch
103
. The terminating switch
103
sends an address complete message (ACM) to the network
102
and the call is completed between telephones
100
and
104
in the conventional fashion.
Call tones are generated in communication networks to provide callers with feedback regarding the status of calls and call connections. Examples of specific call tones include a ringback tone, a busy signal tone, and a reorder tone. The reorder tone is sometimes referred to as a fast busy signal in the art. Typically, call tones are provided in communication networks by a terminating communication device upon completion of the call connection. In some applications however, call tones can be provided by an originating communication device by triggering the call tone generation using a control or signaling channel.
FIG. 1
illustrates an example of call tone control and generation for a call session in the PSTN
102
. On
FIG. 1
the calling party removes the receiver from the calling party's telephone
100
. The originating switch
101
detects the off-hook and provides a dial tone to the calling party's telephone
100
. Responsive to receiving the dial tone, the user enters the digits for a call destination. The originating switch
101
processes the entered digits and provides a call setup message to the network
102
. The network
102
provides the call setup message to the terminating switch
103
and reserves a connection between the originating switch
101
and the terminating switch
103
. In response to receiving the call setup message, the terminating switch
103
provides an acknowledgment message to the network
102
. If the terminating switch
103
detects the called party's telephone
104
is off-hook or busy, the terminating switch
103
provides busy signal tones over the network
102
to the calling pasty's telephone
100
. If the terminating switch
103
does not detect that the called party's telephone
104
is off-hook or busy, the terminating switch
103
provides ringback tones over the network
102
to the calling party's telephone
100
. The terminating switch
103
also rings the called party's telephone
104
to announce the incoming call.
FIG. 2
illustrates another example of call tone generation and control for a call session in a packet communication network. On
FIG. 2
the calling party removes the receiver from the calling party's telephone
200
. The originating communication hub
201
detects the off-hook event and provides an off-hook message to the network
202
. Responsive to receiving the off-hook message, the network
202
provides a dial tone to the calling party's telephone
200
via the originating communication hub
201
. Responsive to receiving the dial tone the user enters the digits for the call destination. The originating communication hub
201
detects the digits and provides the digits to the network
202
. The network
202
processes the digits and generates a setup message for a terminating communication hub
203
connected to the called party's telephone
204
. Responsive to receiving the setup message, the terminating communication hub
203
provides a setup acknowledgment message to the network
202
. If the called party's telephone
204
is off-hook or busy, the terminating communication hub
203
provides busy signal tones over the network
202
and communication hub
201
to the calling party's telephone
200
. If the terminating communication hub
203
does not detect the called party's telephone
203
is off-hook or busy, the terminating communication hub
203
provides ringback tones over the network
202
and communication hub
201
to the calling party's telephone
200
. The terminating communication hub
203
also rings the called party's telephone
204
to announce the incoming, call.
It is a problem in communication networks to provide call tones over the network from the terminating device. New services such as call waiting, call forwarding, and three-way-calling have increased network resource demands. Therefore, a need exists in the art to free network resources currently utilized by call tone generation and control in communication networks. It is also a problem to provide continuity testing in packet networks. Unfortunately, packet-networks do not effectively support continuity testing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention advances the art by providing a communication hub that provides call tones in communication networks at points proximate the calling device and performs continuity testing to ensure bearer path connectivity prior to call completion. Some examples of call tones that could be provided include without limitation, ringback tones, busy signal tones, and reorder tones. Advantageously, in some examples of the invention, the communication hub combines call tone generation and control with continuity testing in the network and utilizes the call tone messaging to perform the continuity test. Advantageously, network resources required for call completion are reduced because call tones are provided at points proximate the calling device and a separate continuity test of the bearer channel is unnecessary. Also advantageously, service assurance is provided before call completion and early detection of network failures is realized.
The communication hub is comprised of a processor, an interface, and a tone generator. The tone generator is configured to generate the call tones under control of the processor. The processor is configured to process an in-band call ton
Douskalis William
Gettles Michael J.
Kennedy Richard N.
Qiu Chaoxin Charles
Silvus Shannon P.
Deane, Jr. William J.
Sprint Communications Company L.P.
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