Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-20
2004-03-02
Vanderpuye, Kenneth (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
active
06700884
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the Internet and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); and more specifically to the integration of the Internet with the PSTN in such manner that systems, services, and devices on either can communicate with systems, services, and devices on the other, whereby the full benefit and unique characteristics of either network become available to these communications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Internet and the PSTN constitute discrete, independent networks from an architectural and operational perspective. Much is written about both networks, especially in terms of their architecture and operation. Consequently, the specification provided herein does not reconstruct that information other than providing general background information. The term “Internet” is commonly understood and used throughout the specification and claims in a conventional way. The Internet, in general, is an assemblage of interconnected routers that provide data transport services for server computers and user devices—typically PCs. The interconnection between routers is provided by private line data circuits, the main lines of which constitute the Internet “backbone”. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide access to the Internet via dial up telephone lines with modems, and via dedicated arrangements such as T−1 circuits, cable modems on cable-TV systems, and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service.
The Internet is designed according to the Internet Protocol (IP), which provides detailed specifications for the construction, addressing, and routing of data packets (occasionally referred to as “messages” in this document). (The term “Internet Protocol” also is used loosely to refer to dozens of related protocols that are used in the Internet.) IP addresses are expressed as a series of digits separated by “dots” (periods), in the form XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX where XXX can be a number from 0 to 255. IP addresses provide a similar function on the Internet as telephone numbers provide on the PSTN. A communication with an Internet device can be established by sending a message addressed to the IP address of that device. Every device capable of communicating on the Internet has an IP address assigned to it, either permanently, or dynamically as needed. IP addresses in some environments are replaced with a proxy address; for purposes of this document, the term “IP address” shall refer to an actual IP address, or a proxy or other identifier translatable into an actual IP address. In some arrangements proxies or agents act on behalf of a client system and substitute the proxy's IP addresses for the addresses of the client devices—in these arrangements the combination of the proxy address and the original client system address resolve to provide a unique IP address for each client system. Internet data packets contain the IP address of both the sending system and receiving system (the source and destination, respectively). Since IP messages always contain the IP addresses of both the sending and destination device, when a device receives an Internet message from a sending device, it will then possess the IP address of the sender and can send messages in reply. The two devices can then engage in a communication across the Internet since each has the IP address of the other.
Routers have internal tables that provide routing instructions, which relate IP addresses to the available data circuits and access lines. A router functions by reading the destination address in a data packet, and then forwarding the data packet on one of its data circuits or access lines according to the rules of the routing tables. A data packet gets forwarded from one router to another, pinballing its way across the Internet until it reaches a router that is connected to the destination system.
The term “Public Switched Telephone Network”, or PSTN, as used herein means the national and international telephone network, actuated when a user dials a telephone number associated with any other phone, causes it to ring, and if answered, is enabled to carry on a voice communication (or, more properly, a “voice grade” communication) with the person (or system) at the remote location. Just as the Internet is comprised of an aggregation of interconnected routers, the PSTN is comprised of an aggregation of interconnected local and long distance telephone switching systems. The local switching systems, referred to as telephone company (telco) central offices (CO), provide telephone subscriber services in a geographic area.
As used herein, the term “telephone central office switching system” refers generically to a class of systems, typically owned by the operating telephone company in any given area, which provide “local” telephony services to telephone subscribers in that area. Generally, the operating telephone company provides the “local loop” cabling and wiring from its central office to the physical location of each of its subscribers (a “telephone circuit”, or a “line”). A telephone central office might house several switching systems of this class, each serving up to 100,000 subscribers or more. The central office represents the hub of a wheel having thousands of spokes, each spoke being a physical pair of wires providing telephone service to a subscriber in that area. Subscribers in any given area are provided service by the central office situated in the center of the area. Outside that area the wires home to other similarly situated central offices. The telephone company connects the telephone circuit of a subscriber to an access connection on the switching system, and assigns a telephone number to that circuit. In operation, the switching system (or just “switch”) provides battery voltage on the phone line, sends dial tone to the subscriber line when the subscriber's phone goes off hook, receives the dialed digits, and then routes the call according to its internal instructions based on the called number.
Common manufactured switching systems of this class include the Lucent Technologies 5ESS, and the Nortel DMS 100. All telephone central office-switching systems around the world are interconnected by “trunk” circuits that carry voice or voice grade telephone calls between systems, and most (if not all) such systems are also interconnected by a messaging network referred to as CCS/SS7 (Common Control System/Signaling System 7), or just SS7. Long distance calls to telephones outside of the area served by the local telephone company are typically routed to a long distance carrier, such as AT&T, MCI, or Sprint in the USA. The telephone central office switches connect via trunking and messaging circuits to a class of switching system referred to as a “toll switch”, such as the Lucent Technologies 4ESS, operated by a long distance carrier. Toll switches normally do not provide local telephone services.
In the current state of the art there are two inter-related messaging systems utilized within the PSTN. These are: (i) SS7; and (ii) ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), which incorporates a messaging system as an element of a broader product and service architecture. The SS7 messaging system extends through the major elements and systems of the PSTN, connecting virtually all of the local and long distance central offices, and carries call management (or call control) messages relating to call setup and disconnection and similar call management functions. Whereas the SS7 messaging system is oriented toward providing messaging communications among and between the PSTN switching systems, the ISDN messaging system is oriented toward extending the PSTN messaging system to the end devices such as telephones and office telephone systems. Rather than going off hook and drawing dial tone from the local central office switching system to initiate a call, as analog phones do, an ISDN phone sends a packetized digital call setup message to the switching system to initiate a call. Both the ISDN messaging system and the SS7 messaging system are based on
Buff Ernest D.
Ernest D. Buff & Associates LLC
Holvorson Mark J.
Vanderpuye Kenneth
LandOfFree
Integrating the Internet with the public switched telephone... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Integrating the Internet with the public switched telephone..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integrating the Internet with the public switched telephone... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3205402