Telephonic communications – Plural exchange network or interconnection – With interexchange network routing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-11-20
Hong, Harry S. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Plural exchange network or interconnection
With interexchange network routing
C370S385000, C370S410000, C370S522000, C379S221090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320953
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related in general to the field of telephony. More particularly, the invention is related to a telecommunications network architecture deploying digital loop carrier as a switching platform.
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This patent application is related to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/699,160, titled Distributed Local Services Telecommunications Switching System, filed on Aug. 16, 1996.
This patent application is also related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/912,039, titled Telecommunications Network Architecture Deploying Intelligent Network Services in a Legacy Network, filed on Aug. 15, 1997, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/912,037, titled Telecommunications Network Architecture Deploying Intelligent New Services in a Legacy Network, filed on Aug. 15, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Local services are typically provided in today's telecommunications network by a class
5
switching system. The class
5
switch is a monolithic system generally containing a central computing unit, matrix, line modules, trunk modules, and service circuits. These components are typically tightly coupled forming a proprietary control architecture controlled by the central computing unit.
The digital loop carrier is being widely deployed to connect business and residential telephone customers to the class
5
central office switch. However, today's the central office switching systems were not initially designed with digital loop carriers or fiber optic loop equipment in mind. Nor were they designed for long holding times, extensive intelligent network signaling loads, or multimedia control. In particular, long call hold times related to the rapid rise in the volume of data calls, have resulted in increased service blockages in the end office switches.
Further, class
5
switching systems generally contain a number of standard local services or features such as Class, Centrex, and Operator Services. Because of its monolithic and tightly coupled architecture, the class
5
switching system is usually comprised of components supplied by a single equipment manufacturer. Thus, when new services or features are desired, a network operator must request their implementation from the class
5
switch manufacturer. Due to the monolithic nature of the class
5
switching system, service and feature implementation are generally tightly coupled to the architecture of the switch. Therefore, new services and features are usually very costly to implement and require significant time to market. These costs and lead times for software upgrades led to the industry architecture known as Advanced Intelligent Network in the late 1980s as a way for local exchange carriers (LECs) to gain control of software development for new features. This process itself has been largely ineffective due to slow deployment and high costs.
With the passage of the Telecom Bill and deregulation of the industry, it is now possible for new players to enter into the local loop and provide competitive local services. However, the biggest hurdle for these new players is that they do not own facilities or the loop plant that connect the telephone customers to the switching equipment. To install such lines to the customers would be a very cost-prohibitive proposition. Accordingly, there is a need to circumvent this barrier and provide a solution therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is a need for enabling a switchless reseller or competitive local exchange carrier to operate in a legacy network without costly and time-consuming efforts spent in modifying the existing network.
In accordance with the present invention, a telecommunications network architecture enabling switchless resale is provided, which eliminates and substantially reduces the disadvantages of prior networks.
In one aspect of the invention, a telecommunications network for enabling resale of local services includes a distributed switching system owned by an incumbent local exchange carrier which has a call control computing platform coupled to a digital loop carrier, where the digital loop carrier is coupled to a plurality of telephone service subscribers of the incumbent local exchange carrier as well as telephone service subscribers of a competitive local exchange carrier. A local switch owned by an incumbent local exchange carrier is coupled to the digital loop carrier. At least one service control point owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch, where the at least one service control point contains service definitions and logic of services supported by the incumbent local exchange carrier as well as service definitions and logic of services supported by the competitive local exchange carrier.
In another aspect of the invention, a telecommunications network for enabling local service resale includes at least one digital loop carrier owned by an incumbent local exchange carrier coupled to a plurality of telephone service subscribers of the incumbent local exchange carrier and telephone service subscribers of a competitive local exchange carrier. A call control computing platform owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier is coupled to the at least one digital loop carrier, where the call control computing platform is adapted to control and manage the operations of the at least one digital loop carrier. An intelligent peripheral owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier is coupled to the call control computing platform and the at least one digital loop carrier and is adapted to provide tone and announcement and digit collection functions. A local switch is coupled to the at least one digital loop carrier. A first service control point is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch, which contains service definitions and logic of services supported by the incumbent local exchange carrier, and a second service control point is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch, which contains service definitions and logic of services supported by the competitive local exchange carrier.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for enabling the resale of local services includes the steps of monitoring for line events occurring on a first plurality of incumbent local exchange carrier subscriber lines coupled to a digital loop carrier, and monitoring for line events occurring on a second plurality of competitive local exchange carrier subscriber lines coupled to the digital loop carrier. A dial tone is provided and dialed digits are collected for a call on one of the plurality of subscriber lines in response to an off-hook event. It is then determined whether the call originated from an incumbent local exchange carrier subscriber or a competitive local exchange carrier subscriber, and the call is processed and routed according to the incumbent local exchange carrier's service definition and logic in response to the call originating from an incumbent local exchange carrier subscriber; and processed and routed according to the competitive local exchange carrier's service definition and logic in response to the call originating from a competitive local exchange carrier subscriber.
A technical advantage of the present invention enables a switch reseller to enter the market without having to own expensive network equipment and copper loop plant to the subscribers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6035028 (2000-03-01), Ward et al.
patent: 6055232 (2000-04-01), Ward et al.
Hager Kevin W.
Robertson, Jr. Walter C.
Ward Ronald L.
Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Hong Harry S.
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