Telephonic communications – Plural exchange network or interconnection – Interexchange signalling
Patent
1995-12-18
1999-06-29
Matar, Ahmad F.
Telephonic communications
Plural exchange network or interconnection
Interexchange signalling
379207, 379230, H04M 706
Patent
active
059179015
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to telecommunications, e.g. telephone systems and in particular to systems incorporating one or more private network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional telecommunications private network comprises a number of private exchanges or switches (PBX's) interconnected via private telephone lines and each of which serves a number of telephone or user terminals. The PBX's of the private system are interconnected by private leased lines which are installed by the appropriate telephone service supplier. Call routing and call handling within the private network are controlled via the PBX's.
In addition to a basic telephony service (POTS) a private network is generally required to provide additional features such as call forwarding, call transfer, ring-back when free and conference calls. These features are not in general provided on a public network as they are specific requirements of business rather than domestic subscribers.
A further service that is finding increasing usage is that of providing a direct dialling facility to telephone extensions attached to a PBX. For example the CENTREX system provides such a service.
The provision of private leased lines represents a significant capital investment by the telephone service supplier. Furthermore these leased lines represent an underused asset as they are in significant use, for only a part, typically about one third, of the twenty four hour cycle. However, during their idle period, these lines are not available to carry telephone traffic, e.g. to reduce an overload, for subscribers other than the private user to whom the lines have been leased. Expansion of the network is also difficult, as new dedicated lines have to be provided for new business subscribers.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to minimize or to overcome the above disadvantage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system in which calls between PBX's are routed via a public network.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that is fully compatible with the above mentioned direct dialling facility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a telecommunications system incorporating a public network and one or more private networks, each said private network having a plurality of nodes between which communication is, in use, performed via the public network, and wherein the public network has means for providing a transparent communications path between the nodes of each said private network.
According to the invention there is further provided a telecommunications system incorporating a public network, and one or more private networks each comprising a plurality of private exchanges (PBX's) and between which communication is, in use, performed via the public network, the system having means for mapping call signalling information from a said private network to the public network and inverse mapping call signalling information from the public network to that private network whereby to provide a transparent communications path via the public network between the private exchanges of each said private network.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing telecommunications signalling between a plurality of nodes or private exchanges (PBX's) constituting a private network, the signalling being performed via a public network, the method including mapping signalling information associated with each private network message to corresponding signalling information associated with the public network, routing the message across the public network, and inverse mapping the signalling information associated with the public network to the signalling information associated with the private network whereby to provide a transparent communications path between the exchanges of the private network.
By providing a transparent signalling path between the nodes of the private network, all the call handling features of the private network are available to users of th
REFERENCES:
patent: 4313036 (1982-01-01), Jabara et al.
patent: 5339356 (1994-08-01), Ishii
patent: 5455855 (1995-10-01), Hokari
patent: 5483589 (1996-01-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5517564 (1996-05-01), Slater et al.
Day Brian Ronald
Maxwell Deborah Claire
Matar Ahmad F.
Northern Telecom Limited
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