MXPA99011647A - Telecommunication system - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunication system for enabling a subscriber to calling features available by a central office to have access to such calling features when such subscriber is accessing the central office through either a line connected to the central office or an Internet, Intranet, Extranet (i.e., IP) network which uses the TCP/IP network protocol. The method includes the steps of:processing signals received by the central office from the subscriber through either the IP network or the line connected to the central office to determine whether the subscriber is placing a call to the central office through either the line to the central or through the IP network;and making such calling features available to the subscriber independent of whether the subscriber is connected to the central office through the line to the central office or through the IP network. With such a system, calling features provided at a central office are available to a subscriber to such calling features anywhere in the world via the IP network.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to telecommunications systems, and more particularly to telecommunications systems adapted to be used in the TCP / IP network protocol of Internet, Intranet, and EXtranet. As is known in the art, Internet, Intranet, Extranet networks (referred to herein as "IP networks") have supplemented public service telephone networks (PSTNs) in the provision of telephony services. For example, a set of client programs is available to authorize an Internet subscriber to make calls to a person called over the Internet. Typically, the person called accesses the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through either a modem or a local area network (LAN) router. The data is transmitted from the ISP of the person called over the Internet, using an Internet protocol, typically a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) commonly referred to collectively as TCP / IP. This TCP / IP protocol is also used for Intranets / Extranets that serve a specific closed group of subscribers / users. Thus, the term IP network will be used to include any network that uses the TCP / IP network protocol. The routing of information through an IP network is based on TCP / IP addressing. A TCP / IP address is 32 bits long, and is commonly expressed as four decimal numbers that are in the range from 0 to 256, with each number separated by a period. As is also known in the art, when accessing the ISP with a modem, the ISP makes a modem available in a common set of modems in what is sometimes referred to as a "point-to-point" protocol. When accessing the ISP with a direct leased line, such as from a LAN or cable company (CATV), the data packets are transferred between the LAN or cable and the IP network directly as IP information packets. Routing through the IP network is, as noted above, using the TCP / IP network protocol with each point on the IP network that has a TCP / IP address. A router server is coupled to the IP network to convert between an E.164 telephone number (ie, using a central office addressing protocol) and the TCP / IP address (i.e., the addressing protocol). of the TCP / IP network of the IP). So, for example, if an IP user based on W cable wants to call a person called on the PSTN network, the caller dials the number of the E.164 directory of the called party, the server of the router converts the dialed number to a TCP / IP number, the call is routed through the cable-based IP network to the TCP / IP address of an IßP entry channel, which then converts the address TCP / IP to the E.164 directory number of the ^ - person called and directs the call through the central office on one of the lines (ie an intermediate line) to the central office. As is also known in the art, a variety of services, or devices, are available to subscribers of the PSTNs. For residential PSTN subscribers, these devices include: Common Telephone Service (POTS); call devices for the client (such as call waiting, call transfer, three-way call, and high-speed call, for example-); advanced calling devices (such as called ID); Advanced Services for Telephone Devices based on Display Screen (ADSI); Digital Voice and Data on a Line (ISDN); Voice Activated Services; Operator Services; and Voice Mail. For business PSTN subscribers, these devices include: ISDN Line-Level Interface (BRI); Intermediate Interface of 5 ISDN High Bandwidth (PRI); Business Telephone Groups of Centrex; Automatic Call Distribution (ACD); Data Transmission with Marco relay; Videoconference; and Broadband Broadband Services / Bandwidth on Demand. A list of the subscribed devices is stored in a database of "devices" in the central office connected to the PSTN subscriber (ie, the subscriber's central office,, terminal office, or local switch). Thus, when a caller receives a "busy", the central office returns a dial tone, and then the caller enters digits of the called person. A processor in the ^ - ^ central office addresses the database of "devices" (and an administration database, for billing, etc.) using the caller's telephone number, known as the E.164 of the caller. The central office processor reads the called digits and provides switching signals to a switching network of the central office to route the call to the called party, and the caller has available the subscribed devices stored in the call center database. "dispositives". It is noted that the central office communicates internally, and with other central offices in the PSTN with protocols (ie, protocols adapted for use with analog (POTS), ISDN, and PBX, for example) that are different from the network protocol of TCP / IP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for authorizing a subscriber to call devices available from a central office to have access to such calling devices, when such a subscriber is accessing the central office. , through either a line connected to the central office or an IP network. The method includes the steps of: processing signals received by the subscriber's central office through either the IP network, or the line connected to the central office, to determine if the subscriber is making a call to the central office through either from the line to the central, or through the IP network; and making such call devices available to the subscriber, regardless of whether the subscriber is connected to the central office through the line to the central office, or through the IP network. With such an arrangement, the calling devices provided in the central office are available to a subscriber to such calling devices in any part of the world via an IP network. According to another aspect of the invention, the central office includes a database, for storing a relationship between each of the subscribers served by the central office and call devices subscribed to such one of the subscribers served. A processor in the central office detects when a call from the subscribers served by the central office is accessing the central office from either the subscriber's line unit, or an IP network interface. The processor addresses the database using the central office protocol, and provides the calling subscriber with the subscribed call devices when a called person is routed. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the central office includes an IP network interface to convert between a central office protocol and an IP protocol. A processor in the central office is coupled to the IP network through the IP network interface. A switching network in the central office has ports powered by a subscriber line unit, intermediate units, and the IP network interface. The switching network routes calls between the ports selectively according to switching signals provided by the processor using the central office protocol and the caller has available call devices subscribed by the subscriber-caller .. ^ - In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a telecommunication system adapted for use with an IP network is provided. The system includes a public service telephone network comprising a plurality of connected central offices, each is connected to a plurality of subscribers with service assured by the central office. At least one of the central offices comprises a processor coupled to: a subscriber line unit, which ensures the service to the subscribers served by the central office; intermediate units coupled to other central offices; and an IP network interface. The IP network interface converts between a central office protocol and an IP protocol.

The processor is coupled to the IP network through the IP network interface. A switching network is provided that has ports powered by the subscriber's line unit, the intermediate units, and the IP network interface. The switching network 5 routes calls between the ports selectively according to switching signals provided by the processor, using the protocol of the central office. A database is provided to store one -. relationship between each of the subscribers served by the central office and ^ - devices subscribed by such one of the subscribers served. The processor detects when one of the calling subscribers served by the central office is accessing the central office from now on. is the subscriber's line unit or the IP network interface, and it addresses the database with the central office protocol, to provide such subscriber calling with subscribed call devices when the calling subscriber is routed to a person called through a switching network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a exemplary embodiment thereof, and to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing steps used by the telecommunication system of Figure 1, to authorize a subscriber to call devices available from a central office of the system, to have access to such calling devices when such a subscriber is accessing the central office through either a line connected to the central office, or an IP network; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system according to the invention, wherein a cable-based IP network is provided; Figure 4 is a flowchart showing steps used by the telecommunication system of Figure 3 to authorize a subscriber to call devices available from the central office of a cable company of the system, to have access to such devices; call when such subscriber is accessing the central office through a cable-based IP network; Figure 5 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing steps used by the telecommunication system of Figure 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring now to Figure 1, a telecommunication system 10 is shown to include a public service telephone network (PSTN) 12 and a network of IP 14. The services of the IP 14 network are ^ - provided by the IP Network Service Providers (ISPs) 13. These ISPs 13 are accessed by modems connected to personal computers (PC), not shown, in the subscriber's business to the PSTN, or home, hotel room, or airport, for example, or by dedicated leased lines of LANs 19. It should also be noted that ISPs 13 are also connected to cable companies (CATV) 21 to authorize direct, not modem, connections to the IP 14 network from a PC or digital phone. Each of the ISPs 13 has a unique TCP / IP address to authorize its interconnection through the IP network 14. When accessing the ISPs 13 with a modem, the ISP 13 makes a modem available in a common set from modems using a "point-to-point" protocol. When accessing the ISP 13 with a direct leased line, such as from a LAN 19 or cable company (CATV) 21, the data packets are transferred between the LAN 19 or cable company 21 and the IP network 14 5 directly as IP information packets. In such a case, routing through the IP network 14 is with the TCP / IP network protocol, and each point on the IP network 14 has a TCP / IP address. It is noted that a server 30 of the router is coupled to the network of IP 14 to convert between a telephone number of ^ - * E.164 and a TCP / IP address. Thus, for example, if a cable user wishes to call a person called on the cable system, the caller dials the E.164 directory number, the server 30 of the router converts the dialed number to a TCP / IP number, the call is routed through the network of ^^ IP 14 to the TCP / IP address of an input channel 32, which then converts the TCP / IP address to the telephone number of the E.164 directory of the person called. The output of the input channel 32 is connected to the PSTN 12. The PSTN 12 includes a plurality of connected central offices (C.O.s) lßa, 16b,. . . 16n. Each of the central offices 16a-16n is similar, a example thereof, here central office 16a is shown in detail. Thus, central office 16a is connected to a plurality of PSTN subscribers 18 through subscriber / central office telephone lines 20 (i.e., a typically twisted pair within two miles of central office 16a). Subscribers 18 of the PSTN include business and residential subscribers to the PSTN 12. Thus, for example, one of the residential subscribers 18 may have in addition to a telephone, a personal computer (PC) connected to subscriber's telephone line 20 to ^ - ^ through a modem, not shown. A business subscriber 18 may be connected to the central office through 16th through POTS, PBX, or ISDN service, for example. The central offices 16a-16n show interconnected by intermediate lines (ie, units) 23. One of the intermediate lines 23 ---_ is connected to an entry way 32. Some of the central offices, such as the office 16b, are directly connected to the 16th central office by An intermediate connection and other more remote central offices, such as the central office 16n, are indirectly connected to the central office 18a through tandem switches 25, as shown. It should be understood that the PSTN 12 is here a worldwide network, and interconnections between headquarters 16a-16n include satellite links or fiber optic cable (SONE-T), for example. In addition, the interconnection can be through virtual circuits, as when the links in the network 12 use packet switching, such as ATM switching. Referring to the office 16a example, such office 16a includes: a processor 22 coupled to a plurality of subscribers 18 through a concentrator 27 and a line unit 24 of the subscriber; intermediate units 23 coupled to others ^ - from headquarters 16b-16n, as shown; an IP 27 network interface to convert between a central office protocol and a TCP / IP network protocol; a switching network 28; a data base of administration 30; and a device database 32, as shown. The processor 22 is coupled to the IP network 14 through an intermediate unit 29 and the interface 27 of the IP network, as shown. The switching network 28 has ports powered by the subscriber line unit 24, the intermediate units 23, the intermediate unit 29, and the IP network interface 27. The switching network 28 routes calls between the ports of the network of switching 28 selectively according to switching signals provided by the processor 22 according to the central office protocol. The administrative database 30 is addressable by an E.164 address of a caller, and stores billing information and other statistical information. The device database 32 stores a relation between each of the subscribers 18 of the PSTN served by the central office 16a and devices subscribed by such one of the subscribers 18 of the PSTN served. These devices, collectively referred to herein as call devices, include, for example, call waiting, call transfer, three-way call, high-speed call, caller ID, voice mail, and Centrex Business Telephone Groups. As noted in Figure 1, the device database is addressed using the central office protocol that uses an E.164 number to identify the telephone number of the caller. Thus, for example, the subscriber 18 of PSTN calling from the telephone number NXX-XXX1 has subscribed, in this example, to call waiting, three-way calling, call transfer, call stop and is a member of a Centrex group.

The processor 22 includes a subscriber port ID unit 40, to identify the directory number of the subscriber that is calling (i.e., an E.164 number protocol). the processor 22 also includes an intermediate ID unit 42 powered by the intermediate units 23 to identify an E.164 directory number of a caller or a called person. The processor 22 is also powered with the E.164 number produced by the interface 27 of the IP network when a call is received by a subscriber to the central office 16a through the IP network 14. This may be when the Subscriber 18 of the PTSN is traveling and registered in a 16th central office that serves ISP 13, for example. The processor 22 includes a "Flag" 31 of the IP network that is established when the calling PTSN subscriber 18 is accessing the central office 16a through the IP 14 network (i.e., through the interface 27). of the IP network). The processor 22 detects when - one of the subscribers 18 it is calling served by the head office 12 is accessing the head office 12 from either the subscriber's line unit 40, or the interface 27 of the IP network. The processor 22 addresses the device database 32 and the administrative database 30 using the central office protocol (e.g., analog, ISDN, or PBX) to provide such a PSTN subscriber 18 calling with its calling devices. subscribed Referring now to Figure 2, two scenarios are represented: the one on the left is when a caller is accessing the central office 16a through the IP network via the IP network interface 27; and the one on the right represents the scenario when a caller is accessing the central office 16a through subscriber's line 24 unit or intermediate lines 23 (ie, through PTSN 12). Thus, when a call is made to central office 16a through PSTN 12, the caller receives a "busy" (Stage 202). The central office 16a returns a "dial tone" and identifies the subscriber's E.164 via the subscriber's port ID unit 40 (Step 204). The caller enters the digits of the called party (Step 206). The central office processor 22 addresses "device" and "administration" databases 30, 32, respectively, with the calling subscriber's E.164, and provides the processor 22 with calling devices subscribed by the person flame (Stage 208). The central office 16a reads the digits of the called person, to generate routing control signals for the switching network 28 of the head office (Step 210). The processor 22 directs the "device" and "administration" databases 30, 32 with the E.164 of the called party, and supplies the processor 22 with the devices subscribed by the called party (Step 211). The processor 22 checks the IP network flag of the called party. (ie, has the "flag" 31 of the IP network been established?) (Step 211). If the called party has registered over the IP network, the interface 27 of the IP network in the central office 16a converts the central office protocol into TCP / IP network protocol for the switching network 28, and routes the call to the called party via the IP network 14 using the TCP / IP IP network address protocol of the called party (Step 216). If, on the other hand, the called party has not been registered over the IP network (ie the "flag" 31 of the IP network has not been established), the switching network 28 routes the call to the called party. through PSTN 12, using the E.164 of the called party (Step 214). Considering now the case where the 16th central office has been accessed through the IP network 14. Here, the caller registers over the IP network 14 using the local IP Network Service Provider (ISP) 13 (Step 218). The client's set of programs is called by telephone on the caller's PC (Stage 220). The client's program set includes: the TCP / IP address of the IP network of the central office; the E.164 of the subscriber; and the subscriber's personal identification number (PIN) (Step 220). The caller enters the digits of the called person into their PC (Step 222). The client's program package sends, via the PC, the subscriber's E.164 to the central office via ISP 13 using the TCP / IP IP network protocol of the central office (Stage 224). The interface 27 of the IP network in the 16th call center office converts the TCP / IP IP network protocol to the central office protocol, and establishes the "IP network flag" 31 to indicate that the caller has been registered over the IP 14 network (Stage 226). At this point, the central office 16a processes calls made to it from the PSTN 12 or the IP 14 network in the same manner. Thus, the processor 22 of the central office addresses the "device" and "administration" databases 30, 32, respectively, with the calling subscriber's E.164, and provides the processor 22 with call devices subscribed by the caller (Stage 208). The central office 16a reads the digits of the called party to generate routing control signals for the switching network 28 of the central office. The processor 22 addresses the "device" and "administration" databases 30, 32 with the E.164 of the called party, and supplies the processor 22 with the devices subscribed by the called party (Step 211). The processor 22 checks the IP network flag of the called party. (ie, has the "flag" 31 of the IP network been established?) (Step 22). If the called party has registered over the IP network, the IP network interface 27 in the central office 16a converts the central office protocol into TCP / IP IP network protocol for the switching network 28, or routes the call to the called party via the IP network 14 using the TCP / IP IP network address protocol of the called party (Step 216). If, on the other hand, the called person has not registered on the IP network (that is, the "flag" 31 of the IP network has not been established), the switching network 28 routes the call to the called party through the PSTN 12 using the E.164 of the called party (Step 214) .

It is noted that the central office 16a, with its switching network 28, processor 22 and databases 30, 32 are, due to the interphase 27 of the IP network, available as an accessory accessible to all users of the network of IP 14. Thus, a central office with an IP network interface can be configured as a global Centrex, a cable-based IP provider can access the central office and route telephone calls or other data to PSTN subscribers or others. connected to the Ip network with cable base. More particularly, referring to Figure 3, a telecommunication system 10 'is shown in which a cable-based IP network 14' is coupled to cable modems 400 and to cable company headquarters 16a '-16n'. Cable modems 40 are coupled to personal computers (PCs) 402 of the subscriber, and to 404 phones, as indicated. The cable-based headquarters 16a'-16n 'are similar to the central offices 16a-16n described in connection with Figure 1, and similar elements are designated with the same numerical designation. Thus, the central offices 16a'-16n 'are connected to the PSTN 12 by the intermediate units 23, as indicated. The central offices 16a'-16n 'each include a call processor 22', intermediate ID 40, administration database 30, device database 32, IP network interface 27 coupled to the IP network 14 with cable base, intermediate unit 25 and switching network 28 '. With the system 10 ', the subscribers connected to the cable-based Ip network 14' by the modems 400 are able to subscribe to the same telephone devices available to subscribers of the network. the central offices 16 (Figure 1). A) Yes, ^ P referring to Figure 4, a flow chart shows the stages used by the telecommunication system of Figure 3 to authorize a subscriber to available call devices by a central office of a cable company of the system, to have access to such calling devices when such subscriber is accessing the office ^^ central through an IP network based on cable. It is noted that the method does not use Stages 202, 204, or 206 described above in connection with Figure 2, and here the "Internet Flag" 31 is always in an "established" condition. Referring now to Figure 5, a telecommunication system 10 is shown. "Here, network 14 of The IP is connected to the PSTN 12 through the input channels 32, to the subscriber PCs via ISPs 13, and a router 30, as shown. Each central office 16a "-16n" includes a processor 22 'as that described in connection with Figure 3. Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing steps used by the telecommunication system of Figure 5. Here, from Again, as with the system 10 'described in connection with Figures 3 and 4, the "Internet Flag" 31 is always in an "established" condition. Here, because all calls originate and terminate for headquarters 16a'-16n 'in the IP 14 network, Stages 202-206 and Stages 212 and 214 (Figure 1) are not used. Here, each central office 16a "-16n" can be one owned by a global network carrier, and used to provide ubiquitous telephony device services to global subscribers of the Ip 14 network, for example, to all subscribers within the network. a world corporation. Thus, system 10"authorizes members of a common group (i.e., a company) to have access to a common set of call devices in the device database available from central office 16a." The system 10"processes signals received by the central office 16a", for example, from the members of the common group through the IP 14 network, and makes such calling devices available to the members. Other modalities are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method of operating a central office in a telecommunication system, comprising an IP network that operates an IP network protocol; a public service telephone network coupled to the IP network; and at least one central office coupled to the IP network, the central office operates a communications protocol of the central office and comprises: a processor; an IP network interface coupled between the processor and the IP network, to convert between the IP network protocol and the central office protocol; and a database, for storing a relation between subscribers of the central office and calling devices of the respective subscriber, identification devices subscribed by the subscribers; and a switching network, which is controlled by the processor using the central office protocol, and is coupled to the IP network interface; wherein a call request made by a subscriber of the central office and received from the IP network is converted from the IP network protocol to the central office protocol by the IP network interface and transferred to the processor; Subscriber call devices corresponding to the calling subscriber are obtained from the database by the processor using the central office protocol; the routing control signals of the central office protocol for the switching network to route the call to the called subscriber are generated by the processor; and the switching network routes the call from the calling subscriber to the called subscriber via the IP network interface.
2. 2. A central office that operates according to the method according to claim 1.
3. 3. A central office according to claim 2, wherein the database maintains common calling devices for a group of subscribers, and the central office provides access to the calling devices to any of the group of subscribers.
4. 4. A telecommunications system comprising an IP network that operates an IP network protocol; a public service telephone network coupled to the IP network; and at least one central office in accordance with claim 2 or 3 coupled to the IP network.