Patents by Inventor Richard Terpstra
Richard Terpstra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9800956Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Publication number: 20170230732Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Patent number: 9634941Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Publication number: 20160080270Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Patent number: 9197948Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Patent number: 8520668Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for routing an Internet Protocol (IP)-based call through a first IP-based network to a second IP-based network. The method includes receiving an IP-based call request in the first network; identifying one or more geographic trunk groups that can be used to route the call request out of the first network, wherein each of the one or more geographic trunk groups represents a logical grouping of one or more IP trunk groups between the first IP-based network and the second IP-based network; selecting one of the one or more geographic trunk groups; and routing the received call request via the selected geographic trunk group to an IP address associated with the selected geographic trunk group. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Patent number: 8520667Abstract: A system includes a core routing engine operable to receive a call setup request and identify one or more IP trunk groups through which the call setup request can be routed, select one of the one or more identified IP trunk groups and route the call setup request to an internal IP address associated with the selected IP trunk group. The system may further include an IP edge node associated with the internal IP address, the IP edge node in the backbone network and operable to receive the call setup request and route the call setup request to one of a plurality of IP addresses associated with a plurality of carrier edge nodes in the carrier network.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Publication number: 20130089086Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Christopher Sayer, Rogier Ducloo, Richard Terpstra
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Patent number: 8401161Abstract: A method for routing a toll-free call through a network includes receiving a toll-free call from a call origination endpoint, determining an identifier associated with the call origination endpoint, determining a meet point trunk based on at least a portion of the identifier if a DAL is not available, and routing the toll-free call to a LEC via the determined meet point trunk. A system for routing a toll-free call entering a network to an appropriate carrier includes an inbound gateway device configured to receive a toll-free call from a call origination endpoint having an assigned telephone number and to query a core routing engine (CRE) for a route plan using the assigned telephone number, and a CRE configured to select an interconnection access line based on the origination endpoint telephone number, wherein the interconnection access line is connected to a LEC that is operable to route the call to the appropriate carrier.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri, Dan Jordan, Janis Griffin, Murli S Nair, Susmita G Saha
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Patent number: 8036214Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on- network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Richard Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Raymond E. Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Publication number: 20110235517Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for routing an Internet Protocol (IP) based call through a first IP-based network to a second IP-based network. The method includes receiving an IP-based call request in the first network; identifying one or more geographic trunk groups that can be used to route the call request out of the first network, wherein each of the one or more geographic trunk groups represents a logical grouping of one or more IP trunk groups between the first IP-based network and the second IP-based network; selecting one of the one or more geographic trunk groups; and routing the received call request via the selected geographic trunk group to an IP address associated with the selected geographic trunk group. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Patent number: 7995736Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes generating one or more route plans, each route plan being associated with a service plan, and provisioning the one or more route plans on a core routing engine accessible by a softswitch for routing calls according to the one or more route plans. The one or more route plans may include an on-net route plan and an off-net route plan. An embodiment of a system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to generate one or more route plans associated with one or more respective service levels that customers can subscribe to. The system may further include an inventory of trunk groups containing a plurality of trunk group identifiers (IDs), wherein trunk group IDs are marked as either on-net or off-net.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha
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Patent number: 7995729Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes determining a customer service plan identifier from information associated with a received call, determining a route plan associated with the identified customer service plan, and routing the call on a trunk group identified in the determined route plan. The method may further include determining a jurisdiction of the call based on a dialed number identified in the call, determining a local routing number (LRN) associated with the call, and using a portion of the LRN to determine the trunk group. An embodiment of a system includes a switch operable to select a route for routing a call received on an ingress trunk associated with a customer that subscribes to a service plan, wherein the switch is further operable to select the route based on the service plan subscribed to by the customer associated with the ingress trunk.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha
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Patent number: 7961720Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for routing an Internet Protocol (IP)-based call through a first IP-based network to a second IP-based network. The method includes receiving an IP-based call request in the first network; identifying one or more geographic trunk groups that can be used to route the call request out of the first network, wherein each of the one or more geographic trunk groups represents a logical grouping of one or more IP trunk groups between the first IP-based network and the second IP-based network; selecting one of the one or more geographic trunk groups; and routing the received call request via the selected geographic trunk group to an IP address associated with the selected geographic trunk group. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Patent number: 7929676Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes determining a customer service plan identifier from information associated with a received call, determining a route plan associated with the identified customer service plan, and routing the call on a trunk group identified in the determined route plan. The method may further include determining a jurisdiction of the call based on a dialed number identified in the call, determining a local routing number (LRN) associated with the call, and using a portion of the LRN to determine the trunk group. An embodiment of a system includes a switch operable to select a route for routing a call received on an ingress trunk associated with a customer that subscribes to a service plan, wherein the switch is further operable to select the route based on the service plan subscribed to by the customer associated with the ingress trunk.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha
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Publication number: 20110085541Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes determining a customer service plan identifier from information associated with a received call, determining a route plan associated with the identified customer service plan, and routing the call on a trunk group identified in the determined route plan. The method may further include determining a jurisdiction of the call based on a dialed number identified in the call, determining a local routing number (LRN) associated with the call, and using a portion of the LRN to determine the trunk group. An embodiment of a system includes a switch operable to select a route for routing a call received on an ingress trunk associated with a customer that subscribes to a service plan, wherein the switch is further operable to select the route based on the service plan subscribed to by the customer associated with the ingress trunk.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha
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Publication number: 20110007736Abstract: A system includes a core routing engine operable to receive a call setup request and identify one or more IP trunk groups through which the call setup request can be routed, select one of the one or more identified IP trunk groups and route the call setup request to an internal IP address associated with the selected IP trunk group. The system may further include an IP edge node associated with the internal IP address, the IP edge node in the backbone network and operable to receive the call setup request and route the call setup request to one of a plurality of IP addresses associated with a plurality of carrier edge nodes in the carrier network.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Patent number: 7813335Abstract: A system includes a core routing engine operable to receive a call setup request and identify one or more IP trunk groups through which the call setup request can be routed, select one of the one or more identified IP trunk groups and route the call setup request to an internal IP address associated with the selected IP trunk group. The system may further include an IP edge node associated with the internal IP address, the IP edge node in the backbone network and operable to receive the call setup request and route the call setup request to one of a plurality of IP addresses associated with a plurality of carrier edge nodes in the carrier network.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri
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Publication number: 20100254526Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes generating one or more route plans, each route plan being associated with a service plan, and provisioning the one or more route plans on a core routing engine accessible by a softswitch for routing calls according to the one or more route plans. The one or more route plans may include an on-net route plan and an off-net route plan. An embodiment of a system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to generate one or more route plans associated with one or more respective service levels that customers can subscribe to. The system may further include an inventory of trunk groups containing a plurality of trunk group identifiers (IDs), wherein trunk group IDs are marked as either on-net or off-net.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha
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Patent number: 7738647Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes generating one or more route plans, each route plan being associated with a service plan, and provisioning the one or more route plans on a core routing engine accessible by a softswitch for routing calls according to the one or more route plans. The one or more route plans may include an on-net route plan and an off-net route plan. An embodiment of a system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to generate one or more route plans associated with one or more respective service levels that customers can subscribe to. The system may further include an inventory of trunk groups containing a plurality of trunk group identifiers (IDs), wherein trunk group IDs are marked as either on-net or off-net.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Matthew K. Davis, Dan Jordan, Greg Gualtieri, Richard Terpstra, Janis Griffin, Murli S. Nair, Susmita G. Saha