Patents Assigned to Level 3 Communications, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7051099
    Abstract: An alarm generation tool that operates within a Voice over IP (VoIP) network environment to generate alarms based on ISDN disconnect cause codes. The tool examines call-specific usage records associated with VoIP traffic to detect ISDN disconnect cause codes and determines failure rate information from failure-type disconnect cause codes among the ISDN disconnect cause codes on a per-gateway basis. The tool generates alarms when the failure rate information, such as failure rates and/or counts, exceeds defined thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred R. Ziegler, Sol Farber
  • Patent number: 7035934
    Abstract: A system (800) improves a network designer's ability to analyze a data network having several routers. The system (800) accesses static routing information and/or open shortest path first route summarization information, determines an identity of a network prefix using the accessed information, and analyzes the data network using the determined identity. The network designer can use this determined identity for traffic analysis or modeling of the data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc., BBNT Solutions LLC, Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Eddie Huey Chiun Lin
  • Publication number: 20060080257
    Abstract: A digital content distribution framework is provided. According to one embodiment, a digital content distribution system, such as a software distribution system, includes a credentialing authority, an access control component, and a digital content distribution system interface for each participant in the system. The credentialing authority component is configured to receive encryption keys associated with the participants and assign each of the participants an identity certificate for use during subsequent interactions with components of the digital content distribution system. The access control component is configured to maintain information regarding access rights of the participants to digital content accessible via the digital content distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Vaughan, Erich Jacobs, Craig Brusseau, Norman Dumont, Bruce Penney, John Covino
  • Patent number: 7027997
    Abstract: A flexible interface and a method for employing the same are provided for interconnecting a client program with a workflow server running a workflow management system having workflow-type functionality. The interface includes a set of predefined protocol user interface pages including at least one control page. At least one first workflow platform-dependent object is provided for accessing the workflow functionality. At least one second workflow platform-independent object is provided for providing data to the first workflow platform-dependent object. At least one server program is provided that is callable by the control page to access the workflow functionality by invoking at least one of the first workflow platform-dependent object and the second workflow platform-independent object to promote data translation and exchange between the client program and the workflow management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignees: Verizon Laboratories Inc., Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: William Brewster Robinson, Benjamin Hurwitz, Jin Jing, Himanshu Shekhar Sinha
  • Publication number: 20060064478
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for geo-locating load balancing. According to one embodiment, a communication network architecture includes multiple servers, multiple load balancers, and multiple geographically dispersed communication devices. The servers provide services to the communication devices within the communication network. The load balancers each service a shared virtual Internet Protocol (IP) address common to all of the load balancers and perform load balancing of service requests on behalf of two or more of the servers that are located geographically proximate to the load balancer. The communication devices are communicatively coupled with the load balancers and are configured to issue service requests intended for any of the servers to the shared virtual IP address, whereby, upon issuing a service request, a communication device is directed to a particular server selected by a load balancing routine that is associated with a load balancer that is closest to the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Sirkin
  • Patent number: 7002950
    Abstract: A system includes a telephony device (152) and a computer (102) coupled to a telephone line (194). The computer (102) includes an input device (210) and a processor (205). The processor (205) receives an electronic document that includes data representing a telephone number. The processor (205) further receives input via the input device (210) selecting the telephone number from the electronic document. The processor (205) additionally signals, via a packet-switched network (135) coupled to the telephone line (194), a telecommunication system (145) to connect a call between a telephone (156) associated with the telephone number and the telephony device (152) in response to the selection of the telephone number, the call being connected via the telephone line (194).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignees: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc., Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Carlquist Smith
  • Publication number: 20060013147
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically registering a communication device are disclosed. As one example, a communication network architecture is disclosed that includes multiple feature servers, multiple registration redirect servers (RRSs), and multiple communication devices. The feature servers provide services to the communication devices. The RRSs each service a shared virtual Internet Protocol (IP) address and perform load balancing of registration requests on behalf of multiple feature servers located geographically proximate to the RRS. The communication devices are configured to issue initial registration requests intended for any of the feature servers to the shared virtual IP address, whereby upon issuing an initial registration request, a communication device is directed to a particular feature server that is associated with a RRS that is closest to the communication device, and where the particular feature server is selected by a load balancing routine executing on the RRS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Terpstra, John Hearty
  • Patent number: 6940849
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for establishing the availability of a node to received a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call. The present invention comprises attempting to establish a VoIP call to a given node that is the target of the VoIP call, determining whether the attempt to establish the VoIP call is successful; and generating an alarm in response to a call failure. According to embodiments of the invention, the method may comprise extracting call metrics from a VoIP call that provide information regarding the quality of a VoIP connection and generating an alarm in response to the call metrics falling below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliot Eichen, Robert Israel, Evegeni Belin, Robert Olshansky
  • Patent number: 6938081
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and means described herein are designed to promote the efficient and prompt approval of proposed changes to a network and the effective implementation of customer notification of those proposed changes among other things. Specifically, the systems, methods, and means described herein include steps for creating a change plan that comprises instructions that meet minimum requirements about how a change is to be performed, organizing a change into one of a plurality of change categories based on the nature of the change to be performed, providing said change plan to affected entities for approval, and implementing said change plan after said approval has been provided. In carrying out these steps, the change category provides rules about who should be selected as affected entities, how the affected entities should be notified of the change, and the structure that should be utilized for organizing the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Majid Mir
  • Patent number: 6850525
    Abstract: Packet delivery statistics are derived from a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) stream simulating a service level provided by a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network and transmitted across the VoIP network at a first pre-defined interval. The derived packet delivery statistics are processed at a second pre-defined interval to generate network performance statistics for the VoIP network, where the second pre-defined interval is substantially larger than the first pre-defined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Hisami Mitsumori, Sujin Catherine Chang, Kwang-Shan Pan
  • Patent number: 6831932
    Abstract: Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) traffic is sent across a packet network. A SONET transmission is decoded into a data structure. The data structure is then converted into one or more packets and sent across the packet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Patrick Boyle, Steven Craig White, Joseph Cajetan Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6817515
    Abstract: A method of verifiable voting includes receiving election selections, producing a receipt representation of the election selections, the receipt having a unique receipt number for a voter and publishing election results, the election results including the election selections and unique receipt number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Winnett
  • Patent number: 6779031
    Abstract: In a wide area network arrangement composed of a number of secure local networks and an Internet service provider (ISP) back-bone having an ISP quality of service (QoS) module and an Event Server. LAN hosts indirectly access network routers to monitor a communication session. The QoS module and the Event Server work together to identify and collect session startup/teardown events and to collect certain network router state data. The state data is stored as a Management Information Base (MIB) object that can be accessed by the ISP using ordinary Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) messaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Heidi Picher-Dempsey
  • Patent number: 6725263
    Abstract: A method for analyzing traffic in a system (100) having a plurality of nodes (110, 120, 130) is provided. The method includes forecasting a total amount of traffic transmitted to and from each of the plurality of nodes (110, 120, 130) based on observed traffic statistics and an estimated growth. The method also includes generating a traffic matrix using the observed traffic statistics and the forecasted traffic associated with each of the plurality of nodes (110, 120, 130). The method may also include using the traffic matrix to determine projected traffic between each of the plurality of nodes (110, 120, 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcelo Javier Torres
  • Publication number: 20040022237
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20040024862
    Abstract: An order entry system communicates with the customer over a user interface and at the same time works with an automated installation system for installing network service. The communication with the customer can be accomplished over the world wide web. The customer goes to the network provider's web site and signs on to gain access to the order entry system. The order entry system than conducts a conversation with the customer who is requesting service, and the order entry system conducts a conversation with the automated installation system that is installing the service. The order entry performs the tasks of prompting the customer to place a new service order. The service parameters of the new service order are passed to the installation system. The installation system responds to the order entry system with a route, i.e. capacity available on the network, or no route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Wall, Kendall Gelner, Brendan Sullivan, Sanjay Singhal
  • Publication number: 20030198216
    Abstract: An open architecture platform bypasses data from the facilities of a telecommunications carrier, e.g. an incumbent local exchange carrier, by distinguishing between voice and data traffic, and handling voice and data traffic separately. An SS7 gateway receives and transmits SS7 signaling messages with the platform. When signaling for a call arrives, the SS7 gateway informs a control server on the platform. The control server manages the platform resources, including the SS7 gateway, tandem network access servers (NASs) and modem NASs. A tandem NAS receives the call over bearer channels. The control server determines whether the incoming call is voice traffic or data traffic, by the dialed number, and instructs the tandem NAS how to handle the call. Voiced traffic is transmitted to a switch for transmission from the platform. Data traffic is terminated at a modem NAS, where it is converted into a form suitable for a data network, such as a private data network or an Internet services provider (ISP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn M. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6614781
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030026662
    Abstract: The invention facilitates provision of a point-to-point cable connection between first and second points separated by an extended span of water including a first region of shallow water and a second region of relatively deep water. A plurality of ducts are provided from the first point through the first region of the extended span to an offshore termination point between the first and second points. Preferably, the ducts are buried in the seabed to prevent damage. At least one first cable is placed in one of the plurality of ducts to provide a connection between the first point and the offshore termination point. A second cable from the second point is received at the offshore termination point. The first cable is connected to the second cable at the offshore termination point to create the point-to-point cable connection. In one embodiment, the offshore termination point is located on the continental shelf near the transition to deep water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Vidal, Paul Alexander, Robert M. Kelly, David Bruton, Robert Todd
  • Publication number: 20030018451
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for assessing the reliability of an enterprise metric. The metric is assessed with respect to one or more key factors, such as the prevalence of manual processing in producing the metric, or mathematical stability of the process of producing the metric. Assessment of the metric with respect to a key factor yields a numerical score for that factor. If the metric is assessed with respect to several key factors, the assessment yields several factor scores, one for each key factor. An overall final, weighted numerical assessment for the metric is created by combining the factor scores. This overall final, weighted numerical assessment of the metric provides the enterprise with a level of confidence in its information used in decision support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Sullivan, Adam S. Rossi