Patents by Inventor Rich Terpstra

Rich 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).

  • Patent number: 10250412
    Abstract: A method for routing a call associated with a private dialing plan includes receiving a call directed to a destination endpoint associated with a private dialing plan (PDP), receiving an internal egress path identifier associated with the destination endpoint, and routing the call to an egress path identified by the egress path identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Publication number: 20170187549
    Abstract: A method for routing a call associated with a private dialing plan includes receiving a call directed to a destination endpoint associated with a private dialing plan (PDP), receiving an internal egress path identifier associated with the destination endpoint, and routing the call to an egress path identified by the egress path identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Patent number: 9596101
    Abstract: Methods and systems for routing a call including a destination number associated with a PDP including a routing engine operable to route the call to a PDP call resolution server, and a first switch operable to receive an egress path identifier and a PDP telephone number from the PDP call resolution server, the egress path identifier identifying an egress path for routing the call to a destination endpoint associated with the destination number, and the PDP telephone number identifying a selected PDP destination endpoint and a second switch operable to receive the call based on the egress path identifier and route the call to the selected PDP destination endpoint using the PDP telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Patent number: 8693347
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    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: 20140064268
    Abstract: Methods and systems for routing a call including a destination number associated with a PDP including a routing engine operable to route the call to a PDP call resolution server, and a first switch operable to receive an egress path identifier and a PDP telephone number from the PDP call resolution server, the egress path identifier identifying an egress path for routing the call to a destination endpoint associated with the destination number, and the PDP telephone number identifying a selected PDP destination endpoint and a second switch operable to receive the call based on the egress path identifier and route the call to the selected PDP destination endpoint using the PDP telephone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Patent number: 8582560
    Abstract: A method for routing a call associated with a private dialing plan includes receiving a call directed to a destination endpoint associated with a private dialing plan (PDP), receiving an internal egress path identifier associated with the destination endpoint, and routing the call to an egress path identified by the egress path identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Publication number: 20130070757
    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: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    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
  • Patent number: 8270421
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    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: 20120177195
    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: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    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
  • Patent number: 8089958
    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: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    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
  • Patent number: 8085761
    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: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    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: 20100195642
    Abstract: A method for routing a call associated with a private dialing plan includes receiving a call directed to a destination endpoint associated with a private dialing plan (PDP), receiving an internal egress path identifier associated with the destination endpoint, and routing the call to an egress path identified by the egress path identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Richard Moore
  • Patent number: 7564840
    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 includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    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: 20080025294
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Isaac Elliott, Steven Higgins, Andrew Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert Hernandez, Rick Steele, Bruce Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080025295
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Isaac Elliott, Steven Higgins, Andrew Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert Hernandez, Rick Steele, Bruce Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080013531
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Isaac Elliott, Steven Higgins, Andrew Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert Hernandez, Rick Steele, Bruce Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070153813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing telecommunications systems and services are provided. More specifically, embodiments relate to systems and methods for distributing traffic within a telecommunications network. According to various embodiments, systems and methods for establishing a communication session are described which provide for determining information descriptive of an originator of the communication session. Using this information related to the originating communicator, a prioritized list of processing servers and interface modules pairs may be determined. The accessing modules, may then attempt to route the communication session through the communication network based on the devices returned in the prioritized list until the session is successfully routed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Terpstra, Jin-Gen Wang
  • 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
  • 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