Abstract: A system for processing calls with a time division multiplexing (TDM) network and routing the calls via an internet protocol network is disclosed. The system may receive a call from a call originating device. The call may then be routed to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call. The routing information may then be received at a first VoIP media gateway, and the call may then be routed by the first VoIP media gateway. Once the call is answered, the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the VoIP media gateway may be terminated to enable the total number of terminations to be reduced, thereby creating a more efficient system.

Abstract: A system for processing calls with a time division multiplexing (TDM) network and routing the calls via an internet protocol network is disclosed. The system may receive a call from a call originating device. The call may then be routed to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call. The routing information may then be received at a first VoIP media gateway, and the call may then be routed by the first VoIP media gateway. Once the call is answered, the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the VoIP media gateway may be terminated to enable the total number of terminations to be reduced, thereby creating a more efficient system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a technique for providing Class-of-Service Routing in an ATM network (10) that utilizes the Private Network-Network Interface (PNNI) protocol. An originating node seeking to route a call to a terminating node does so by initially determining the class-of-service and then selecting a shortest length path there-between. Each successive link on the selected path is examined for sufficient available bandwidth and available depth (i.e., bandwidth not reserved for other services) for the Class-of-Service of the call. If every link possesses sufficient available bandwidth, then the call passes on the selected path. Otherwise, should a link on the selected path lack sufficient bandwidth and available depth, then a crankback message is sent to the originating node, and the originating node selects the next shortest path. Thereafter, the process of examining each link for sufficient bandwidth is repeated. If no path is found, the call is ultimately blocked.

Abstract: To facilitate routing changes, a telecommunications network (10, 10?, 10??) includes a centralized network routing database (28) queried by each ingress switch upon receipt of a call by a calling subscriber (12). In response to the query, the network routing database returns to the querying switch the identity on the next (downstream) switch in the routing path. The querying switch then translates the switch identity to establish the link to that next switch. Because each querying switch makes the necessary translation of the next switch identity to make the link to the next switch, the centralized network database need not concern itself with the particular characteristics of the switch. To make global routing changes, only the network routing database need be updated, not each individual switch.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a technique for providing Class-of-Service Routing in an ATM network (10) that utilizes the Private Network-Network Interface (PNNI) protocol. An originating node seeking to route a call to a terminating node does so by initially determining the class-of-service and then selecting a shortest length path there-between. Each successive link on the selected path is examined for sufficient available bandwidth and available depth (i.e., bandwidth not reserved for other services) for the Class-of-Service of the call. If every link possesses sufficient available bandwidth, then the call passes on the selected path. Otherwise, should a link on the selected path lack sufficient bandwidth and available depth, then a crankback message is sent to the originating node, and the originating node selects the next shortest path. Thereafter, the process of examining each link for sufficient bandwidth is repeated. If no path is found, the call is ultimately blocked.

Abstract: The priority of the flow of packets representing calls or other connection requests within a packet network (10) is determined from the Class-of-Service of the call. Upon receipt of a call, a recipient router (121, 122, 123) identifies available paths, typically by exchanging messages with the other routers in the network. After selecting the path, the recipient router or centralized bandwidth broker determines whether the links comprising the selected path have available bandwidth for the class of service of the call. If so, the router routes the call to the next hop along the path. Otherwise, the router selects another path(s) and checks whether the links on the path possess sufficient bandwidth for the class of service of the call.

Abstract: An originating switch (110) in a packet-based telecommunications network (100) routes calls to a terminating switch using the combination of Success-to-the Top (STT) and Class-of-Service criterion. In routing a call to the terminating switch, the originating switch 110 checks for available bandwidth for the class of service of the call on the direct path (116) between switches. If the path has available bandwidth, the originating switch routes on the direct path. Otherwise, the originating switch searches for the most recently successful one of a plurality the via switches (1181-118n) linking the originating and terminating switches to determine whether that via switch can successfully route the call to the terminating switch. If the most recently successful one of the via switches possesses available bandwidth to route the call in accordance with its class of service, the originating switch 110 selects that via switch to route the call.

Abstract: The routing of calls in a telecommunications switching system (12.sub.1, 12.sub.2) comprised of one or more fabrics (22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, 22.sub.3) controlled by corresponding fabric controllers (26.sub.1,26.sub.2 and 26.sub.3, respectively) is carried out by a routing processor (28) independent of the fabrics. The routing processor actually selects the route for each call by specifying a channel to a neighboring switching system to carry the call. Further, the routing processor has the capability to respond to queries from other switching systems regarding trunk group status and traffic load to enable the processor to assist the routing processor of the other switching system to make routing decisions. By implementing fabric independent routing, routing processing is re-used for new fabric capacity, and is readily extended to accommodate new service types, such as bursty data services.

Abstract: The routing of calls from one network (100) to another network (170) may be accomplished by tracking the call completion history over each trunk group (174.sub.1 -174.sub.2) connecting the networks. From a knowledge of the call completion history for each route, a Completion Rate Factor (CRF), representing the ratio of completed calls to all calls attempted is computed. The route having the CRF representing the highest number of completions is then selected. Typically, the process is dynamic, so that if the selected route no longer has the highest number of completions, then the route previously found to have the highest number of call completions is selected. The concept of completion rate factor routing can be extended to multiple carriers to yield a carrier completion rate feature routing technique. Routing may also be completed in accordance with network congestion to route advance a call.