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Patent US6665293B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6665293B2
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Application for a voice over IP (VoIP) telephony gateway and methods for use therein
Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Co Inc
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Filing: 2001-09-21
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2021-09-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for a telephony gateway intended for use, e.g., paired use, at opposite ends of a data network connection, in conjunction with at each end, e.g., a private branch exchange (PBX) for automatically routing telephone calls, e.g., voice, data and facsimile, between two peer PBXs over either a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network, based on, among other aspects, cost considerations for handling each such call and called directory numbers, monitoring quality of service (QoS) then provided through the data network and switching (“auto-switching”) such calls back and forth between the PSTN and the data network, as needed, in response to dynamic changes in the QoS such that the call is carried over a connection then providing a sufficient QoS.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy R. Thornton
- 👤 Rajiv Bhatia
- 👤 Ki Choon Suh
- 👤 Cheng Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/10; H04L65/102; H04L65/1033; H04L65/104; H04L12/00; H04L12/66; H04L12/02; H04L12/14; H04L12/1403; H04L12/1432; H04L12/1439; H04L12/1442; H04L12/145; H04L12/1453; H04L12/1482; H04L12/1485; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5691; H04L12/5692; H04L43/00; H04L65/1023; H04L65/103; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1069; H04L65/1101; H04L65/1106; H04L65/80; H04L67/00; H04L67/14; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/56; H04M15/80; H04M15/8016; H04M15/8044; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/0066; H04M7/0069; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/121; H04M7/122; H04M7/125; H04M7/1295; H04L43/08; H04L43/0823; H04L43/0829; H04L43/0852; H04L43/087; H04L43/16; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/202; H04M2215/42; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/7414; H04M2215/745
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A protocol for use with a telephony gateway which routes a telephone call through either a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, the protocol comprising: a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A protocol for use with a telephony gateway which routes a telephone call through either a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, the protocol comprising: a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The protocol recited in claim 1 further comprising: a setup message which is transmitted from the telephony gateway to the peer gateway to set up the call; and a responding message which is transmitted from the peer gateway to the telephony gateway and is issued in response to the setup message, the responding message containing, as part of the call-specific data, the call identifier which distinguishes said call from any other call then being handled by either the telephony gateway or the peer gateway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The protocol recited in claim 2 wherein the setup message comprises an H.323 SETUP message and the responding message comprises either an H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The protocol recited in claim 3 wherein the setup message contains a calling flag, the calling flag indicating whether the telephony gateway can switch the call between the PSTN and data network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The protocol recited in claim 4 wherein the calling flag is contained within the nonstandard data field in the H.323 SETUP message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The protocol recited in claim 5 wherein the responding message contains, as part of the call-specific data, both a called flag and the call identifier, and a pooled directory number associated with the peer gateway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The protocol recited in claim 6 wherein each of the called flag, the call identifier and the pooled directory number is contained within a “nonstandard data” field in either the H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT messages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protocol recited in claim 7 wherein the call identifier is generated by the peer gateway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
273 words
Apparatus for a telephony gateway for routing a telephony call through either a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, comprising: (A) a processor; (B) a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; and (C) circuitry, controlled by and connected to the processor, for interfacing the gateway to the PSTN and the data network; (D) wherein the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions, communicates, through a protocol, with the peer gateway, to exchange call-specific data therebetween and to interact therewith so as to: (D1) establish, through the interface, a connection, through one of the PSTN and the data network, with the peer gateway and over which the call is to be carried for at least a portion of its duration; and (D2) establish a connection through the other one of the PSTN and the data network to the peer gateway and switch the call to said other one of the PSTN and the data network for another portion of the duration; and (D3) wherein the protocol comprises a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
273 words
Apparatus for a telephony gateway for routing a telephony call through either a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, comprising: (A) a processor; (B) a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; and (C) circuitry, controlled by and connected to the processor, for interfacing the gateway to the PSTN and the data network; (D) wherein the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions, communicates, through a protocol, with the peer gateway, to exchange call-specific data therebetween and to interact therewith so as to: (D1) establish, through the interface, a connection, through one of the PSTN and the data network, with the peer gateway and over which the call is to be carried for at least a portion of its duration; and (D2) establish a connection through the other one of the PSTN and the data network to the peer gateway and switch the call to said other one of the PSTN and the data network for another portion of the duration; and (D3) wherein the protocol comprises a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein the protocol further comprises: a setup message which is transmitted from the telephony gateway to the peer gateway to set up the call; and a responding message which is transmitted from the peer gateway to the telephony gateway and is issued in response to the setup message, the responding message containing, as part of the call-specific data, the call identifier which distinguishes said call from any other call then being handled by either the telephony gateway or the peer gateway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein the setup message comprises an H.323 SETUP message and the responding message comprises either an H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the setup message contains a calling flag, the calling flag indicating whether the telephony gateway can switch the call between the PSTN and data network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 12 wherein the calling flag is contained within the nonstandard data field in the H.323 SETUP message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus recited in claim 13 wherein the responding message contains, as part of the call-specific data, both a called flag and the call identifier, and a pooled directory number associated with the peer gateway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein each of the called flag, the call identifier and the pooled directory number is contained within a “nonstandard data” field in either the H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT messages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein the call identifier is generated by the peer gateway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions and as a result of exchanging, through the protocol, the call-specific data with the peer gateway forms a same association in both the telephony gateway and the peer gateway between the call and the call identifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus recited in claim 17 wherein the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions: dynamically measures at least one predefined characteristic of a data network connection extending from the gateway to the peer gateway, throughout a duration of the call so as to define quality of service (QoS); and issues the setup message to switch the call between the PSTN and the data network in response to a measured dynamic change in the QoS.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for use in a telephony gateway for routing a telephony call through either a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, the gateway having a processor, a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein, and circuitry, controlled by and connected to the processor, for interfacing the gateway to the PSTN and the data network, wherein the method comprises the steps, performed by the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions and through a protocol, of exchanging call-specific data with the peer gateway and interacting therewith so as to implement the following steps: establishing, through the interface, a connection, through one of the PSTN and the data network, with the peer gateway and over which the call is to be carried for at least a portion of its duration; and establishing a connection through the other one of the PSTN and the data network to the peer gateway and switching the call to said other one of the PSTN and the data network for another portion of the duration; and wherein the protocol comprises a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for use in a telephony gateway for routing a telephony call through either a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, the gateway having a processor, a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein, and circuitry, controlled by and connected to the processor, for interfacing the gateway to the PSTN and the data network, wherein the method comprises the steps, performed by the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions and through a protocol, of exchanging call-specific data with the peer gateway and interacting therewith so as to implement the following steps: establishing, through the interface, a connection, through one of the PSTN and the data network, with the peer gateway and over which the call is to be carried for at least a portion of its duration; and establishing a connection through the other one of the PSTN and the data network to the peer gateway and switching the call to said other one of the PSTN and the data network for another portion of the duration; and wherein the protocol comprises a plurality of H.323 messages which collectively convey call-specific data for the call then being routed between the telephony gateway and the peer gateway, wherein the data is carried through call independent signaling features of the messages and resides within nonstandard data fields in the messages, the data having flags and a call identifier, the call identifier being associated with and uniquely identifying the call and the flags indicating to the telephony gateway and the peer gateway whether the call can be automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method recited in claim 19 wherein the protocol further comprises: a setup message which is transmitted from the telephony gateway to the peer gateway to set up the call; and a responding message which is transmitted from the peer gateway to the telephony gateway and is issued in response to the setup message, the responding message containing, as part of the call-specific data, the call identifier which distinguishes said call from any other call then-being handled by either the telephony gateway or the peer gateway.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in claim 20 wherein the setup message comprises an H.323 SETUP message and the responding message comprises either an H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT message.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method recited in claim 21 wherein the setup message contains a calling flag, the calling flag indicating whether the telephony gateway can switch the call between the PSTN and data network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method recited in claim 22 wherein the calling flag is contained within the nonstandard data field in the H.323 SETUP message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in claim 23 wherein the responding message contains, as part of the call-specific data, both a called flag and the call identifier, and a pooled directory number associated with the peer gateway.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in claim 24 wherein each of the called flag, the call identifier and the pooled directory number is contained within a “nonstandard data” field in either the H.323 CALL PROCEEDING or H.323 CONNECT messages.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 25 wherein the call identifier is generated by the peer gateway.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method recited in claim 26 further comprising the step, performed as a result of exchanging, through the protocol, the call-specific data with the peer gateway, of forming a same association in both the telephony gateway and the peer gateway between the call and the call identifier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method recited in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: dynamically measuring at least one predefined characteristic of a data network connection extending from the gateway to the peer gateway, throughout a duration of the call so as to define quality of service (QoS); and issuing the setup message to switch the call between the PSTN and the data network in response to a measured dynamic change in the QoS.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-06-16 | 2007-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-15 | 2011-06-16 | 2011-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |