US6507577B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voice over internet protocol network architecture
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1998-11-12
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Granted: 2003-01-14
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Expires: 2018-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Voice and media services are provided over an IP network incorporating a plurality of nodes and in which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said nodes. SS 7 signalling is provided between nodes. The voice and media components are multiplexed to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session which is switched end to end across the network under the control of the signalling.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Harold Mauger
- 👤 Gary Robert Kirkpatrick
- 👤 Mark Robert Gibson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/0045; H04Q3/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
An arrangement for establishing an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes, each incorporating a gatekeeper and a session manager, and in which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, the arrangement comprising means for providing signalling between said nodes, means for multiplexing the voice and media components to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and means for switching said PPP session end to end across the network under the control of said signal line wherein, to establish a said connection: said fist terminal sends a setup message via said proxy servers to the second terminal via the first and second nodes; said second terminal, returns an alerting message to the first terminal via the second and first nodes, the gatekeeper of the second node sends a session request via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; the session manager of the first node sends to the gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; the gatekeeper of the second node sends an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and the gatekeeper of the second node sends a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
An arrangement for establishing an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes, each incorporating a gatekeeper and a session manager, and in which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, the arrangement comprising means for providing signalling between said nodes, means for multiplexing the voice and media components to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and means for switching said PPP session end to end across the network under the control of said signal line wherein, to establish a said connection: said fist terminal sends a setup message via said proxy servers to the second terminal via the first and second nodes; said second terminal, returns an alerting message to the first terminal via the second and first nodes, the gatekeeper of the second node sends a session request via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; the session manager of the first node sends to the gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; the gatekeeper of the second node sends an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and the gatekeeper of the second node sends a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said tunnels comprise Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L 2 TP) tunnels and Multi Protocol Label switched tunnels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the number of calls admitted to a said tunnel is controlled so as to ensure that all calls admitted to that tunnel have a guaranteed quality of service.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each said gatekeeper incorporates a call server function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said nodes are arranged to exchange topology state packets so as to provide each said node with information on bandwidth availability.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said tunnels are established over an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said first and second nodes exchange topology state packets identifying the network topology and reporting on available bandwidth.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of setting up an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes, each incorporating a gatekeeper and a session manager, and is which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, in which signalling is provided between said nodes, in which the voice and media components are multiplexed to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and in which said PPP session is switched end to end across the network under the control of said signalling, wherein the method comprises: sending a setup message via said proxy servers from the first terminal to the second terminal via the first and second nodes; at the second terminal, returning an alerting message to tie first terminal via the second and first nodes, at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a session request via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; at the session manager of the first node, sending to the gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of setting up an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes, each incorporating a gatekeeper and a session manager, and is which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, in which signalling is provided between said nodes, in which the voice and media components are multiplexed to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and in which said PPP session is switched end to end across the network under the control of said signalling, wherein the method comprises: sending a setup message via said proxy servers from the first terminal to the second terminal via the first and second nodes; at the second terminal, returning an alerting message to tie first terminal via the second and first nodes, at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a session request via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; at the session manager of the first node, sending to the gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said tunnels comprise Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L 2 TP) tunnels and Multi Protocol Label switched tunnels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the number of calls admitted to a said tunnel is controlled so as to ensure that all calls admitted to that tunnel have a guaranteed quality of service.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each said gatekeeper is provided with a call server function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein topology state packets are exchanged between said nodes so as to provide each said node with information on bandwidth availability.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
366 words
A method of setting up an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes each incorporating a gatekeeper, a tunnel switch and a session manager, and in which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, in which signalling is provided between said nodes, in which the voice and media components are multiplexed to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and in which said PPP session is switched end to end across the network under the control of said signalling wherein the method comprises: sending a setup message via said proxy servers from the first terminal to the first node; at the gatekeeper of the first node, converting the setup message into a signalling message containing an originating point code designating the gatekeeper and tunnel switch of the first node, a destination point code designating the gatekeeper and tunnel switch of the second node, and a circuit identification code designating a point to point protocol (PPP) session to be established in a tunnel between said tunnel switches, and sending the signalling message to the second node; at the gatekeeper of the second node, relaying the call setup message to the second terminal; at the second terminal, sending an alerting message to the first terminal via the first and second nodes; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a session request incorporating a session identifier of the proxy server of the first terminal via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; at the session manager of the first node, sending to tile gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
366 words
A method of setting up an end to end connection to provide voice and media services between first and second terminals each having a respective proxy server over an IP (Internet protocol) network via first and second nodes each incorporating a gatekeeper, a tunnel switch and a session manager, and in which connection oriented traffic is transported in tunnels via said first and second nodes, the proxy servers acting as the end points of said tunnels, in which signalling is provided between said nodes, in which the voice and media components are multiplexed to form a point to point protocol (PPP) session, and in which said PPP session is switched end to end across the network under the control of said signalling wherein the method comprises: sending a setup message via said proxy servers from the first terminal to the first node; at the gatekeeper of the first node, converting the setup message into a signalling message containing an originating point code designating the gatekeeper and tunnel switch of the first node, a destination point code designating the gatekeeper and tunnel switch of the second node, and a circuit identification code designating a point to point protocol (PPP) session to be established in a tunnel between said tunnel switches, and sending the signalling message to the second node; at the gatekeeper of the second node, relaying the call setup message to the second terminal; at the second terminal, sending an alerting message to the first terminal via the first and second nodes; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a session request incorporating a session identifier of the proxy server of the first terminal via the session manager of that node to the session manager of the first node; at the session manager of the first node, sending to tile gatekeeper of the second node a session connected message containing a tunnel identifier and circuit identifier; at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending an answer message to the gatekeeper of the first node confirming connection of the session; and at the gatekeeper of the second node, sending a connect message to the first user terminal so as to complete the end to end connection.
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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) | 2006-01-13 | 2006-07-15 | 2007-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-13 | 2010-07-15 | 2011-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-13 | 2014-07-15 | 2015-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |