Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Verizon Services Corporation

Other

Verizon Communications Inc.

Bell Atlantic Corporation

Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems, Inc.

Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.

Robert D Farris

Dale Lee Bartholomew

James E Curry

Michael J Strauss

Patrick E White

Eric Albin Voit

Alexander I McAllister

William David Goodman

Michael G Pilkerton

Stephen J Flaherty

Barry Paul Pershan

R Andrew Poole

Raymond F Albers

Charles H Eppert, Iii

David E Young

Jayant G Gadre

Edward E Balkovich

John W Seazholtz

David Harold Cave

John M Carman

Daniel C Michaelis

Richard G Backus

Raymond Ian Millet

Christine W Huff

Jay C Lodsun

Faye M Smith

Christine D McDermott

Kamran Sistanizadeh

Harry Allen Hetz

Thomas A Nolting

Von K McConnell

Robert H Montgomery

Myron E Harper

Frank C Cheston, Iii

Robert P Florindi

Lin H Kerns

James F McHenry

N Sharon Embrey

Harrison K Wallace

Albert F Valeo

Kyle Vincent Evans

James A Morrisey

Charles H Kennedy

John C Manning

Reginald V McKoy

Christine Huff

Dennis A Minarczik

Walter Pomykacz

George Korsanos

Douglas Reynold Jones

Jeffery A Gardner

Denny L Hylton

J Alfred Baird

David F Wheeler, Jr

Laird Wise

Colleen Harp

Bing N Der

Kenneth E De Paul

William Tolson

Nolan Marcus Forness

Charles H Stier

Reggie McKoy

Geoffrey Michael Harton

Charles J Conway

Robert N Garner

John Andrew Herhei

William L Suthard

Marcus F Woody

Lilly Chin-Aronds

Mary Chacanias

Daisy C Copp

David D Hunter

Gerard J Sasse

Public communication networks increasingly need to provide customers with a range of communication services, from baseband voice service, to computer data communications, to high speed digital data communications for multimedia and the like. Many such services would be blocked by existing telephone network line cards, which provide coding and decoding (CODEC) between analog and digital signals and process digital signals only at a relatively low, fixed bit rate. In accord with the invention, intelligent signal detection and control added to a line card selectively bypasses the CODEC and the associated connection to a time slot limited telephone exchange. The selective bypass connection provides a connection to an alternative network functionality capable of providing higher bandwidth digital services. In the preferred embodiment, the bypass provides a connection through an adaptive digital signal processor with a programmed controller. The digital signal processor provides coding and decoding functions, adapted to the particular communication service requested and the physical level signal protocol used over the customer's line. The digital signal processor also provides a two-way digital communication link to a relatively fast data switch, such as an edge device of an asynchronous transport mode (ATM) network. The data switch and associated data network provide a full range of digital communication services of various bandwidths or bit rates as may be requested by individual.

Selective bandwidth connectivity through network line cards

A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.

Telephone service via packet-switched networking

A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone terminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is a preferred example. A voice communication link may be established from telephone terminal to telephone terminal via the Internet, the quality of voice communication may be monitored, and the link may be transferred to the common channel interoffice signaling network if and when the quality of voice communication deteriorates beneath a pre-established norm. There is provided a means for monitoring the links of the common channel interoffice signaling system carrying the packetized voice communication and collecting the information needed to permit charging for the voice communication by time duration or by cells used to carry the packetized voice signal. The customer may be provided with the option of establishing the norm for diversion of the communication, or may elect which path is to be selected as the primary path.

Telephony communication via varied redundant networks

In an exemplary broadband video distribution network, an edge interface device at the customer premises detects a condition relating to an interruption of video service, e.g. a power outage at the premises. The interface device notifies the network, to allow identification of the point of interruption and the program being viewed. Upon resumption of service, the network offers to provide a replay of the program, starting from a point substantially corresponding to the point of interruption. If the program was pre-recorded (e.g. from a VOD server) or was automatically recorded in the network as part of another service, the replay is provided as a narrowcast transmission from the appropriate source starting at about the point of interruption. If the viewer was watching a broadcast program not otherwise recorded, it may also be necessary to activate recording of the program in a network video recorder, in response to the interruption.

Network playback of video programming after customer premises service interruption

A voice call is transported through diverse network paths including a switched telephone network and a wide area data internetwork, for example, the Internet. In routing the call, common channel signalling is used to provide data identifying a calling subscriber line from a calling PSTN, which information can then be transported through the separate data internetwork to the destination PSTN, at which the data is then extracted and sent to the called subscriber line while completing routing of the call. A route for the call is established at gateways connected to the data internetwork at the interface points with the calling and destination PSTNs, calling subscriber line information and dialed digit information being conveyed to the gateways. The destination end gateway initiates a call connection to the calling subscriber line via the destination PSTN to complete routing of the call, while supplying identification of the calling subscriber line in a form recognized as such by the called PSTN. The called party central office can then provide caller ID services.

Transport of caller identification information through diverse communication networks

The quality of service existing in a data packet network during the course of communication of a voice call through a data network, such as the Internet, is monitored. A minimum acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). If the monitored quality is maintained in excess of the stored threshold, communication of the call continues through the established course of transmission. If the measured quality of service on the data network is not satisfactory, the routing of the call is changed to communication solely through a voice telephone network connection, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link, without terminating the call. The packet data network is thereby bypassed to obtain voice grade quality while maintaining the call.

Packet data network voice call quality monitoring

Long distance communications service between two communications systems is established by using a wide area packet switched network, for example the Internet, to transport signaling data and digitized communication traffic. Each communications system uses an interface server to encapsulate communication traffic and signaling data into data packets suitable for transport over the wide area packet switched network. The interface server accesses a routing and administration database to determine a destination address of a destination interface server based on the area code of the called number. Upon receiving the destination address and a prescribed bandwidth from the routing and administration database, the telephony server inserts the destination address to the data packets for a destination server for a second communications system. The packets are then output to the Internet, and subsequently routed to the destination server serving as an interface for the second communications system. Routing of packets is preferably performed using reserved virtual paths to guarantee quality of service.

Internet long distance telephone service

The advanced intelligent network (AIN) to determine routing of voice calls alternatively between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a data packet network, such as the Internet, in accordance with the quality of service existing in the data packet network at the times of call origination. The user's acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). On a per call basis, the caller linked to a first public switched network may indicate a preference to route through the Internet. This indication is recognized by the AIN system, in response to which the quality of service currently present on the Internet for completion of the call is measured. If the result exceeds the stored threshold, the call is setup and routed through the Internet to the switched network link to the destination party. If the quality of service on the Internet is not satisfactory, the call is alternatively routed through the PSTN, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link. The AIN system automatically controls the alternative routing of such calls.

Voice call alternative routing through PSTN and internet networks

A system and method for providing telephone type services over an Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. In preferred embodiments, public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to setup and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Calls may be made front telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.

Telephone service via networking

This invention gives the directions for the design and building of a vehicle which will be supported in water by the installation of a Floatation Material. The design is so that the vehicle, occupants, and cargo will be supported so that the vehicle will come to rest in the upright position and with the water level below the upper torso of the occupants. There are several demonstrations presented on a regular basis which show how to escape from a vehicle that has suddenly become immersed in water: a lake, river, etc. Escaping is portrayed as a fairly simple procedure when performed by someone who is coached through the process, and by an individual who knows the vehicle is supported by a crane. The design presented in this invention provides a vehicle that will float while requiring no effort from the occupants, nor does it depend on the performance of some mechanism, i.e. switches, relays, or some mechanically activated procedure that requires intervention by the occupant. Several options were considered and examined before the design presented in this invention was chosen as the best, and safest. There have been designs using inflatable objects. The inflatable object approach has several shortcomings. The most obvious is that the vehicle may not assume the upright position. The material-supported vehicle design presented in this invention, when implemented, will generate a vehicle that will end up in the top-up position when placed in deep water. If the vehicle goes into the water top first, the vehicle will quickly correct to the top-up position.

Use of floatation material to support a vehicle in water

A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers. The localized wireless gateway system also includes a telephone switch, such as a digital PBX, selectively providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit(s) and the packet service gateway. An access manager controls registration and validation of roaming wireless telephones to utilize the wireless gateway system.

Public wireless/cordless internet gateway

A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone terminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is one such example.

A communications network, for example forming a local exchange carrier telephone network, utilizes three layers of fiber optic rings. The point of demarcation between customer premises media and network media comprises an intelligent soft network interface device or 'soft NID'. First layer rings carry telephone and data communications between the soft NIDs and remote terminals. Several remote terminals in an area communicate via one of the next higher level rings to a host digital terminal. The host digital terminals communicate with each other via a backbone optical fiber ring, and a media gateway controller on this ring provides high level service logic. The remote terminals and preferably the host digital terminals are service switching points (SSPs), for intelligent services provided by the network. Local legacy switches connect to remote terminals, whereas a router on the backbone provides communications to other networks, including legacy long distance networks.

Multi-layer ring architecture for fiber-to-the-home telco carrier network

Growing community of inventors

Sterling, VA, United States of America

Robert D Farris