Method and apparatus for providing virtual private network services over public switched telephone network

Abstract

A method of providing a Private Telephone Network over a Public Telephone Network is described. A Private Network is a telecommunications service which has controlled access, and is generally provided to customers having two or more geographic locations. A Private Network is provided by embedding originating customer site identification and a Private Network Routing Code into an Initial Address Message at the originating End Office associated with the originating customer site. This Initial Address Message is routed to a Service Switching Point by the Private Network Routing Code. At the Service Switching Point, reference is made to databases defining the members of the Private Network, and a destination End Office identification and a destination customer site identification associated with the destination customer site is embedded into the Initial Address Message. The Initial Address Message is then routed to the destination End Office Switch by a Public Network Routing Number associated with the destination End Office Switch. This will permit a Private Network to be provided over a Public Telephone Network, taking advantage of the inherent redundancy and reliability of the Public Telephone Network.