Patent ID: 6603762
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
An Internet service provider system registered as a Competing-Local-Exchange-Carrier (CLEC), and comprising:a channel bank for receiving calls from a connection oriented switched telephony (COST) network, and separating the calls into separate channels; at least one VoIP gateway connected to an Internet router and to one channel of the channel bank for converting voice call data between a COST protocol and Internet protocol; at least one portmaster (PM) node connected to the Internet router and to one channel of the channel bank for converting non-voice data between the COST protocol and the Internet protocol; and a computer station executing a virtual switch (VS) software, the computer station connected to the Internet router and to the channel bank; characterized in that the computer station controls, via the VS software, the channel bank for separating the COST calls into the separate channels, and also receives and shares SS-7 commands and data with the VoIP gateway and the PM node via the Internet router connected to the PM node and the VoIP gateway, thereby avoiding use of a telephony switching apparatus for receiving and routing calls from the COST network.