Patent Publication Number: US-8538005-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,895, filed Sep. 30, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,734,024, which is currently allowed and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     The present invention relates generally to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in communication networks, e.g., packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     VoIP service providers of domestic and international services often provide least cost access arrangements with multiple international partner carriers. For example, a VoIP service provider may have two or three arrangements with partner carrier network providers in another country, say country A, who compete with each other in terms of termination rates and/or quality of service targets. Since these different international partner carrier network providers offer different calling rates and quality of service targets, a subscriber of the VoIP service provider should be able to choose from and place international calls through these different international partner carriers via the VoIP network. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention enables subscribers of a packet network service provider, e.g., a VoIP service provider to take advantage of wholesale arrangements made by the VoIP service provider with one or more international partner carrier network providers to one or more international countries. Specifically, the present invention enables a VoIP service provider to display a web page to their subscribers, for each destination country, with one or more international partner network providers and their corresponding calling rates and/or call completion success rates to each particular destination country. These corresponding calling rates and/or call completion rates are updated dynamically on customer facing web pages to reflect the most current information. End users or subscribers of the VoIP service provider are then allowed to choose from these international partner carrier network providers based on available calling rates and call completion success rates to place calls to their intended destination countries. Subscribers can select the preferred carrier through which to place international calls by calling a specified access number on a call by call basis. Subscribers can also place international calls using a hot link, e.g., a hypertext link or hyperlink, on the dynamically updated customer facing web pages to their intended called parties. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The teaching of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network related to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of enabling user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a VoIP network of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method for updating user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a VoIP network of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method for enabling user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a VoIP network of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a high level block diagram of a general purpose computer suitable for use in performing the functions described herein. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To better understand the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates an example network, e.g., a packet network such as a VoIP network related to the present invention. Exemplary packet networks include internet protocol (IP) networks, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, frame-relay networks, and the like. An IP network is broadly defined as a network that uses Internet Protocol to exchange data packets. Thus, a VoIP network or a SoIP (Service over Internet Protocol) network is considered an IP network. 
     In one embodiment, the VoIP network may comprise various types of customer endpoint devices connected via various types of access networks to a carrier (a service provider) VoIP core infrastructure over an Internet Protocol/Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) based core backbone network. Broadly defined, a VoIP network is a network that is capable of carrying voice signals as packetized data over an IP network. The present invention is described below in the context of an illustrative VoIP network. Thus, the present invention should not be interpreted to be limited by this particular illustrative architecture. 
     The customer endpoint devices can be either Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) based or IP based. TDM based customer endpoint devices  122 ,  123 ,  134 , and  135  typically comprise of TDM phones or Private Branch Exchange (PBX). IP based customer endpoint devices  144  and  145  typically comprise IP phones or IP PBX. The Terminal Adaptors (TA)  132  and  133  are used to provide necessary interworking functions between TDM customer endpoint devices, such as analog phones, and packet based access network technologies, such as Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) or Cable broadband access networks. TDM based customer endpoint devices access VoIP services by using either a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  120 ,  121  or a broadband access network via a TA  132  or  133 . IP based customer endpoint devices access VoIP services by using a Local Area Network (LAN)  140  and  141  with a VoIP gateway or router  142  and  143 , respectively. 
     The access networks can be either TDM or packet based. A TDM PSTN  120  or  121  is used to support TDM customer endpoint devices connected via traditional phone lines. A packet based access network, such as Frame Relay, ATM, Ethernet or IP, is used to support IP based customer endpoint devices via a customer LAN, e.g.,  140  with a VoIP gateway and router  142 . A packet based access network  130  or  131 , such as DSL or Cable, when used together with a TA  132  or  133 , is used to support TDM based customer endpoint devices. 
     The core VoIP infrastructure comprises of several key VoIP components, such the Border Element (BE)  112  and  113 , the Call Control Element (CCE)  111 , VoIP related Application Servers (AS)  114 , and Media Server (MS)  115 . The BE resides at the edge of the VoIP core infrastructure and interfaces with customers endpoints over various types of access networks. A BE is typically implemented as a Media Gateway and performs signaling, media control, security, and call admission control and related functions. The CCE resides within the VoIP infrastructure and is connected to the BEs using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) over the underlying IP/MPLS based core backbone network  110 . The CCE is typically implemented as a Media Gateway Controller or a softswitch and performs network wide call control related functions as well as interacts with the appropriate VoIP service related servers when necessary. The CCE functions as a SIP back-to-back user agent and is a signaling endpoint for all call legs between all BEs and the CCE. The CCE may need to interact with various VoIP related Application Servers (AS) in order to complete a call that require certain service specific features, e.g. translation of an E.164 voice network address into an IP address. 
     For calls that originate or terminate in a different carrier, they can be handled through the PSTN  120  and  121  or the Partner IP Carrier  160  interconnections. For originating or terminating TDM calls, they can be handled via existing PSTN interconnections to the other carrier. For originating or terminating VoIP calls, they can be handled via the Partner IP carrier interface  160  to the other carrier. 
     In order to illustrate how the different components operate to support a VoIP call, the following call scenario is used to illustrate how a VoIP call is setup between two customer endpoints. A customer using IP device  144  at location A places a call to another customer at location Z using TDM device  135 . During the call setup, a setup signaling message is sent from IP device  144 , through the LAN  140 , the VoIP Gateway/Router  142 , and the associated packet based access network, to BE  112 . BE  112  will then send a setup signaling message, such as a SIP-INVITE message if SIP is used, to CCE  111 . CCE  111  looks at the called party information and queries the necessary VoIP service related application server  114  to obtain the information to complete this call. In one embodiment, the Application Server (AS) functions as a SIP back-to-back user agent. If BE  113  needs to be involved in completing the call; CCE  111  sends another call setup message, such as a SIP-INVITE message if SIP is used, to BE  113 . Upon receiving the call setup message, BE  113  forwards the call setup message, via broadband network  131 , to TA  133 . TA  133  then identifies the appropriate TDM device  135  and rings that device. Once the call is accepted at location Z by the called party, a call acknowledgement signaling message, such as a SIP 200 OK response message if SIP is used, is sent in the reverse direction back to the CCE  111 . After the CCE  111  receives the call acknowledgement message, it will then send a call acknowledgement signaling message, such as a SIP 200 OK response message if SIP is used, toward the calling party. In addition, the CCE  111  also provides the necessary information of the call to both BE  112  and BE  113  so that the call data exchange can proceed directly between BE  112  and BE  113 . The call signaling path  150  and the call media path  151  are illustratively shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that the call signaling path and the call media path are different because once a call has been setup up between two endpoints, the CCE  111  does not need to be in the data path for actual direct data exchange. 
     Media Servers (MS)  115  are special servers that typically handle and terminate media streams, and to provide services such as announcements, teleconference bridges, transcoding, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) messages for VoIP service applications. 
     Note that a customer in location A using any endpoint device type with its associated access network type can communicate with another customer in location Z using any endpoint device type with its associated network type as well. For instance, a customer at location A using IP customer endpoint device  144  with packet based access network  140  can call another customer at location Z using TDM endpoint device  123  with PSTN access network  121 . The BEs  112  and  113  are responsible for the necessary signaling protocol translation, e.g., SS7 to and from SIP, and media format conversion, such as TDM voice format to and from IP based packet voice format. 
     Packet network service providers, e.g., VoIP service providers of domestic and international services often provide least cost access arrangements with multiple international partner carriers. For example, a VoIP service provider may have two or three arrangements with partner carrier network providers in another country, say country A, who compete with each other in terms of termination rates and/or quality of service targets. Since these different international partner carrier network providers offer different calling rates and/or quality of service targets, a subscriber of the VoIP service provider should be able to choose from and place international calls through these different international partner carriers via the VoIP network. 
     To address this need, the present invention enables subscribers of a packet network service provider, e.g., a VoIP service provider to take advantage of wholesale arrangements made by the VoIP service provider with one or more international partner carrier network providers to one or more international countries. Specifically, the present invention enables a VoIP service provider to display a web page to their subscribers, for each destination country, with one or more international partner network providers and their corresponding calling rates and/or call completion success rates to each particular destination country. These corresponding calling rates and call completion rates are updated dynamically on customer facing web pages to reflect the most current information. 
     End users or subscribers of the VoIP service provider are then allowed to choose from these international partner carrier network providers based on available calling rates and call completion success rates to place calls to their intended destination countries. Subscribers can select the preferred carrier through which to place international calls by calling a specified access number on a call by call basis. Subscribers can also place international calls using a hot link, e.g., a hypertext link or hyperlink, on the dynamically updated customer facing web pages to their intended called parties. The call completion rate is defined to be the number of call setup attempts that are successfully completed divided by the number of call setup attempts. A hot link, a hypertext link, or a hyperlink is an element on a web page which can be clicked on to jump to another web page in the Internet. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary communication architecture  200  for enabling user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , subscriber  231  is a subscriber of VoIP services, both domestic and international services, of network  210 . Subscriber  231  uses personal computer (PC)  232  to access international calling application server  214 , using data flow  241  via the internet, to view web pages that provide the latest calling rates and/or call completion rates of available international partner carriers that serve the destination country to which an international call is to be placed. Subscriber  231  finds out that there are three international partner carriers that serve the destination country, D, which can reach called party  234 . After viewing the information on the web page(s), subscriber  231  can place a call to called party  234  via three different carriers, international partner carrier  221 , international partner carrier  222 , and international partner carrier  223 . If international partner carrier  221  is chosen, then subscriber can use a predefined access number to place the call using international partner carrier  221  via signaling flow  250 . Upon receiving the call setup message originated by subscriber  231 , CCE  211  finds out the access number of international partner carrier  221  is used; therefore, CCE  211  sends the call setup message using signaling flow  251  to reach called party  234  via international partner carrier  221  and local access network  224  in country D. 
     If international partner carrier  222  is chosen, then subscriber can use a predefined access number to place the call using international partner carrier  222  via signaling flow  250 . Upon receiving the call setup message originated by subscriber  231 , CCE  211  finds out the access number of international partner carrier  222  is used; therefore, CCE  211  sends the call setup message using signaling flow  252  to reach called party  234  via international partner carrier  222  and local access network  224  in country D. 
     If international partner carrier  223  is chosen, then subscriber can use a predefined access number to place the call using international partner carrier  223  via signaling flow  250 . Upon receiving the call setup message originated by subscriber  231 , CCE  211  finds out the access number of international partner carrier  223  is used; therefore, CCE  211  sends the call setup message using signaling flow  253  to reach called party  234  via international partner carrier  223  and local access network  224  in country D. 
     Note that subscriber  231  can place a call by dialing from a telephone handset or using PC  232  by clicking a hot link on the web page being viewed to access a particular international partner carrier. Both approaches are supported by the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method  30  for updating user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network of the present invention. Method  300  starts in step  305  and proceeds to step  310 . 
     In step  310 , the method receives updated calling rates and/or call completion rates to a destination international country from one or more international partner carriers. 
     In step  320 , the method immediately updates the call rate and/or call completion rate information on the appropriate customer facing web pages. 
     In step  330 , the method provides a set of predefined access numbers and/or hot links for all partner carriers on the customer facing web pages through which calls to the destination international country can be made. The method ends in step  340 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method  400  for enabling user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls in a VoIP network of the present invention. Method  400  starts in step  405  and proceeds to step  410 . 
     In step  410 , the method receives a call setup message destined to an international destination country called party via a specific access number. 
     In step  420 , the method maps the specific access number into the corresponding international partner carrier. 
     In step  430 , the method routes the call setup message to the specific international partner carrier to complete the call setup procedures. The method ends in step  440 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a high level block diagram of a general purpose computer suitable for use in performing the functions described herein. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the system  500  comprises a processor element  502  (e.g., a CPU), a memory  504 , e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), a module  505  for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls, and various input/output devices  506  (e.g., storage devices, including but not limited to, a tape drive, a floppy drive, a hard disk drive or a compact disk drive, a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker, a display, a speech synthesizer, an output port, and a user input device (such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, and the like)). 
     It should be noted that the present invention can be implemented in software and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a general purpose computer or any other hardware equivalents. In one embodiment, the present module or process  505  for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls can be loaded into memory  504  and executed by processor  502  to implement the functions as discussed above. As such, the present process  505  for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls (including associated data structures) of the present invention can be stored on a computer readable medium or carrier, e.g., RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive or diskette and the like. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.