Patent ID: 8275112

Claim:
A private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) for accessing a communications service using multi-homed tandem access, comprising: a private packet network; a logical call control entity coupled to the private packet network and in signaling communication with a plurality of access tandems and with an endpoint, the endpoint configured to support the communications service; a single logical routing database coupled to the logical call control entity; a signaling connection enabling the logical call control entity to be in signaling communication with the plurality of access tandems and with the endpoint; an originating connection between the private packet network and each of the plurality of access tandems; and a terminating connection between the private packet network and the endpoint, wherein: the endpoint is indicated by each Terminal Number (TN) in a set of TNs; each TN in the set of TNs corresponds to a respective LRN (Local Routing Number) in a set of LRNs; each LRN in the set of LRNs is homed to a respective access tandem of the plurality of access tandems; the private packet network is configured to receive a call where: the call is at least one of a data or a voice call, the call includes a selected TN from the set of TNs, a call content of the call is received over a corresponding originating connection from a corresponding access tandem, and signaling for the call is received over the signaling connection; and the private packet network is further configured, based on an indication from the logical call control entity in conjunction with the single logical routing database, to deliver the call from the corresponding originating connection over the private packet network to the terminating connection and the endpoint.