Patent ID: 8284765

Claim:
A private packet network backbone exchange (PPNBE) for providing communication service, comprising: a logical call control entity; a single logical routing database coupled to the logical call control entity; a signaling connection to a signaling network, the signaling connection coupled to the logical call control entity; a private packet network; a first connection between the private packet network and a first exchange; and a second connection between the private packet network and a second exchange, wherein: the logical call control entity is in signaling communication with the first and the second exchanges, the signaling communication enabled by the signaling connection, the logical call control entity is configured to establish, while operating in conjunction with the single logical routing database, a one-hop communication session between the first and the second exchanges over the private packet network without traversing any other exchanges, a content of the one-hop communication session includes at least one of voice or data and is delivered over the private packet network, the PPNBE is configured to establish separate one-hop communication sessions for: a local call between an originating local exchange and a first terminating local exchange, a long distance call between the originating local exchange and a different terminating local exchange, a first tandem call between the originating local exchange and a terminating tandem exchange, and a second tandem call between an originating tandem exchange and the first terminating local exchange.