System and method for providing local services within a consolidated network architecture
View Patent ↗A system and method for a next generation network service infrastructure to support VoIP services is disclosed. The services are partitioned between locally based services and nationally based services. Locally based services are handled in call processing systems in regional/local service centers based at the edge of the system. Nationally based services are handled by national service centers.
1. A method of providing services within a network, the method comprising:
hosting a set of local voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services in a plurality of local regional call processors (RCP);
hosting a set of national VoIP services in a plurality of national service centers;
receiving a service request for a service at a local RCP of the plurality of local RCP, wherein the service request indicates an application identifier associated with the service;
determining whether the service is one of the national VoIP services or one of the local VoIP services based on the associated application identifier;
forwarding the service request to a national service center of the plurality of national service centers when the service is one of the national VoIP services;
transmitting a query from the national service center to a national context center, when the service is one of the national VoIP services, and in response, receiving context information indicating a one national service center of the plurality of national service centers that will fulfill the requested national VoIP service;
forwarding the service request to the one national service center and fulfilling the service request at the one national service center when the service is one of the national VoIP services and when the national service center is not the one national service center;
fulfilling the service request at the national service center of the plurality of national service centers if the national service center is the one national service center; and
fulfilling the service request at the local RCP when the service is one of the local VoIP services.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local VoIP services comprise one click dialing, custom announcements, personal call controls, access to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and voice mail.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the service is one of the national VoIP services or one of the local VoIP services comprises determining whether the service is one of the national VoIP services using a lookup table containing a list of the set of local VoIP services.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the service request is for one of the national VoIP services or one of the local VOIP services comprises determining whether the service is one of the national VoIP services using a table containing a list of application identifiers that correspond to the set of national VoIP services.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a device registers with local RCP using a register message when the device powers on.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the local RCP forwards the register message to the national service center when the device registers for one of the national VoIP services.
7. A communication network comprising:
a regional call processor configured to host a set of local voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services;
a plurality of national service centers configured to host a set of national VoIP services;
the regional call processor further configured to receive a service request for a service from a device, wherein the service request indicates an application identifier associated with the service, determine whether the service is for one of the national VoIP services or one of the local VoIP services based on the application identifier, route the service request to a national service center when the service is one of the national VoIP services, and fulfill the service request at the regional call processor when the service request is for one of the local VoIP services; and
the national service center further configured to transmit a query to a national context center, when the service is one of the national VoIP services, and in response, receive context information indicating a one national service center of the plurality of national service centers that will fulfill the service request, forward the service request to the one national service center to fulfill the service request when the national service center is not the one national service center, and fulfill the service request at the national service center of the plurality of national service centers if the national service center is the one national service center.
8. The communication network of claim 7 , wherein the regional call processor determines whether the service is one of the national VoIP services by comparing the requested service to a table of the set of national VoIP services.
9. The communication network of claim 7 , wherein the regional call processor determines whether the service is one of the national VoIP services using a table containing a list of application identifiers that correspond to the set of national VoIP services.
10. The communication network of claim 7 , wherein the local VoIP services comprise one click dialing, custom announcements, personal call controls, access to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and voice mail.
11. The communication network of claim 7 , wherein the device registers with the regional call processor using a register message when the device powers on.
12. The communication network of claim 11 , wherein the regional call processor forwards the register message to the national service center when the device registers for one of the national VoIP services.