System and method for monitoring communications in a network
Methods and systems are described for monitoring communications in a packet-switched network. More specifically, the system initiates a communication between a network endpoint associated with a call mediator and at least a second network endpoint; records, at the call mediator, information associated with the communication; and upon termination of the communication, communicates, from the call mediator to an enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication.
1. A computerized method for monitoring communications in a packet switched network, the method comprising:
initiating a communication between a network endpoint associated with a call mediator and at least a second network endpoint;
recording, at the call mediator, information associated with the communication, wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording an alphanumeric termination cause code generated by the call mediator indicating a reason the communication was disconnected;
upon termination of the communication, communicating, from the call mediator to an enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication;
translating the alphanumeric termination cause code into a numeric termination cause code, wherein translating the alphanumeric termination cause code is performed by the enterprise gatekeeper;
creating an authentication record containing information associated with the communication by parsing the information associated with the communication;
communicating the authentication record from the enterprise gatekeeper to a remote authentication server; and
creating a billing call record by parsing the authentication record.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprises a VoIP communication.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording a network identifier associated with a network endpoint, wherein the network identifier specifies an enterprise customer network in which the network endpoint resides.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording the start time of the communication.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording the stop time of the communication.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording the duration of the communication.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording an amount of data transferred between the network endpoints.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising a call mediator located at a customer site serviced by an enterprise gatekeeper located at a different location.
9. The method of claim 8 , comprising a call mediator controlled by a customer and an enterprise gatekeeper controlled by a service provider.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein recording information associated with the communication comprises recording information that is accessible to the customer controlling the call mediator.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising storing, at the enterprise gatekeeper, information associated with the communication.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the information associated with the communication stored at the enterprise gatekeeper is not accessible to the customer.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating, from the call mediator to the enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication comprises communicating the information in a disconnect request.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein communicating the information in a disconnect request comprises communicating a disconnect request containing a billing token containing information associated with the communication.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein translating the alphanumeric termination cause code comprises translating to a PSTN numeric termination cause code.
16. A computerized method for monitoring communications in a packet switched network, the method comprising:
initiating a communication between a network endpoint associated with a call mediator and at least a second network endpoint;
recording, at the call mediator, information associated with the communication, including an alphanumeric termination cause code generated by the call mediator indicating a reason the communication was disconnected;
upon termination of the communication, communicating, from the call mediator to an enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication;
translating the alphanumeric termination cause code into a PSTN numeric termination cause code;
creating an authentication record containing information associated with the communication by parsing the information associated with the communication;
communicating the authentication record from the enterprise gatekeeper to a remote authentication server; and
creating a billing call record by parsing the authentication record.
17. The computerized method of claim 16 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises a network identifier associated with a network endpoint, the network identifier specifying an enterprise customer network in which the network endpoint resides.
18. A system for monitoring communications in a packet switched network, the system comprising:
a first network endpoint associated with a call mediator;
at least a second network endpoint; and
an enterprise gatekeeper;
wherein the first network endpoint initiates a communication with the second network endpoint;
wherein the call mediator records information associated with the communication, wherein the information associated with the communication comprises an alphanumeric termination cause code generated by the call mediator indicating a reason the communication was disconnected;
wherein upon termination of the communication, the call mediator communicates to the enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication;
wherein the enterprise gatekeeper is programmed to translate the alphanumeric termination cause code to a PSTN numeric termination cause code;
wherein the enterprise gatekeeper is programmed to create an authentication record containing information associated with the communication by parsing the information associated with the communication;
wherein the enterprise gatekeeper is programmed to communicate the authentication record to a remote authentication server; and
wherein the remote authentication server is programmed to create a billing call record by parsing the authentication record.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the call mediator is located at a customer site serviced by an enterprise gatekeeper located at a different location.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the call mediator is controlled by a customer and the enterprise gatekeeper is controlled by a service provided.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the information associated with the communication recorded at the call mediator is accessible to the customer controlling the call mediator.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the enterprise gatekeeper stores the information associated with the communication received from the call mediator.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the information associated with the communication stored at the enterprise gatekeeper is not accessible to the customer.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication is communicated in a disconnect request.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the disconnect request contains a billing token containing information associated with the communication.
26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises an amount of data transferred between the network endpoints.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises the duration of the communication.
28. The system of claim 18 , wherein the communication comprises a VoIP communication.
29. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises a network identifier associated with a network endpoint, wherein the network identifier specifies an enterprise customer network in which the network endpoint resides.
30. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises the start time of the communication.
31. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information associated with the communication comprises the stop time of the communication.