Methods and systems for managing the routing of packets over a hybrid communication network

Abstract

Methods and systems for routing information to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the networks is a packet network. The system comprises a routing processor for receiving a routing query signal, which specifies the destination to which the information will be routed and a memory for storing at least one characteristic of the destination. The processor determines a route for the transmission of the information based on the routing query and on the characteristics stored in the memory.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for managing the routing of information from a source to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of said networks is a packet network, said system comprising: 
 a routing processor for receiving a routing query signal from said source, said signal specifying said destination to which said information will be routed; and    a memory for storing at least one characteristic of said source; said memory storing at least one characteristic of said destination;    wherein said processor determines a route for the transmission of said information based on said routing query signal and on said characteristics stored in said memory.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a characteristic of said destination includes information relating to the equipment at said destination.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said source subscribes to a fixed wireless service network.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said destination subscribes to the same fixed wireless service network as said source.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said destination subscribes to a PSTN service network.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a characteristic of said destination includes information identifying the service to which said destination subscribes.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said information includes digitized voice information.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said signal is a DTMF signal.  
     
     
         9 . A system for routing information to a destination, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of said networks is a packet network and wherein each network is linked to at least one other network by a communication medium; and    a routing processor for receiving a routing query signal, said routing query signal, including at least one characteristic of said destination, said routing processor determining a transmission path for routing said information through said plurality of networks;    wherein said routing processor determines said transmission path based on said routing query signal and on said received characteristics.    
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said destination subscribes to a fixed wireless service network.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said destination subscribes to a PSTN service network.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said characteristics of said destination identify the type of service to which said destination subscribes.  
     
     
         13 . A method for managing the routing of information to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of said networks is a packet network, each network being linked to at least one other network by a communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a routing query specifying a destination to which said information will be routed at a routing processor;    storing at least one characteristic of said destination; and    determining a route for the transmission of said information based on said routing query and on said stored characteristics.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of storing characteristics includes the step of storing at least one address for said destination.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of determining includes the step of identifying the subscriber service of said destination.  
     
     
         16 . The method for managing the routing of information to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the networks is a packet network and wherein each network is linked to at least one other network by a communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a routing query signal from a source of one of said networks and information concerning at least one characteristic of said destination; and    determining a transmission path for routing said information through said networks, said transmission path comprising at least one network in addition to said packet network, wherein said step of determining is based on said received routing query signal and on said received characteristics.    
     
     
         17 . A method for managing the routing of information to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the networks is a packet network and wherein each network is linked to at least one other network by a communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a routing query signal including routing requirements from a source; and    determining a transmission path for routing said information through said networks, wherein said transmission path comprises network elements of at least one of said networks in addition to network elements of said packet network.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of determining a transmission path includes the step of identifying the subscriber service of said destination.  
     
     
         19 . A method for managing the routing of information from a subscriber of a fixed wireless service network to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of said networks is a packet network and wherein each network is linked to at least one other network by a communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a routing query signal from said subscriber of said fixed wireless service network;    storing information concerning at least one characteristic of said destination at a routing processor;    determining a transmission path for routing said information through said networks, said transmission path comprising elements of at least one of said networks in addition to elements of said packet network, wherein said step of determining said transmission path is based on said routing query and said stored characteristics;    sending a routing response signal from said routing processor to said subscriber; and    routing said information over said path.