Method and apparatus for creating and distributing cost telephony-switching functionality within an ip network

Abstract

A system for providing and managing IP telephone calls establishes separate and distinct call legs between IP-capable appliances and routers and between routers, and creates calls, changes calls, and manages telephony functions by joining and disjoining calls legs. In some instances one or more call legs disjoined from an active call are maintained as established to be joined later to other call legs to create other active calls. By managing IP calls as separate and distinct legs functions of intelligent, connection-oriented telephony networks may be simulated in IP telephony systems. The management is provided by software running on processors coupled to routers in the IP network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for simulating connection-oriented telephony functions in an IP network, comprising: 
 two or more IP routers interconnected with two or more call appliances on the the network; and    software managing setup and execution of IP calls between call appliances through the routers;    wherein IP calls are managed by the software by setting up separate and distinct end node legs between call appliances and routers, and separate and distinct intermediate legs between routers, and then joining and disjoining legs to establish voice communication and to provide telephony functions.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein call appliances include Interactive Voice Response(IVR) units, and wherein the system establishes end-node legs between IVRs and IP routers.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein, in providing telephony functions, call legs once established and joined may be disjoined and maintained in established state for future use to be rejoined to other established call legs.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software executes directly on one or more IP routers connected to the network.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software executes on one or more processors enhancing IP routers on the network.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a local area network (LAN) connecting end appliances at one or more of the IP routers, and wherein end-node legs are established via the LAN to appliances on the LAN.  
     
     
         7 . A method for simulating connection-oriented telephony functions in an IP network, comprising steps of: 
 (a) interconnecting two or more IP routers with two or more call appliances on a network;    (b) setting up separate and distinct end-node call legs between call appliances and routers, and separate and distinct intermediate call legs between routers; and    (c) joining and disjoining legs to provide telephony functions.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein call appliances include Interactive Voice Response(IVR) units, and wherein the system establishes end-node legs between IVRs and IP routers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  comprising steps for disjoining call legs of completed calls and maintaining one or more disjoined legs in established state for future use to be rejoined to other established call legs in providing telephony functions.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the software executes directly on one or more IP routers connected to the network.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the software executes on one or more processors enhancing IP routers on the network.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising a local area network (LAN) connecting end appliances at one or more of the IP routers, and a step for establishing end-node legs via the LAN to appliances on the LAN.  
     
     
         13 . A method for establishing an IP telephone call from a first IP-capable appliance through first and second IP routers to a second IP-capable appliance, comprising steps of: 
 (a) setting up a separate and distinct end-node call leg between the first appliance and the first router;    (b) setting up a separate and distinct end-node call leg between the second appliance and the second router;    (c) setting up at least one separate and distinct intermediate call leg between the first and second IP routers; and    (d) joining the call legs to establish voice communication.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising additional interconnected routers and appliances, and including steps for setting up further call legs to additional appliances and between routers, and for joining and disjoining call legs to establish voice communication by different paths over established call legs.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein some call legs are maintained after being disjoined from active calls to be used later to be joined to other call legs to create other active calls.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units, and wherein call legs are established to IVRs.  
     
     
         17 . A system for simulating connection-oriented telephony functions in an IP network, comprising: 
 two or more IP routers interconnected with two or more call appliances on a network; and    software managing setup and execution of IP calls between call appliances through the routers;    wherein IP calls are managed by the software by setting up call legs between call appliances and routers, and between routers, which can then be manipulated, disjoined and joined to establish voice communication and to provide telephony functions.