Distributed edge switching system for voice-over-packet multiservice network

Abstract

A network device including a plurality of communication interfaces, including a telephone line interface, a computer data interface, and a broadband network interface; a processor; a machine-readable storage medium which during use stores a call processing application and service profiles, and which stores executable instructions to mediate communications between the plurality of communication interfaces, the instructions causing the network device to detect network signaling events or trigger points in a telephone call and invoke the call processing application in response to the detected network signaling events or trigger points, the call processing application operating according to parameters defined in the service profiles.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A network device comprising: 
 a plurality of communication interfaces, including a telephone line interface, a computer data interface, and a broadband network interface;    a processor;    a machine-readable storage medium which during use stores call routing tables, and which stores executable instructions to mediate communications between the plurality of interfaces, the instructions causing the network device to perform call routing according to the call routing tables, the telephone calls using the telephone line interface.    
   
   
       10 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein call routing includes peer-to-peer call signaling between customer premises over a shared IP network.  
   
   
       11 . The network device of  claim 10 , wherein the call signaling is performed without requiring stateful elements of the shared IP network above the IP infrastructure.  
   
   
       12 . The network device of  claim 10 , wherein the broadband network interface terminates a link that joins the network device to the shared IP network.  
   
   
       13 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein call routing includes call signaling to a PSTN endpoint via a PSTN gateway that is reachable over the broadband network interface.  
   
   
       14 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the network device is contained in a single physical enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the network device to route IP data between the computer data interface and the broadband network interface.  
   
   
       16 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further includes a video streaming device interface.  
   
   
       17 . A network device comprising: 
 a plurality of communication interfaces, including a telephone line interface, a computer data interface, and a broadband network interface;    a processor; and    a machine-readable storage medium which stores executable instructions to mediate communications between the plurality of interfaces, the instructions causing the network device to log a telephone event record to a telephone event repository, the event record describing a telephone call communication mediated by the network device.    
   
   
       18 . The network device of  claim 17 , wherein the telephone event repository is included in the network device.  
   
   
       19 . The network device of  claim 17 , wherein the telephone event repository is remote relative to the network device.  
   
   
       20 . The network device of  claim 17 , wherein the network device is contained in a single physical enclosure.  
   
   
       21 . The network device of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further includes a video streaming device interface.  
   
   
       22 - 32 . (canceled)