Networks, Systems and Methods for Routing Data Traffic Within a Telephone Network Based on Available Resources

Abstract

When a subscriber calls into its Internet Server Provider(ISP), a central office receiving the call is triggered to perform a Local Number Portability (LNP) query. This LNP query is sent to an Intelligent Traffic Routing and Control (INTRAC) unit resident on a Service Control Point (SCP) which determines whether the call is to an ISP. If the call is to an ISP, the INTRAC unit polls a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server to determine whether resources are available. The RADIUS server tracks the resources of the ISP and of other ISPs and informs the SCP of the available resources. The SCP then inserts the Local Routing Number (LRN) of the preferred resource into a reply that is sent to the central office. If resources are not available, the call is terminated before signaling occurs with any switch associated with the ISP. On the other hand, when resources are available, the subscriber can be directed to the preferred resource for the subscriber. The subscriber, for instance, can be directed to an access server within the ISP that has excess capacity or can be directed to an access server that provides the best service for the subscriber, whereby subscribers can be directed to X2 type service if they have an X2 modem or to K56Flex type service if they have a K56Flex modem. As another example, if one ISP is at maximum capacity, the subscriber can be directed to a second back-up ISP.

1 . A system for use in routing calls within a telephone network, comprising: 
 a service control point for receiving a switch-generated query and for generating a resource query, the switch generated query being generated at a switch in response to a received call; and    a resource tracker for tracking available resources of a first service provider;    wherein the resource tracker is for receiving the resource query from the service control point and is for providing routing directions for routing the received call, the routing directions being delivered to the switch through the service control point.    
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the routing directions generated by the resource tracker terminate the call when the first service provider has no available resources.  
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the routing directions generated by the resource tracker directs the received all to available resources of the first service provider.  
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the resource tracker includes a counter for tracking available resources of the first service provider.  
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the resource tracker includes a plurality of counters for tracking available resources of the first service provider  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein each of the counters in the resource tracker is associated with a group of modems at the first service provider.  
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the first service provider has a plurality of modems groups with each group of modems being dedicated to different types of service and the resource tracker having a plurality of counters with each counter monitoring available resources of a respective group of modems.  
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the resource tracker is connected to a remote authentication dial-in user service server.  
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the resource tracker monitors start and stop messages received at the remote authentication dial-in user service server.  
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the resource tracker provides the routing directions as a local routing number.  
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the resource tracker resides on a remote authentication dial-in user service server.  
   
   
       12 . A method for routing calls within a telephone network, comprising: 
 receiving a switch-generated query and generating a resource query; the switch generated query being generated at a switch in response to a received call;    tracking available resources of a first service provider; and    providing routing directions for routing the received call.    
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tracking available resources comprises tracking available resources of an Internet service provider.  
   
   
       14 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tracking available resources comprises tracking available resources of a second service provider.  
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tracking available resources comprises tracking available modems within each of a plurality group of modems of the first service provider.  
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for routing calls within a telephone network, the program comprising: 
 receiving a switch-generated query and generating a resource query; the switch generated query being generated at a switch in response to a received call;    tracking available resources of a first service provider; and    providing routing directions for routing the received call.    
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , the program further comprising monitoring a number of modems available at the first service provider.  
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , the program further comprising: 
 monitoring available resources of a second service provider; and    providing routing directions for directing the received call to the second service provider when resources are not available at the first service provider.    
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , the program further comprising generating the routing directions based on a calling party's telephone number associated with the received call.  
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim as set forth in  claim 17 , the program further comprising generating the routing directions based on a preferred type of service for the received call.