Highly scalable internet protocol-based communications system

Abstract

A highly scalable Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system which provides voice and other communication services to end-users. The instant system incorporates a unique architecture which simplifies scaling of services to hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers. The instant system architecture includes a means for directly connecting a plurality of peered service providers thereby obviating the need to move the communications across the PSTN. By bypassing the PSTN, the instant system can leverage the advantages of IP-based networks in meeting subscriber communications needs such as, without limitation, quality of service, service up-time, and advanced feature sets. Bypassing the PSTN also allows the peered partners to negotiate communications rates between themselves, without incurring PSTN carrier fees.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of relaying telecommunication information, comprising:
 receiving by a proxy call control information from a first IP-based telecommunications device, wherein the call control information includes a sender address, a destination identifier, and a destination address associated with the proxy;   recording the sender address in a database;   modifying the call control information to replace the sender address with the address associated with the proxy;   forwarding the call control information to a call control node to generate information to facilitate communication between the first IP-based telecommunications device and a second IP-based telecommunications device, wherein the second IP-based telecommunications device is associated with the destination identifier, and wherein the information generated includes an address associated with the second IP-based telecommunications device;   modifying the call control information by replacing the destination address with the address associated with the second IP-based telecommunications device; and   forwarding the modified call control information to the second IP-based telecommunications device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the call control information further comprises replacing the sender address with the sender address recorded in the database. 
     
     
         3 . A method of relaying telecommunication information, comprising:
 receiving a request to initiate a telecommunications session between a caller and a destination via a proxy, the request including a caller telephone number and a destination telephone number;   recording in a database an address associated with the telecommunications session initiation request;   modifying the telecommunications session initiation request to create a first modified request appearing to come from the proxy;   forwarding the first modified request from the proxy to a call control node;   receiving from the call control node information to facilitate communication between the caller and the destination, wherein the information comprises an address associated with the destination telephone number, and wherein the information is received by the proxy;   modifying one of the telecommunications session initiation request and the first modified request to create a second modified request, wherein the second modified request appears to be coming from the sender; and   forwarding the second modified call control information to the destination telephone number.   
     
     
         4 . A method of relaying telecommunication information, comprising:
 receiving a request by proxy to initiate a telecommunications session between a caller and a destination;   recording in a database an address associated with the telecommunications session initiation request;   modifying the telecommunications session initiation request to create a first modified request, wherein the first modified request appears to be coming from the proxy;   forwarding the first modified request from the proxy to a call control node;   receiving from the call control node information to facilitate communication between the caller and the destination, wherein the information comprises routing information, and wherein the information is received by the proxy;   modifying one of the telecommunications session initiation request and the first modified request to create a second modified request, wherein the second modified request appears to be coming from the caller; and   forwarding the second modified call control information to the destination utilizing the routing information.