Peer-to-peer interconnection between service providers

Abstract

Embodiments of methods and systems for peer-to-peer interconnection between service providers are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a session controller, a request for access to a target communication device, the target communication device being communicatively coupled to a foreign service provider network. The method may also include referencing a list of available routes for peer-to-peer communication with the target communication device on the foreign service provider network from a database of available routes. Additionally, the method may include identifying, in a peer-to-peer interconnect controller, a path for communication with the target communication device in response to the list of available routes. In one embodiment, the method also includes establishing a peer-to-peer communication session from a peering point to the target communication device over the path.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a session controller in a home service provider network, a request for access to a target communication device, the target communication device being communicatively coupled to a foreign service provider network; 
 referencing a list of available routes for peer-to-peer communication with the target communication device on the foreign service provider network from a database of available routes maintained by the foreign service provider network; 
 identifying, in a peer-to-peer interconnect controller node in the home service provider network and/or the foreign service provider network, the peer-to-peer interconnect controller node separate from the requesting device, a path for communication with the target communication device in response to the list of available routes; and 
 establishing a peer-to-peer communication session from a peering point in the home service provider network associated with, and separate from, the requesting device, directly to a peering point in the foreign service provider network associated with, and separate from, the target communication device, over the path. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein referencing the list of available routes does not include a central route lookup function. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the list of available routes is stored, at least in part, in a database of available routes maintained on the home service provider network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing an E.164 Number query to identify the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising querying a Domain Name System (DNS) server to identify a network address for the peer-to-peer interconnect control node associated with the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein referencing a list of available routes for peer-to-peer communication with the target communication device and/or identifying a path for communication with the target communication device further comprises querying the peer-to-peer interconnect control node associated with the foreign service provider network to identify routing information for reaching the target communication device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the routing information comprises a list of available routes stored in a database of available routes maintained on the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising rendering a Session Detail Record (SDR) for route use in response to the routing information for reaching the target communication device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a peer-to-peer communication session further comprises establishing a signaling session directly between the peering point on the foreign service provider network and the peering point on a home service provider network. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a peer-to-peer communication session further comprises establishing a direct media path between the peering point on the foreign service provider network and the peering point on a home service provider network. 
     
     
       11. A system, comprising:
 a session controller node configured to receive a request for access to a target communication device, the target communication device being communicatively coupled to a foreign service provider network; 
 a peer-to-peer interconnect controller node coupled to the session controller node and separate from a requesting device, the peer-to-peer interconnect controller node configured to:
 reference a list of available routes for peer-to-peer communication with the target communication device on the foreign service provider network maintained by the foreign service provider network; and 
 identify a path for communication with the target communication device in response to the list of available routes; and 
 
 a peering point separate from the requesting device and coupled to the session controller and configured to establish a direct peer-to-peer communication session with a peering point in the foreign service provider network associated with, and separate from, the target communication device, over the path. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein referencing the list of available routes does not include a central route lookup function. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an available routes database on a home service provider network, the available routes database configured to store at least a part of the list of available routes. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an E.164 Number database configured to store information for identifying the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a Domain Name System (DNS) server configured to identify a network address for a peer-to-peer interconnect control node associated with the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a peer-to-peer interconnect control node associated with the foreign service provider network configured to identify routing information for reaching the target communication device. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a database of available routes maintained on the foreign service provider network configured to store the routing information comprising a list of the available routes. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the peer-to-peer interconnect control associated with the foreign service provider network is configured to render a Session Detail Record (SDR) for accounting use in response to the information for reaching the target communication device. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein establishing a peer-to-peer communication session further comprises establishing a signaling session directly between the peering point on the foreign service provider network and the peering point coupled to the session controller. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11 , wherein establishing a peer-to-peer communication session further comprises establishing a direct media path between the peering point coupled to the session controller and the peering point in the foreign service provider network. 
     
     
       21. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computer system, causes the computer system to:
 receive a request from a requesting communication device separate from the computer system for access to a target communication device, the target communication device being communicatively coupled to a foreign service provider network; 
 reference a list of available routes for peer-to-peer communication with the target communication device on the foreign service provider network; 
 identify a path for communication with the target communication device in response to the list of available routes; and 
 establish a peer-to-peer communication session directly between a peering point associated with and separate from the requesting device in a home service provider network and a peering point in the foreign service provider network associated with and separate from the target communication device, over the path.