Technique for providing translation between the packet environment and the pstn environment

Abstract

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls received in a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network ( 12 ) maintained by a provider of HFC VoIP telephony services are advantageously translated into a Time-Division Multiplex (TDM) format by an Internet Protocol Device Terminal (IPDT) ( 26 ) in the HFC network. Once translated into a TDM format, the call passes to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) ( 28 ) for call processing to afford the call features subscribed to by the called party, such as caller-ID and call waiting. Once processed, the PSTN routes the call to the destination. Likewise, a call destined for an HFC VoIP customer can be processed within the PSTN to afford the call features subscribed to by the HFC VoIP customer. In this way, the HFC VoIP telephony service can offer full-featured VoIP cable telephony without the need to perform call processing in its own network.

1 . A method for providing a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service, comprising:
 receiving in a first network a packet-based VoIP call, wherein the first network comprises a Hybrid-Fiber Coax network;   translating, within the first network, the VoIP call into a Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) call compatible with a second network having a capability of processing TDM calls and providing at least one feature for the TDM call, the translating comprises:
 performing required signal processing protocols in the first network to allow the VoIP call to interact with the first network as if the first network was performing switch-based processing functions; and 
 mapping IP signaling information developed in the first network into a format suitable for processing by the second network; and 
   routing the TDM call to the second network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the translating comprises translating the VoIP call into a bearer portion and a signaling portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the IP signaling information is mapped into a GR-303 format. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the IP signaling information includes a line status of customer premises equipment (CPE) on which the packet-based VoIP call originated, and the GR-303 format includes ABCD signaling bits, wherein the line status in the IP signaling information is mapped to an equivalent line status in the ABCD signaling bits. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the IP signaling information includes a power ringing indication, and the GR-303 format includes the ABCD signaling bits, wherein the power ringing indication received via the ABCD signaling bits is mapped to an equivalent power ringing indication in the IP signaling information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature includes at least one of: a CLASS feature, a custom calling feature, or a Centrex feature. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing comprises translating the TDM call back to a VoIP call if a destination lies in the first network. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service, comprising:
 receiving in a first network a packet-based VoIP call and a plurality of non-voice packets, wherein the first network comprises a Hybrid-Fiber Coax network;   separating the non-voice packets from the VoIP call;   routing the non-voice packets to a data network;   translating, within the first network, the VoIP call into a Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) call compatible with a second network having a capability of processing TDM calls and providing at least one feature for the TDM call, the translating comprises:
 performing required signal processing protocols in the first network to allow the VoIP call to interact with the first network as if the first network was performing switch-based processing functions; and 
 mapping IP signaling information developed in the first network into a format suitable for processing by the second network; and 
   routing the TDM call to the second network.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the translating comprises translating the VoIP call into a bearer portion and a signaling portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the IP signaling information includes a power ringing indication, and a GR-303 format that includes ABCD signaling bits, wherein the power ringing indication received via the ABCD signaling bits is mapped to an equivalent power ringing indication in the IP signaling information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the IP signaling information includes a line status of customer premises equipment (CPE) on which the packet-based VoIP call originated, and the GR-303 format includes ABCD signaling bits, wherein the line status in the IP signaling information is mapped to an equivalent line status in the ABCD signaling bits. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the IP signaling information is mapped into a GR-303. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one feature includes at least one of: a CLASS feature, a custom calling feature, or a Centrex feature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the routing comprises translating the TDM call back to a VoIP format if a destination lies in the first network. 
     
     
         17 . A system for providing a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service, comprising:
 means for receiving in a first network a packet-based VoIP call, wherein the first network comprises a Hybrid-Fiber Coax network;   means for translating, within the first network, the VoIP call into a Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) call compatible with a second network having a capability of processing TDM calls and providing at least one feature for the TDM call, the means for translating comprises:
 means for performing required signal processing protocols in the first network to allow the VoIP call to interact with the first network as if the first network was performing switch-based processing functions; and 
 means for mapping IP signaling information developed in the first network into a format suitable for processing by the second network; and 
   means for routing the TDM call to the second network.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for translating translates the VoIP call into a bearer portion and a signaling portion. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the IP signaling information is mapped into a GR-303 format. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the IP signaling information includes a line status of customer premises equipment (CPE) on which the packet-based VoIP call originated, and the GR-303 format includes ABCD signaling bits, wherein the line status in the IP signaling information is mapped to an equivalent line status in the ABCD signaling bits.