System and method for providing redundancy in a distributed telecommunications architecture

Abstract

A telecommunications platform that provides redundant interfaces to a telecommunications system for multiple IP based telecommunication devices. The telecommunications platform includes a gateway cluster with two or more signaling gateways. Each signaling gateway is assigned a point code for being accessed by devices in the telecommunications system. The gateway cluster is assigned a virtual point code. Any of the IP based telecommunications devices can be accessed by the telecommunications system by routing to the virtual point code through one of the signaling gateways in the gateway cluster. Thus, if one of the signaling gateways is not available, the IP based telecommunications devices can still be accessed through one of the other signaling gateways in the gateway cluster.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing an interface to a telecommunications system for a plurality of IP based devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 assigning a point code to each gateway in a gateway cluster, wherein each gateway passes data between an SS7 telecommunications network and a packet switched network and, further, includes a signaling interface to an STP of the telecommunications system and an IP interface;   registering each point code with the telecommunications system;   assigning a virtual point code to the gateway cluster;   registering the virtual point code with the telecommunications system as an adjacent switching point for each gateway in the cluster;   connecting a plurality of media servers to the gateway cluster through an IP network, wherein each media server comprises a circuit-switched interface for terminating circuit-switched traffic over the telecommunications network and is associated with at least one circuit identification code;   receiving telecommunications traffic at the gateway cluster from a user of the telecommunications system, the telecommunications traffic being directed to the virtual point code through one of the signaling gateways in the gateway cluster and being associated with a particular circuit identification code; and   routing the telecommunications traffic to the particular media server associated with the particular circuit identification code;   wherein if a particular media server cannot terminate circuit-switched traffic, the gateways are configured to instruct the telecommunications network to avoid the at least one circuit identification code associated with the particular media server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving the telecommunications traffic at the media server associated with the particular circuit identification code, wherein the telecommunications traffic is a request for services; and   the media server requesting the provision of the services from an application server, wherein the application server is connected to the media server via the IP network.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 the application server accessing a data store via the IP network, wherein the data store provides the application server with configuration parameters for the provision of the services; and   the application server providing the services to the user of the telecommunications system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the configuration parameters are associated with the particular media server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the application server providing the services to the user of the telecommunications system comprises providing the services to the particular media server, wherein the particular media server renders the services to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 the media server receiving feedback from the user of the telecommunications system;   the media server requesting the provision of additional services from the application server; and   the application server providing the additional services.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the additional services comprise a prompt to the user to leave a voice message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 recording the voice message; and   storing the voice message in a data store.   
     
     
         9 . A distributed telecommunications platform providing redundancy and integration of IP based devices, the distributed telecommunications platform comprising:
 at least two signaling gateways to pass data between an SS7 telecommunications network and a packet switched network, wherein each signaling gateway includes:
 a signaling interface to an STP of the telecommunications network; 
 an IP interface to one or more other components in the telecommunications system; and 
 an assigned point code in the telecommunications network; and 
   a plurality of media servers configured to provide communication services to subscribers and to notify the signaling gateways with regards to the circuit identification codes (CICs) associated with the media server such that the telecommunications network maintains routing information that identifies all of the circuit identification codes associated with the virtual point code, wherein each media server includes:
 a circuit-switched interface for terminating circuit-switched traffic over the telecommunications network; 
 an association with at least one circuit identification code; and 
 an IP interface for interfacing to the signaling gateways through an IP network; 
   wherein the combination of signaling gateways is assigned a virtual point code and each signaling gateway registers its assigned point code with the telecommunications system and further designates the virtual point code as an adjacent switching point; and   wherein the signaling gateways communicate with each other to synchronize the CICs associated with the plurality of media servers such that if one signaling gateway fails, redundant access to the plurality of media servers is provided through a different signaling gateway.   
     
     
         10 . The distributed telecommunications platform of  claim 9 , wherein a telecommunications service directed to a particular CIC can be routed to the distributed telecommunications platform through the virtual point code. 
     
     
         11 . The distributed telecommunications platform of  claim 10 , wherein the telecommunications service can be directed to the virtual point code through any of the active signaling gateways. 
     
     
         12 . The distributed telecommunications platform of  claim 11 , wherein prior to directing the telecommunications service to the virtual point code, a switch within the telecommunications system that is directing the telecommunications service first determines if a signaling gateway is active. 
     
     
         13 . The distributed telecommunications platform of  claim 9 , wherein the telecommunications server interfaces to the telecommunications network through one of the signaling gateways.