Intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and private address translation

• US 20020009086A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Donovan, Steven R., Gallant, John K., Hall, Thomas Glenn Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5671 Support of voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5687 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/203 ATM switching fabrics with multicast or broadcast capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 : virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42187 : Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 : Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13242 : Broadcast, diffusion, multicast, point-to-multipoint (1 : N)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0066 : Bandwidth allocation or management

Abstract

An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) and private address translation are provided that can provide significant advantages. The method includes generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes a VToA designator and a called party phone number, extracting information from the input ATM setup message such as the VToA designator and the called party phone number, analyzing the information, designating an ATM address of a called party CPE to be stored in the first parameter of an output ATM setup message, determining if private address translation is needed, designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message, designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message, and generating an output ATM setup message. The method also includes extracting information from the output ATM setup message such as the ATM address of the called party CPE, designating the ATM address of the called party CPE that was stored in the first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message to be stored in the first parameter of a destination ATM setup message, and generating a destination ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in the first parameter and the called party phone number value stored in the second parameter. An illustrative intelligent network for providing VToA and private address translation is also provided.

Claims

1. An intelligent network for use with an ATM network to set up an ATM switched virtual circuit to provide VToA services and private address translation, the intelligent network comprising:

a multi-service control point operable to receive an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, analyze the input to determine if the VToA designator is present, designate an ATM address of a called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of a called party subaddress parameter of an output ATM setup message;

determine if private address translation is needed;

designate an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in a called party number parameter of the output ATM setup message; and

generate an output in response for use in generating the output ATM setup message;

an ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the input ATM setup message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extract the input from the input ATM setup message, communicate the input to the multi-service control point, receive the output generated by the multi-service control point, generate the output ATM setup message using the output that includes the ATM address of the egress ATM edge switch stored in the called party number parameter, the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in the first instance of the called party subaddress parameter, and the called party phone number value stored in a second instance of the called party subaddress, and communicate the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

a second multi-service control point operable to receive an egress input extracted from the output ATM setup message that includes the called party phone number value and the ATM address of the called party CPE, designate the ATM address of the called party CPE that was stored in the first instance of the called party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup switch to be stored in the called party number parameter of a destination ATM setup message, and generate an egress output in response,

a second ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the output ATM setup message from an egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extract the egress input from the output ATM setup message, communicate the egress input to the second multi-service control point, receive the egress output generated by the multi-service control point, generate the destination ATM setup message using the egress output that includes the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in the called party parameter, and the called party phone number value stored in the called party subaddress parameter, and communicate the destination ATM setup message to the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network; and

a service administration operable to provision the multi-service control point, the ATM signaling intercept processor, the second multi-service control point and the second ATM signaling intercept processor.

2. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the second multi-service control point and the multi-service control point are implement as one multi-service control point.

3. The intelligent network of claim 2, wherein the multi-service control point includes various applications operable to provide VToA services through analyzing the input to generate the output.

4. The intelligent network of claim 3, wherein the multi-service control point is operable to process the input to provide desired services before designating the ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the called party number parameter of the output ATM setup message.

5. The intelligent network of claim 4, wherein the second multi-service control point is operable to process the egress input to provide desired services after designating the ATM address of the called party CPE that was stored in the first instance of the called party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup switch to be stored in the called party number parameter of the destination ATM setup message.

6. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point determines if private address translation is needed by identifying a port of the ingress ATM edge switch that received the input ATM setup message.

7. A method for providing VToA and private address translation using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a calling party CPE to make a VToA call that includes a called party phone number value;

generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes a VToA designator stored in a first parameter of the input ATM setup message, and the called party phone number value stored in a second parameter of the input ATM setup message;

receiving the input ATM setup message at a device side of an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

intercepting the input ATM setup message from the device side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting information from the input ATM setup message that includes the VToA designator and the called party phone number value;

analyzing the information to determine if the VToA designator is present;

designating an ATM address of a called party CPE to be stored in the first parameter of an output ATM setup message;

determining if private address translation is needed;

designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message;

designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message;

generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the egress ATM edge switch stored in the first parameter, the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in the first instance of the second parameter, and the called party phone number value stored in a second instance of the second parameter;

communicating the output ATM setup message to a network side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

receiving the output ATM setup message at a network side of the egress ATM edge switch;

intercepting the output ATM setup message from the network side of the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting egress information from the output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party CPE;

designating the ATM address of the called party CPE that was stored in the first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message to be stored in the first parameter of a destination ATM setup message;

generating a destination ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in the first parameter and the called party phone number value stored in the second parameter;

communicating the destination ATM setup message to a device side of the egress ATM edge switch; and

communicating the destination ATM setup message to the called party CPE.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first parameter of the output ATM setup message is the called party number parameter and the second parameter of the output ATM setup message is the called party subaddress parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first parameter of the destination ATM setup message is the called party number.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

processing the information to provide desired services before designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a second parameter of the output ATM setup message.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

processing the information to provide desired services before designating the ATM address of the called party CPE that was stored in the first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message to be stored in the first parameter of a destination ATM setup message.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the ATM address of the called party CPE is determined using the called party phone number value and a database.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein private address translation is performed on ATM addresses of the calling party.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein intercepting the input ATM setup message at the device side of the ingress ATM edge switch includes determining a port of the ingress ATM edge switch that received the input ATM setup message, and wherein the port is used in determining if private address translation is needed.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE includes storing the VToA designator in the called party address parameter and storing the called party phone number value in the called party subaddress parameter.

16. A method for providing an ATM data call with private address translation using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a calling party CPE to make an ATM data call that includes an ATM address of a called party;

generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes the ATM address of the called party stored in a first parameter of the input ATM setup message;

receiving the input ATM setup message at a device side of an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

intercepting the input ATM setup message from the device side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting information from the input ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party;

determining if private address translation is needed;

designating the ATM address of the called party to be stored in a second parameter of the output ATM setup message;

designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message;

generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the egress ATM edge switch stored in the first parameter, and the ATM address of the called party stored in the second parameter;

communicating the output ATM setup message to a network side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

receiving the output ATM setup message at a network side of the egress ATM edge switch;

intercepting the output ATM setup message from the network side of the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting egress information from the output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party;

designating the ATM address of the called party that was stored in the second parameter of the output ATM setup message to be stored in the first parameter of a destination ATM setup message;

generating a destination ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party stored in the first parameter;

communicating the destination ATM setup message to a device side of the egress ATM edge switch; and

communicating the destination ATM setup message to the called party CPE.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first parameter of the output ATM setup message is the called party number parameter and the second parameter of the output ATM setup message is the called party subaddress parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first parameter of the destination ATM setup message is the called party number.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

processing the information to provide desired services before designating the ATM address of the called party to be stored in a second parameter of the output ATM setup message.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein private address translation is performed on ATM addresses of the calling party.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein intercepting the input ATM setup message at the device side of the ingress ATM edge switch includes determining a port of the ingress ATM edge switch that received the input ATM setup message, and wherein the port is used in determining if private address translation is needed.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE includes storing the ATM address of the called party value in the called party number parameter.