Controller based call control for ATM SVC signaling

• US 20020024954A1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cunetto, Philip, Doherty, James, Schroeder, Timothy Paul, Lu, Chien-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 7,307,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system allows switch signaling to be processed in a controller adjunct to a switch, and for the controller to effect the connection by signaling to the switch. This is accomplished by an end unit communicating service information to a controller and the controller instructing the switch to carry out the service transaction. The service information from the end unit is routed through the switch being controlled by the controller.

Claims

1. A system for processing ATM SVC signaling comprising:

an ATM switch connected to an end system, the ATM switch receiving an ATM SVC connection request from the end system;

a controller connected to the ATM switch, the controller processing the ATM SVC connection request;

a signaling channel terminating at the end system and at the controller, the signaling channel being routed through the ATM switch, the ATM switch receiving signaling, associated with the request, over the signaling channel, the ATM switch forwarding the signaling to the controller via the signaling channel; and

a proxy signaling channel terminating at the controller and at the ATM switch, the controller communicating proxy signals over the proxy signaling channel to instruct the switch to set up an SVC connection in response to the request received over the signaling channel.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which the signaling channel further comprises a PVC.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a policy database communicating with the controller, the policy database storing policy information that is queried by the controller in response to the ATM SVC connection request.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which the end system further comprises an ATM SVC signaling device.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, in which the signaling further comprises UNI signaling.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which the proxy signal further comprises SVC connection protocol compliant signaling.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second controller that becomes connected with the ATM switch when the controller becomes unavailable.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which the ATM switch further comprises a plurality of switches, each ATM switch being connected to the controller.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which the system intercepts IP packets and retrieves IP signaling for processing by the controller to support Internet Protocol.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an IWF gateway that converts non-system signaling into ATM signaling.

11. A method of processing ATM SVC signaling comprising:

receiving by a first controller a first connection setup signal from a first end system, the first connection setup signal being routed through a first ATM switch;

sending a first proxy signal from the first controller to the first ATM switch in order to set up an SVC connection across an ATM network in response to the received first connection setup signal.

12. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, further comprising:

checking a policy by the first controller in response to the received first connection setup signal; and

determining whether to grant a connection request.

13. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, further comprising:

sending a second proxy signal from a second ATM switch to a second controller; and

sending a second connection setup signal from the second controller to a second end system through the second switch.

14. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving by the second controller a first connection connect signal from the second end system, the connection connect signal being routed through the second ATM switch;

sending a third proxy signal from the second controller to the second ATM switch;

sending a second connection connect signal from the second ATM switch to the first ATM switch;

sending a fourth proxy signal from the first ATM switch to the first controller; and

sending a third connection connect signal from the first controller to the first end system, the third connection connect signal being routed through the first ATM switch.

15. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, in which the receiving further comprises receiving via a PVC.

16. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, in which the first proxy signal further comprises SVC connection protocol compliant signaling.

17. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, further comprising:

intercepting IP packets; and

retrieving IP signaling for processing by the first controller to support Internet Protocol.

18. The method of processing ATM SVC signaling of claim 11, further comprising converting non-system signaling into ATM signaling.