Method for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network

• US 20020075896A1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Helmut, Glock, Ursula, Schneiders, Gregor, Astleitner, Franz
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A method is provided for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network.

A signaling connection is set up in a packet-switching network in order to transmit signaling packets which form connection-independent control information which relates to at least one service feature in a line-switching communications network so that at least one service feature of the line-switching communications network may be used in the packet-switching communications network by means of the control information independently of the connection.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network, comprising the steps of:

converting signaling messages which are used in the line-switching network and contain control information into signaling packets which are used in the packet-switching communications network and contain control information, and/or vice versa;

setting up a signaling connection for transmitting signaling packets, which form connection-independent control information which relates to at least one service feature in the line-switching communications network, in the packet-switching network in order to use the at least one service feature of the line-switching communications network in the packet-switching communications network by means of the control information, independently of the connection.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of integrating the at least one control information item which relates to a service feature in the line-switching communications network into at least one signaling packet which initiates the setting up of a signaling connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of acknowledging the reception of the at least one signaling packet (H.225 SETUP) which initiates the setting up of a signaling connection.

4. The method as claimed in any one of, claims 1, 2, or 3 characterized in that the step of setting up of a signaling connection is initiated after receiving an acknowledgement, after a defined time interval has passed, or after a defined number of signaling packets have been transmitted.

5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, further characterized in that the use of the at least one service feature in the line-switching communications network relates to the control or request, or activation or deactivation, or status check or notification relating to the status thereof.

6. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, further characterized in that a data block for the at least one control information item which is to be transmitted and is independent of the user connection is provided within the at least one signaling packet.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, further characterized in that specific parameters for the at least one control information item which is to be transmitted and is independent of the user connection are defined within the at least one signaling packet.

8. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, further characterized in that IP-based protocols are used for transmitting the signaling packets in the packet-switching communication network.

9. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, further characterized in that a signaling message which is used in the line-switching communications network and contains control information is represented by a DSS1 message.

10. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, further characterized in that a signaling packet which is used in the packet-switching network and contains control information is represented by an H.225 message.

11. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, further characterized in that a standard DSS1 REGISTER message or a standard DSS1 NOTIFY or DSS1 FACILITY message is integrated with a DUMMY CALL REFERENCE in an H.225 SETUP message.

12. A control unit for conversion of signaling messages which are used in a line-switching communications network and contain control information to signaling packets which are used in a packet-switching communications network and contain control information, and/or vice versa, the control unit is arranged at the transmitter and/or receiver end of a signaling connection which is set up in the packet-switching communications network for transmitting signaling packets, and having a module for integration and/or extraction of connection-independent control information, which relates to at least one service feature in the line-switching communications network, into and/or out of the signaling packets to be transmitted.

13. A communication device arranged in a line-switching communications network, the communication device comprising a module for integration and/or for extraction of connection-independent control information which relates to at least one service feature in the line-switching communications network into and/or out of signaling packets to be transmitted.

14. A communications terminal, arranged in a packet-switching communications network, the communications terminal comprising a module for integration and/or for extraction of connection-independent control information which relates to at least one service feature in the line-switching communications network into and/or out of signaling packets to be transmitted.