Method and system for providing multiple packet connections for a circuit connection across a circuit-to-packet interworking unit

• US 20020114320A1
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogren, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/791,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A method and system for providing multiple packet channels for a circuit channel across a circuit-to-packet interworking unit includes establishing a circuit channel and a plurality of packet channels. Each of the packet channels is associated with a the circuit channel. A first one of the packet channels is selectively connected to the circuit channel to provide and end-to-end connection between a circuit endpoint and a first packet endpoint. A second packet channel is maintained for selective connection to the circuit channel to provide a second end-to-end connection between the circuit endpoint and a second packet endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for providing multiple packet channels for a circuit channel across a circuit-to-packet interworking unit, comprising:

establishing a circuit channel;

establishing a plurality of packet channels;

associating each of the packet channels with the circuit channel;

selectively connecting a first one of the packet channels to the circuit channel to provide and end-to-end connection between a circuit endpoint and a first packet endpoint; and

maintaining a second packet channel for selective connection to the circuit channel to provide a second end-to-end connection between the circuit endpoint and a second packet endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively connecting the second packet channel to the circuit channel to provide the second end-to-end connection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively connecting the first packet channel to the circuit channel in response to user input.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising selectively connecting the second packet channel to the circuit channel to provide call waiting for the circuit channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively disconnecting the first packet channel from the circuit channel to provide call hold for the circuit channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit channel comprises a wireless circuit channel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively connecting the first packet channel to the circuit channel by enabling the first packet channel.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising selectively disconnecting the first packet channel from the circuit channel prior to connecting the second packet channel to the circuit channel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the circuit channel with the plurality of packet channels in a bearer path mapping table;

maintaining a connection status for each of the packet channels in the bearer path mapping table; and

providing traffic from the circuit channel to a packet channel having an enabled status in the bearer path mapping table.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing traffic from a packet channel having an enabled status in the bearer path mapping table to the circuit channel.

13. The system of claim 1, the logic further operable to selectively connect the first packet channel to the circuit channel in response to user input.

11. A system for providing multiple packet channels for a circuit channel across the circuit-to-packet interworking unit, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to establish a circuit channel, establish a plurality of packet channels, associate each of the packet channels with the circuit channel, selectively connect a first one of the packet channels to the circuit channel to provide end-to-end connection between a circuit endpoint and a first packet endpoint and maintain a second packet channel for selective connection to the circuit channel to provide a second end-to-end connection between the circuit endpoint and a second packet endpoint.

12. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to selectively connect the second packet channel to the circuit channel to provide the second end-to-end connection.

14. The system of claim 12, the logic further operable to selectively connect the second packet channel to the circuit channel to provide call waiting for the circuit channel.

15. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to selectively disconnect the first packet channel from the circuit channel to provide call hold for the circuit channel.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the circuit connection comprises a wireless circuit connection.

17. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to selectively connecting the first packet channel to the circuit channel by enabling the first packet channel.

18. The system of claim 12, the logic further operable to selectively disconnecting the first packet channel from the circuit channel prior to connecting the second packet channel to the circuit channel.

19. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to associate the circuit channel with the plurality of packet channels in a bearer path mapping table, maintain an enable status for each of the packet connections in the bearer path mapping table and provide traffic from the circuit channel to a packet channel having an enabled connection status in the bearer path mapping table.

20. The system of claim 19, the logic further operable to provide traffic from a packet channel having an enabled connection status in the bearer path mapping table to the circuit channel.

21. A packet interworking function, comprising:

an uplink translator operable to receive a circuit frame including voice data and a circuit identifier for a circuit channel and to generate a packet including the voice data and a packet identifier for an enabled one of a plurality of packet channels associated with the circuit channel; and

a downlink translator operable to receive a packet including voice data and a packet identifier from at least one of the plurality of packet channels and to generate a circuit frame including the circuit identifier and the voice data from the enabled one of the plurality of packet channels associated with the circuit channel.

22. The packet interworking function of claim 21, further comprising a bearer path mapping table operable to associate the circuit channel with the plurality of packet channels and maintain the connection status for each of the packet channels.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the circuit identifier comprises a device, a channel and a subchannel identifier.

24. The packet interworking function of claim 21, wherein the packet identifier each comprises a socket identifier.