Method and apparatus for providing a software adaption layer in a telecommunications system

• US 20020186712A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Dinh, Le Van, Laxman, Amruth, Sarmiento, Jesus L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols

Abstract

A software adaptation of a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) telecommunications line and trunk group control sub-system is described. The adaptation permits this legacy software to run under various operating systems and provide essential functions to a packet based switching system. This method of reuse permits continual use of proven and dependable software features to operate under new packet based topologies. The legacy software runs in a new soft-switch environment with minimal redesign. Timer and interrupt functions are altered to comply with off-the-shelf operating systems. Error recovery and restart operations are isolated to remove awareness from the operating system but still permit the legacy software to recover in conventional manner.

Claims

1. A Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch comprising:

a microprocessor and memory;

local area network (LAN) interface;

a software operating system (OS), said operating system providing software services, said software OS executed by said microprocessor;

an Internet Protocol Stack, said Internet Protocol Stack under control of said software OS;

a messaging task, said messaging task capable of receiving messages from said LAN interface and said Internet Protocol Stack, said LAN interface and said messaging task under control of said software OS;

an adaptation layer loading and startup task, said adaptation layer loading and startup task capable of receiving software images from the messaging task and also capable of storing said software images into said memory, said adaptation loading and startup task under control of said software OS;

one or more media control task (MCT), said one or more MCT loaded and started by said adaptation layer loading and startup task, said media control task providing call control features, said one or more MCT under control of said software OS.

2. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a portion of said memory containing a context_table_(CTX) array, said context_table)_(CTX) array contains address and mapping information of said one or more MCT.

3. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 2, wherein said context_table_(CTX) array further comprises:

a global descriptor table (GDT) for each MCT instance, said GDT contains linking addresses for said each MCT instance.

4. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 2, wherein said context_table_(CTX) array further comprises:

a global descriptor table (GDT) for each MCT instance, said GDT for each MCT instance contains context storage and transient data storage.

5. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 2, wherein said context_table_(CTX) array further comprises:

a global descriptor table (GDT) for each MCT instance, said GDT for each MCT instance contains configuration data, said configuration data configures call processing features.

6. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said software services comprises:

a software adaptation layer context switch, said software adaptation layer context switch capable of swapping out a current task with a new task on a regular time interval, said context switch capable of mix-mode software operation.

7. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said software services comprises:

a software adaptation layer interrupt service routine (ISR), said software adaptation layer ISR being a mixed-mode shell ISR.

8. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said software services comprises:

a software adaptation layer call gate, said software adaptation layer call gate capable of providing an indirect reference interface from said one or more MCT.

17. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the MCP is coupled to a Network Services processor.

18. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the MCP is coupled to a Packet Manager.

19. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the LAN interface is Ethernet.

20. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more media control task (MCT) is Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) legacy software.

9. A Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch comprising:

a microprocessor and memory;

a local area network (LAN) interface;

a software operating system (OS), said operating system providing software services, said software OS executed by said microprocessor;

an Internet Protocol Stack, said Internet Protocol Stack under control of said software OS;

a messaging task, said messaging task capable of receiving messages from said LAN interface and said Internet Protocol Stack, said LAN interface and said messaging task under control of said software OS;

an adaptation layer loading and startup task, said adaptation layer loading and startup task capable of receiving software images from the messaging task and also capable of storing said software images into said memory, said adaptation loading and startup task under control of said software OS;

one or more media control task (MCT), said one or more MCT loaded and started by said adaptation layer loading and startup task, said media control task providing call control features;

, said one or more MCT under control of said software OS;

a simple network management protocol stack (SNMP), said SNMP under control of said software OS;

a software adaptation layer context switch, said software adaptation layer context switch capable of swapping out a current task with a new task on a regular time interval, said software adaptation layer context switch capable of mix-mode software operation, said software adaptation layer context switch under control of said software OS.

10. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 9, wherein said software services comprises:

a software adaptation layer interrupt service routine (ISR), said software adaptation layer ISR being a mixed-mode shell ISR.

11. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a portion of said memory containing a context_table_(CTX) array, said context_table)_(CTX) array contains address and mapping information of said one or more MCT.

12. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited in claim 11, wherein said context_table_(CTX) array further comprises:

a global descriptor table (GDT) for each MCT instance, said GDT contains linking addresses for said each MCT instance.

13. The Media Control Platform (MCP) for use in a packet based soft-switch as recited claim 11, wherein said context_table_(CTX) array further comprises:

a global descriptor table (GDT) for each MCT instance, said GDT for each MCT instance contains context storage and transient data storage.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

initiating call processing by starting said MCT code image;

creating time slices for the said MCT tasks;

providing current task and next task input to an adaptation layer context switch;

swapping out said current task by accessing appropriate global descriptor table (GDT) and swapping in said next task processor environment.

16. The method according as recited in claim 14, further including the steps of:

servicing interrupts using a shell interrupt service routine (ISR);

checking the current task and calling one of either a 32-bit MCP interrupt service routine, or, a 16-bit MCT interrupt service routine.

21. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said MCT code image is Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) legacy software.

14. A method for creating and initializing a Media Control Platform (MCP) software environment on power-up and reset for use in a packet based soft-switch comprising the steps of:

retrieving an operating system and MCP application adaptation layer from a server;

spawning one or more MCP tasks;

calculating and creating MCT context memory areas;

initiating MCT code image loading.