Establishing a broadband connection that saves resources and satisfies billing conditions

• US 20040218740A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Herzinger, Jeanette, Stelzl, Rudolf, Stademann, Rainer, Zeiner, Johann, Kalkbrenner, Andreas, Benini, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket

Abstract

The invention relates to a communications system and a method for establishing a broadband connection, for example a multi-media connection between two or more users, by means of exchanges in a communications network, for example an ATM network. According to the invention, when the exchanges receive a request from a calling user to establish a broadband connection, said exchanges first establish a minimal connection between the users and once the minimal connection is in operation between the users, the requested broadband connection is established. The users of broadband network capacities, which have been reserved by the network at the request of the user, are billed during the call phase. Broadband connections of this type can receive a higher priority than the upgrade of minimal connections to complete connections. A voice connection comprising audio data constitutes for example a minimal connection. The broadband connection takes place for example between video telephones.

Claims

1. A Communication system for establishing a broadband connection between two or more subscribers by switches in a communication network, wherein, on receiving a request from a calling subscriber to establish a broadband connection, the switches set up a minimum connection between said subscribers and, once the minimum connection has been put into operation by the subscribers, establish the required broadband connection.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein a data stream determined by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the minimum connection.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein one of the subscribers first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

4. A communication system according to one of claims 1, wherein subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the establishment of the broadband connection has a higher priority in the communication network than the establishment of broadband connections which are not charged for during the broadband connection setup phase.

11. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein one of the subscribers first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of a broadband connection.

12. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

13. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

6. A method for establishing a broadband connection between two or more subscribers in a communication network, comprising:

establishing a minimum connection between the subscribers by a plurality of switches involved at the request of a subscriber to establish a broadband connection; and

establishing a broadband connection between the subscribers by the switches involved after the minimum connection has been put into operation by the subscribers.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a data stream determined by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the minimum connection.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein a calling subscriber first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

14. A method according to claim 7, wherein a calling subscriber first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

9. A method for charging for a broadband connection between two or more subscribers in a communication network, wherein subscribers are charged even during the broadband connection setup phase.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the establishment of the broadband connection has a higher priority in the communication network than the establishment of broadband connections which are not charged for during the broadband connection setup phase.