Broadband telecommunications system

• US 20050147101A1
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, Joseph Michael, Wiley, William Lyle, Bahl, Manu Chand, Christie, Jean M., Christie, Joseph S., Duree, Albert D., Gardner, Michael Joseph, Sbisa, Daniel Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/247 ATM or packet multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/206 Real Time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates control messages that identify the selection and transfers the control messages to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the control messages.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving telecommunication signaling for calls into a signaling processor, and responsively on a call-by-call basis, selecting routing information based on the telecommunication signaling and transferring control messages indicating the routing information; and

receiving the control messages and user communications for the calls into a communication unit, and responsively on the call-by-call basis, converting the user communications from a first communication format into a second communication format having headers that include the routing information selected by the signaling processor and transferring the user communications in the second communication format.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is external to telecommunication switches.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user communications comprise voice communications.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the control messages from the signaling processor to the communication unit over a bus.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication signaling comprises signaling system seven initial address messages.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting echo control based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the echo control; and

in the communication unit, controlling echo in the user communications based on the echo control selected by the signaling processor.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting encryption based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the encryption; and

in the communication unit, encrypting the user communications based on the encryption selected by the signaling processor.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting compression based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the compression; and

in the communication unit, compressing the user communications based on the compression selected by the signaling processor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting DTMF tone detection based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the DTMF tone detection; and

in the communication unit, detecting DTMF tones in the user communications based on the DTMF tone detection selected by the signaling processor.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting user messages based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the user messages; and

in the communication unit, playing the user messages selected by the signaling processor.

11. A communication system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive telecommunication signaling for calls, and responsively on a call-by-call basis, select routing information based on the telecommunication signaling and transfer control messages indicating the routing information; and

a communication unit configured to receive the control messages and user communications for the calls, and responsively on the call-by-call basis, convert the user communications from a first communication format into a second communication format having headers that include the routing information selected by the signaling processor and transfer the user communications in the second communication format.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the signaling processor is external to telecommunication switches.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the user communications comprise voice communications.

14. The communication system of claim 11 further comprising a bus configured to transfer the control messages from the signaling processor to the communication unit.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the telecommunication signaling comprises signaling system seven initial address messages.

16. The communication system of claim 11 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to select echo control based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the echo control; and

the communication unit is configured to control echo in the user communications based on the echo control selected by the signaling processor.

17. The communication system of claim 11 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to select encryption based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the encryption; and

the communication unit is configured to encrypt the user communications based on the encryption selected by the signaling processor.

18. The communication system of claim 11 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to select compression based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the compression; and

the communication unit is configured to compress the user communications based on the compression selected by the signaling processor.

19. The communication system of claim 11 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to select DTMF tone detection based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the DTMF tone detection; and

the communication unit is configured to detect DTMF tones in the user communications based on the DTMF tone detection selected by the signaling processor.

20. The communication system of claim 11 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to select user messages based on the telecommunication signaling, wherein the control messages indicate the user messages; and

the communication unit is configured to play the user messages selected by the signaling processor.