System and method for treating a call for call processing

• US 20050169242A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Howell, Royal Dean
• Application Number:
  US11/075,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169242A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• 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: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A signaling interface exchanges call-associated and non-call-associated SS7 messages with an SS7 system. The signaling interface transfers call information from the call-associated SS7 messages, and processes maintenance information from the non-call associated SS7 messages to perform system maintenance. A call processing platform processes the call information on a call-by-call basis to identify interworking information to route the calls and transfers control messages indicating the interworking information. An interworking unit receives the control messages and interworks between TDM communications for the calls and packet communications for the calls by placing the interworking information in headers of the packet communications on a call-by-call basis. A communication device routes the packet communications for the calls based on the interworking information in the headers.

Claims

1. A communication system that is coupled to a Time Division Multiplex (TDM) system that exchanges TDM communications for a plurality of calls, wherein the communication system is also coupled to a Signaling System Seven (SS7) system that exchanges call-associated SS7 messages for the calls and that exchanges non-call-associated SS7 messages for system maintenance, the communication system comprising:

a signaling interface configured to exchange the call-associated SS7 messages and the non-call-associated SS7 messages with the SS7 system, to transfer call information from the call-associated SS7 messages, and to process maintenance information from the non-call associated SS7 messages to perform the system maintenance;

a call processing platform configured to receive and process the call information on a call-by-call basis to identify interworking information to route the calls, and to transfer control messages indicating the interworking information;

an interworking unit configured to receive the control messages for the calls and to interwork between the TDM communications for the calls and packet communications for the calls by placing the interworking information in headers of the packet communications on a call-by-call basis; and

a communication device configured to route the packet communications for the calls on a call-by-call basis based on the interworking information in the headers.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise blocking messages and unblocking messages.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit reset messages.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit query messages.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit validation test messages.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise continuity test messages.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise loopback messages.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the call-associated SS7 messages comprise initial address messages.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the call-associated SS7 messages comprise address complete messages, answer messages, and release messages.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the packet communications comprise asynchronous transfer mode communications.

11. A method of operating a communication system that is coupled to a Time Division Multiplex (TDM) system that exchanges TDM communications for a plurality of calls, wherein the communication system is also coupled to a Signaling System Seven (SS7) system that exchanges call-associated SS7 messages for the calls and that exchanges non-call-associated SS7 messages for system maintenance, the method comprising:

in a signaling interface, exchanging the call-associated SS7 messages and the non-call-associated SS7 messages with the SS7 system, transferring call information from the call-associated SS7 messages, and processing maintenance information from the non-call associated SS7 messages to perform the system maintenance;

in a call processing platform, receiving and processing the call information on a call-by-call basis to identify interworking information to route the calls and transferring control messages indicating the interworking information;

in an interworking unit, receiving the control messages for the calls and interworking between the TDM communications for the calls and packet communications for the calls by placing the interworking information in headers of the packet communications on a call-by-call basis; and

routing the packet communications for the calls on a call-by-call basis based on the interworking information in the headers.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise blocking messages and unblocking messages.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit reset messages.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit query messages.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise circuit validation test messages.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise continuity test messages.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-call-associated SS7 messages comprise loopback messages.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the call-associated SS7 messages comprise initial address messages.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the call-associated SS7 messages comprise address complete messages, answer messages, and release messages.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the packet communications comprise asynchronous transfer mode communications.