System and method for connecting a call

• US 20050174999A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: DuRee, Albert Daniel, Nelson, Tracy Lee, Howell, Royal Dean, Wiley, William Lyle, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/075,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/907 Synchronous optical network, SONET

Abstract

Signaling processors process signaling to transfer first and second control messages indicating interworking information. Interworking units receive the control messages and user communications, and in response, convert the user communications into packet communications having the interworking information in headers. Communication devices receive the packet communications from the interworking units and route the packet communications over optical communication paths based on the interworking information in the headers. The communication devices receive the routed packet communications and transfer the routed packet communications to the interworking units. The interworking units receive the second control messages and the routed packet communications, and in response, to convert the routed packet communications into the user communications and transfer the user communications.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of signaling processors;

a plurality of interworking units linked to the signaling processors;

a plurality of optical communication paths;

a plurality of communication devices coupled to the interworking units wherein each pair of the communication devices are coupled together by one of the optical communication paths to form a flat architecture between the communication devices;

wherein the signaling processors are configured to receive and process signaling, and in response, to generate and transfer first control messages and second control messages indicating interworking information;

wherein the interworking units are configured to receive the first control messages and user communications, and in response, to convert the user communications into packet communications having the interworking information in headers of the packet communications and transfer the packet communications to the communication devices;

wherein the communication devices are configured to receive the packet communications from the interworking units, route the packet communications over the optical communication paths based on the interworking information in the headers, receive the routed packet communications from the optical communication paths, and transfer the routed packet communications to the interworking units; and

wherein the interworking units are configured to receive the second control messages and the routed packet communications, and in response, to convert the routed packet communications into the user communications and transfer the user communications.

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

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communications devices comprise asynchronous transfer mode devices.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the user communications comprise time division multiplex communications.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the user communications comprise analog voice communications.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises broadband signaling.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises Signaling System Seven (SS7) signaling.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises initial address messages.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) signaling.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the optical communication paths comprise Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) paths.

11. A method of operating a communication system comprising a plurality of signaling processors, a plurality of interworking units linked to the signaling processors, a plurality of optical communication paths, and a plurality of communication devices coupled to the interworking units wherein each pair of the communication devices are coupled together by one of the optical communication paths to form a flat architecture between the communication devices, the method comprising:

in the signaling processors, receiving and processing signaling, and in response, generating and transferring first control messages and second control messages indicating interworking information;

in the interworking units, receiving the first control messages and user communications, and in response, converting the user communications into packet communications having the interworking information in headers of the packet communications and transferring the packet communications to the communication devices;

in the communication devices, receiving the packet communications from the interworking units, routing the packet communications over the optical communication paths based on the interworking information in the headers, receiving the routed packet communications from the optical communication paths, and transferring the routed packet communications to the interworking units; and

in the interworking units, receiving the second control messages and the routed packet communications, and in response, converting the routed packet communications into the user communications and transferring the user communications.

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

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the communications devices comprise asynchronous transfer mode devices.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the user communications comprise time division multiplex communications.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the user communications comprise analog voice communications.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises broadband signaling.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises Signaling System Seven (SS7) signaling.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises initial address messages.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) signaling.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the optical communication paths comprise Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) paths.