System and method for processing a call

• US 20060209788A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wiley, William L., Torrey, Jason P., Salisbury, Bruce F., Howell, Royal Dean, Boldt, Dean C.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5634 In-call negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5639 Tariffs or charging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A signaling processor receives signaling for a user communication and processes the signaling to select a first packet communication path and a second packet communication path. The signaling processor transfers messages indicating a TDM communication path, the first packet communication path, and the second packet communication path. An interworking unit interworks the user communication between the TDM communication path and the first packet communication path. A communication device routes the user communication from the first packet communication path to the second packet communication path.

Claims

1. A system to handle a user communication received over a time division multiplex communication path, the system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive signaling for the user communication, process the signaling with an originating process to determine if a first packet communication path should be selected based in part on the time division multiplex communication path, to process the signaling with a termination process to select the first packet communication path if the originating process indicates that the first packet communication path should be selected, to process the signaling with the termination process to select a second packet communication path based in part on the first packet communication path, to transfer a first message indicating the time division multiplex communication path and the first packet communication path, and to transfer a second message indicating the first packet communication path and the second packet communication path;

an interworking unit configured to receive the first message, to receive the user communication from the time division multiplex communication path, to interwork the user communication between the time division multiplex communication path and the first packet communication path; and

a communication device configured to receive the second message, to receive the user communication from the first packet communication path, to route the user communication to the second packet communication path.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises a signaling system seven signaling.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises a integrated services digital network signaling.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises GR-303 signaling.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the first packet communication path and the second packet communication path comprise asynchronous transfer mode communication paths.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling with the originating process to determine number portability information.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling with the originating process to translate a called number.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling with the originating process to determine continuity test requirements.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling with the originating process to perform glare resolution.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling with the originating process to perform congestion control.

11. A method to handle a user communication received over a time division multiplex communication path, the system comprising:

in a signaling processor, receiving signaling for the user communication, processing the signaling with an originating process to determine if a first packet communication path should be selected based in part on the time division multiplex communication path, processing the signaling with a termination process to select the first packet communication path if the originating process indicates that the first packet communication path should be selected, processing the signaling with the termination process to select a second packet communication path based in part on the first packet communication path, transferring a first message indicating the time division multiplex communication path and the first packet communication path, and transferring a second message indicating the first packet communication path and the second packet communication path;

in an interworking unit, receiving the first message, receiving the user communication from the time division multiplex communication path, and interworking the user communication between the time division multiplex communication path and the first packet communication path; and

in a communication device, receiving the second message, receiving the user communication from the first packet communication path, and routing the user communication to the second packet communication path.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises a signaling system seven signaling.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises a integrated services digital network signaling.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises GR-303 signaling.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first packet communication path and the second packet communication path comprise asynchronous transfer mode communication paths.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the signaling with an originating process comprises processing the signaling with the originating process to determine number portability information.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the signaling with an originating process comprises processing the signaling to translate a called number.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the signaling with an originating process comprises processing the signaling to determine continuity test requirements.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the signaling with an originating process comprises processing the signaling to perform glare resolution.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the signaling with an originating process comprises processing the signaling to perform congestion control.