End-to-end information memory arrangement in a line controller
First Claim
1. In a packet communication system for switching packets of digital signals with each of said packets having an address field defining a communication path through said system and a data field and said system comprising:
- a plurality of terminals;
the invention comprising;
processor means;
packet switching network means operable for establishing path connections for a call setup packet from a first one of said terminals to said processor means in response to the address field of said call setup packet;
said processor means responsive to a receipt of said call setup packet for supplying address information in the data field of said call setup packet to effect an operation of said network means for the establishment of path connections communicating from said first one of said terminals to a second one of said terminals and to communicate said call setup packet to said second one of said terminals;
route address means for said first and second ones of said terminals for effecting the storage of said address information following a receipt of said call setup packet at said second terminal; and
said packet switching network being subsequently operable independent of said processor means under control of said stored address information inserted into subsequent ones of said plurality of packets for establishing path connections between said first and second terminals to communicate said subsequent packet therebetween.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication method and packet switching system in which packets comprising physical addresses and voice/data information are communicated through the system by packet switching networks which are interconnected by high-speed digital trunks with each of the latter being directly terminated on both ends by trunk controllers. Customer terminals are connected to the switching system by access line controllers which insert the physical addresses into the packets. The line controllers attach to concentrators which are interconnected to the switching networks via high-speed digital trunks. During initial call setup of a particular call, the physical addresses are obtained and stored in the line controllers by the transmission of a cell setup packet and call reply packet between the originating and destination line controllers. Each processor inserts into the call setup packet the necessary addressing information to route packets through the associated network. Each network comprises stages of switching nodes which are responsive to the physical addresses in a packet to communicate this packet to a designated subsequent node. The nodes provide for variable packet buffering, packet address rotation techniques, and intranode and internode signaling protocols.
48 Citations
43 Claims
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1. In a packet communication system for switching packets of digital signals with each of said packets having an address field defining a communication path through said system and a data field and said system comprising:
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a plurality of terminals; the invention comprising; processor means; packet switching network means operable for establishing path connections for a call setup packet from a first one of said terminals to said processor means in response to the address field of said call setup packet; said processor means responsive to a receipt of said call setup packet for supplying address information in the data field of said call setup packet to effect an operation of said network means for the establishment of path connections communicating from said first one of said terminals to a second one of said terminals and to communicate said call setup packet to said second one of said terminals; route address means for said first and second ones of said terminals for effecting the storage of said address information following a receipt of said call setup packet at said second terminal; and said packet switching network being subsequently operable independent of said processor means under control of said stored address information inserted into subsequent ones of said plurality of packets for establishing path connections between said first and second terminals to communicate said subsequent packet therebetween.
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2. A packet communication system for switching packets of digital signals between terminals with each of said packets having an address field defining a communication path through said system and a data field, and said system comprising:
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a plurality of terminals; processor means; packet switching network means operable for establishing path connections for a call setup packet from a first one of said terminals to said processor means in response to the address field of said call setup packet; said processor means responsive to a receipt of said call setup packet from said first one of said terminals for supplying address information in the data field of said network means for the establishment of path connections from said first one of said terminals to a second one of said terminals and to communicate communicating said call setup packet to said second one of said terminals; and control means responsive to a receipt of said call setup packet at said second one of said terminals for transmitting a call-reply packet containing said address information in said data field thereof. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A packet switching system serving a plurality of customer terminals for transmitting packets of digital signals with each of said packets having an address field defining the route through said system and a data field, said system comprising;
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a switching office having a first central processor and having a plurality of interconnected packet switches with each of said packet switches responsive to the address fields of received packets to transmit those packets through the packet switch; a first and a second of said customer terminals connected to said first switching office; said packet switches responsive to the address field of a call setup one of said packets for transmitting said call setup one of said packet to said first central processor; said first central processor having a first means responsive to said call setup one of said packets from said first customer terminal to calculate the address information for routing subsequent ones of said packets between said first and second customer terminals and having a second means for inserting said address information into said data field of said call setup packet and a third means for transmitting said call setup packet to said second customer terminal; and said second customer terminal having a first means being responsive to said call setup one of said packets to store said address information and a second means for transmitting a call-reply one of said packets containing said address information in said address and data fields to said first customer terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A telecommunication switching system for transmitting packets of digitally encoded voice signals and digital data signals between a plurality of customer terminal units with each of said packets having an address field which defines the route of the packet through the switching system, a data field and each of said customer terminal units connectable to a telephone set and a source of data signals, said system comprising:
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a first and second switching office with each of said offices having a central processor and a switching network, and each switching network having a plurality of interconnected packet switches; a transmission means for interconnecting said first and second offices; a first one of said customer terminal units connected to said first office and being responsive to a number from the connected telephone set to assemble a call setup packet containing said number in the data field and address signals identifying said central processor of said first office in the address field and to transmit said call setup packet to said switching network of said first office; said switching network of said first office responsive to the address field of said call setup packet to communicate said call setup packet to said central processor of said first office; said central processor of said first office having a first means responsive to said number contained in said call setup packet to calculate a first address for defining a first portion of said route through said switching network of said first office and a second means for inserting said first address into said data field and a third means for inserting other address signals identifying said central processor of said second office into said address field of said call setup packet and fourth means for transmitting said call setup packet to said second office; and said switching network of said second office responsive to the address field of said call setup packet to communicate said call setup packet to said central office of said second office; said central processor of said second office having a first means responsive to said number contained in said call setup packet to calculate a second address for defining a second portion of said route through said switching network of said second office and a second means for inserting said second address into said data field, and a third means for transmitting said call setup packet to a second one of said customer terminal units. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of routing packets of digital signals with each of said packets having an address field defining the communication path through a packet switching system and a data field, said packet switching system comprises a plurality of terminals each having route address means interconnected by a packet switching network means being operable for establishing packet connections for packet communications and a processor means connected to said switching network means;
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the invention comprising the steps of; transmitting a call setup packet from a first one of said customer terminals to said switching network means; communicating said call setup packet to said central processor in response to said address field by said switching address means; supplying address information in the data field of said call setup packet to effect an operation of said network means by said processor means in response to said call setup packet; establishing a path of connections for communicating said call setup packet to a second one of said terminals by said processor means; effecting the storing of said address information following the receipt of said call setup packet at said second one of said terminals in said route address means of said first and said second ones of said terminals; and inserting said stored address information into subsequent ones of said packets by said first terminal for establishing path connections between said first and second terminals to communicate said subsequent packets therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of routing packets of digital signals with each of said packets having an address field defining the route through a packet switching system and a data field, said packet switching system comprises a plurality of customer terminals and a switching office comprising a central processor and a plurality of interconnected packet switches with each of said packet switches responsive to the address fields of one of said received packets to transmit that packet through the packet switch, and said switching office interconnecting said plurality of customer terminals, and comprising the following steps:
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transmitting a call setup packet from a first one of said customer terminals to said packet switches; communicating said call setup packet to said central processor in response to the address field of said call setup packet by said packet switches; calculating the address information necessary to define a route for transmitting packets between said first customer terminal and a second one of said customer terminals by said processor in response to said call setup packet; inserting said address information into said data field of said call setup packet by said processor for transmission to said second customer terminal; storing said address information in said second customer terminal in response to the receipt of said call setup packet; and transmitting a call-reply packet containing said address information in said address and data fields to said first customer terminal via first plurality of interconnected packet switches. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification