Method and apparatus for call control signaling
First Claim
1. A method for performing call control signaling with and within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) formatting at least one multiplexed digital stream to be carried in at least a portion of the network so that it is comprised of a data bit stream and a multiplex overhead bit stream;
(b) appropriating a portion of the multiplex overhead bit stream from other purposes and formatting said portion to convey call control signaling; and
(c) processing said call control signaling at at least one node of the network to carry out at least a portion of the call control signaling between users of said network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To perform call control signaling between a user and a telecommunications switching network (and end-to-end between users), a portion of the multiplex overhead of a multiplexed data stream is formatted so that it includes the call control signaling. This in-band signaling is actually in the multiplex overhead and not in the user data as in standard multiplex formats. At nodes of the network and at user devices connected to the network, the call control signaling is extracted from the overall data stream and is processed to selectively generate new and responsive call control signaling for completing the signaling operations. The invention is useful over the entire multiplex hierarchy.
88 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for performing call control signaling with and within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) formatting at least one multiplexed digital stream to be carried in at least a portion of the network so that it is comprised of a data bit stream and a multiplex overhead bit stream; (b) appropriating a portion of the multiplex overhead bit stream from other purposes and formatting said portion to convey call control signaling; and (c) processing said call control signaling at at least one node of the network to carry out at least a portion of the call control signaling between users of said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. For use in a communications system conveying calls between system users via multiplexed data streams, at least some of the streams being of the type having a multiplex overhead portion and a user data portion, a method to perform call control signaling between users, comprising the steps of:
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(a) formatting the multiplex overhead of a multiplexed data stream so that a portion of it is appropriated to include data identifiable as call control signaling; (b) in connection with call routing, extracting the call control signaling from said multiplexed data stream; (c) processing the extracted call control signaling to selectively generate new call control signaling; and (d) selectively interjecting the new call control signaling into the multiplex overhead of at least one of said multiplexed data streams;
whereby call control signaling and user data portions of a multiplexed data stream are processed and directed separately although conveyed associatively in a multiplexed data stream. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communications system wherein multiplexed data streams are sued to convey information between users and at least some of the streams are of the type having a multiplex overhead portion and a user data portion, such system comprising:
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(a) means for formatting the multiplex overhead of a multiplexed data stream so that at least a portion of said overhead is appropriated to include data identifiable as call control signaling and for transmitting said multiplexed data stream to a receiving unit within said system; (b) means located at said receiving unit for extracting the call control signaling from the multiplex overhead; and (c) means for processing the extracted call control signaling to selectively generate any required responsive call control signaling;
whereby call control signaling is conveyed in-band within a multiplexed data stream. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. For use in a communications network conveying calls between users via multiplexed data streams, at least some of the streams having a multiplex overhead portion and a user data portion, a method to perform call control signaling, comprising the steps of:
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(a) formatting the multiplex overhead of a multiplexed data stream so that at least a portion of it is appropriated from other purposes to include data identifiable as call control signaling; (b) extracting the call control signaling from said multiplexed data stream at at least one node of the network; and (c) processing the extracted call control signaling to selectively generate new call control signaling;
whereby call control signaling and user data portions of a multiplexed data stream are conveyed associatively in a multiplexed data stream. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A communications system wherein multiplexed data streams are used to convey information between users and at least some of the streams have a multiplex overhead portion and a user data portion, such system comprising:
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(a) means for formatting a portion of the multiplex overhead of a multiplexed data stream normally used for other purposes so that said overhead includes data identifiable as call control signaling; (b) at least one node adapted to receive the multiplexed data stream and including, (i) means for extracting the call control signaling from the multiplex overhead; (ii) means for processing the extracted call control signaling to selectively generate new call control signaling; (iii) means for selectively interjecting the new call control signaling into the multiplex overhead of at least one of said multiplexed data streams; whereby call control signaling and user data portions of a multiplexed data stream are processed and directed separately and conveyed associatively in a multiplexed data stream.
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20. A method for conveying call control signaling within a multiplexed digital data stream having a multiplex overhead bit stream which includes a facilities data link portion, comprising the steps of:
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(a) producing call control signals in a digital message format to provide call control messages; and (b) interjecting the call control messages into the facilities data link portion of said multiplexed data stream for in-band conveyance of said messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification