Distributed processing architechture for control of broadband and narrowband communications networks

• US 5,434,852 A
• Filed: 08/31/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Veeraraghavan, Malathi, La Porta, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US08/298,287
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 370/58.1, 370/58.2, 370/58.3, 370/60, 370/60.1, 370/62, 370/68.1, 370/110.1, 379/94, 379/157, 379/158, 379/165, 379/202
• US Class Current: 370/385
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A distributed, server-based communications network architecture delivers broadband and narrowband communications services. In the architecture, various traditional call processing functions, such as switching fabric or channel control, call control, and connection control are separated into distinct application processes with clearly defined interfaces for communications between these application processes. Those distinct application processes may be implemented in separate physical or logically partitioned nodes. The well-defined interfaces allow communications among: a) physical or logically partitioned nodes within a network and b) physical or logically partitioned nodes of other networks.

Claims

1. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising:

a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for perforating in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions which are a) selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control, and b) comprised of related switching and signaling applications processes in order to minimize the number of signaling messages exchanged between said communications servers; and

communications means for enabling said exchange of signaling messages between at least two of the communications servers.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said server performing said connection control function comprises

means for establishing, releasing, and modifying connections within a call, said modifying means including means for computing end-to-end quality-of-service measures.

3. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising:

a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for performing in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control;

communications means between at least two of the communications servers to exchange signaling messages; and

means for exchanging information between at least one of said communications servers in the communication network and at least one service-specific server which is arranged for a) providing a particular communications service and b) performing a service control function when said communications service is requested by a user.

4. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising:

a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for performing in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control;

communications means between at least two of the communications servers to exchange signaling messages;

means for invoking services and coordinating delivery of said invoked services when multiple services are requested in a call;

means for negotiating allocation of resources between two or more users and between at least one user and at least one server;

means responsive to users'"'"' requests for recognizing needs for special resources which include protocol converters and multimedia bridges;

means for maintaining call state and configuration information; and

means for managing ownership and permissions for said call.

5. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising:

a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for performing in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control;

communications means between at least two of the communications servers to exchange signaling messages

means for allocating resources on a link by link basis to implement a connection; and

means for maintaining Virtual Channel Identifier translation table entries to interconnect channels that are part of said connection.

6. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising:

a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for performing in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control; and

communications means for exchanging information between at least two of the communications servers; and

means for exchanging information between at least one of the communications servers in said communications network and another server from a different network.

7. A method of delivering broadband and narrowband communications services comprising the step of:

performing in a modular fashion in each one of a plurality of communications servers no more than one of the switching and signaling functions which are a) selected from a group which includes channel control, call control and connection control, and b) comprised of related switching and signaling applications processes such that the number of signaling messages exchanged between said communications servers is minimized; and

exchanging said signaling messages between at least two of the communication servers.

8. A method of delivering broadband and narrowband communications services comprising the steps of

performing in a modular fashion in each one of a plurality of communications servers no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control and connection control;

and

exchanging a) signaling messages via communications channels between at least two of the communication servers and b)

information between at least one communication server and at least one service-specific server which provides a particular communications service upon request from a user.

9. A method of delivering broadband and narrowband communications services comprising the steps of

performing in a modular fashion in each one of a plurality of communications servers no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control and connection control;

and

exchanging signaling messages via communications channels between at least two of the communication servers;

invoking particular communication services in coordinating delivery of said invoked services when multiple services are requested in a call;

negotiating allocation of resources between two or more users and between at least one user and at least one communications server;

in response to particular users'"'"' requests, recognizing needs for special resources which include protocol converters and multimedia bridges;

maintaining call state and configuration information; and

managing ownership and permission for said call.

10. A method of delivering broadband and narrowband communications services comprising the steps of

performing in a modular fashion in each one of a plurality of communications servers no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control and connection control;

and

exchanging signaling messages via communications channels between at least two of the communication servers;

allocating resources on a link-by-link basis to implement a connection; and

maintaining virtual channel identifier translation table entries which are part of said connection.

11. A method of delivering broadband and narrowband communications services comprising the steps of

performing in a modular fashion in each one of a plurality of communications servers no more than one of the switching and signaling functions selected from a group which includes channel control, call control and connection control;

and

exchanging signaling messages via communications channels between at least two of the communication servers; and

establishing, releasing, and modifying connections within a call, said modifying step including end-to-end computation of quality of service measures.

12. A method of delivering communications services in a broadband and narrowband communications network comprising the steps of:

receiving in a first communications server a user'"'"'s request for service signals which include particular parameters associated with said request, said parameters comprising origination and destination information;

forwarding to a service-specific server at least part of said signals along with instructions specifying particular operations to be performed in said service-specific server;

determining in said first communications server resources to be allocated for delivery of said service based on the results of the operations performed by the service-specific server;

communicating with a) a second communications server to request at least one connection set up with certain performance and routing characteristics, and b) a third communications server to request at least one virtual channel link set up for delivery of said service, said second and third communications servers being functionally separate from said first communications server;

receiving in said first communications server messages indicative of the results of the connection and channel link operations; and

generating messages signaling said user that the requested service is available and ready to be delivered.