Data packet switch apparatus and method with enhanced charge assessment capability

• US 5,481,534 A
• Filed: 09/27/1991
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beachy, Shawn A., Morgan, DeCarla J., Okafor, Ani A., Kean, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US07/766,871
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/62, 370/110.1, 370/94.2, 370/17, 379/111, 379/112, 379/91, 379/114, 379/115, 379/116, 379/130, 379/131, 379/126-128
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1482 involving use of telephony infrastructure for billing for the transport of data, e.g. call detail record [CDR] or intelligent network infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5612 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5638 Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

Apparatus and method of operation for transporting data packets between data systems located in telephone local access transport areas and for implementing enhanced services to control operation of a telephone local access transport area switching network to interconnect calling and called parties in accordance with requested ones of the enhanced services. The apparatus is interconnected with the data systems and switching systems and is responsive to receipt of dam packets from originating data systems requesting transport of data packets to destination data systems and from switching systems requesting an enhanced service for assessing a charge for use of the apparatus by each received data packet. A central processor accumulates assessed charges incurred by each data system and switching system for data packet use of the apparatus in transmitting transport data packets to destination data systems and for providing enhanced services to switching systems to control the switching systems to interconnect the calling and called parties in accordance with requested enhanced services to be billed to the telephone local access transport area.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transporting data packets received from data systems located in telephone local access transport areas and for implementing enhanced services to control operation of a telephone local access transport area switching network to interconnect calling and called parties comprising:

means for terminating data links interconnecting the apparatus with at least one of said data systems and switching systems of telephone local access transport areas,

means, responsive to receipt of data packets from data systems requesting transport of the data packets to a destination data system and from switching systems requesting enhanced services, for assessing charges for use of the apparatus based on each received data packet in accordance with transport and enhanced service requests of each received data packet,

means coupled with said terminating and assessing means for accumulating a total of said charges incurred by at least one telephone local access transport area to be billed for data packet use of the apparatus,

means, responsive to receipt of said data packets for transporting ones of the data packets to the destination data system, for generating other data packets identifying telephone switch interconnection information required to control telephone local access transport area switching systems to interconnect the calling and called parties in accordance with the enhanced services and transmitting the generated data packets over one of the data links to the telephone local access transport area switching network.

2. The transporting and enhanced service implementing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said terminating and assessing means comprises

local processing means, coupled with the data links and responsive to receipt of a data packet, for identifying requested transport and enhanced services and identity of said at least one from which the data packet was received.

3. The transporting and enhanced service implementing apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said local processing means comprises

means for recording said transport and enhanced service requests and said at least one identity for data packets received during a predetermined interval of time.

4. The transporting and enhanced service implementing apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said accumulating means comprises

central processing means coupled with said local processing means for interrogating said recording means during said predetermined interval of time and storing said recorded transport and enhanced service requests and telephone local access transport area data and said at least one'"'"'s identity into storage apparatus of said central processing means.

5. The transporting and enhanced service implementing apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said central processing means comprises

means for accumulating a total of said assessed data packet apparatus use charges incurred by said at least one to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus.

6. The transporting and enhanced service implementing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises

a network having a plurality of nodes interconnected by transmission paths with ones of the nodes for terminating data links interconnecting said at least one with the network and with other ones of the nodes for terminating data links interconnecting enhanced service control apparatus with the network.

7. Apparatus for transporting data packets between data systems located in telephone local access transport areas and for implementing enhanced services to control operation of a telephone local access transport area switching network to interconnect calling and called parties comprising:

means for terminating data links each interconnecting the apparatus with data systems of said of telephone local access transport areas and switching systems of a telephone local access transport area switching network,

means, coupled with said means for terminating data links, for identifying transport and enhanced service requests and telephone local access transport area data systems and switching systems that generate a received data packet, and means for recording said transport and enhanced service requests and said telephone local access transport area data system and switching system identities for data packets received during a predetermined interval of time,

processing means coupled with said identifying and recording means for interrogating said identifying means and recording means during said predetermined interval of time and storing said recorded transport and enhanced service requests and telephone local access transport area data systems and switching system identities on storage apparatus of said processing means,

means for determining a charge for use of the apparatus by each received packet data in accordance with the stored transport and enhanced service requests and telephone local access transport area data and switching system identities and assessing the determined charge against each received data packet,

means coupled to said determining means for accumulating a total of said assessed data packet apparatus use charges incurred by each data system and switching system of said telephone local access transport areas to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus, and

means, coupled with said identifying means and recording means and responsive to receipt of a transport data packet requesting transport, for transmitting the transport data packet over said data links to telephone local access transport area destination data system and to receipt of a data packet requesting an enhanced service for generating another data packet identifying telephone switch interconnection information required to control said telephone local access transport area switching systems to interconnect calling and called parties in accordance with the enhanced service and transmitting the generated data packet over the data links to the telephone local access transport area switching network.

8. Apparatus for transporting data packets between data systems located in telephone local access transport areas and for implementing enhanced services to control operation of a telephone local access transport area switching network to interconnect calling and called parties comprising:

data links each interconnecting said data systems of telephone local access transport areas and switching systems of a telephone local access transport area switching network with the apparatus,

means, coupled with the data links and responsive to receipt of data packets incoming on said data links, for identifying transport and enhanced service requests, said data systems and switching systems having generated the incoming data packet, and means for recording said transport and enhanced service requests and said data system and switching system identities for data packets received during a predetermined interval of time,

processing means coupled with said identifying and recording means for interrogating said identifying and recording means during said predetermined interval of time and storing said recorded transport and enhanced service requests and data system and switching system identities into storage apparatus of said processing means,

means for determining a charge for use of the apparatus by each received data packet in accordance with the stored transport and enhanced service requests and data system and switching system identities and assessing the determined charge against each received data packet,

means coupled to said determining means for accumulating a total of said use charges incurred by each data system and switching system of a telephone local access transport area to be billed to an owner of the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus, and

means coupled with said identifying and recording means and responsive to receipt of a transport data packet requesting transport for transmitting the transport data packet over the data links to a destination data system of said data systems and to receipt of a data packet requesting an enhanced service for generating another data packet identifying telephone switching interconnection information required to control said telephone local access transport area switching system to interconnect calling and called parties in accordance with the enhanced service and transmitting the other data packet over said data links on the telephone local access transport area switching network.

9. A network for implementing enhanced services to control operation of switching systems to interconnect calling and called parties wherein the network has nodes interconnected by transmission paths for enabling data systems and switching systems connected with the nodes to exchange data packets with the network comprising:

data links each interconnecting the data systems and switching systems of a telephone local access transport area switching network with one of the nodes,

node processing means, coupled with the data links and responsive to receipt of data packets incoming on said data links, for recording transport and enhanced service requests and identities of data systems and switching systems having generated the received data packet,

means, coupled with said node processing means and responsive to receipt of a transport data packet requesting transport, for transmitting the transport data packet over the data links to a telephone local access transport area destination data system, and means responsive to receipt of a data packet requesting an enhanced service, for generating another data packet identifying telephone switch interconnected information required to control a telephone local access transport area switching system to interconnect calling and called parties in accordance with the enhanced services and transmitting the other data packet over the data links to the telephone local access transport area switching network, and

network processing means, coupled by a transmission path with said node processing means, for interrogating said node processing means and for determining a charge for use of the network by each received data packet in accordance with the stored transport and enhanced service requests and data system and switching system identities and assessing the determined charge against each received data packet and for accumulating a total of said assessed use charges incurred by each data system and switching system of a telephone local access transport area to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the network.

10. A method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services for telephone local access transport area data systems and switching systems connected by data links with nodes of the apparatus comprising steps of:

receiving data packets at the nodes from at least one of originating data systems and switching systems and recording requests therein for transport of data packets to a destination system and an enhanced service of a switching system for interconnection information required to control the switching systems to interconnect calling and called parties in accordance with the requests, and

assessing charges at the node for use of the apparatus based on received data packets in accordance with transport and enhanced service requests and identify of said at least one, and accumulating a total of said charges at a central processor incurred by said at least one to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus,

transporting ones of the data packets to the destination system and generating other data packets identifying interconnection information required to control telephone local access transport area switching systems to interconnect the calling and called parties in accordance with the requests and transmitting the generated data packets over the data links to the telephone local access transport area switching systems.

11. The method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services set forth in claim 10 wherein said receiving step comprises the step of

identifying requested transport and enhanced services and identity of said at least one having generated a data packet at a node from data of the received data packet.

12. The method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services set forth in claim 11 wherein said receiving step also comprises the step of

recording said transport and enhanced service requests and said at least one identity for data packets received at the node during a predetermined interval of time.

13. The method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services set forth in claim 12 wherein said assessing and accumulating step comprises the step of

interrogating the node during the predetermined interval of time and storing said node recorded transport and enhanced service requests and said recorded transport and switching system identities in storage apparatus of central control processing apparatus.

14. The method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services set forth in claim 13 wherein said assessing and accumulating step comprises the step of

determining a charge for use of the apparatus by each received data packet in accordance with the stored transport and enhanced service requests and the transport and switching system identities and assessing the determined charge against each received data packet.

15. The method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services set forth in claim 14 wherein said assessing and accumulating step comprises the step of

accumulating a total of the determined and assessed data packet apparatus use charges incurred by said at least one of a telephone local access transport area to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus.

16. A method of operating apparatus for implementing transport and enhanced services for telephone local access transport area data systems and switching systems connected by data links with nodes of the apparatus comprising steps of:

receiving, at said nodes, data packets conveying transport and enhanced service requests identifying said data and switching systems from which said data packets were received,

recording said identified transport and enhanced service requests and said data systems and switching systems identities for said data packets received at one of the nodes during a predetermined interval of time,

interrogating the node during the predetermined interval of time and storing said recorded transport and enhanced service requests and said transport and switching systems identities in storage apparatus of a central processor,

determining a charge for use of the apparatus by each received data packet in accordance with the recorded transport and enhanced service requests and the transport and switching systems identities and assessing the determined charge against each received data packet,

accumulating a total of the use charges incurred by each data system and switching system of a telephone local access transport area to be billed to the telephone local access transport area for data packet use of the apparatus,

transporting ones of the data packets to a destination data system and generating other data packets identifying interconnection information required to control telephone local access transport area switching systems to interconnect the calling and called parties in accordance with the identified enhanced service requests and transmitting the generated other data packets over one of the data links to the identified telephone local access transport area switching systems.