Method and cell based wide area network alternative access telephone and data system

• US 5,544,164 A
• Filed: 11/08/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Com 21 Incorporated
• Inventors: Baran, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US08/336,325
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 370/60, 370/60.1, 370/85.8, 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/94.3, 370/95.2, 370/110.1, 340/825.08, 340/825.52, 340/825.53, 379/201, 379/211, 379/216, 379/219, 379/220, 379/57, 379/269, 455/5.1, 358/85, 358/86
• US Class Current: 370/397
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0685 Clock or time synchronisation in a node; Intranode synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5606 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5616 Terminal equipment, e.g. codecs, synch.
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5638 Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5652 Cell construction, e.g. including header, packetisation, depacketisation, assembly, reassembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/033 using the transitions of the received signal to control the phase of the synchronising-signal-generating means, e.g. using a phase-locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention is a Wide Area Network (WAN) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) compliant cell based communications system that is capable of delivering high data rate cells from a plurality of terminal devices to support a multiplicity of simultaneous terminal device applications for homes and businesses. This system provides the capability of providing voice and data communications on cable TV systems and to tie multiple cable TV systems and telcos together for transmission of voice and data communication between any combination of them.

Claims

1. In a communications network, an arrangement to define the virtual path to be taken by ATM cells from a calling terminal device to a called terminal device comprising:

a calling terminal device which sends out a call establishment ATM cell, the payload of said call establishment cell containing the number of said called terminal device;

a local switching system coupled to said calling terminal device which utilizes the information received from said calling terminal device and contained within both the header and the payload section of said call establishment ATM cell for routing said ATM cell;

a long distance switching network coupled to said local switching system using information contained within said header of said call establishment ATM cell being switched and received from said local switching system for routing said ATM cell; and

a directory computer coupled to said local switching system, said directory computer includes a table lookup unit to translate the number of said called terminal device to a physical path description through said local switching system and said long distance switching network, and to send an ATM cell containing said physical path description to said calling terminal device for inclusion within subsequent cells sent by said calling terminal device to route said subsequent cells to said called terminal device directly through said local switching system and said long distance switching network.

2. A communications switching network to serve a plurality of terminal devices, each terminal device having an individual address that is in-part in a 5 byte header and in-part in a 48 byte payload within an ATM cell, said network comprising:

a plurality of local switches; and

a plurality of long distance switches with each switch being a digital access cross connect DACS ATM switch;

wherein each local switch is connected between said terminal devices and said long distance ATM switches; and

wherein each local switch is capable of processing and directing ATM cells containing the addresses of sending and receiving terminal devices by virtue of using the address information contained within both the header and payload portions of the ATM cells.

3. A communications switching network as in claim 2 wherein:

the address information contained in the payload portion of an ATM cell contains both the address of the terminal device to which the cell is to be delivered and the address of the sending terminal device together with the serial number or an abbreviated serial number of the destination terminal device; and

said network further includes a comparator unit to compare the serial number at the destination terminal device with the serial number or abbreviated serial number within the payload portion of a received ATM cell to prevent accidental misdirection of cells without necessary reliance on a cyclical redundancy check.

4. A method for establishing a virtual circuit in an ATM network transporting 53 byte ATM cells having a 5 byte header and a 48 byte payload section in said ATM network having a multiplicity of terminal interfaces, said virtual circuit being between a first terminal device connected to a first terminal interface of said ATM network and a second terminal device connected to a second terminal interface of said ATM network, said ATM network having a directory computer connected to a third terminal interface of said ATM network, and said first terminal device transmits and receives cells containing routing information in-part within said 5 byte header of said cells for ATM network routing and in-part within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte ATM cells to address other individual terminal devices or said directory computer, said method comprising the following sequential steps:

a. a user inserting a telephone number or name designation of said second terminal device into said first terminal device to designate said second terminal device as being the device to be connected to said first terminal device;

b. said first terminal device creating a first ATM cell containing the telephone number or name designation of each of said first and second terminal devices in said 48 byte payload section of said first ATM cell and said first terminal device transmitting said first ATM cell to said directory computer via said ATM network;

c. said directory computer receiving said first ATM cell;

d. said directory computer translating said telephone number or name designation contained in said received first ATM cell for each of said first and second said terminal devices to define routing path information between said first and second terminal devices through the said ATM network;

e. said directory computer creating a second ATM cell containing said routing path information through said ATM network within said 5 byte header of said second ATM cell and said telephone or name for each of said first and second terminal devices within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte second ATM cell;

f. said directory computer transmitting said second ATM cell to said first terminal device via the ATM network;

g. said first terminal device receiving said second ATM cell;

h. said first terminal device creating additional ATM cells each having the same 5 byte header as said second ATM cell and by inserting said routing path information contained within said 48 byte payload section of said second ATM cell into the 48 byte payload section of each subsequent ATM cell transmitted from said first terminal device to said second terminal device via said ATM network.

5. A method for establishing a virtual circuit in an ATM communications network as in claim 4 wherein said name designation is composed of alphanumeric characters.