Adjustment of call bandwidth during a communication call

• US 5,574,724 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Thieler, Stephen M., Bales, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safourek, Benedict V.
• Application Number:
  US08/451,282
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 370/58.2, 370/58.3, 370/60, 370/60.1, 370/68.1, 370/79, 370/84, 370/94.1, 370/95.1, 348/7, 348/13, 348/16
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13201 Change-over of service during connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony

Abstract

Providing capability for increasing, decreasing, or changing types of bandwidth associated with a telecommunication call during the call and through out the call path. New messages can allocate or deallocate bandwidth associated with the call at each intervening switching node through out the call path. All switching nodes of a switching system involved with the resulting call consider the call as a single call. The new messages allow adding video capability to a voice call and, at a still later point in time, removing the video capability from the call. The result is convenience to telecommunication users in that the user is able to utilize any type or amount of bandwidth during a multimedia call. Yet, at any given point in time, the user pays only for the bandwidth that is being utilized.

Claims

1. A method of switching communication bandwidth on a communication path through a switching system, and the switching system having a plurality of switch nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting by a terminating one of the plurality of switch nodes a first message for switching the communication bandwidth on the communication path through the switching system;

receiving the first message via a signaling channel that is part of the communication path .by a first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth by tile first one of the plurality of switch nodes from the first message;

modifying the communication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested communication bandwidth; and

transmitting by a first one of the plurality of switch nodes the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential one of tile plurality of switch nodes in the communication path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication bandwidth is modified by type of bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication bandwidth is increased.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication bandwidth is decreased.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of ascertaining a capability of the one of the plurality switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of modifying further comprises the step of only providing the ascertained capability of communication bandwidth for the communication path by the one of the plurality of switch nodes.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of setting the requested change of the first message equal to the ascertained capability before transmission via the signaling channel by the one of the plurality of switch nodes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the next sequential one of the plurality switch nodes is a destination switch node of the communication path, the method further comprises the steps of ascertaining a capability of the next sequential one of the plurality of switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth;

only providing the ascertained communication bandwidth by the destination switch node;

forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message by the destination switch node;

inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to the ascertained capability to provided requested communication bandwidth by the destination switch node; and

transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel by the destination switch node.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises the step of readjusting the communication bandwidth by each of the plurality of switch nodes in the communication path to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message by each of the plurality of switch nodes.

10. A method of switching communication bandwidth on a communication path through a switching system, from a origination terminal to a destination terminal and the switching system having a plurality of switch nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting by all origination terminal a first message for switching the communication bandwidth on the communication path through the switching system;

changing the communication bandwidth as specified by the first message by the plurality of switch nodes and the destination terminal without reestablishing the communication path;

the step of changing comprises the steps of receiving the first message via a signaling channel that is part of the communication path by a first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth by the first one of the plurality of switch nodes from the first message;

modifying the communication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested communication bandwidth; and

transmitting by a first one of the plurality of switch nodes the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential one of the plurality of switch nodes in the communication path.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication bandwidth is modified by type of bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication bandwidth is increased.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication bandwidth is decreased.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of ascertaining a capability of the one of the plurality switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of modifying further comprises the step of only providing the ascertained capability of communication bandwidth for the communication path by the one of the plurality of switch nodes.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of setting the requested change of the first message equal to the ascertained capability before transmission via the signaling channel by the one of the plurality switch nodes.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the next sequential one of the plurality switch nodes is a destination switch node of the communication path with the destination terminal connected to the destination switch node, the method further comprises the steps of ascertaining a capability of the destination terminal to provide the requested communication bandwidth;

only accepting the ascertained communication bandwidth by the destination terminal;

forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message by the destination terminal;

inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to the ascertained capability to provided requested communication bandwidth by the destination terminal; and

transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel by the destination terminal.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprises the step of readjusting the communication bandwidth by each of the plurality of switch nodes in the communication path to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message by each of the plurality of switch nodes.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprises the step of adjusting the bandwidth of the origination terminal to that designated by the allocation information in the second message by the origination terminal in response to the second message.

20. A method for adjusting the telecommunication bandwidth of an active telecommunication call being communicated through a plurality of switch nodes with a signaling channel for the telecommunication call being established through the plurality of switch nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message requesting a change in the telecommunication bandwidth of the telecommunication call via the signaling channel by a first switch node;

determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth by the first switch node from the first message;

ascertaining a capability of the switch node to provide the requested telecommunication bandwidth;

adjusting the telecommunication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested telecommunication bandwidth; and

transmitting the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential switch node in the telecommunication call.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of adjusting comprises the step of only providing the ascertained capability of telecommunication bandwidth for the telecommunication call.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of setting the requested change equal to the ascertained capability before transmission the first message via the signaling channel.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein another switch node is the destination switch node of the telecommunication call, the method further comprises the steps of forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message by the other switch node;

inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to requested change in the first message received by the other switch node; and

transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel by the other switch node.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprises the step of readjusting the telecommunication bandwidth by the switch node to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message by the switch node.

25. A method for adjusting telecommunication bandwidth during a telecommunication call that is being communicated through a switch node with a signaling channel being assigned to the telecommunication call, and a plurality of software routines are executed by the switch node, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message via the signaling channel by a first software routine;

identifying the first message as being a first half of the telecommunication call by matching identification information of the signaling channel with identification information in a first internal table containing information defining the first half of the telecommunication call by the first software routine;

determining the availability of telecommunication bandwidth requested by the first message by the first software routine;

requesting that a second software routine reserve the requested telecommunication bandwidth for the telecommunication call by entering parameters defining the requested telecommunication bandwidth into a second internal table that also stores parameters defining a present telecommunication bandwidth of the call whereby the second internal table is identified by identification information of the signaling channel and the first internal table;

transferring the first message to a second half of the telecommunication call by a third software routine;

identifying by the first software routine the first message as being the second half of the telecommunication call using information from a third internal table that also defines identification information for the signaling channel for the second half of the telecommunication call; and

transmitting the first message from the switch node via the signaling channel on the second half of the telecommunication call by the first software routine.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of ascertaining bandwidth capability of the switch node;

the step of requesting comprises the step of only requesting that the second software routine enter parameters to provide the ascertained bandwidth capability into the second internal table; and

the step of transferring comprises the step of modifying the requested telecommunication bandwidth in the first message to be equal to the ascertained telecommunication bandwidth.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprises the steps of receiving a second message;

identifying the second message by the first software routine as being part of the second half of the telecommunication call by the identification information of the signaling channel;

determining from allocation information in the second message the telecommunication bandwidth requested for the telecommunication call by the first software routine;

requesting that the second software routine adjust the parameters in the second internal table to provide the telecommunication bandwidth specified in the allocation information and that the second software routine establish the requested telecommunication bandwidth through the switch node.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprises the steps of transferring the second message to the first half of the telecommunication call by the third software routine;

identifying by the first software routine the second message as being the first half of the telecommunication call using information from the third internal table that also defines identification information for the signaling channel for the first half of the telecommunication call; and

transmitting the second message from the switch node via the signaling channel on the first half of the telecommunication call by the first software routine.

29. An apparatus of switching communication bandwidth on a communication path through a switching system, and the switching system having a plurality of switch nodes, the apparatus comprising:

means in a terminating one of the plurality of switch nodes for transmitting a first message for switching the communication bandwidth on the communication path through the switching system;

means in a first one of the plurality of switch nodes for receiving the first message via a signaling channel that is part of the communication path;

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth from the first message;

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for modifying the communication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested communication bandwidth; and

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for transmitting the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential one of the plurality of switch nodes in the communication path.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communication bandwidth is modified by type of bandwidth.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communication bandwidth is increased.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communication bandwidth is decreased.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for modifying comprises means for ascertaining a capability of the one of the plurality switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the means for modifying further comprises means for only providing the ascertained capability of communication bandwidth for the communication path.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for setting the requested change of the first message equal to the ascertained capability before transmission via the signaling channel.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the next sequential one of the plurality switch nodes is a destination switch node of the communication path, the apparatus further comprises means in the destination switch node for ascertaining a capability of the next sequential one of the plurality of switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth;

means in the destination switch node for only providing the ascertained communication bandwidth;

means in the destination switch node for forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message;

means in the destination switch node for inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to the ascertained capability to provided requested communication bandwidth; and

means in the destination switch node for transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprises means in each of the plurality of switch nodes for readjusting the communication bandwidth in the communication path to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message.

38. An apparatus of switching communication bandwidth on a communication path through a switching system, from a origination terminal to a destination terminal and the switching system having a plurality of switch nodes, the apparatus comprising:

means in an origination terminal for transmitting a first message for switching the communication bandwidth on the communication path through the switching system;

means in the plurality of switch nodes and the destination terminal for changing the communication bandwidth as specified by the first message without reestablishing the communication path;

the means for changing comprises means a first one of the plurality of switch nodes for receiving the first message via a signaling channel that is part of the communication path;

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth from the first message;

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for modifying the communication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested communication bandwidth; and

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for transmitting the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential one of the plurality of switch nodes in the communication path.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the communication bandwidth is modified by type of bandwidth.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the communication bandwidth is increased.

41. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the communication bandwidth is decreased.

42. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the means in the one of the plurality of switch nodes for modifying comprises means for ascertaining a capability of the one of the plurality switch nodes to provide the requested communication bandwidth.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the means in the one of the plurality of switch nodes for modifying further comprises means for only providing the ascertained capability of communication bandwidth for the communication path.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the means in the one of the plurality switch nodes for transmitting comprises means for setting the requested change of the first message equal to the ascertained capability before transmission via the signaling channel.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the next sequential one of the plurality switch nodes is a destination switch node of the communication path with the destination terminal connected to the destination switch node, the apparatus further comprises means for ascertaining a capability of the destination terminal to provide the requested communication bandwidth;

means in the destination terminal for only accepting the ascertained communication bandwidth;

means in the destination terminal for forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message;

means in the destination terminal for inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to the ascertained capability to provided requested communication bandwidth; and

means in the destination terminal for transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprises means in each of the plurality of switch nodes for readjusting the communication bandwidth in the communication path to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message by each of the plurality of switch nodes.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprises means in the origination terminal for adjusting the bandwidth of the origination terminal to that designated by the allocation information in the second message in response to the second message.

48. An apparatus for adjusting the telecommunication bandwidth of an active telecommunication call being communicated through a plurality of switch nodes with a signaling channel for the telecommunication call being established through the plurality of switch nodes, the apparatus comprising:

means in a first switch node for receiving a first message requesting a change in the telecommunication bandwidth of the telecommunication call via the signaling channel;

means in the first switch node for determining a requested change in telecommunication bandwidth from the first message;

means for ascertaining a capability of the switch node to provide the requested telecommunication bandwidth;

means in the first switch node for adjusting the telecommunication bandwidth through the switch node to provide the requested telecommunication bandwidth; and

means in the first switch node for transmitting the first message via the signaling channel to a next sequential switch node in the telecommunication call.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the means for adjusting comprises means for only providing the ascertained capability of telecommunication bandwidth for the telecommunication call.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for setting the requested change equal to the ascertained capability before transmission the first message via the signaling channel.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein another switch node is the destination switch node of the telecommunication call, the apparatus further comprises means in the other switch node for forming a second message in response to receipt of the first message;

means in the other switch node for inserting allocation information into the second message that is equal to requested change in the first message received; and

means in the other switch node for transmitting the formed second message back on the signaling channel.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 further comprises means in the switch node for readjusting the telecommunication bandwidth to be equal to that specified by the allocation information in response to receipt of the second message by the switch node.

53. An apparatus for adjusting telecommunication bandwidth during a telecommunication call that is being communicated through a switch node with a signaling channel being assigned to the telecommunication call, and a plurality of software routines are executed by the switch node, the apparatus comprising:

means in a first software routine for receiving a first message via the signaling channel;

means in the first software routine for identifying the first message as being a first half of the telecommunication call by matching identification information of the signaling channel with identification information in a first internal table containing information defining the first half of the telecommunication call;

means in the first software routine for determining the availability of telecommunication bandwidth requested by the first message;

means in the first software routine for requesting that a second software routine reserve the requested telecommunication bandwidth for the telecommunication call by entering parameters defining the requested telecommunication bandwidth into a second internal table that also stores parameters defining a present telecommunication bandwidth of the call whereby the second internal table is identified by identification information of the signaling channel and the first internal table;

means in a third software routine for transferring the first message to a second half of the telecommunication call;

means in the first software routine for identifying the first message as being the second half of the telecommunication call using information from a third internal table that also defines identification information for the signaling channel for the second half of the telecommunication call; and

means in the first software routine for transmitting the first message from the switch node via the signaling channel on the second half of the telecommunication call.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the means for determining comprises means for ascertaining bandwidth capability of the switch node;

the means for requesting comprises means for only requesting that the second software routine enter parameters to provide the ascertained bandwidth capability into the second internal table; and

the means for transferring comprises means for modifying the requested telecommunication bandwidth in the first message to be equal to the ascertained telecommunication bandwidth.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 further comprises means for receiving a second message;

means in the first software routine for identifying the second message as being part of the second half of the telecommunication call by the identification information of the signaling channel;

means in the first software routine for determining from allocation information in the second message the telecommunication bandwidth requested for the telecommunication call; and

means in the first software routine for requesting that the second software routine adjust the parameters in the second internal table to provide the telecommunication bandwidth specified in the allocation information and that the second software routine establish the requested telecommunication bandwidth through the switch node.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprises means in the first software routine for transferring the second message to the first half of the telecommunication call;

means in the first software routine for identifying the second message as being the first half of the telecommunication call using information from the third internal table that also defines identification information for the signaling channel for the first half of the telecommunication call; and

means in the first software routine for transmitting the second message from the switch node via the signaling channel on the first half of the telecommunication call.