Video and TELCO network control functionality

• US 5,592,477 A
• Filed: 10/05/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Bartholomew, Dale L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAO, SEEMA SRINIVAS
• Application Number:
  US08/539,646
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 370/58.1, 370/58.2, 370/58.3, 370/60, 370/60.1, 370/62, 370/68.1, 370/85.13, 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/110.1, 379/207, 379/212, 379/230, 379/220, 379/112, 379/94, 379/201, 379/219, 379/221, 379/224, 379/229, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1
• US Class Current: 370/396
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0066 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• 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: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13545 monitoring of signaling messages, intelligent network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

An Intelligent Signaling Transfer Point (ISTP) of the common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) network provides high level control of signaling message routing and of processing of calls relating to telephone services, broadcast services, interactive broadband services and packet switched data services. A network in accord with present invention includes central office telephone switching systems and local routers. Each local router also is coupled through a trunk circuit to one of the telephone switching systems. The local router selectively provides switched telephone call communications services to a plurality of telephone stations coupled thereto. The local router also receives broadband digital signals from a broadband trunk circuit and selectively supplies broadband digital signals to a plurality of digital terminals. The ISTP includes a data switch, a database and a program controlled processor. The switch switches signaling messages between signaling links coupled to the switching systems and the local routers. The database stores call processing data for control of at least some call processing through both the telephone central office switching system and the local router. The program controlled processor recognizes a predetermined condition with regard to at least one call related signaling message from any of the switching systems or local routers during processing of any service call. In response, the processor obtains call processing information from the database, and transmits a signaling message containing the call processing information to the central office switching system or the local router to control subsequent processing of the call.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

local narrowband communication links;

a telephone trunk circuit;

a broadband trunk circuit supplying broadband digital service signals;

a telephone central office switching system selectively providing switched telephone call communications services to a plurality of telephone stations coupled thereto through the local narrowband communication links;

a local router coupled to the telephone trunk circuit and the broadband trunk circuit, said local router selectively providing switched telephone call communications services to a plurality of telephone stations coupled thereto and selectively providing broadband digital services to a plurality of digital terminals coupled thereto;

a signaling transfer point for routing signaling messages; and

signaling links coupling the signaling transfer point to the telephone central office switching system and the local router, said signaling links being separate from the local communication links and the trunk circuit;

wherein the signaling transfer point comprises;

(1) a data switch for switching messages between the signaling links,

(2) a database storing call processing data for control of at least some call processing through the telephone central office switching system and the local router,

(3) a program controlled processor recognizing a predetermined condition with regard to at least one call related signaling message from one of the central office switching system and the local router which is processing a call, in response thereto obtaining call processing information from the database, and transmitting a signaling message containing the call processing information to the one of the central office switching system and the local router to control subsequent processing of the call.

2. A network as in claim 1, wherein:

the local narrowband communication links are telephone links; and

the central office switching system is a telephone switch.

3. A network as in claim 2, wherein a plurality of the telephone links are telephone lines.

4. A network as in claim 1, wherein the signaling transfer point is adapted for sending and receiving signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling messages.

5. A network as in claim 1, wherein the data switch comprises a packet data switching fabric.

6. A network as in claim 1, further comprising a source which broadcasts digitized and compressed video programs over the broadband trunk circuit as said broadband digital service signals.

7. A network as in claim 1, further comprising a broadband switch providing selective broadband digital communications from interactive broadband servers operated by a plurality of information providers through the broadband trunk circuit to the local router.

8. A network as in claim 7, wherein the broadband switch is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode switch.

9. A network as in claim 7, wherein the broadband switch includes:

a processor controlling operations of the broadband switch; and

an interface coupling the processor controlling operations of the broadband switch to one signaling link coupled to the signaling transfer point, such that the processor controlling operations of the broadband switch sends and receives call control signaling messages via the signaling transfer point and the one signaling link.

10. A network as in claim 1, further comprising:

a multiplexed line carrying broadband service signals for services selected by a plurality of subscribers served by the local router, telephone signals for the plurality of subscribers and packet data signals for the plurality of subscribers from the local router; and

means for coupling the telephone signals to telephone stations on the premises of the plurality of subscribers and for coupling the broadband service signals and packet data signals on the multiplexed line to at least one terminal on premises of each of the plurality of subscribers.

11. A network as in claim 1, further comprising:

a broadband switch;

an information server selectively supplying broadband information through a port coupled to the broadband switch;

a level 2 gateway controlling operations of said server, wherein said level 2 gateway sends and receives call control signaling messages to and from the signaling transfer point via one of the signaling links.

12. An intelligent signaling transfer point comprising:

interface modules for providing two-way data communications to a plurality of common channel interoffice signaling links coupled to a narrowband switching office and at least one local router providing narrowband and broadband communication services of a communication network;

a data switch for switching messages between the interface modules;

a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of narrowband local communication links and broadband communication links of the communication network for control of at least some narrowband call processing through the narrowband central office switching system and at least some narrowband call processing through the local router and at least some broadband call processing through the local router; and

a program controlled processor recognizing predetermined conditions regarding call related signaling messages from the narrowband switching office and the local router, and in response thereto obtaining call processing information from the database, and transmitting signaling messages containing the call processing information to the narrowband switching office and the local router, respectively, to control subsequent processing of calls.

13. An intelligent signaling transfer point as in claim 12, wherein the data switch comprises a packet data switching fabric.

14. An intelligent signaling transfer point as in claim 12, wherein the interface modules and the data switch are adapted for sending and receiving signaling system 7 (SS7) compliant signaling messages.

15. In a system comprising:

a broadband communication network selectively providing broadband communications links through a plurality of control nodes;

a plurality of information servers connected to the broadband communication network, each information server being capable of transmitting broadband digital information via a broadband communication link through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of terminals for transmitting control signals upstream through the broadband communication network in response to user inputs and for providing displays in response to information received through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of telephone switching offices;

a signaling transfer point;

a plurality of signaling links, separate from communication links through the broadband communication network and communication links through the telephone switching offices, said signaling links coupling the control nodes of the broadband communication network and the telephone switching offices to the signaling transfer point, a method comprising the steps of;

receiving a selection signal representing selection of a broadband service call from one of the terminals at one of the control nodes of the broadband communication network;

in response to the selection signal, transmitting a query message containing information relating to the broadband service call over one of the signaling links to the signaling transfer point;

accessing a database in the signaling transfer point based on at least a portion of the information contained in the query message to retrieve call processing information;

in response to the call processing information, sending a response message back to the one control node over one of the signaling links; and

providing a broadband communication service through the one control node to the one terminal in response to said response message.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the step of providing a broadband service comprises routing a digital broadcast signal through the one control node to the one terminal.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the step of providing a broadband service comprises establishing a point-to-point session between a selected one of the information servers and the one terminal through the one control node.

18. A method as in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving another selection signal representing selection of another broadband service call from another terminal at the one control node;

in response to said another selection signal, accessing data stored in the one control node; and

utilizing the data accessed in the one control node to provide another broadband service to said another terminal.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein:

the service selected by and provided to the one terminal is a premium video broadcast service available to a limited number of broadband service subscribers; and

the service selected by and provided to said another terminal is a basic video broadcast service available to all of the broadband service subscribers.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein:

the service selected by and provided to the one terminal is a pay-per-view video broadcast service; and

the service selected by and provided to said another terminal is a basic video broadcast service available to all of the broadband service subscribers.

21. A method as in claim 18, wherein:

the service selected by and provided to the one terminal is a point to point interactive communication with a control device and a broadband server operated by an interactive broadband service provider; and

the service selected by and provided to said another terminal is a video broadcast service.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the control device and the broadband server provide a video on demand service.

23. In a system comprising:

a broadband communication network selectively providing broadband communications links through a plurality of control nodes;

a plurality of information servers connected to the broadband communication network, each information server being capable of transmitting broadband digital information via a broadband communication link through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of terminals for transmitting control signals upstream through the broadband communication network in response to user inputs and for providing displays in response to information received through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of telephone switching offices;

a signaling transfer point;

a plurality of signaling links, separate from communication links through the broadband communication network and communication links through the telephone switching offices, said signaling links coupling the control nodes of the broadband communication network and the telephone switching offices to the signaling transfer point, a method comprising the steps of;

receiving a selection signal representing selection of a broadband service call from one of the terminals at a first one of the control nodes of the broadband communication network;

in response to the selection signal, transmitting a query message containing information relating to the broadband service call over one of the signaling links to the signaling transfer point;

accessing a database in the signaling transfer point based on at least a portion of the information contained in the query message to retrieve call processing information;

based on the call processing information, routing the query message to a second one of the control nodes of the broadband communication network; and

establishing a broadband session through the first control node between the one terminal and one of the information servers coupled to the second control node in response to the query message.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein the second control node is a gateway controlling operation of the one information server.

25. A method as in claim 23, wherein the second control node is a broadband switch, coupled to the one information server, selectively providing a point to point communication link between the one information server and the first control node.

26. A method as in claim 23, wherein the query message is a standard common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) message.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein the query message conforms to a query message format specified by signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the query message is an ISDN-UP query.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein the ISDN-UP query is an Initial Address Message (IAM) type query.

30. In a system comprising:

a broadband communication network selectively providing broadband communications links through a plurality of control nodes;

a plurality of information servers connected to the broadband communication network, each information server being capable of transmitting broadband digital information via a broadband communication link through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of terminals for transmitting control signals upstream through the broadband communication network in response to user inputs and for providing displays in response to information received through the broadband communication network;

a plurality of telephone switching offices;

a signaling transfer point;

a plurality of signaling links, separate from communication links through the broadband communication network and communication links through the telephone switching offices, said signaling links coupling the control nodes of the broadband communication network and the telephone switching offices to the signaling transfer point, a method comprising the steps of;

receiving a selection signal representing selection of a broadband service call from one of the terminals at a first one of the control nodes of the broadband communication network;

in response to the selection signal, transmitting a query message containing information relating to the broadband service call and address information over one of the signaling links to the signaling transfer point;

accessing a database in the signaling transfer point based on at least a portion of the information contained in the query message to retrieve call processing information;

based on the call processing information and the information relating to the broadband service call determining which of a first condition and a second condition is satisfied;

if the first condition is satisfied;

(a) formulating a first response message in the signaling transfer point based on the information contained in the query message, and

(b) transmitting the first response message to the first control node over one of the signaling links;

if the second condition is satisfied;

(a) routing the query message to a second control node of the broadband communication network based on the address information, and

(b) formulating a second response message in the second control node, and

(c) transmitting the second response to the first control node through signaling links and the signaling transfer point; and

controlling broadband service through at least the first control node to the one terminal in response to either the first response message or the second response message.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein the messages are standard common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) messages.

32. A method as in claim 30, wherein the messages conform to formats specified by signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol.

33. A method as in claim 30, wherein the second control node is a gateway controlling operation of one of the information servers.

34. A method as in claim 30, wherein the second control node is a broadband switch, coupled to one of the information servers, for selectively providing point to point communication links between the information servers and the first control node.