Method of using a narrowband server to provide service features to broadband subscribers

• US 5,802,045 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kos, Richard James, Wierzbicki, Alex Lawrence, Yu, Hsien-Chuen, Zola, Meyer Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/641,322
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 370/356, 370/352, 370/401, 370/410, 370/467, 370/466, 370/487, 370/522, 370/353
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A method for providing narrowband-related service features to subscribing broadband lines comprises establishing a composite voice path interconnecting a narrowband server and the subscribing broadband line via a broadband switching fabric. Particularly, a call set-up signal is received in a broadband call processor, converted to narrowband signaling format and extended to a designated narrowband server. Responsive to receipt of the call set-up signal, the designated narrowband server establishes a narrowband voice path interconnecting a narrowband network element to a synchronous-asynchronous converter. Subsequently, the broadband call processor establishes a broadband segment interconnecting the subscribing broadband line with the synchronous-asynchronous converter. The broadband segment corresponds to the narrowband voice path to form a composite voice path. The composite voice path is used by the designated narrowband server to provide narrowband-related service features to the subscribing broadband line. After a call in which narrowband-related features may be invoked has been disconnected, the composite voice path is released.

Claims

1. In an integrated telecommunication switching system comprising a broadband switching fabric which serves at least one broadband subscriber and a narrowband server associated with the broadband switching fabric, a method for providing service features to the broadband subscriber comprises the steps of:

receiving call set-up signals in a broadband call processor;

the broadband call processor converting the call set-up signals to narrowband signaling format;

the broadband call processor delivering the converted call set-up signal to a designated narrowband server;

the designated narrowband server establishing a narrowband voice path to a synchronous-to-asynchronous converter (SAC) in response to receiving the call set-up signals;

the broadband call processor establishing a broadband segment corresponding to the narrowband voice path established by the designated narrowband server to form a composite voice path interconnecting a subscribing broadband line to the designated narrowband server; and

the designated narrowband server providing service features to the subscribing broadband line over the composite voice path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of the broadband call extending the converted call set-up signal to the designated narrowband server comprises the step of:

transmitting the converted call set-up signal to the designated narrowband server via a message switch.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of:

the designated narrowband server releasing the narrowband voice path to the SAC upon receipt of a disconnect signal from the broadband call processor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

the broadband call processor receiving the call set-up signal from a party other than a caller associated with the subscribing broadband line.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

the designated narrowband server receiving a call set-up request signal directed to the subscribing broadband line; and

the designated narrowband server extending the received call set-up request signal to the broadband call processor.

6. In a broadband switch serving at least one broadband subscriber line, a method for providing service features to the broadband subscriber line comprises the step of:

receiving a call set-up signal;

determining whether the received call set-up signal originates from a broadband subscriber line which subscribes to narrowband-related service features;

responsive to a determination that the broadband subscriber line subscribes to narrowband-related service features, converting the call set-up signal to narrowband signaling format;

extending the converted call set-up signal to the narrowband server;

receiving an acknowledgment signal from the narrowband server; and

establishing a broadband segment to interconnect the broadband subscriber line to a synchronous-to-asynchronous converter (SAC) in response to receiving the acknowledgment signal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining whether the broadband subscriber line subscribes to narrowband-related service features comprises the step of;

accessing a broadband subscriber line database.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of converting the call set-up signal to narrowband signaling format comprises the step of:

accessing a broadband-to-narrowband conversion program.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving a call set-up signal comprises the step of:

receiving a call set-up signal from a party not associated with the broadband subscriber line.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

converting the received acknowledgment signal from a narrowband signaling format to a broadband signaling format.

11. An integrated telecommunications switch serving at least one broadband subscriber comprises:

a broadband call processor including a narrowband-related service feature database and a broadband-to-narrowband conversion program; and

at least one narrowband server for providing narrowband-related service features to the broadband subscriber over a voice path including broadband and narrowband portions.

12. The integrated telecommunications switch of claim 11 further comprising:

a synchronous-to-asynchronous converter (SAC) interconnecting a broadband switching fabric to the narrowband server.

13. The integrated telecommunications switch of claim 12 wherein the narrowband server maintains a multi-channel link to the SAC for establishing a narrowband voice path on a per call basis.

14. The integrated telecommunications switch of claim 11 further comprising a message switch for relaying signaling messages between the broadband call processor and the narrowband server.