Method of assigning connection identifier in asynchronous transfer mode switching system

• US 5,905,728 A
• Filed: 12/10/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Telecommunication Authority
• Inventors: Han, Mi-Sook, Lee, Eon-Kyung, Oh, Moon-Kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US08/763,254
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 370/388, 370/389, 370/395, 370/397, 370/399, 370/409, 370/410, 370/396, 370/398, 370/401, 370/404, 370/403
• US Class Current: 370/395.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• 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

Abstract

A method of assigning a connection identifier for an asynchronous transfer mode switching system, includes the steps of: (a) analyzing a parameter transmitted in a VPI allocation request if it is received, analyzing the number of connections and the number of VPI used in SIM, and confirming whether a VPI desired to be used in VPI allocation request if the input parameter is normal and connection is available; (b) changing the usage state of VPI assigned to a VPI management table if the VPI is designated and this is in no use, increasing the number of VPI and the number of VPI assigned in the connection identifier management table, indicating a VPI assigned, or selecting a VPI in no use in SIM if the VPI is not designated with reference to the VPI management table, and changing the usage state of the VPI assigned in the VPI management table.

Claims

1. A method of assigning a connection identifier for an asynchronous transfer mode switching (ATM) system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing a parameter transmitted in a received connection identifier allocation request, analyzing the number of connections in a subscriber interface module (SIM), and confirming a signalling mode between a subscriber and a network of the analyzed parameter is normal and a connection is available;

(b) calculating an index value for accessing a virtual path identifier (VPI) management table which stores a VPI usage state if the signalling mode is a coupled signalling mode in which only the same VPI as a VPI for signalling is used as a VPI for user data transmission, VPI or both VPI and virtual connection identifier (VCI) are designated in a connection identifier allocation request, and the VPI for signalling and the VPI for user data transmission are identical, to thereby check the usage stage of a detected VPI;

(c) designating the VPI for user data transmission as the VPI for signalling if the signalling mode is a decoupled signalling mode in which the VPI for signalling and other VPIs are available for the VPI for user data transmission, and the VPI or both VPI and VCI are not designated, and calculating the index value for accessing the VPI management table which stores the VPI usage state if there is no error in the designated VPI, to thereby check the usage state of the detected VPI;

(d) notifying a connection identifier allocation failure if the VPI is used for virtual path connection, notifying that the virtual path is already established if the VPI is used for a virtual channel, or analyzing the signalling mode if the VPI is not in use;

(e) indicating that the selected VPI is in use if the signalling mode is the decoupling mode and the number of VPI used does not surpass the number of VPI assigned to a connection identifier allocation number management table; and

(f) indicating that the selected VPI is in use if the signalling mode is the coupling mode and a new VPI can be used.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(g) assigning the VCI in the VPI selected and indicating VPI/VCI assigned if the VCI is not designated when a connection identifier allocation is requested for the VCI; and

(h) increasing the number of virtual channels assigned to the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table if the VPI is designated in a the connection identifier allocation request and the selected VCI is not in use, storing a selected connection identifier in a VCI management table, and indicating the assigned connection identifier assigned.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step (g) comprises the substeps of:

(i) assigning the VCI in the selected VPI if the VCI is not designated for the connection identifier allocation request for VCI allocation, and analyzing the assigning result of VCI; and

(j) indicating the connection identifier allocation failure if the VCI allocation is abnormal, and indicating VPI/VCI assigned if the VCI allocation is normal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step (h) comprises the substeps of:

(i) confirming whether the designated VCI is in use if the VCI is designated when the connection identifier allocation request is made;

(j) indicating allocation impossibility if the VCI is in use, or increasing the number of virtual channel connections assigned in the connection identifier allocation number management table and the VPI management table if the VCI is not in use, storing the selected connection identifier in the VCI management table, and confirming a storage result; and

(k) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the storage result ends abnormally, or indicating the assigned connection identifier if the storage result is performed normally.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises the substeps of:

(g) analyzing parameters such as the SIM number, signalling mode designation information, signalling VPI transmitted in response to the received connection identifier allocation request

(h) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the parameter analysis result is abnormal, or analyzing the number of connections in SIM required to assign connection identifier by using the number of virtual path and virtual channel assigned of the connection identifier allocation number management table if the parameter analysis result is normal, to thereby find out whether the number of connections surpasses the number of permissible connections; and

indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the number of connection is over the permissible number of connections, or analyzing the signalling mode between the subscriber and the network required when a virtual path number is selected when a connection identifier is assigned, if the number of connection is not over the number of premissible connections and thus connection is permissible.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises the substeps of:

(g) finding out whether a desired VPI or both VPI and VCI are designated in response to the connection identifier allocation request if the signalling mode is the coupling mode;

(h) designating a VPI for user information transmission as the same identifier as the signalling VPI if they are not designated, or finding out whether the VPI designated for signalling is identical with the VPI designated for user data transmission if the VPI or VCI is designated; and

(i) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the VPI for signalling is not identical with the VPI for user data transmission, or calculating the index value for accessing the VPI management table which stores the usage state of VPI if the VPI for signalling is identical with the VPI for user data transmission, to thereby check the usage state of the detected VPI.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises the substeps of:

(g) finding out whether a desired VPI or both VPI and VCI are designated in response to the connection identifier allocation request if the signalling mode is the coupling mode;

(h) designating a VPI for user information transmission as the same identifier as the signalling VPI and analyzing an error of the VPI designated for user information transmission if they are not designated, or analyzing an error of the VPI designated for user information transmission and deciding whether there is an error of the VPI if the VPI or VCI is designated; and

(i) indicating connection identifier allocation failure if there is an error in the designated VPI, or calculating the index value for accessing the VPI management table which stores the usage state of VPI if there is no error in the designated VPI, to thereby check the usage state of the detected VPI.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (e) comprises the substeps of:

(g) checking the number of VPI in use in SIM if the signalling mode is a non-associating mode;

(h) indicating that the selected VPI is in use if there is a permissible VPI according to the result of said step (g), or selecting one of VPI in use for virtual channel connection in SIM if the number of VPI in use surpasses a limit, to thereby analyze the selection result of VPI; and

(i) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the selection of VPI fails, or indicating a selection result of VPI if a selection of VPI succeeds.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (f) comprises the substeps of:

(g) analyzing the number of VPI in use in SIM with reference to the number of VPI assigned in the connection identifier allocation number management table if the signalling mode is an associating mode; and

(h) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility when the new VPI is not allowed to be used, or increasing the number of VPI assigned in the connection identifier allocation number management table if the new VPI is allowed to be used, indicating that the VPI corresponding to the index value of the VPI management table is in use, designating an allocation format as the virtual channel, increasing the number of virtual channels assigned, changing a next assigned VCI number, and putting the VPI in use.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the index value for accessing the VPI management table comprises the substeps of:

(1) determining whether or not the SIM number required to assign connection identifier is 0;

(2) storing 0 for a base index value if the SIM number if 0, determining the base index value with a value in which the maximum VPI of the subscriber link is added by 1 and then multiplied by the SIM number if the SIM number if not 0, calculating the index value by adding a VPI value required to calculate the index value to the base index value decide, and checking the range of the calculated index value; and

(3) indicating an index error if the index value calculated is smaller than 0 but greater than the maximum index value set in table construction, or indicating the index value calculated if the index value calculated is greater than 0 but smaller than the maximum index value set in table construction.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of assigning the VCI in the VPI selected comprises the substeps of:

(1) selecting a next VCI value stored in the VPI management table, and confirming the usage state of the VCI selected with reference to the VCI management table if the value of the VCI selected is within a predetermined range;

(2) increasing the number of virtual channel connections assigned of the connection identifier management table and VPI management table if the selected VCI is not in use, storing the selected VPI/VCI in the VCI management table, increasing the next selected VCI value stored in the VPI management table, and indicating the assigned VCI;

(3) increasing a next selected VCI value of the VPI management table in order to select a VCI usable in the selected VPI, if the VCI value selected is in use, performing said step (2) if the increased VCI value is not in use, or performing a process of selecting a usable VCI value by increasing the next selected VCI value of the VPI management table predetermined times if the increased VCI value is in use, or selecting as a VCI a value in which the index value for jumping to a next selected VCI is added to the next selected VCI when the selected VCI is in continuous use if the usable VCI is not selected despite repetitive selections, to thereby check whether the selected VCI surpasses the range of VCI; and

(4) performing said step (3) if the selected VCI is smaller than the maximum VCI value of the VPI according to the result of said step (3), or repetitively performing said step (3) predetermined times while designating the VCI as an initial value if the selected VCI is greater than the maximum VCI value of the VPI, or indicating virtual channel identifier allocation failure if the usable VCI is not found despite repetitive performances.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step (1) comprises the substeps of:

(5) selecting the next VCI value stored in the VPI management table, to thereby check the range of the selected VCI; and

(6) selecting 32 for the VCI value if the VCI value selected is smaller than 32 but greater than 65535, the maximum VCI value of the VPI, or confirming the usage state of the selected VCI value if the VCI value selected is greater than 32 but smaller than 65535, the maximum VCI value of the VPI.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step (2) comprises the substeps of:

(5) increasing the number of virtual channel connections assigned of the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table, increasing VPI/VCI selected in the VCI management table, and analyzing a storage result; and

(6) indicating VCI allocation failure if the storage result is abnormal, or increasing the next selected VCI value stored in the VPI management table if the storage result is normal, and indicating the assigned VCI.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of confirming the usage state of the selected VCI comprises the substeps of:

(1) deciding whether the VPI/VCI selected is identical with the VPI/VCI corresponding to a VCI index value stored in a VCI management table;

(2) indicating that the VCI selected is in use if they are identical, or deciding whether the value stored in the VCI management table is a final tuple not in use if the VPI/VCI selected is identical with the VPI/VCI corresponding to the VCI index value stored in the VCI management table in order to compare it with a next index value; and

(3) repetitively performing said step (1) by increasing the index value by 1 if not a final tuple in said step (2), or indicating that the VCI selected is usable if the value stored in the VCI management table is a final tuple.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein whether or not the value stored in a VCI management table is the final tuple is decided by storing -1 in VPI/VCI not in use.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of storing the VPI/VCI selected in the VCI table comprises the substeps of:

(1) determining whether the VPI and VCI of the VCI management table is a final tuple or not; and

(2) repetitively performing said step (1) by increasing the index value if the final tuple is not determined in said step (1), or storing VPI/VCI selected in a buffer of the VCI management table if the final tuple is determined in said step (1), and indicating that the VPI/VCI selected is completely input.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein whether the value of said step (1) is the final tuple or not is decided by storing -1 in VPI/VCI not in use.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the configuration of the connection identifier allocation number management table comprises:

an SIM number having one byte of integer;

a number of VPI assigned to SIM, having a value between 0 and 127 from one byte of integer;

a number of virtual path connection assigned to SIM, having a value between 0 and 127 from one byte of integer; and

a number of virtual channel connection assigned to SIM, having a value between 0 and 511 from one byte of integer.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the configuration of the VPI management table comprises:

an index key having four bytes and calculated with SIM number×

the range of maximum VPI in (SIM+VPI number to be assigned);

the VPI usage state, said state being in use if the value is FALSE in Boolean type, said state being not in use if the value is TRUE;

a connection form having one byte of set type, indicating when the information being stored for VP indicates a virtual path, and when VC indicates the virtual channel;

a number of virtual channel connections assigned to VPI of SIM, having a value between 0 and 511 from one byte of integer; and

a number of VCI to be next assigned in VPI, having four bytes between 32 and 65535.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the configuration of the VCI management table comprises:

an SIM number, having one byte of integer;

the VPI assigned for virtual channel connection, having two bytes between 0 and 255; and

the VCI of the VPI assigned for virtual channel connection, having four bytes between 32 and 65535.

31. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein whether the value of said step (1) is the final tuple or not is decided by storing -1 in VPI/VCI not in use.

21. A method of assigning a connection identifier for an asynchronous transfer mode switching system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing a parameter transmitted in a received VPI allocation request, analyzing the number of connections and the number of VPI used in a subscriber interface module (SIM), and confirming whether a VPI desired to be used in VPI allocation request if the input parameter is normal and connection is available;

(b) changing a usage state of VPI assigned to a VPI management table if the VPI is designated and is not in use, increasing the number of VPI and the number of VPI assigned in a connection identifier management table, indicating an assigned VPI, or selecting a VPI not in use in SIM if the VPI is not designated with reference to the VPI management table, and changing the usage state of the VPI assigned in the VPI management table.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(g) assigning a VCI in the VPI selected if the VCI is not designated in the VCI identifier allocation request, and indicating the assigned VPI/VCI; and

(h) increasing the number of virtual channels assigned in the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table if the VCI is designated and not in use in the connection identifier allocation request, storing the connection identifier selected in the VCI management table, and indicating the assigned connection identifier.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step (g) comprises the step of:

(i) assigning the VCI of the selected VPI if the VCI is not designated in the VCI allocation request, and analyzing an allocation result of the VCI; and

(j) indicating connection identifier allocation failure if the VCI allocation is abnormal, or indicating VPI/VCI assigned if the VCI allocation is normal.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step (h) comprises the substeps of:

(i) confirming whether or not a designated VCI is in use if it is designated in the connection identifier allocation request;

(j) indicating allocation impossibility if the VCI is in use, or increasing the number of virtual channel connections assigned in the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table if the VCI is not in use, storing the selected connection identifier in the VCI management table, and confirming a storage result; and

(k) indicating connection identifier allocation impossibility if the storage ends abnormally, or indicating the connection identifier assigned if storage is performed normally.

25. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of assigning the VCI in the selected VPI comprises the substeps of:

(1) selecting a next VCI value stored in the VPI management table, and confirming a usage state of the selected VCI with reference to a VCI management table if the value of the selected VCI is within a predetermined range;

(2) increasing the number of virtual channel connection assigned of the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table if the selected the VCI is not in use, storing the selected VPI/VCI in a VCI management table, increasing the next selected VCI value stored in the VPI management table, and indicating the assigned VCI;

(3) increasing the next selected VCI value of the VPI management table in order to select a VCI usable in the selected VPI, if the selected VCI value is in use, performing said step (2) if the increased VCI value is not in use, or performing a process of selecting a usable VCI value by increasing the next selected VCI value of the VPI management table a predetermined number of times if the increased VCI value is in use, or selecting as a VCI, a value in which an index value for jumping to the next selected VCI is added to the next selected VCI when the VCI selected is in continuous use if the usable VCI is not selected despite repetitive selections, to thereby check whether the selected VCI surpasses the predetermined range of VCI; and

(4) performing said step (3) if the selected VCI is smaller than the maximum VCI value of the VPI according to the result of said step (3), or repetitively performing said step (3) the predetermined number of times while designating the VCI as an initial value if the selected VCI is greater than the maximum VCI value of the VPI, or indicating virtual channel identifier allocation failure if the usable VCI is not found despite repetitive performances.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said step (1) comprises the substeps of:

(5) selecting the next VCI value stored in the VPI management table, to thereby check the range of the selected VCI; and

(6) selecting 32 for the VCI value if the selected VCI value is smaller than 32 or greater than 65535, the maximum VCI value of the VPI, or confirming the usage state of the VCI value selected if the selected VCI value is greater than 32 but smaller than 65535, the maximum VCI value of the VPI.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said step (2) comprises the substeps of:

(5) increasing the number of virtual channel connection assigned of the connection identifier allocation number management table and VPI management table, increasing VPI/VCI selected in the VCI management table, and analyzing a storage result; and

(6) indicating VCI allocation failure if the storage result is abnormal, or increasing the next selected VCI value stored in the VPI management table if the storage result is normal, and indicating the assigned VCI.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of confirming a usage state of the VCI selected comprises the substeps of:

(1) deciding whether the selected VPI/VCI is identical with the VPI/VCI corresponding to the VCI index value stored in the VCI management table;

(2) indicating that the selected VCI is in use if they are identical, or determining whether the value stored in the VCI management table is a final tuple not in use if the selected VPI/VCI is identical with the VPI/VCI corresponding to the VCI index value stored in the VCI management table in order for comparison with a next index value; and

(3) repetitively performing said step (1) by increasing the index value by 1 if the final tuple is not determined in said step (2), or indicating that the VCI selected is usable if the value stored in the VCI management table is determined to be the final tuple.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein whether the value stored in the VCI management table is the final tuple or not is decided by storing -1 in VPI/VCI not in use.

30. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of storing the VPI/VCI selected in a VCI table comprises the substeps of:

(1) determining whether the VPI and VCI of the VCI management table is a final tuple or not; and

(2) repetitively performing said step (1) by increasing the index value if the final tuple is not determined in said step (1), or storing VPI/VCI selected in a buffer of the VCI management table if the final tuple is determined in said step (1), and indicating that the VPI/VCI selected is completely input.