System and method for interfacing a local communication device

• US 6,002,689 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG), Harley R. Ball
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, executor, by Jean M., Nelson, Tracy Lee, Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph, Christie, deceased, Joseph Michael, Christie, executor, by Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YAO, KWANG BIN
• Application Number:
  US08/754,354
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/396, 370/398, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/410, 370/426, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/522, 370/524, 379/207, 379/219, 379/230, 379/234
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0066 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system to interworking a call between a plurality of networks having different formats. The system has a GR-303 system, an integrated services digital network system, a service platform, and an asynchronous transfer mode system. The system has a signaling processor that is adapted to receive the call signaling and to process the call signaling to select a connection to one of the GR-303 system, the integrated services digital network system, the service platform, or the asynchronous transfer mode system. The signaling processor thereby selects the corresponding system on the connection. The signaling processor transports a control message identifying the selected connection. An interworking unit receives the user communications and the control message. The interworking unit converts the user communications from the format in which it was received to the format that is compatible with the selected system. The user communications are then transported on the selected connection.

Claims

1. A system for providing an interface for a call between an asynchronous transfer mode network and a local network, the call having user communications and call signaling, the system comprising:

a first communication device adapted to communicate the call in an asynchronous transfer mode format;

a second communication device adapted to communicate the call in a time division multiplex format;

an application adapted to process the call; and

an interface system comprising;

a signaling processor adapted to receive the call signaling from the first communication device, to process the call signaling to select a first connection to the application, and to transport a first control message designating the selected first connection; and

an interworking unit adapted to receive the user communications from the first communication device, to receive the first control message from the signaling processor, to interwork the user communications between the asynchronous transfer mode format and a format usable by the application, and to transport the user communications over the selected first connection designated in the first control message;

wherein the application processes the call and is further adapted to transport a second control message notifying the signaling processor that processing is complete;

wherein the signaling processor further is adapted to receive the second control message, to process the second control message to select a second connection from the interworking unit to the second communication device, and to transport a third control message designating the selected second connection; and

wherein the interworking unit further is adapted to receive the processed user communications and the third control message and to interwork the user communications to the selected second connection to the second communication device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises a GR-303 converter adapted to convert call signaling between a signaling system #7 format and a GR-303 format.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises an integrated services digital network converter adapted to convert call signaling between a signaling system #7 format and an integrated services digital network format.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises an integrated services digital network converter adapted to convert call signaling between a GR-303 form at and an integrated services digital network format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises an optical interface adapted to convert the call between an optical format and an electrical format.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises an electrical interface adapted to convert the call between an electrical format and an optical format.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises a service platform adapted to process the user communications with an interactive application.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the application comprises a tandem interface adapted to accept the call and to switch the call to a destination determined by the call signaling.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork call signaling between a signaling system #7 format and a GR-303 format.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork call signaling between a signaling system #7 format and an integrated services digital network format.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system comprises an optical interface adapted to convert the call between an optical format and an electrical format.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system comprises an electrical interface adapted to convert the call between an electrical format and an optical format.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork user communications between a GR-303 format and the asynchronous transfer mode format.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork user communications between an integrated services digital network format and the asynchronous transfer mode format.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork user communications between a GR-303 format and an integrated services digital network format.

11. The system of claim wherein the interface system is adapted to interwork call signaling between a GR-303 format and an integrated services digital network format.

17. A system for interworking a call between a plurality of networks, the call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a GR-303 system adapted to handle the call;

an integrated services digital network system adapted to handle the call;

an asynchronous transfer mode system adapted to handle the call;

a service platform having an application adapted to process the call;

a signaling processor adapted to process the call signaling to select at least one of a connection for the call to the GR-303 system, the integrated services digital network system, the asynchronous transfer mode system, and the service platform, and to provide a control message that identifies the selected connection;

a converter adapted to receive the call signaling from at least one of the GR-303 system and the integrated services digital network system, to interwork the call signaling in at least one of a GR-303 format, an integrated services digital network format, and a signaling system #7 format, and to exchange call signaling with the signaling processor in a format usable by the signaling processor; and

an interworking unit adapted to receive the user communications, to exchange the call signaling between at least one of the GR-303 system and the integrated services digital network system and the converter, to receive the control message from the signaling processor, and to interwork the user communications over the selected connection identified in the control message;

wherein the signaling processor is adapted to receive call signaling from the asynchronous transfer mode system and the service platform.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a cross connect adapted to receive the user communications from the interworking unit and to route the user communications on the selected connection.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the selected connection comprises a selected virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the signaling processor is adapted to process the call signaling in a signaling system #7 format.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is adapted to exchange the call signaling with the asynchronous transfer mode system in the signaling system #7 format.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the service platform comprises a media processor adapted to receive the user communications and to process the user communications with the service application.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the service platform comprises a host computer adapted to control the processing of the user communications in the service platform with the service application.

24. The system of claim 17 further comprising a service database adapted to store service data wherein the host computer is adapted to retrieve the service data from the service database to assist in call processing.

25. The system of claim 17 further comprising a service database having processing option information denoting services available for the call wherein the host computer is adapted to retrieve the processing option information from the service database to assist in call processing.

26. The system of claim 17 further comprising a service database having service data available to the call wherein the signaling processor is adapted to retrieve the service data from the service database to assist in call processing.

27. The system of claim 17 further comprising a service database having processing option information denoting services available for the call wherein the signaling processor is adapted to retrieve the processing option information from the service database to assist in call processing.

28. A system for interworking a call between a plurality of networks, the call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a GR-303 system adapted to handle the call;

an integrated services digital network system adapted to handle the call;

an asynchronous transfer mode system adapted to handle the call;

a signaling processor adapted to receive the call signaling, to process the call signaling to select at least one of a connection for the call to the GR-303 system, the integrated services digital network system, and the asynchronous transfer mode system, and to provide a control message that identifies the selected connection; and

an interworking unit adapted to receive the user communications, to receive the control message from the signaling processor, and to interwork the user communications over the selected connection identified in the control message.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising a cross connect adapted to receive the user communications from the interworking unit and to route the user communications on the selected connection.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the selected connection comprises a selected virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier.

31. The system of claim 28 further comprising a converter adapted to exchange the call signaling between the GR-303 system in a GR-303 format and the signaling processor in a format processable by the signaling processor.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the converter is adapted to interwork the call signaling between the GR-303 format and a signaling system #7 format.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the interworking unit is adapted to exchange the call signaling between at least one of the GR-303 system and the integrated services digital network system and the converter.

34. The system of claim 28 further comprising a converter adapted to exchange the call signaling between the integrated services digital network system in an integrated services digital network format and the signaling processor in a format processable by the signaling processor.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the converter is adapted to interwork the call signaling between the integrated services digital network format and a signaling system #7 format.

36. The system of claim 28 wherein the signaling processor is adapted to process the call signaling in a signaling system #7 format.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the signaling processor is adapted to exchange the call signaling with the asynchronous transfer mode system in the signaling system #7 format.

38. The system of claim 28 further comprises a service platform adapted to receive the user communications and to process the user communications with a service application.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the service platform comprises a media processor adapted to receive the user communications and to process the user communications with the service application.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the service platform comprises a host computer adapted to control the processing of the user communications in the service platform with the service application.

41. The system of claim 38 further comprising a service database adapted to store service data wherein the host computer is adapted to retrieve the service data from the service database to assist in call processing.

42. The system of claim 38 further comprising a service database having processing option information denoting services available for the call wherein the host computer is adapted to retrieve the processing option information from the service database to assist in call processing.

43. The system of claim 28 further comprising a service database having service data available to the call wherein the signaling processor is adapted to retrieve the service data from the service database to assist in call processing.

44. The system of claim 28 further comprising a service database having processing option information denoting services available for the call wherein the signaling processor is adapted to retrieve the processing option information from the service database to assist in call processing.

45. A system for providing a tandem connection for a call, the call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a first communication device adapted to transport the call as traffic in a GR-303 format;

a second communication device adapted to receive the call;

a first interworking unit adapted to receive the traffic for the call from the first communication device over a first connection, to convert the traffic from the GR-303 format to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify a selected second connection identified in a first control message, and to transport the asynchronous transfer mode cells;

a cross connect adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the first interworking unit and to route the asynchronous transfer mode cells based on the selected second connection identified in the asynchronous transfer mode cells;

a second interworking unit adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the cross connect over the selected virtual connection, to convert the asynchronous transfer mode cells into a into traffic having a format receivable by the second communication device, and to transport the traffic over a selected third connection to the second communication device identified in a second control message;

a third communication device adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the cross connect over the selected second connection; and

a signaling processor linked to the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, first interworking unit, and the second interworking unit wherein;

the signaling processor is adapted to receive and process the call signaling from the first communication device to select the second connection and, if the selected second connection connects cross connect and the second interworking unit, to select the third connection, to provide the first control message for the call to the first interworking unit, and to provide the second control message for the call to one of the second interworking unit and the third communication device, and

the first control message identifies the first connection and the selected second connection,

the second control message identifies the selected second connection and the third connection, and

the first connection, the selected second connection, and the selected third connection form a tandem connection.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the third communication device comprises a gateway.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein the third communication device comprises a asynchronous transfer mode communication device.

48. The system of claim 45 wherein the second communication device is adapted to receive the call in the GR-303 format.

49. The system of claim 45 wherein the second communication device is adapted to receive the call in an integrated services digital network format.

50. The system of claim 45 wherein the second communication device comprises a synchronous optical network device.

51. The system of claim 45 wherein the second communication device comprises a synchronous digital hierarchy device.

52. A system for providing a tandem connection for a call, the call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a first communication device adapted to transport the call as traffic in a integrated services digital network format;

a second communication device adapted to receive the call;

a first interworking unit adapted to receive the traffic for the call from the first communication device over a first connection, to convert the traffic from the integrated services digital network format to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify a selected second connection identified in a first control message, and to transport the asynchronous transfer mode cells;

a cross connect adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the first interworking unit and to route the asynchronous transfer mode cells based on the selected second connection identified in the asynchronous transfer mode cells;

a second interworking unit adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the cross connect over the selected virtual connection, to convert the asynchronous transfer mode cells into a into traffic having a format receivable by the second communication device, and to transport the traffic over a selected third connection to the second communication device identified in a second control message;

a third communication device adapted to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cells from the cross connect over the selected second connection; and

a signaling processor linked to the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, first interworking unit, and the second interworking unit wherein;

the signaling processor is adapted to receive and process the call signaling from the first communication device to select the second connection and, if the selected second connection connects cross connect and the second interworking unit, to select the third connection, to provide the first control message for the call to the first interworking unit, and to provide the second control message for the call to one of the second interworking unit and the third communication device, and

the first control message identifies the first connection and the selected second connection,

the second control message identifies the selected second connection and the third connection, and

the first connection, the selected second connection, and the selected third connection form a tandem connection.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the third communication device comprises a gateway.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the third communication device comprises a asynchronous transfer mode communication device.

55. The system of claim 52 wherein the second communication device is adapted to receive the call in the GR-303 format.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein the second communication device is adapted to receive the call in an integrated services digital network format.

57. The system of claim 52 wherein the second communication device comprises a synchronous optical network device.

58. The system of claim 52 wherein the second communication device comprises a synchronous digital hierarchy device.

59. A method for handling a call, the method comprising:

receiving signaling in a first signaling format into an interface unit;

transferring the signaling in the first signaling format from the interface unit to a signaling converter;

in the signaling converter, converting the signaling from the first signaling format to a second signaling format;

transferring the signaling in the second signaling format from the signaling converter to a signaling processor;

in the signaling processor, processing the signaling to generate a first control message identifying the first connection;

transferring the first control message from the signaling processor to the interface unit;

receiving user communications in a first communications format into the interface unit;

transferring the user communications over the first connection from the interface unit to a service platform in response to the first control message;

in the service platform, providing a service and generating a second control message in response to the user communications;

transferring the second control instruction from the service platform to the signaling processor;

in the signaling processor, processing the second control message to generate a third control message identifying a second connection; and

transferring the third control message from the signaling processor to the interface unit; and

transferring the user communications in a second communications format from the interface unit over the second connection in response to the third control message.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the first signaling format and the first communications format comprise a GR-303 format.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the first signaling format and the first communications format comprise an Integrated Services Digital Network format.

62. The method of claim 59 wherein the second signaling format comprises Signaling System #7.

63. The method of claim 59 wherein the second communications format comprises an asynchronous transfer mode format.

64. The method of claim 59 further comprising collecting digits from the user communications in the interface unit.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising:

transferring the digits from the interface unit to the signaling converter;

converting the digits into the second signaling format;

transferring the digits in the second signaling format to the signaling processor; and

processing the digits in the signaling processor.

66. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

processing the second control message in the signaling processor to generate new signaling in the second signaling format; and

transmitting the new signaling from the signaling processor.

67. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

processing the signaling to generate a fourth control message identifying the service; and

transferring the fourth control message from the signaling processor to the service platform.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the service is a calling card service.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein the service is a call routing service.

70. The method of claim 67 wherein the service is a interactive voice service.

71. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

processing the signaling in the signaling processor to select echo cancellation for the call; and

providing echo cancellation in the interface unit in response to the echo cancellation selection.

72. A call processing system comprising:

an interface unit configured to receive and transfer signaling for a call in a first signaling format, receive a first control message for the call identifying a first connection, receive user communications for the call in a first communications format, transfer the user communications over the first connection in response to the first control message, receive a third control message for the call identifying a second connection, and transfer the user communications in a second communications format over the second connection in response to the third control message;

a signaling converter configured to receive the signaling from interface unit in the first signaling format, convert the signaling from the first signaling format to a second signaling format, and transfer the signaling in the second signaling format;

a signaling processor configured to receive the signaling from the signaling converter in the second signaling format, process the signaling to generate and transfer the first control message identifying the first connection, receive and process a second control message to generate and transfer the third control message identifying the second connection; and

a service platform configured to receive the user communications over the first connection, provide a service and transfer the second control instruction in response to the user communications.

73. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the first signaling format and the first communications format comprise a GR-303 format.

74. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the first signaling format and the first communications format comprise an Integrated Services Digital Network format.

75. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the second signaling format comprises Signaling System #7.

76. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the second communications format comprises an asynchronous transfer mode format.

77. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the interface unit is further configured to collect digits from the user communications.

78. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein:

the interface unit is further configured to transfer the digits to the signaling converter;

the signaling converter is further configured to convert the digits into the second signaling format and transfer the digits in the second signaling format to the signaling processor; and

the signaling processor is further configured to process the digits.

79. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the signaling processor is further configured to process the second control message to generate new signaling in the second signaling format and transmit the new signaling.

80. The call processing system of claim 72 wherein the signaling processor is further configured to process the signaling to generate a fourth control message identifying the service and transfer the fourth control message to the service platform.

81. The call processing system of claim 80 wherein the service is a calling card service.

82. The call processing system of claim 80 wherein the service is a call routing service.

83. The call processing system of claim 80 wherein the service is a interactive voice service.

84. The call processing system of claim 72 further comprising:

the signaling processor is further configured to processing the signaling to select echo cancellation for the call; and

the interface unit is further configured to provide echo cancellation in response to the echo cancellation selection.