Inter-half call protocol negotiation techniques

• US 6,014,440 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Melkild, Keith W., Herbert, Mark L., Roeten, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US08/897,303
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 379/242, 379/258, 379/93.31, 379/289, 379/100.17, 379/93.29, 379/230, 379/201, 379/211, 379/212, 379/268, 379/269, 379/279, 395/183.13, 395/183.15, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 379/269
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A method for protocol negotiation between an originating call handler and a terminating call handler, both of which reside within a switching node of a telecommunications network. A call initiated by an originating agency is transmitted to the originating call handler. The originating call handler transfers the call to the terminating call handler which completes the call to a terminating agency. Prior to transfer between handlers, a transfer protocol is determined. If the originating and terminating call handlers share a common native protocol, the common native protocol is selected for transfers therebetween. If the handlers do not share a common native protocol, the native protocol of the originating call handler is selected for transfers therebetween if a non-native protocol of the terminating call handler matches the native protocol of the originating call handler. Conversely, the native protocol of the terminating call handler is selected for transfers therebetween if a non-native protocol of the originating call handler matches the native protocol of the terminating call handler. If none of the aforementioned relationships are present, but the originating and terminating call handlers share a common non-native protocol, the common non-native protocol is selected for transfers therebetween. Otherwise, the call is rejected.

Claims

1. For first and second software modules, each configured for transferring messages in accordance with a native protocol, transferring messages in accordance with one or more non-native protocols and translating messages between said native protocol and said one or more non-native protocols, a method of selecting a protocol to be used during exchanges between said first software module and said second software module, comprising the steps of:

determining if said first and second software modules share a common native protocol;

if said first and second software modules share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

if said first and second software modules do not share said common native protocol, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module;

if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module, selecting said native protocol of said first software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

3. For first and second software modules, each configured for transferring messages in accordance with a native protocol, transferring messages in accordance with one or more non-native protocols and translating messages between said native protocol and said one or more non-native protocols, a method of selecting a protocol to be used during exchanges between said first software module and said second software module, comprising the steps of:

determining if said first and second software modules share a common native protocol;

if said first and second software modules share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules;

if none of said non-native protocols for said second software module match said native protocol for said first software module, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module; and

if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module, selecting said native protocol of said second software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising the steps of:

if none of said non-native protocols of said first software module match said native protocol for said second software module, determining if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol; and

if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol, selecting said common non-native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

5. For first and second software modules, each configured for transferring messages in accordance with a native protocol, transferring messages in accordance with one or more non-native protocols and translating messages between said native protocol and said one or more non-native protocols, a method of selecting a protocol to be used during exchanges between said first software module and said second software module, comprising the steps of:

determining if said first and second software modules share a common native protocol;

if said first and second software modules share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules;

if said first and second software modules do not share said common native protocol, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module; and

if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module, selecting said native protocol of said second software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising the steps of:

if none of said non-native protocols for said first software module match said native protocol for said second software module, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module;

if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module, selecting said native protocol of said first software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

7. The method of claim 6 and further comprising the steps of:

if none of said non-native protocols of said second software module match said native protocol for said first software module, determining if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol; and

if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol, selecting said common non-native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules.

8. For first and second software modules, each configured for transferring messages in accordance with a native protocol, transferring messages in accordance with one or more non-native protocols and translating messages between said native protocol and said one or more non-native protocols, a method of selecting a protocol to be used during exchanges between said first software module and said second software module, comprising the steps of:

determining if said first and second software modules share a common native protocol;

if said first and second software modules share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules;

if said first and second software modules do not share said common native protocol, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module;

if one of said non-native protocols for said second software module matches said native protocol for said first software module, selecting said native protocol of said first software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules;

if none of said non-native protocols for said second software module match said native protocol for said first software module, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module;

if one of said non-native protocols for said first software module matches said native protocol for said second software module, selecting said native protocol of said second software module for exchanges between said first and second software modules;

if none of said non-native protocols of said first software module match said native protocol for said second software module, determining if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol;

if said first and second software modules share a common non-native protocol, selecting said common non-native protocol for exchanges between said first and second software modules; and

if said first and second software modules do not share a common non-native protocol, rejecting exchanges between said first and second software modules.

9. For a switching node within which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, a method for selecting a protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler, comprising the steps of:

determining if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common native protocol;

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the terminating call handler further comprises a plurality of non-native protocols, the method further comprising the steps of:

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler do not share said common native protocol, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said terminating call handler matches said native protocol for said originating call handler; and

if one of said non-native protocols for said terminating call handler matches said native protocol for said originating call handler, selecting said native protocol of said originating call handler for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

10. For a switching node within which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, wherein at least one of said originating call handler and said terminating call handler has multiple native protocols and the other has a single native protocol, a method for selecting a protocol for exchanges between said originating caller handler and said terminating call handler, comprising the steps of:

determining if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common native protocol by comparing, in sequence, each one of said multiple native protocols to said single native protocol; and

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

11. For a switching node within which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, wherein both of said originating call handler and said terminating call handler has multiple native protocols, a method for selecting a protocol for exchanges between said originating caller handler and said terminating call handler, comprising the steps of:

determining if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common native protocol by comparing said multiple native protocols of said originating call handler to said multiple native protocols of said terminating call handler until said common native protocol is identified; and

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

13. For a switching node within which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, a method for selecting a protocol for exchanges between said originating caller handler and said terminating call handler, comprising the step of:

determining if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common native protocol;

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share said common native protocol, selecting said common native protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler;

if none of said non-native protocols for said terminating call handler match said native protocol for said originating call handler, determining if one of said non-native protocols for said originating call handler matches said native protocol for said terminating call handler; and

if one of said non-native protocols for said originating call handler matches said native protocol for said terminating call handler, selecting said native protocol of said terminating call handler for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising the step of:

if none of said non-native protocols of said originating call handler match said native protocol for said terminating call handler, determining if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common non-native protocol; and

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler share a common non-native protocol, selecting said common non-native protocol for exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising the step of:

if said originating call handler and said terminating call handler do not share a common non-native protocol, rejecting exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising the step of:

providing, as said switching node, a switching system in which said originating call handler and said terminating call handler reside.

17. A method for optimizing operation of a switching system in which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, comprising the steps of:

determining a minimized number of translations required to translate between a first exchange between an originating agency and said originating call handler in a first protocol native to said originating call handler and a second exchange between said terminating call handler and a terminating agency in a second protocol native to said terminating call handler without using a general intermediate protocol between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler; and

conducting exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler, said exchanges including said minimized number of translations.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the said minimized number of translations is determined to be zero if said native protocol for said originating call handler matches said native protocol for said terminating call handler.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said originating call handler is configured for translating messages between said native protocol and at least one non-native protocol and wherein said minimized number of translations is determined to be one if said native protocol for said terminating call handler matches one of said at least one non-native protocols for said originating call handler.

20. A method for optimizing operation of a switching system in which an originating call handler and a terminating call handler reside, comprising the steps of:

determining a minimized number of translations required to translate between a first exchange between an originating agency and said originating call handler in a first protocol native to said originating call handler and a second exchange between said terminating call handler and a terminating agency in a second protocol native to said terminating call handler wherein said terminating call handler is configured for translating messages between said native protocol and at least one non-native protocol and wherein said minimized number of translations is determined to be one if said native protocol for said originating call handler matches one of said at least one non-native protocol for said terminating call handler; and

conducting exchanges between said originating call handler and said terminating call handler, said exchanges including said minimized number of translations.

21. A switching node, comprising:

a first software module suitable for coupling to telecommunication devices which belong to a first circuit group which exchanges messages in accordance with a first native protocol, said first software module including a translation application for translating messages between said first native protocol and a first set of at least one non-native protocol; and

a second software module suitable for coupling to telecommunication devices which belong to a second circuit group which exchanges messages in accordance with a second native protocol, said second software module including a translation application for translating messages between said second native protocol and a second set of at least one non-native protocol;

said first software module coupled to said second software module for exchanges of messages in accordance with a transfer protocol selectable by said first software module based upon said first native protocol, said first set of at least one non-native protocol, said second native protocol and said second set of at least one non-native protocol.

22. A switching node according to claim 21 wherein said first software module is an originating call handler.

23. A switching node according to claim 22 wherein said second software module is a terminating call handler.