Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 6,104,718 A
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/081,891
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/389, 370/395, 370/396-399, 370/400, 370/410, 370/422, 370/360, 370/392, 370/398, 370/409, 370/522, 379/201, 379/207, 379/94, 379/220, 379/221, 379/112
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/247 ATM or packet multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors

Abstract

The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Claims

1. A method for handling communications, the method comprising:

(a) receiving the communications into a first device;

(b) receiving information related to the communications into a first processor that is external to the first device;

(c) processing the information in the first processor to generate a first message and transmitting the first message from the first processor, wherein the first message is configured to cause the first device to transfer the communications to a second device;

(d) processing the information in the first processor to generate a second message and transmitting the second message from the first processor;

(e) receiving the second message into a second processor that is external to the second device;

(f) processing the second message in the second processor to generate a third message and transmitting the third message from the second processor, wherein the third message is configured to cause the second device to transfer the communications;

(g) receiving the first message into the first device and transferring the information to the second device; and

(h) receiving the communications and the third message into the second device and transferring the communications.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) multiplexer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices is comprised of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) multiplexer and an ATM switch that are connected together.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices is a packet switch.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices is a server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information related to the communications is a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message in the second processor and transmitting the Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message from the second processor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications comprises voice communications.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications comprises data communications.