Broadband telecommunications system

• US 6,115,380 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: DuRee, Albert Daniel, Wiley, William Lyle, Gardner, Michael Joseph, Christie, deceased, Joseph Michael, Christie, legal representative, by Jean M., Christie, legal representative, by Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, SEEMA SRINIVAS
• Application Number:
  US08/754,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 370/384, 370/385, 370/392, 370/395-397, 370/409, 370/410, 370/419, 370/420, 370/522, 370/524, 370/426, 370/264, 370/270, 379/88.22, 379/88.2, 379/88.25, 379/88.26, 379/90.01, 379/91.01, 379/93.02, 379/114, 379/115, 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/34, 379/207, 379/220, 379/229 , 379/230, 379/165
• US Class Current: 370/395.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• 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

The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates control messages that identify the selection and transfers the control messages to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the control messages.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system for providing a service for a call, wherein the telecommunications system comprises;

a signaling processor that is operational to receive and process a first telecommunications signaling message for the call and to provide a first control message, a second control message, and a second telecommunications signaling message for the call;

a first ATM interworking multiplexer that is linked to the signaling processor and that is operational to receive narrowband traffic for the call over a first narrowband connection, to convert the narrowband traffic from the first narrowband connection into ATM cells that identify a first virtual connection based on the first control message, and to transmit the ATM cells over the first virtual connection;

an ATM cross-connect system that is connected to the first ATM interworking multiplexer and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the first ATM interworking multiplexer over the first virtual connection and to route the ATM cells from the first virtual connection based on the first virtual connection identified in the ATM cells;

a second ATM interworking multiplexer that is connected to the ATM cross-connect system and linked to the signaling processor, and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect system over the first virtual connection, to convert the ATM cells from the first virtual connection into the narrowband traffic, and to transmit the narrowband traffic over a second narrowband connection based on the second control message; and

a narrowband switch that is connected to the second ATM multiplexer and linked to the signaling processor, and that is operational to receive the narrowband traffic from the second ATM multiplexer over the second narrowband connection and to apply a service to the call based on the second telecommunications signaling message.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on the selected narrowband switch.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on a destination point code in the first telecommunications signaling message.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on an origination point code and a destination point code in the first telecommunications signaling message.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on available access to the narrowband switch.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on loading on the narrowband switch.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on an area served by the narrowband switch.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on an NPA in the first telecommunications signaling message.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on an NPA-NXX in the first telecommunications signaling message.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on a caller'"'"'s number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on one of an "800", "888", and "900" number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on a network identified in the first telecommunications signaling message.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the narrowband switch based on network maintenance conditions.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based and the second narrowband connection based on the first telecommunications signaling message.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the first telecommunications signaling message is a call set-up message.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first telecommunications signaling message is a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message (SS7 IAM).

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on available access to the narrowband switch.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on loading on the narrowband switch.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on an area served by the narrowband switch.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on an NPA in the first telecommunications signaling message.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on an NPA-NXX in the first telecommunications signaling message.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on a caller'"'"'s number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on one of an "800", "888", and "900" number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on a network identified in the first telecommunications signaling message.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the first virtual connection based on network maintenance conditions.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the first virtual connection is designated by a Virtual Path Identifier/Virtual Channel Identifier (VPI/VCI).

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the first virtual connection has been pre-provisioned through the ATM cross-connect system.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the first control message identifies the first narrowband connection and the first virtual connection, and wherein the second control message identifies the first virtual connection and the second narrowband connection.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the second telecommunications signaling message is an Initial Address Message.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second narrowband connections are DS0 connections.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is routing the call.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is billing the call.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is validating the call.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is a calling card service.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is a voice messaging service.

37. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein:

the narrowband switch is further operational to process the call based on the second telecommunications signaling message, to provide a third telecommunications signaling message based on the call processing, and to route the narrowband traffic for the call to the second ATM multiplexer over a third narrowband connection;

the signaling processor is further operational receive and process the third telecommunications signaling message to provide a third control message to the second ATM multiplexer, and to provide a fourth control message;

the second ATM interworking multiplexer is further operational to receive the narrowband traffic for the call from the narrowband switch over the third narrowband connection, to convert the narrowband traffic from the third narrowband connection into ATM cells that identify a second virtual connection based on the third control message, and to transmit the ATM cells over the second narrowband connection;

the ATM cross-connect system is further operational to receive the ATM cells from the second ATM interworking multiplexer over the second virtual connection and to route the ATM cells from the second virtual connection based on the second virtual connection identified in the ATM cells; and

a third ATM interworking multiplexer connected to the ATM cross-connect system and linked to the signaling processor and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect system over the second virtual connection, to convert the ATM cells from the second virtual connection into the narrowband traffic, and to transmit the narrowband traffic over a fourth narrowband connection based on the fourth control message.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the second virtual connection based on a destination point code in the third telecommunications signaling message.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the second virtual connection based on a destination network identified in the third telecommunications signaling message.

40. A method for operating a telecommunications system for providing a service for a call, wherein the method comprises;

receiving narrowband traffic for the call into a first ATM interworking multiplexer from a first narrowband connection;

receiving a first telecommunications signaling message for the call into a signaling processor;

in the signaling processor, processing the first telecommunications signaling message to provide a first control message to the first ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the first control message identifies the first narrowband connection and a first ATM connection, and to provide a second control message to a second ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the second control message identifies the first ATM connection and a second narrowband connection;

in the first ATM multiplexer, converting the narrowband traffic from the first narrowband connection into ATM cells that identify the first ATM connection based on the first control message;

transmitting the ATM cells from the first ATM interworking multiplexer to an ATM cross-connect system;

in the ATM cross-connect system, routing the ATM cells from the first ATM connection to the second ATM interworking multiplexer based on the first ATM connection that is identified in the ATM cells;

receiving the ATM cells into the second ATM interworking multiplexer from the ATM cross-connect system over the first ATM connection;

in the second ATM interworking multiplexer, converting the ATM cells into the narrowband traffic;

transmitting the narrowband traffic from the second ATM interworking multiplexer over the second narrowband connection based on the second control message;

receiving the narrowband traffic for the call from the second ATM interworking multiplexer over the second narrowband connection into a narrowband switch; and

providing a service for the call in the narrowband switch.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on the selected narrowband switch.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on a destination point code in the first telecommunications signaling message.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on an origination point code and a destination point code in the first telecommunications signaling message.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on available access to the narrowband switch.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on loading on the narrowband switch.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on an area served by the narrowband switch.

48. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor is selects the narrowband switch based on an NPA in the first telecommunications signaling message.

49. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on an NPA-NXX in the first telecommunications signaling message.

50. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on a caller'"'"'s number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

51. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on one of an "800", "888", and "900" number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

52. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on a network identified in the first telecommunications signaling message.

53. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the narrowband switch based on network maintenance conditions.

54. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based and the second narrowband connection based on the first telecommunications signaling message.

55. The method of claim 40 wherein the first telecommunications signaling message is a call set-up message.

56. The method of claim 40 wherein the first telecommunications signaling message is a Signaling Method #7 Initial Address Message (SS7 IAM).

57. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on available access to the narrowband switch.

58. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on loading on the narrowband switch.

59. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on an area served by the narrowband switch.

60. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on an NPA in the first telecommunications signaling message.

61. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on an NPA-NXX in the first telecommunications signaling message.

62. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on a caller'"'"'s number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

63. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on one of an "800", "888", and "900" number in the first telecommunications signaling message.

64. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on a network identified in the first telecommunications signaling message.

65. The method of claim 40 wherein the signaling processor selects the first ATM connection based on network maintenance conditions.

66. The method of claim 40 wherein the first ATM connection is designated by a ATM Path Identifier/ATM Channel Identifier (VPI/VCI).

67. The method of claim 40 wherein the first ATM connection has been pre-provisioned through the ATM cross-connect system.

68. The method of claim 40 wherein the first control message identifies the first narrowband connection and the first ATM connection, and wherein the second control message identifies the first ATM connection and the second narrowband connection.

69. The method of claim 40 wherein the second telecommunications signaling message is an Initial Address Message.

70. The method of claim 40 wherein the first and second narrowband connections are DS0 connections.

71. The method of claim 40 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is routing the call.

72. The method of claim 40 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is billing the call.

73. The method of claim 40 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is validating the call.

74. The method of claim 40 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is a calling card service.

75. The method of claim 40 wherein the service provided by the narrowband switch is a voice messaging service.

76. The telecommunications method of claim 40 further comprising:

processing the call in the narrowband switch based on the second telecommunications signaling message

providing a third telecommunications signaling message from the narrowband switch based on the call processing;

routing the narrowband traffic for the call from the narrowband switch to the second ATM interworking multiplexer over a third narrowband connection;

processing the third telecommunications signaling message in the signaling processor to provide a third control message to the second ATM interworking multiplexer, and to provide a fourth control message;

receiving the narrowband traffic for the call from the narrowband switch over the third narrowband connection into the second ATM interworking multiplexer;

in the second ATM interworking multiplexer, converting the narrowband traffic from the third narrowband connection into ATM cells that identify a second ATM connection based on the third control message;

transmitting the ATM cells from the second ATM interworking multiplexer over the second ATM connection to the ATM cross-connect system;

receiving the ATM cells from the second ATM interworking multiplexer over the second ATM connection into the ATM cross-connect system;

in the ATM cross-connect system, routing the ATM cells from the second ATM connection to the third ATM interworking multiplexer based on the second ATM connection identified in the ATM cells;

receiving the ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect system over the second ATM connection into a third ATM interworking multiplexer;

in the third ATM interworking multiplexer, converting the ATM cells from the second ATM connection into the narrowband traffic; and

transmitting the narrowband traffic from the third ATM interworking multiplexer over a fourth narrowband connection based on the fourth control message.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the signaling processor selects the second ATM connection based on a destination point code in the third telecommunications signaling message.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein the signaling processor selects the second ATM connection based on a destination network identified in the third telecommunications signaling message.