Protocol conversion using channel associated signaling
First Claim
1. A method of communicating signaling information between a first signaling system that uses a common channel signaling (CCS) protocol and a second signaling system uses a channel associated signaling (CAS) protocol, in which the CCS protocol is incompatible with the CAS protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at a protocol conversion system logically located between the first signaling system and the second signaling system, a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol;
converting the first message to one or more second messages that conform to the CAS protocol; and
communicating the one or more second messages to the second signaling system;
whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for protocol conversion using channel associated signaling (CAS) is disclosed. A protocol conversion system is located logically between a first signaling system and a second signaling system, in which the first signaling system uses the Common Channel Signaling (CCS) protocol and the second signaling system uses CAS, which is incompatible with CCS. The protocol conversion system receives a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol, converts the first message to one or more second messages that conform to the CAS protocol, and communicates the one or more second messages to the second signaling system, whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system. The protocol conversion system preferably comprises a universal protocol converter coupled to a CAS module. The CAS module interfaces trunks of the two incompatible networks and drops or inserts signaling information in frames carried by the trunks. The universal protocol converter executes a state machine that determines how to convert CCS messages into CAS messages, and instructs the CAS module what messages are to be sent to each network. In this configuration, voice conversations can be set up over incompatible signaling networks.
195 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of communicating signaling information between a first signaling system that uses a common channel signaling (CCS) protocol and a second signaling system uses a channel associated signaling (CAS) protocol, in which the CCS protocol is incompatible with the CAS protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a protocol conversion system logically located between the first signaling system and the second signaling system, a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol; converting the first message to one or more second messages that conform to the CAS protocol; and communicating the one or more second messages to the second signaling system; whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for communicating signaling information between a first signaling system that uses a common channel signaling (CCS) protocol and a second signaling system uses a channel associated signaling (CAS) protocol, the system comprising:
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a trunk service device coupled to the first signaling system and to the second signaling system; a processor coupled to the trunk service device for controlling the trunk service device to communicate one or more messages to the first signaling system and to the second signaling system; and a memory coupled to the processor and having stored therein one or more sequences of instructions for communicating signaling information between the first signaling system and the second signaling system by converting CCS protocol signals into CAS protocol signaling messages. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for communicating signaling information between a first signaling system that uses a common channel signaling (CCS) protocol and a second signaling system uses a channel associated signaling (CAS) protocol, the system comprising:
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a trunk service unit having a first input coupled to at least one CCS trunk group and having a second input coupled to at least one CAS trunk group; a communications signal processor coupled to the trunk service unit; and one or more processors coupled to the communications signal processor and having stored therein one or more sequences of instructions for communicating signaling information between a first signaling system that uses a common channel signaling (CCS) protocol and a second signaling system uses a channel associated signaling (CAS) protocol, in which the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute the steps of; receiving, at a protocol conversion system logically located between the first signaling system and the second signaling system, a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol; converting the first message to a second message that conforms to the CAS protocol; and communicating the second message to the second signaling system; whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system.
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27. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the computer data signal carrying one or more sequences of instructions for protocol conversion using channel associated signaling, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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receiving, at a protocol conversion system logically located between the first signaling system and the second signaling system, a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol; converting the first message to one or more second messages that conform to the CAS protocol; and communicating the one or more second messages to the second signaling system; whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system.
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Specification