ATM direct access line system

• US 6,172,977 B1
• Filed: 02/02/1996
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• 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, Sucharczuk, Mark, Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US08/594,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/410, 370/523, 370/377, 370/384, 370/399
• US Class Current: 370/395.61
• 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 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/206 Real Time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• 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

Abstract

The invention is an ATM system to route DS0 traffic from T1 Extended Superframe (ESF) or Superframne (SF) systems that use robbed bit signaling. The invention is able to route the call selecting the ATM VPI/VCI that routes the call within the ATM system. DS0s with robbed bit signaling are transported transparently by the ATM system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving superframe traffic into an interworking multiplexer;

in the interworking multiplexer, generating and transmitting information messages in response to the superframe traffic;

receiving the information messages into a processor;

in the processor selecting identifiers for asynchronous traffic in response to the information messages;

in the processor, generating and transmitting control messages indicating the identifiers;

in the interworking multiplexer, receiving the control messages indicating the identifiers;

in the interworking multiplexer interworking the superframe traffic with asynchronous traffic in response to the control messages;

transmitting the asynchronous traffic from the interworking multiplexer;

in the processor, selecting connections in response to the information messages;

in the processor, generating other control messages indicating the connections;

receiving the asynchronous traffic into another interworking multiplexer, receiving the other control messages indicating the connections into the other interworking multiplexer;

in the other interworking multiplexer, interworking the asynchronous traffic with other superframe traffic in response to the other control messages; and

transmitting the other superframe traffic from the other interworking multiplexer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising correcting slips.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising correcting frame alignment synchronization.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising handling a loss of at least a portion of the asynchronous traffic.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing glare resolution.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising in the other interworking multiplexer, interworking the asynchronous traffic with the other superframe traffic using frame alignment information in the asynchronous traffic.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the asynchronous communications through an asynchronous communications system between the interworking multiplexers.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving and processing the other superframe traffic in a switch.