Telecommunication system and processor means, and method

• US 6,181,789 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Felbecker-Janho, Heike, Siegmund, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US09/067,581
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/229, 379/230, 379/219, 379/220
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13531 virtual networks - inc. PVN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

In known telecommunication systems a combination of a switch like a Service Switching Point or SSP and processor means like a Service Control Point or SCP can be used for providing several virtual private networks, which are completely independent. By allowing at least one destination of a virtual private number of one of said virtual private networks to correspond with a destination of a virtual private number of another virtual private network, the number of user possibilities is increased, like for example two companies each one of them having its own virtual private network and both having the possibility to work with the same secretary who works at home or with for example a secretary company situated at another location.

Claims

1. Telecommunication system for providing virtual private networks and comprising a switch and processor means for controlling said switch for making connections between origins and destinations, which processor means comprises:

means responsive to a first virtual private number belonging to a first virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling a first origin to a first destination, and

means responsive to a further first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling said first origin to a further first destination,

means responsive to a second virtual private number belonging to a second virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling a second origin to a second destination, and

means responsive to a further second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling said second origin to a further second destination,

characterised in that the first destination and the second destination are the same, and that the further first destination and the further second destination are different.

2. Telecommunication system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in response to said further second virtual private number originating from said first origin there is no coupling of said first origin to said further second destination and in response to said further first virtual private number originating from said second origin there is no coupling of said second origin to said further first destination.

3. Telecommunication system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said telecommunication system includes:

a first input connectable to said first origin for receiving said first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said first input to a first output connectable to said first destination, and for receiving said further first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said first input to a further first output connectable to said further first destination, and

a second input connectable to said second origin for receiving said second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said second input to a second output connectable to said second destination, and for receiving said further second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said second input to a further second output connectable to said further second destination.

4. Telecommunication system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said processor means includes:

detection means coupled to said first input and to said second input for detecting said first virtual private number and said further first virtual private number and said second virtual private number and said further second virtual private number, and

generation means coupled to said detection means and to said switch for generating, in response to a detection of said first virtual private number originating from said first input, a first control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further first virtual private number originating from said first input, a further first control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said second virtual private number originating from said second input, a second control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further second virtual private number originating from said second input, a further second control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further first virtual private number originating from said second input, a third control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further second virtual private number originating from said first input, a fourth control signal destined for said switch, with said first control signal and said second control signal defining the same destination, and with said further first control signal and said further second control signal and said third control signal and said fourth control signal being mutually different.

5. Processor means for controlling a switch for making connections between origins and destinations for providing virtual private networks in a telecommunication system which processor means comprises:

means responsive to a first virtual private number belonging to a first virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling a first origin to a first destination, and

means responsive to a further first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling said first origin to a further first destination,

means responsive to a second virtual private number belonging to a second virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling a second origin to a second destination, and

means responsive to a further second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, for controlling said switch for coupling said second origin to a further second destination,

characterised in that the first destination and the second destination are the same, and that the further first destination and the further second destination are different.

6. Processor means as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that in response to said further second virtual private number originating from said first origin there is no coupling of said first origin to said further second destination and in response to said further first virtual private number originating from said second origin there is no coupling of said second origin to said further first destination.

7. Processor means as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said switch comprises

a first input connectable to said first origin for receiving said first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said first input to a first output connectable to said first destination, and for receiving said further first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said first input to a further first output connectable to said further first destination, and

a second input connectable to said second origin for receiving said second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said second input to a second output connectable to said second destination, and for receiving said further second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, in response to which said switch couples said second input to a further second output connectable to said further second destination.

8. Processor means as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said processor means comprise

detection means coupled to said first input and to said second input for detecting said first virtual private number and said further first virtual private number and said second virtual private number and said further second virtual private number, and

generation means coupled to said detection means and to said switch for generating, in response to a detection of said first virtual private number originating from said first input, a first control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further first virtual private number originating from said first input, a further first control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said second virtual private number originating from said second input, a second control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further second virtual private number originating from said second input, a further second control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further first virtual private number originating from said second input, a third control signal destined for said switch, and in response to a detection of said further second virtual private number originating from said first input, a fourth control signal destined for said switch, with said first control signal and said second control signal defining the same destination, and with said further first control signal and said further second control signal and said third control signal and said fourth control signal being mutually different.

9. Method for making connections between origins and destinations via a switch in a telecommunication system for providing virtual private networks and comprising said switch, which method comprises the steps of

in response to a first virtual private number belonging to a first virtual private network, controlling said switch for coupling a first origin to a first destination, and

in response to a further first virtual private number belonging to said first virtual private network, controlling said switch for coupling said first origin to a further first destination,

in response to a second virtual private number belonging to a second virtual private network, controlling said switch for coupling a second origin to a second destination, and

in response to a further second virtual private number belonging to said second virtual private network, controlling said switch for coupling said second origin to a further second destination,

characterised in that the first destination and the second destination are the same, and that the further first destination and the further second destination are different.

10. Method as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that in response to said further second virtual private number originating from said first origin there is no coupling of said first origin to said further second destination and in response to said further first virtual private number originating from said second origin there is no coupling of said second origin to said further first destination.