System supporting variable bandwidth asynchronous transfer mode network access for wireline and wireless communications

• US 6,205,143 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1996
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lemieux, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HUY DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/615,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/352, 370/353, 370/328, 370/354, 370/355, 370/537, 370/535, 370/536, 370/538, 370/522, 375/242
• US Class Current: 370/395.61
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0089 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling, SONET
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5625 Operations, administration and maintenance [OAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5628 Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5631 Resource management and allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5654 using the AAL1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A scalable multi-level data bit stream is presented which is capable of supporting variable bandwidth ATM network access, including multiple rates for plural bearer channels of voice communications and increased rates for video and data (file transfer) communications. To support communications system repairability, the bit stream includes an embedded operation channel for connection maintenance, performance monitoring, path tracing and testing. Furthermore, the bit stream includes framing data for performing add/drop multiplexing to control bandwidth use by identifying added and dropped bearer channels communicated within the bit stream. The interface with the ATM network is provided through an ATM adaptation layer that segments the bit stream into ATM cells and also assembles the bit from received ATM cells. Both wireless and wireline communications systems are supported with use of the bit stream to access the ATM network.

Claims

1. A cellular telephone communications system accessing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport network, comprising:

a plurality of base stations effectuating radio frequency communications with subscriber mobile stations over a plurality of voice channels;

a base station concentrator connected to the plurality of base stations;

at least one first access node connected to the ATM transport network; and

a communications link connecting the base station concentrator and the at least one first access node;

a transport network management system connected to a certain access node of the ATM transport network;

wherein the base station concentrator and each first access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the communications link using a communications bit stream that includes delimiting bits for specifying at the base station concentrator add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels;

wherein the communications bit stream further includes an embedded operation channel carrying system operation and maintenance information for delivery to and from the transport network management system; and

wherein the at least one first access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the certain access node includes a handler functionality connected to the transport network management system for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted over the communication link.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface of the base station concentrator includes functionality for controlling base station use of the plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for converting of the at least one first access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a telephone exchange;

at least one second access node connected to the ATM transport network; and

a second communications link connecting the telephone exchange and the at least one second access node;

wherein the telephone exchange and each access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the second communications link using the communications bit stream including delimiting bits specifying add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels; and

wherein the at least one second access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the second communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for converting of the at least one second access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the access node includes a handler functionality connected to the transport network management system for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted over the second communication link.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise pulse code modulated (PCM) communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to age of those PCM communications channels.

46. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise packet voice communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those packet voice communications channels.

12. A telephone communications system accessing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport network, comprising:

a telephone exchange;

at least one first access node connected to the ATM transport network;

a transport network management system connected to a certain access node of the ATM transport network; and

a communications link connecting the telephone exchange and the at least one first access node;

wherein the telephone exchange and each first access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the communications link using a communications bit stream that includes delimiting bits for specifying add/drop multiplexing of a plurality of telecommunications voice channels;

wherein the communications bit stream further includes an embedded operation channel carrying system operation and maintenance information for delivery to and from the transport network management system; and

wherein the at least one first access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the certain access node includes a handler functionality connected to the transport network management system for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted over the communication link.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the means for converting of the first access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of base stations effectuating radio frequency communications with subscriber mobile stations over a plurality of voice channels;

a base station concentrator connected to the plurality of base stations;

at least one second access node connected to the ATM transport network; and

a second communications link connecting the base station concentrator and the at least one second access node;

wherein the base station concentrator and each second access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the second communications link using the communications bit stream including delimiting bits specifying at the base station concentrator add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels; and

wherein the second access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the second communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the interface of the base station concentrator includes functionality for controlling base station use of the plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for converting of the at least one second access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

20. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of wireline telephone terminals communicating over a plurality of voice channels;

a concentrator connected to the plurality of wireline telephone terminals;

at least one second access node connected to the ATM transport network; and

a second communications link connecting the concentrator and the at least one second access node;

wherein the concentrator and each second access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the second communications link using the communications bit stream including delimiting bits specifying at the concentrator add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels; and

wherein the second access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the second communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the interface of the concentrator includes functionality for controlling wireline telephone terminal use of the plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the means for converting of the at least one second access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

47. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of telecommunications voice channels comprise pulse code modulated (PCM) communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those PCM communications channels.

48. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of telecommunications voice channels comprise packet voice communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those packet voice communications channels.

23. A telephone communications system accessing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport network, comprising:

a plurality of wireline telephone terminals communicating over a plurality of voice channels;

a concentrator connected to the plurality of wireline telephone terminals;

at least one first access node connected to the ATM transport network;

a transport network management system connected to a certain access node of the ATM transport network; and

a communications link connecting the concentrator and the at least one first access node;

wherein the concentrator and each first access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the communications link using a communications bit stream that includes delimiting bits for specifying at the concentrator add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels;

wherein the communications bit stream further includes an embedded operation channel carrying system operation and maintenance information for delivery to and from the transport network management system; and

wherein the first access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the certain access node includes a handler functionality connected to the transport network management system for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted over the communication link.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the interface of the concentrator includes functionality for controlling wireline telephone terminal use of the plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for converting of the first access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

29. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a telephone exchange;

at least one second access node connected to the ATM transport network; and

a second communications link connecting the telephone exchange and the at least one second access node;

wherein the telephone exchange and each second access node include an interface for communicating voice information over the second communications link using the communications bit stream including delimiting bits specifying add/drop multiplexing of the plurality of voice channels; and

wherein the second access node includes means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the second communications link and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for converting of the second access node comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the certain access node includes a handler functionality connected to the transport network management system for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted over the second communication link.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

49. The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise pulse code modulated (PCM) communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those PCM communications channels.

50. The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise packet voice communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those packet voice communications channels.

34. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications system, comprising:

an ATM transport network;

a first node;

a first communications link connecting the first node to the ATM transport network;

a second node;

a second communications link connecting the second node to the ATM transport network;

a transport network management system connected to the first node; and

wherein the first and second nodes comprise ATM access nodes and further include means for converting communications to ATM cells carried over the first and second communications links and the ATM transport network;

wherein the bit stream basic block further includes an embedded operation channel carrying system operation and maintenance information for delivery to and from the transport network management system; and

wherein the first node includes a handler functionality for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the bit stream basic block.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for converting of the first and second nodes comprises:

means for segmenting the bit stream basic block for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the bit stream basic block.

53. The system as in claim 34 further including third communications links connected to the first and second nodes, the third communications links communicating voice information using a bit stream basic block having an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information.

54. The system of claim 34 wherein the voice communications comprise a plurality of voice channels, and wherein the bit stream basic block includes delimiting bits for specifying add/drop multiplexing of the voice channels.

36. A telephone communications system accessing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport network, comprising:

a telephone exchange;

a first access node connected to the ATM transport network;

a first communications link connecting the telephone exchange and the first access node;

a plurality of base stations effectuating radio frequency communications with subscriber mobile stations over a first plurality of voice channels;

a base station concentrator connected to the plurality of base stations;

a second access node connected to the ATM transport network;

a second communications link connecting the base station concentrator and the second access node;

a plurality of wireline telephone terminals communicating over a second plurality of voice channels;

a wireline concentrator connected to the plurality of wireline telephone terminals;

a third access node connected to the ATM transport network;

a third communications link connecting the wireline concentrator and the third access node;

a transport network management system connected to either the first, second or third access node;

wherein the telephone exchange, base station concentrator, wireline concentrator and the first, second and third access nodes each include an interface for communicating voice information over the first, second and third communications links using a communications bit stream that includes delimiting bits for specifying add/drop multiplexing of the first and second pluralities of voice channels;

wherein the communications bit stream further includes an embedded operation channel carrying system operation and maintenance information for delivery to and from the transport network management system; and

wherein the first, second and third access nodes include means for converting between the communications bit stream carried over the first, second and third communications links and ATM cells carried over the ATM transport network.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the first, second or third access node to which the transport network management system is connected includes a handler functionality for inserting and extracting system operation and maintenance information into and from the embedded operation channel of the communications bit stream.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the communications bit stream has a format comprising a bit stream basic block including an appropriate repetition rate for the voice information being transmitted between the exchange and the base station concentrator and wireline concentrator.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the delimiting bits for add/drop multiplexing are substantially evenly dispersed throughout the bit stream basic block.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for converting of the first, second and third access nodes comprises:

means for segmenting the communications bit stream for insertion into a payload portion of transmitted ATM cells; and

means for assembling payload portions of received ATM cells into the communications bit stream.

41. The system of claim 36 wherein the interface of the base station concentrator includes functionality for controlling base station use of the first plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

42. The system of claim 36 wherein the interface of the wireline concentrator includes functionality for controlling wireline telephone terminal use of the second plurality of channels through add/drop multiplexing in view of the delimiting bits contained within the communications bit stream.

43. The system of claim 36 wherein the first plurality of voice channels comprise either or both pulse code modulated (PCM) voice channels or packet voice channels.

44. The system of claim 36 wherein the second plurality of voice channels comprise either or both pulse code modulated (PCM) voice channels or packet voice channels.

51. The system of claim 36 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise pulse code modulated (PCM) communications channels, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those PCM communications channels.

52. The system of claim 36 wherein the plurality of voice channels comprise packet voice communications channel, and the delimiting bits specify add/drop multiplexing with respect to use of those packet voice communications channels.