Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 6,212,193 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/081,900
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/260, 370/261, 370/351, 370/360, 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/410, 370/389, 370/384, 370/392, 370/398, 370/399, 370/400, 370/409, 370/522, 379/201, 379/219, 379/220, 379/202
• US Class Current: 370/410
• 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 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors

Abstract

The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Claims

1. A method for extending a communications path from a first network to a second network, wherein the method comprises:

in a first device in the first network, selecting a connection for extending the communications path from the first device to a second device in the second network;

in the first device, generating a first message that identifies the connection;

transmitting the first message to a processor, wherein the processor is external to the first device and the second device;

receiving the first message into the processor and generating a second message, wherein the second message identifies the connection;

transmitting the second message from the processor to the second device in the second network; and

extending the communications path over the connection from the first device in the first network to the second device in the second network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network is a long distance network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network is a local exchange network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a broadband switch and the second device is a narrowband switch, wherein the connection is comprised of a broadband connection from the broadband switch to a multiplexer and a DS0 connection from the multiplexer to the narrowband switch, and wherein the first message identifies the broadband connection from the broadband switch to the multiplexer and the second message identifies the DS0 connection from the multiplexer to the narrowband switch.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a broadband switch.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first message identifies a broadband connection from the broadband switch.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a broadband multiplexer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second device is a narrowband switch.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second message identifies a DS0 connection to the narrowband switch.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the processor transmits the second message to the narrowband switch.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second message is a Signaling System #7 message.

12. A method for extending a communications path from a first network to a second network, wherein the method comprises:

generating a first message in a processor wherein the first message identifies a broadband connection for extending the communications path from a broadband switch in the first network to a multiplexer;

generating a second message in the processor wherein the second message identifies a DS0 connection for extending the communications path from the multiplexer to a narrowband switch in the second network, wherein the processor is external to the broadband switch and the narrowband switch;

transmitting the first message from the processor to the broadband switch in the first network;

transmitting the second message from the processor to the narrowband switch in the second network; and

receiving the first message into the broadband switch, and in response, extending the communications path over the broadband connection from the broadband switch in the first network.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first network is a long distance network.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second network is a local exchange network.

15. A system for extending a communications path from a first network to a second network, wherein the method comprises:

a first device in the first network wherein the first device is operational to select a connection for extending the communications path from the first device to a second device in the second network, to extend the communications path over the connection to the second network, and to generate and transmit a first message that identifies the connection;

a processor that is external to the first device and the second device and that is operational to receive the first message, to generate a second message that identifies the connection, and to transmit the second message to the second device in the second network; and

a link between the first device and the processor that is operational to transfer the first message from the first device to the processor.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first network is a long distance network.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the second network is a local exchange network.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the first device is a broadband switch and the second device is a narrowband switch, wherein the connection is comprised of a broadband connection from the broadband switch to a multiplexer and a DS0 connection from the multiplexer to the narrowband switch, and wherein the first message identifies the broadband connection from the broadband switch to the multiplexer and the second message identifies the DS0 connection from the multiplexer to the narrowband switch.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the first device is a broadband switch.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first signaling message identifies a broadband connection from the broadband switch.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the first device is a broadband multiplexer.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the second device is a narrowband switch.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the second signaling message identifies a DS0 connection to the narrowband switch.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the processor transmits the second signaling message to the narrowband switch.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the second signaling message is a Signaling System #7 message.

26. A system for extending a communications path from a first network to a second network, wherein the system comprises:

a broadband switch in the first network that is operational to receive a first message that identifies a broadband connection for extending the communications path from the broadband switch in the first network to a multiplexer, and in response, to extend the communications path over the broadband connection;

a processor that is external to the broadband switch and to a narrowband switch in the second network and that is operational to generate the first message that identifies the broadband connection and transmit the first message to the broadband switch in the first network, and that is operational to generate a second message that identifies a DS0 connection for extending the communications path from the multiplexer to the narrowband switch in the second network and to transmit the second message to the narrowband switch in the second network; and

a link that is operational to transfer the first message from the processor to the broadband switch.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the first network is a long distance network.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the second network is a local exchange network.