Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 6,304,572 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• 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:
  US09/082,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-360, 370/384, 370/385, 370/377, 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/400, 370/409, 370/410, 370/389, 379/201, 379/207, 379/94, 379/220, 379/221, 379/112
• US Class Current: 370/400
• 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 processing telecommunications signaling that comprises:

(a) receiving in-band telecommunications signaling into a first telecommunications device coupled to a first connection;

(b) in the first telecommunications device, converting the in-band telecommunications signaling to an out-of-band telecommunications signaling message;

(c) routing the out-of-band telecommunications signaling message from the first telecommunications device to a processor that is external to the first telecommunications device and a second communication device;

(d) processing the out-of-band telecommunications signaling message in the processor to select a second connection coupled to the first telecommunications device and to the second telecommunications device;

(e) generating a first control message and a second control message indicating the second connection;

(f) transmitting the first control message from the processor to the first telecommunications device and transmitting the second control message from the processor to the second telecommunications device; and

(g) in the first telecommunications device, receiving the first control message and coupling the first connection to the second connection in response to the first control message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection transfers voice.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the in-band telecommunications signaling is Q.301 signaling.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the in-band telecommunications signaling is Broadband Integrated Services User Part (B-ISUP) signaling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a broadband connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a virtual connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is an ATM connection.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a DS0 connection.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a trunk group.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first connection is a DS0 connection and the second connection is a packet connection.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first connection is a packet connection and the second connection is a DS0 connection.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first connection is a T1 connection.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a OC-3 connection.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a packet connection.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first connection is a dedicated access line.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a cellular connection.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a point to multipoint connection.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is a multipoint to multipoint connection.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is to a server.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection is to an enhanced platform.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing caller number information.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing called number information.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing an area code.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing geographic information.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing load balancing information.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing a POTS number.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing an “

800”

type number.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing time of day information.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing busy hour information.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing switch status information.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing trunk status information.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing automatic call distribution information.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing operational control information.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing an error condition.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing a network alarm.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing a user request.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes processing device status information.

38. A system for processing telecommunications is signaling that comprises:

a first telecommunications device coupled to a first connection and a second connection and configured to receive in-band telecommunications signaling, to convert the in-band telecommunications signaling to an out-of-band telecommunications signaling message and to transmit the out-of-band telecommunications signaling message, to receive a first control message, and to couple the first connection to the second connection in response to the first control message; and

a processor that is external to the first telecommunications device and a second telecommunications device and configured to receive the out-of-band telecommunications signaling message from the first telecommunications device and to process the out-of-band telecommunications signaling message to select the second connection, to generate the first control message and a second control message that indicate the second connection, and to transmit the first control message to the first telecommunications device and to transmit the second control message to a second telecommunications device.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection transfers voice.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the in-band telecommunications signaling is Q.301 signaling.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the in-band telecommunications signaling is Broadband Integrated Services User Part (B-ISUP) signaling.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a broadband connection.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a virtual connection.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is an ATM connection.

45. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a DS0 connection.

46. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a trunk group.

47. The system of claim 38 wherein the first connection is a DS0 connection and the second connection is a packet connection.

48. The system of claim 38 wherein the first connection is a packet connection and the second connection is a DS0 connection.

49. The system of claim 38 wherein the first connection is a T1 connection.

50. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a OC-3 connection.

51. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a packet connection.

52. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a dedicated access line.

53. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a cellular connection.

54. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a point to multipoint connection.

55. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is a multipoint to multipoint connection.

56. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is to a server.

57. The system of claim 38 wherein the second connection is to an enhance platform.

58. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process caller number information.

59. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process called number information.

60. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process an area code.

61. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process geographic information.

62. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process load balancing information.

63. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process a POTS number.

64. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process an “

800”

type number.

65. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process time of day information.

66. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process busy hour information.

67. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process switch status information.

68. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process trunk status information.

69. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process automatic call distribution information.

70. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process operational control information.

71. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process an error condition.

72. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process a network alarm.

73. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process a user request.

74. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor is operational to process device status information.

75. The system of claim 38 wherein one of the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device comprises a narrowband switch.

76. The system of claim 38 wherein one of the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device comprises a broadband switch.

77. The system of claim 38 wherein one of the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch.

78. The system of claim 38 wherein one of the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) multiplexer.

79. The system of claim 38 wherein one of the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device comprises a server.