High-speed transparent access to multiple services

• US 6,307,836 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Stephen K., Kellerman, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/988,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 709/227, 370/353, 370/354, 370/395, 370/468, 370/522, 370/230, 370/236, 370/410, 370/524, 370/465, 370/437
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13381 Pair-gain system, digital loop carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are described, by which a user, through a control interface in a subscriber interface device, requests from network intelligence both transport network bandwidth and type of service line mode as part of call setup. An improved system by which requests to change access line mode and bandwidth are communicated over transmission facilities via D channels through local switch fabric to local or remote network intelligence is detailed. Connections over the transmission facilities, established between user B channels and B channels of transport bandwidth or between user B channels and the Stat Mux function, are described. An improved system is summarized, in which connections directly to transport bandwidth support point-to-point n B+D upstream and m B+D downstream service, and connections via stat mux allow connectionless traffic to share a portion of the transport bandwidth on an as needed basis. The ability to request and change access to available bit rate (ABR), variable bit rate (VBR) and constant bit rate (CBR) services, in a connection-oriented (CONS) or connectionless (CLNS) network, are described.

Claims

1. A method whereby a user may convey to network intelligence a desire to operate a digital subscriber loop in a particular manner, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a communications session over a communications network;

(b) communicating a first access line mode for the communications session to the network intelligence;

(c) requesting that the network intelligence change to a second access line mode for the communications session;

(d) modifying transport network bandwidth during the communications session based on a change to the second access line mode wherein said first and said second access line modes include at least one of available bit rate (ABR), variable bit rate (VBR) and constant bit rate (CBR) services comprising the network intelligence performing at least one of the following steps;

(e) causing a user signal to be routed as a connection through the network; and

(f) causing the user signal to be input into a statistical multiplexer to traverse the network in a connectionless fashion, wherein the available bit rate (ABR) and variable bit rate (VBR) services comprises the steps of;

(1) cross-connecting via a local switch fabric the user signal to the communications network through the statistical multiplexer; and

(2) fitting subsequent traffic onto the transport network bandwidth.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the communications network of step (a) comprises at least one of a coaxially cabled, a wired, and a wireless network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the constant bit rate (CBR) services comprises the steps of:

(1) verifying that the network can fulfill the user'"'"'s CBR request including at least one of the following steps;

(A) validating,

(B) negotiating protocol,

(C) negotiating bit-rate,

(D) routing, and

(E) handshaking; and

(2) connecting via a local switch fabric the user signal through a transport network bandwidth.

4. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon, said computer program logic, when executed, causing a processor to perform the steps of:

establishing a communications session over a communications network;

communicating a first access line mode for the communications session to a network intelligence;

requesting that the network intelligence change the communications session to a second access line mode;

modifying transport network bandwidth during the communications session based on a change to the second access line mode wherein said first and said second access line modes include at least one of available bit rate (ABR), variable bit rate (VBR) and constant bit rate (CBR) services comprising the network intelligence performing at least one of the following steps;

causing a user signal to be routed as a connection through the network; and

causing the user signal to be input into a statistical multiplexer to traverse the network in connectionless fashion, wherein the available bit rate (ABR) and variable bit rate (VBR) services comprises the steps of;

cross-connecting via a local switch fabric the user signal to the communications network through the statistical multiplexer; and

fitting subsequent traffic onto the transport network bandwidth.

5. The computer program product according to claim 4, wherein each of said first access line mode and said second access line mode includes at least one of an available bit rate (ABR) service, a variable bit rate (VBR) service, and a constant bit rate (CBR) service.