Broadband telecommunications system

• US 6,449,280 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• 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:
  US09/438,807
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/400, 370/410, 370/409, 370/422, 370/466, 370/467, 370/352-356, 379/219, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/221.11, 379/221.12, 379/229, 379/230
• 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 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/64 Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/206 Real Time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/251 Cut-through or wormhole routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/256 Routing or path finding in 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: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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

Abstract

The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising:

receiving signaling including a called number associated with a user communication into a processing system;

processing the signaling in the processing system to generate and transmit a Service Control Point (SCP) query;

receiving the SCP query into an SCP;

processing the SCP query in the SCP to generate and transmit an SCP response;

receiving the SCP response into the processing system;

processing the SCP response in the processing system to translate the called number and select an asynchronous virtual identifier for the user communication;

generating and transmitting a control instruction including the asynchronous virtual identifier out of the processing system; and

receiving the control instruction and the user communication in an interworking unit and adding the asynchronous virtual identifier to tho user communication in the interworking unit for use in routing the user communication by a routing system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the asynchronous virtual identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing system is external to telecommunication switches.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing telecommunication signaling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing Signaling System #7 signaling.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing an initial address message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing a caller number.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the signaling to generate and transmit an echo cancellation instruction.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the signaling to generate and transmit a compression instruction.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling comprises generating billing data for a call.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing data for the user communication identifying receipt times for an answer message and a release message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing a release message to control call termination.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing an answer message to control call cut-through.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing the called number.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing a caller number.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises routing a call.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing the SCP query for an N00 service.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing the SCP query for a mobility service.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing the SCP query for a virtual network service.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises processing the SCP query for a voice messaging service.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein processing the SCP query comprises generating billing data for a call.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the SCP response comprises generating and transmitting telecommunication signaling for the user communication.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein generating and transmitting the control instruction comprises generating and transmitting an initial address message.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises telecommunications signaling and further comprising receiving the telecommunication signaling into a Signal Transfer Point (STP) and transferring the telecommunication signaling from the STP to the processing system.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in the STP, converting a destination point code in the telecommunication signaling to represent the processing system.

26. A communication system comprising:

a processing system configured to receive signaling including a called number associated with a user communication, process the signaling to generate and transmit a Service Control Point (SCP) query, receive and process an SCP response to translate the called number and select an asynchronous virtual identifier, and generate and transmit a control instruction including the asynchronous communication identifier;

an SCP configured to receive and process the SCP query to generate and transmit the SCP response; and

an interworking unit configured to receive the control instruction and the user communication and add the asynchronous virtual identifier to the user communication, wherein a routing system uses the asynchronous virtual identifier for use in routing the user communication.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the asynchronous virtual identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is external to telecommunication switches.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process telecommunication signaling to generate and transmit the SCP query.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process Signaling System #7 signaling to generate and transmit the SCP query.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an initial address message to generate and transmit the SCP query.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a caller number to generate and transmit the SCP query.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to process the signaling to generate and transmit an echo cancellation instruction.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to process the signaling to generate and transmit a compression instruction.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to process the signaling to generate billing data for a call.

36. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to store data for the user communication identifying receipt times for an answer and a release message.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a release message to control call termination.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an answer message to control call cut-through.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein the SCP is configured to process the called number in the SCP query to generate the SCP response.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process a caller number in the SCP query to generate the SCP response.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query to route a call.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query for an N00 service.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query for a mobility service.

44. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query for a virtual network service.

45. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query for a voice messaging service.

46. The system of claim 39 wherein the SCP is configured to process the SCP query to generate billing data for a call.

47. The system of claim 26 wherein the signaling comprises telecommunications signaling and further comprising a Signal Transfer Point (STP) configured to receive the telecommunications signaling and transfer the telecommunications signaling to the processing system.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the STP is configured to convert a destination point code in the telecommunications signaling to represent the processing system.