Broadband telecommunications system

• US 6,452,928 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• 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:
  US09/438,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/410, 370/422, 370/426, 370/535, 370/465, 370/466, 370/286, 370/395.3, 370/395.71, 379/229, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/230, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 370/395.3
• 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. An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication method comprising:

receiving signaling associated with a user communication into a processing system;

processing the signaling in the processing system to generate and transmit instructions indicating a virtual identifier and echo cancellation requirements;

receiving the instructions and the user communication into an ATM interworking multiplexer;

in the ATM interworking multiplexer, canceling echo from the user communication in response to the instructions and converting the user communication into ATM cells with the virtual identifier in response to the instructions; and

transferring the ATM cells from the ATM interworking multiplexer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the user communication comprises receiving the user communication in an optical format and converting the user communication into an electrical format.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the user communication comprises receiving the user communication from a DS0 connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing telecommunication signaling to select the virtual identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing an initial address message to select the virtual identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing a called number to select the virtual identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling in the processing system comprises accessing a service control point.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling in the processing system comprises validating a call.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling in the processing system comprises screening a call.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling in the processing system comprises routing a call.

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

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. An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication method comprising:

receiving signaling associated with a virtual identifier into a processing system;

in the processing system, processing the signaling to select a connection, and generating and transmitting an instruction indicating the virtual identifier and the connection;

receiving the instruction and receiving ATM cells with the virtual identifier into an ATM interworking multiplexer;

in the ATM interworking multiplexer, converting the ATM cells with the virtual identifier into a user communication in response to the instruction; and

transferring the user communication from the ATM interworking multiplexer over the connection in response to the instruction.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein transferring the user communication over the connection comprises transferring the user communication over a DS0 connection.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein generating and transmitting the instruction comprises generating and transmitting an initial address message.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving and processing the information comprises receiving and processing an initial address message to select the connection.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving and processing the information comprises receiving and processing a called number to select the connection.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving and processing the information comprises receiving and processing a release message to control call termination.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving and processing the information comprises receiving and processing an answer message to control call cut-through.

21. An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication system comprising:

a processing system configured to receive signaling associated with a user communication and process the signaling to generate and transmit instructions indicating a virtual identifier and echo cancellation requirements; and

an ATM interworking multiplexer configured to receive the instructions and the user communication, cancel echo from the user communication in response to the instructions, convert the user communication into ATM cells with the virtual identifier in response to the instructions, and transfer the ATM cells.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the ATM interworking multiplexer is configured to receive the user communication in an optical format and convert the user communication into an electrical format.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the ATM interworking multiplexer is configured to receive the user communication from a DS0 connection.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process telecommunication signaling to select the virtual identifier.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an initial address message to select the virtual identifier.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a called number to select the virtual identifier.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to access a service control point.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to validate a call.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to screen a call.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing-system is configured to route a call.

31. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to generate billing data for a call.

32. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a release message to control call termination.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an answer message to control call cut-through.

34. An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication system comprising:

a processing system configured to receive signaling associated with a virtual identifier, process the signaling to select a connection, and generate and transmit an instruction indicating the virtual identifier and the connection; and

an ATM interworking multiplexer configured to receive the instruction, receive ATM cells with the virtual identifier, convert the ATM cells with the virtual identifier into a user communication in response to the instruction, and transfer the user communication from the ATM interworking multiplexer over the connection in response to the instruction.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the ATM interworking multiplexer is configured to transfer the user communications over a DS0 connection in response to the instruction.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the processing system is configured to generate and transmit an initial address message indicating the connection.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an initial address message to select the connection.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a called number to select the connection.

39. The system of claim 34 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process a release message to control call termination.

40. The system of claim 34 wherein the processing system is configured to receive and process an answer message to control call cut-through.