Asynchronous transfer mode architecture migration

• US 6,490,273 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Harold Wayne, DeNap, Frank Anthony, Swink, Michael Thomas, Edwards, William Lee, Strand, John Arndt III, Gorman, Bryan Lee, Kaplan, Martin Joseph, Bog, Abdullah Murat, Kelley, Timothy Gene, Baumgart, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US09/129,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/395.7, 370/395.51, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370/395.6, 370/400, 370/401, 370/396, 370/395.5, 370/395.54, 370/409
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5623 Network design, dimensioning, topology or optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5671 Support of voice

Abstract

The invention comprises a series of architectures that are implemented in four phases to provide a migration path from an initial ATM service offering to a full service ATM network. The initial ATM network includes several metropolitan ATM networks that are interconnected by a core ATM network. Each metropolitan ATM network includes a service node that controls ATM network elements to deliver services. In Phase I, a business hub that is connected to the metropolitan ATM network integrates voice, data, and Internet traffic over a single ATM connection that contains permanent Virtual Connections (PVCs) to various destinations, such as other business hubs, a gateway to local and long distance networks, the Internet, a frame relay network. In Phase II, the architecture is extended to smaller business markets. Businesses are provided with the PVC-based ATM service using xDSL/ATM connections that are multiplexed at a central office and then provided to the service node over the metropolitan ATM network. A remote dial-in feature is also added. In Phase III, a work-at-home hub is provided for telecommuting. The work-at-home hub uses an xDSL/ATM connection through the central office to the service node. Phase III also includes the deployment of a session manager and provider agents that interact to interpret user requests and establish the requisite communications paths using Switched Virtual Connections (SVCs). The business can replace existing some or all PVC-based service with more efficient SVC-based service. In Phase IV, the architecture is extended to the residential market. A residential hub is provided for residential communications over an xDSL/ATM connection through the central office to the service node. An analog hub is provided for conventional telephone service through the service node.

Claims

1. A communications network that comprises:

a first metropolitan Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network;

a first business hub that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network;

a second business hub that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network;

a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) gateway that is connected to the first ATM metropolitan network;

a first ATM Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC) from the first business hub to the second business hub through the first metropolitan ATM network;

a second ATM PVC from the first business hub to the PSTN gateway through the first metropolitan ATM network wherein the PSTN gateway is operational to interwork the second ATM PVC with a connection to a local telephone network; and

a third ATM PVC from the first business hub to the PSTN gateway through the first metropolitan ATM network wherein the PSTN gateway is operational to interwork the third ATM PVC with a connection to a long distance telephone network.

2. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes the local telephone network.

3. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes the long distance telephone network.

4. The communications network of claim 1 further comprising:

a core ATM network that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network; and

a fourth ATM PVC from the first business hub to a data network through the first metropolitan ATM network and the core ATM network.

5. The communications network of claim 4 wherein the data network is an Internet.

6. The communications network of claim 5 wherein the communications network further comprises an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the fourth ATM PVC is from the first business hub to the ISP and wherein the ISP is operational to interwork the fourth ATM PVC with the Internet.

7. The communications network of claim 4 wherein the data network is a frame relay network.

8. The communications network of claim 7 wherein the communications network further comprises the frame relay network and the fourth ATM PVC is from the first business hub to the frame relay network and wherein the frame relay network is operational to interwork the fourth ATM PVC with a frame relay connection.

9. The communications network of claim 4 wherein the communications network includes the data network.

10. The communications network of claim 1 further comprising:

a core ATM network that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network;

a second metropolitan ATM network that is connected to the core ATM network;

a third business hub that is connected to the second metropolitan ATM network; and

a fourth ATM PVC from the first business hub to the third business hub through the first metropolitan ATM network, the core ATM network, and the second metropolitan ATM network.

11. The communications network of claim 10 wherein the communications network further comprises:

the long distance telephone network;

a second PSTN gateway that is connected to the second metropolitan ATM network; and

a fifth ATM PVC from the third business hub to the second PSTN gateway through the second metropolitan ATM network, wherein the second PSTN gateway is operational to interwork the fifth ATM PVC with a connection to the long distance telephone network, and wherein the communications network is operational to connect a call through the first business hub, the third ATM PVC, the long distance network, the fifth ATM PVC, and the third business hub.

12. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the first business hub is operational to interwork between ATM and a plurality of different formats.

13. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an ethernet interface and an ATM interface.

14. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an fiber distributed data interface and an ATM interface.

15. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has a V.35 interface and an ATM interface.

16. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an RS-422 interface and an ATM interface.

17. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has a high speed serial interface and an ATM interface.

18. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has a DS3 interface and an ATM interface.

19. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an T1 interface and an ATM interface.

20. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an Internet Protocol interface and an ATM interface.

21. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has a frame relay interface and an ATM interface.

22. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an OC-3 to interface and an ATM interface.

23. The communications network of claim 12 wherein the first business hub has an OC-12 interface and an ATM interface.

24. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a service node that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network and that includes an ATM switch.

25. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a service node that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network and that includes a router.

26. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a service node that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network and that includes the PSTN gateway.

27. The communications network of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a service node that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network and that includes a web server.

28. The communications network of claim 27 wherein the web server is operational to provide a customer with service subscription information.

29. The communications network of claim 27 wherein the web server is operational to provide a customer with a graphical depiction of at least portions of the communications network that provide service to the customer.

30. The communications network of claim 27 wherein the web server is operational to provide a customer with communications network performance information.

31. The communications network of claim 27 wherein the web server is operational to provide a customer with communications network status information.

32. The communications network of claim 1 further comprising:

an ATM access multiplexer that is connected to the first metropolitan ATM network;

a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) multiplexer that is connected to the ATM access multiplexer; and

a third business hub that is connected to the DSL multiplexer by a DSL/ATM connection.

33. The communications network of claim 32 wherein the ATM access multiplexer and the DSL multiplexer are located in a central office.

34. A method for deploying a communications network that comprises:

(a) deploying a first network architecture that is comprised of a plurality of first business hubs that are each connected to a metropolitan ATM network that is connected to a core ATM network and that are each operational to interwork between ATM and a plurality of different formats and, wherein each first business hub has a first ATM Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC) that is connected through the metropolitan ATM network to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) gateway that interworks the first ATM PVC with a connection to a local telephone network, wherein each first business hub has a second ATM PVC that is connected through the metropolitan ATM network to the PSTN gateway that interworks the second ATM PVC with a connection to a long distance telephone network, wherein each first business hub has a third ATM PVC that is connected through the metropolitan ATM network and the core ATM network to a data network;

(b) deploying a second network architecture by adding an ATM access multiplexer that is connected to the metropolitan ATM network, by adding a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) multiplexer that is connected to the ATM access multiplexer, and by adding a plurality of second business hubs that are each connected to the DSL multiplexer and that are each operational to interwork between ATM and a plurality of different formats;

(c) deploying a third network architecture by adding a plurality of work-at-home hubs that are each connected to the DSL multiplexer and that are each operational to interwork between ATM and a plurality of different formats, by adding a session manager that is connected to the metropolitan ATM network, and by adding provider agents to the PSTN gateway and to the work-at-home hubs wherein the provider agents and the session manager are operational to establish Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs) that interconnect the work-at-home hubs and the PSTN gateway; and

(d) deploying a fourth network architecture by adding a plurality of residential hubs that are each connected to the DSL multiplexer and that are each operational to interwork between ATM and a plurality of different formats, and by adding a plurality of analog hubs that are each connected to the metropolitan ATM network and that are each operational to interwork between ATM and conventional telephony connections, and wherein the provider agents are added to each of the residential hubs and the analog hubs.