System and method for connecting calls with a time division multiplex matrix

• US 6,496,512 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Medhat, Khalid Mohamed
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/218,820
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-356, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/400, 370/410, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/606 Hybrid ATM switches, e.g. ATM&STM, ATM&Frame Relay or ATM&IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a call includes a signaling processor adapted to receive and process call signaling to select connections for a call. The signaling processor transmits control messages designating the selected connections. A controllable time division multiplex matrix receives control messages from the signaling processor and, in response to the control messages, makes connections for the call. The system and method may include an interworking unit that receives control messages from the signaling processor and, in response to the control messages, interworks the calls to selected connections. The system and method may include an asynchronous transfer mode matrix that receives control messages from the signaling processor and, in response to the control messages, connects the calls to selected connections.

Claims

1. A system for connecting a call having user communications and call signaling, the system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive the call signaling, process the call signaling to select a first connection and a second connection, and transmit a first control message designating the first connection, a second control message designating the second connection, and a third control message;

a controllable time division multiplex matrix configured to receive the user communications, receive the first control message, and connect the user communications to the first connection based on the first control message;

a digital signal processor configured receive the user communications over the first connection, receive the second control message, process the user communications based on the second control message, and transmit the user communication over the second connection based on the second control message; and

an interworking unit configured to receive the user communications, receive the third control message, interwork the user communications from a time division multiplexing format to a non-time division multiplexing format based on the third control message, and transmit the user communications in the non-time division multiplexing format.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the non-time division multiplexing format is asynchronous transfer mode.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select a third connection and transmit a third control message designating the third connection and the system further comprises an asynchronous transfer mode matrix configured to receive the user communications in the non-time division multiplexing format, receive the third control message, and transmit the user communication over the third connection based on the third control message.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the call signaling comprises an initial address message.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processor is configured to provide echo control to the user communications.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processor is configured to provide compression to the user communications.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processor is configured to provide encryption to the user communications.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is external to the controllable time division multiplex matrix, the digital signal processor, and the interworking unit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processor resides within the controllable time division multiplex matrix.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processor resides within the interworking unit.

11. A method for connecting a call having user communications and call signaling, the method comprising:

in a signaling processor, receiving and processing the call signaling to select a first connection and a second connection;

transmitting a first control message designating the first connection, a second control message designating the second connection, and a third control message from the signaling processor;

receiving the user communications and the first control message into a controllable time division multiplex matrix;

in the controllable time division multiplex matrix, connecting the user communications to the first connection based on the first control message;

in a digital signal processor, receiving the user communications over the first connection and receiving the second control message;

in the digital signal processor, processing the user communications based on the second control message;

transmitting the user communication over the second connection from the digital signal processor based on the second control message

in an interworking unit, receiving the user communications and the third control message;

in the interworking unit, interworking the user communications from a time division multiplexing format to a non-time division multiplexing format based on the third control message; and

transmitting the user communications in the non-time division multiplexing format from the interworking unit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-time division multiplexing format is asynchronous transfer mode.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

in the signaling processor, selecting a third connection;

transmitting a third control message designating the third connection from the signaling processor;

in an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, receiving the user communications in the non-time division multiplexing format and receiving the third control message; and

transmitting the user communication over the third connection from the asynchronous transfer mode matrix based on the third control message.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the call signaling comprises an initial address message.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising in the digital signal processor, providing echo control to the user communications.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising in the digital signal processor, providing compression to the user communications.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising in the digital signal processor, providing encryption to the user communications.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the signaling processor is external to the controllable time division multiplex matrix, the digital signal processor, and the interworking unit.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the digital signal processor resides within the controllable time division multiplex matrix.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the digital signal processor resides within the interworking unit.