ATM gateway system

• US 6,529,514 B2
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• 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: Nelson, Tracy, Christie, Joseph Michael, Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/392,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/400, 370/409, 370/410, 370/422, 370/426, 370/465, 370/466, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/395.3, 370/395.31
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• 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 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• 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 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• 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 2213/1338 Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling

Abstract

The invention is a system for modifying the VPI/VCIs in ATM cells transferred between two ATM systems on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for the call and selects a new VPI/VCI for the call. The signaling processor generates a control message that identifies the old and new VPI/VCIs and transfers the control message to an ATM gateway. The ATM gateway modifies the old VPI/VCI in the ATM cells to the new VPI/VCI.

Claims

1. A method of handling a telecommunications call, the method comprising:

receiving an initial address message for the call in a call processor;

receiving asynchronous communications for the call in a gateway wherein the asynchronous communications for the call include a first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications;

in the call processor, processing the initial address message to select a second virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications;

transferring an instruction indicating the second virtual identifier from the call processor to the gateway;

in the gateway, modifying the first virtual identifier in the asynchronous communications to the second virtual identifier; and

transferring the asynchronous communications including the second virtual identifier from the gateway, wherein the call processor and the gateway are external to any asynchronous transfer mode switches, and wherein the gateway has a single input port for receiving the asynchronous communications and a single output port for transferring the asynchronous communications.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the initial address message for the call comprises receiving Signaling System #7 signaling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the initial address message comprises processing a dialed number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the initial address message comprises accessing a Service Control Point.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a release message for the call in the call processor

in response to the release message, transferring another instruction indicating the second virtual identifier from the call processor to the gateway; and

in the gateway, disassociating the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in response to the other instruction.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving and processing an address complete message for the call in the call processor.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving and processing an answer message for the call in the call processor.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving and processing a release complete message for the call in the call processor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating billing information for the call in the call processor.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising validating a caller in the call processor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the call processor and the gateway are located in a second network and further comprising:

receiving and processing the call in a first network to generate the initial address message for the call and to select the first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications;

transferring the initial address message from the first network to the second network; and

transferring the asynchronous communications for the call from the first network to the gateway in the second network using the first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications.

12. A telecommunications system for handling a call, the telecommunications system comprising:

a call processor configured to receive an initial address message for the call, process the initial address message to select a second virtual identifier for routing asynchronous communications, and transfer an instruction indicating the second virtual identifier; and

a gateway coupled to the call processor and configured to receive the instruction, to receive asynchronous communications for the call that include a first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications, modify the first virtual identifier in the asynchronous communications to the second virtual identifier in response to the instruction, and transfer the asynchronous communications including the second virtual identifier, wherein the call processor and the gateway are external to any asynchronous transfer mode switches, and wherein the gateway has a single input port for receiving the asynchronous communications and a single output port for transferring the asynchronous communications.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the initial address message for the call comprises Signaling System #7 signaling.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor is configured to process a dialed number from the initial address message.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor is configured to access a Service Control Point.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein:

the call processor is configured to receive a release message for the call, and in response to the release message, transfer another instruction indicating the second virtual identifier to the gateway; and

the gateway is configured to disassociate the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in response to the other instruction.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 16 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process an address complete message for the call.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 17 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process an answer message for the call.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 18 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process a release complete message for the call.

20. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor is configured to generate billing information for the call.

21. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor is configured to validate a caller.

22. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor and the gateway are located in a second network, and further comprising a first network configured to receive and process the call to generate the initial address message for the call and select the first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications, to transfer the initial address message to the second network, and to transfer the asynchronous communications for the call to the gateway in the second network using the first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications.