Method for initializing and allocating bandwidth in a permanent virtual connection for the transmission and control of audio, video, and computer data over a single network fabric

• US 6,539,011 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Network-1 Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merlot Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Keenan, Ronald M., Barraza, Thomas F., Caceres, Edward R., Deptula, Joseph A., Evans, Patrick A., Setaro, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/328,090
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229-238, 370/392, 370/397, 370/412-419, 370/443, 370/445, 370/458, 370/474, 370/386, 370/389, 370/352, 370/353
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4035 in which slots of a TDMA packet structure are assigned based on a contention resolution carried out at a master unit TDM/TDMA multiplex systems per se H04J3/1694; hybrid switching systems H04L12/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/644 Star
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6454 Random, e.g. Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/13 in a LAN segment, e.g. ring or bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3027 Output queuing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A permanent virtual connection (PVC) is automatically set up over an Ethernet local area network (LAN) link between a work station device having a digital telephone and a Communications Switching Module (CSM) when the device is first connected to the LAN. The PVC is established by exchange of information in standard Ethernet packets between the device and the CSM. Automatic reservation of a full duplex PVC for digital telephone signaling and control information enables set up and break down of voice channels within the same PVC by exchange of signaling information in standard Ethernet packets.

Claims

1. In a local area network (LAN) adapted for packet switching using standard variable length Ethernet packets transmitted between a plurality of devices and a Communication Switching Module (CSM), said devices and said CSM each identified by a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and each including means for establishing a plurality of time domain multiplexing (TDM) flow queues and means for assigning the flow queue contents to a plurality of selectable time slots, and said CSM further including means for switching Ethernet packets from a MAC source address to a MAC destination address contained in the header of a standard Ethernet packet and means for processing constant bit rate (CBR) data,

the method of initiating a full duplex permanent virtual connection (PVC) between a newly connected one of said devices and the CSM comprising:

broadcasting a standard Ethernet packet from the newly connected device, which Ethernet packet includes the device MAC source address and a first code identifying the device as requiring CBR processing of delay-sensitive information;

receiving and parsing the standard Ethernet packet in the CSM;

IF the standard Ethernet packet contains both a MAC source address which is unknown to the CSM and said first code, THEN establishing a simplex connection from the CSM to the device by assigning a selected time slot to a selected TDM flow queue of the CSM and sequencing data from the standard Ethernet packet into said selected time slot;

creating a return standard Ethernet packet, which return Ethernet packet includes the device MAC source address as a destination address and a second code identifying the presence of said CBR data processing means;

transmitting the return standard Ethernet packet from the CSM to said device MAC address; and

IF the return Ethernet packet contains both the device MAC source address and the second code, THEN establishing a simplex connection from the device to the CSM by reserving said selected time slot identified by the return standard Ethernet packet in a TDM flow queue of the device;

whereby a full duplex permanent virtual connection is established between the device and the CSM.

2. The method according to claim 1, including the additional step of:

sizing the TDM flow queues of the device and the TDM flow queues in the CSM to provide a selected bandwidth for the full duplex permanent virtual connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a digital telephone, the method including the additional steps of:

assigning a first code indicating that the device includes a digital telephone; and

sizing the TDM flow queue of the device and the TDM flow queue of the CSM to provide a selected bandwidth in the full duplex permanent virtual connection sufficient for transmitting digital telephone signaling and control information.

4. The method according to claim 3, including the additional step of:

initiating signaling information from the digital telephone over the permanent virtual connection requesting a call set up for a voice connection over the permanent virtual connection; and

expanding the size of the TDM flow queues to include the CBR channel bandwidth required for a voice connection.

5. The method according to claim 4, including the step of:

returning the size of the TDM flow queues to a bandwidth sufficient for transmitting signaling and control information when either the digital telephone or the CSM signals the end of the voice connection.