Broadband telecommunications system interface

• US 6,560,241 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• 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: Christie, Joseph Michael, Nelson, Tracy Lee, Gardner, Michael Joseph, DuRee, Albert Daniel, Wiley, William Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US10/040,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 370/261, 370/260, 370/263-264, 370/395.1, 370/397, 370/399, 370/395.2, 370/395.3, 370/401, 370/402, 370/466, 370/467, 370/522, 370/524, 370/351-356, 370/465, 370/395.61
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 2012/5619 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 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/101 using crossbar or matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• 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 11/0435 Details
• 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 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• 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 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13531 : virtual networks - inc. PVN
• 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 interfacing an ISDN or non-ISDN system with a broadband system. The broadband system can be an ATM system. The invention can process the ISDN signaling to select ATM connections and then interwork the ISDN connections with the selected ATM connections. The invention can interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling. The invention can also process SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections and then interwork ATM connections with the selected ISDN connections. The invention can also interwork ISDN systems with non-ISDN systems.

Claims

1. A signaling processing system for telecommunications calls, the signaling processing system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to process Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling, select a connection for a call, and provide a control message to an asynchronous multiplexer wherein the control message identifies the selected connection and causes the asynchronous multiplexer to interwork ISDN bearer communications into broadband bearer communications using the selected connection; and

a signaling converter configured to receive Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) signaling from the asynchronous multiplexer, convert the ISDN signaling to the SS7 signaling, and provide the SS7 signaling to the signaling processor.

2. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a broadband connection.

3. The signaling processing system of claim 2 wherein the broadband connection comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode connection.

4. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the connection comprises an ISDN connection.

5. The signaling processing system of claim 4 wherein the ISDN connection is designated by a DS0.

6. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the control message comprises a virtual path identifier.

7. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the control message comprises a virtual channel identifier.

8. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to receive the SS7 signaling from a broadband system.

9. The signaling processing system of claim 8 wherein the broadband system comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode system.

10. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the signaling converter is configured to receive the SS7 signaling from the signaling processor, convert the SS7 signaling to the ISDN signaling, and provide the ISDN signaling to the asynchronous multiplexer.

11. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the ISDN signaling comprises an ISDN set-up message.

12. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Initial Address Message.

13. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Address Complete Message.

14. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Answer Message.

15. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Release Message.

16. The signaling processing system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to provide an instruction to the asynchronous multiplexer to disconnect the connection.

17. A method for operating a signaling processing system for telecommunications calls, the signaling processing system comprising:

receiving Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) signaling from the asynchronous multiplexer into a signaling converter;

in the signaling converter, converting the ISDN signaling to Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling;

in the signaling converter, providing the SS7 signaling to a signaling processor;

in the signaling processor, processing Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling,

in the signaling processor, selecting a connection for a call; and

in the signaling processor, providing a control message to an asynchronous multiplexer wherein the control message identifies the selected connection and causes the asynchronous multiplexer to interwork ISDN bearer communications into broadband bearer communications using the selected connection.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the connection comprises a broadband connection.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the broadband connection comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode connection.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the connection comprises an ISDN connection.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the ISDN connection is designated by a DS0.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the control message comprises a virtual path identifier.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the control message comprises a virtual channel identifier.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving the SS7 signaling into the signaling processor from a broadband system.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the broadband system comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode system.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving the SS7 signaling from the signaling processor into the signaling converter;

in the signaling converter, converting the SS7 signaling to the ISDN signaling; and

in the signaling converter, providing the ISDN signaling to the asynchronous multiplexer.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein the ISDN signaling comprises an ISDN set-up message.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Initial Address Message.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Address Complete Message.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Answer Message.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein the SS7 signaling comprises an SS7 Release Message.

32. The method of claim 17 further comprising in the signaling processor, providing an instruction to the asynchronous multiplexer to disconnect the connection.