System and method for allocating bandwidth for a call

• US 6,574,222 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Boldt, Dean Charles, Medhat, Khalid Mohamed, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/824,263
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/395.1, 370/384, 370/385, 379/350, 379/230, 379/229, 379/231, 373/52, 373/53, 373/54, 373/55, 374/68, 374/10
• US Class Current: 370/395.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system and method for allocating bandwidth in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) system over-allocates bandwidth in virtual paths for virtual path groups between ATM devices. A bandwidth allocation platform manages the virtual paths in the ATM system to control allocation and to prevent congestion, while providing efficient utilization of the bandwidth within the ATM system. The bandwidth allocation system over-allocates virtual paths for virtual path groups that require additional bandwidth to make connections for calls. When a connection is selected on the over-allocated virtual path, the virtual path may use bandwidth from another virtual path in the virtual path group or from a virtual path in another virtual path group if needed. A communication device transports user communications and call signaling for a call. A signaling processor processes the call signaling to select a connection in one of the over-allocated virtual paths for the call over the virtual path group. An interworking unit interworks the user communications from the format in which the user communications are received from the communication device to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive and process a signaling message to select an ATM connection for a call, to determine if use of the ATM connection exceeds a bandwidth allocation, and to generate and transfer a first control message and a second control message wherein the first control message is for managing bandwidth usage on the ATM connection and the second control message indicates the selected ATM connection;

a bandwidth management system configured to receive and process the first control message to manage the bandwidth usage on the ATM connection; and

an ATM device configured to receive user communications for the call and transfer the user communications over the ATM connection in response to the second control message, wherein the signaling processor is external to the ATM device and wherein the signaling message is not received from the ATM device.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein:

the bandwidth management system is configured to receive and process the first control message to re-allocate bandwidth to the ATM connection from another unused ATM connection and to generate and transfer a third control message indicating the bandwidth re-allocation; and

the signaling processor is configured to generate and transfer the second control message in response to the third control message if the use of the ATM connection exceeds the bandwidth allocation.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein:

the bandwidth management system is configured to receive and process the first control message to re-allocate bandwidth to the ATM connection from another unused ATM connection and to generate and transfer a third control message indicating the bandwidth re-allocation; and

the signaling processor is configured to adjust the bandwidth allocation in response to the third control message.

4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the signaling message comprises a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling message to select echo control.

6. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising:

in a signaling processor, receiving and processing a signaling message to select an ATM connection for a call, determining if use of the ATM connection exceeds a bandwidth allocation, and generating and transferring a first control message and a second control message wherein the first control message is for managing bandwidth usage on the ATM connection and the second control message indicates the selected ATM connection;

in a bandwidth management system, receiving and processing the first control message to manage the bandwidth usage on the ATM connection; and

in an ATM device, receiving user communications for the call and transferring the user communications over the ATM connection in response to the second control message, wherein the signaling processor is external to the ATM device and wherein the signaling message is not received from the ATM device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

in the bandwidth management system, receiving and processing the first control message comprises receiving and processing the first control message to re-allocate bandwidth to the ATM connection from another unused ATM connection, and further comprising generating and transferring a third control message indicating the bandwidth re-allocation; and

in the signaling processor, generating and transferring the second control message comprises generating and transferring the second control message in response to the third control message if the use of the ATM connection exceeds the bandwidth allocation.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

in the bandwidth management system, receiving and processing the first control message comprises receiving and processing the first control message to re-allocate bandwidth to the ATM connection from another unused ATM connection, and further comprising generating and transferring a third control message indicating the bandwidth re-allocation; and

in the signaling processor, adjusting the bandwidth allocation in response to the third control message.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving and processing the signaling message comprises receiving and processing a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising, in the signaling processor, processing the signaling message to select echo control.