Switch having virtual access network capability and switching system thereof

• US 6,625,143 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Higuchi, Mamoru, Kamiya, Kenshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Toan D.
• Application Number:
  US08/984,257
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 370/360, 370/410, 370/522, 370/524, 370/420, 370/463, 379/142
• US Class Current: 370/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/45 public-private interworking, e.g. centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A virtual AN switch comprises a virtual AN unit. The virtual AN unit is implemented by virtually building the same capability as that of a normal access network device into a virtual AN switch, and is connected to a control switch via a V5.2 interface. Whether or not a subscriber accommodated by the virtual AN switch is accommodated in the virtual AN unit is registered to a subscriber data memory for each subscriber. The virtual AN unit performs a conversion between an intra-office signal and a V5.2 signal message. For the subscriber accommodated by the virtual AN unit, the virtual AN switch serves as a remote accommodating device of the control switch.

Claims

1. A switch as a first switch arranged in a network where a plurality of switches including the first switch and a second switch are interconnected, comprising:

a virtual access network unit making the second switch perform a process of communication related to a subscriber accommodated by the first switch;

a storing unit storing attribute information which indicates whether or not the subscriber accommodated by the first switch uses said virtual access network unit;

a subscriber accommodating unit accommodating a calling party who is indicated as a virtual access network subscriber based on the attribute information stored in said storing unit among subscribers accommodated by the first switch in said virtual access network unit;

wherein

a plurality of virtual access network units are included, and the plurality of virtual access network units are respectively connected to different switches among the plurality of switches.

3. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a changing unit changing the attribute information stored in said storing unit for each of the subscribers.

4. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a determining unit determining whether or not the subscriber is a subscriber using said virtual access network unit by accessing said storing unit, when a call originated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch is detected; and

an invoking unit invoking a virtual call originating process performed by said virtual access network unit if the subscriber is the subscriber using said virtual access network unit.

5. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

an invoking unit invoking a virtual call terminating process performed by said virtual access network unit when a call terminating message is received from the second switch via a predetermined interface between the second switch and said virtual access network unit.

6. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said virtual access network device comprises:

an interface unit establishing a connection to the second switch according to a V5 interface; and

an allocating unit allocating resources required for a communication according to the V5 interface for the subscriber accommodated by said virtual access network.

7. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a generating unit generating an intra-switch message based on a signal from the subscriber accommodated by the first switch; and

a converting unit converting the intra-switch message into a message in a format stipulated by a predetermined interface between said virtual access network unit and the second switch.

8. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

said storing unit stores information required when each of the subscribers is accommodated in said virtual access network unit, in correspondence with information for identifying a line of each of the subscribers accommodated by the first switch; and

further comprising

an accessing unit extracting information required when the subscriber is accommodated in said virtual access network unit from said storing unit based on the information for identifying the line of the subscriber, and accessing the second switch by using the information, when a call originated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch is detected.

9. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

said storing unit stores information for identifying a line of the subscriber accommodated by the first switch in correspondence with information for identifying the subscriber in a predetermined interface between said virtual access network unit and the second switch, further comprising:

an accessing unit extracting the information for identifying the line of the subscriber from said storing unit based on the information for identifying the subscriber in the predetermined interface, and accessing the subscriber at a destination by using the extracted information, when a call is terminated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch.

10. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a service detecting unit detecting a service requested in a communication originated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch;

a determining unit determining whether or not the first switch can implement the service; and

an activating unit activating said virtual access network device if the first switch cannot implement the service.

11. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a service detecting unit detecting a service requested in a communication terminated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch;

a determining unit determining whether or not the first switch can implement the device; and

an activating unit activating said virtual access network device if the first switch cannot implement the service.

12. The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a detecting unit detecting a load state of the first switch and activating unit activating said virtual access network unit according to a result of the detection of said detecting.

13. The switch according to claim 12, wherein:

said detecting unit periodically detects an occupation ratio of a processor controlling a call process in the first switch.

14. The switch according to claim 12, wherein:

said activating unit determines whether or not to activate said virtual access network unit according to the attribute information of the subscriber, which is stored in said storing unit, and the result of the detection of said detecting unit, for each call originated by the subscriber accommodated by the first switch.

2. A process for accommodating a subscriber in a network where a plurality of switches, including a first switch and a second switch, are interconnected, comprising:

providing three methods for accommodating said subscriber in a virtual access unit, namely;

making the second switch implement all of services requested in a communication related to the subscriber accommodated by said virtual access network;

making the second switch provide a service which cannot be implemented by the first switch among the services requested in the communication related to the subscriber accommodated by said virtual access network unit; and

making the second switch provide the services requested in the communication related to the communication related to the subscriber accommodated by said virtual access network unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

selecting one of the three methods and setting said selected method in a storing for each subscriber accommodated by said virtual access network.