Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 6,633,561 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US10/002,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352-356, 370/401, 370/410, 370/389, 370/422, 370/426, 370/351, 370/360, 370/522, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/221.14, 379/228, 379/229, 379/230, 379/221.1, 379/219
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• 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: 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 present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Claims

1. A method of operating a processing system to control a packet communication system for a user communication, the method comprising:

receiving a signaling message for the user communication from a narrowband communication system into the processing system;

processing the signaling message to select a network code that identifies a network element to provide egress from the packet communication system for the user communication;

generating a control message indicating the network code;

transferring the control message from the processing system to the packet communication system

receiving the user communication in the packet communication system and using the network code to route the user communication through the packet communication system to the network element; and

transferring the user communication from the network element to provide egress from the packet communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message comprises processing an Initial Address Message (IAM).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message comprises processing a Signaling System #7 (SS7) message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message comprises processing a Q.931 message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message comprises processing in-band signaling.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message to select the network code comprises processing caller number information in the signaling message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message to select the network code comprises processing called number information in the signaling message.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message to select the network code comprises processing a point code in the signaling message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message to select the network code comprises processing a circuit identification code in the signaling message.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the signaling message to select the network code comprises generating and transferring a query to a service control point and receiving and processing a response from the service control point.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing geographic information to select the network code.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing load balancing information to select the network code.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing time of day information to select the network code.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing a network alarm to select the network code.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the network code comprises a logical address of the network element.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the signaling message to select a DS0 connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the signaling message to select a wireless connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the network element comprises a switch.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the network element comprises a multiplexer.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the network element comprises a server.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the network element comprises a service platform.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the user communication comprises voice.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing system is external to any communication switches.

24. A method of operating a processing system to control a packet communication system for a user communication, the method comprising:

selecting a network code that identifies a network element to provide egress for the user communication from the packet communication system to a narrowband communication system;

generating a control message indicating the network code and transferring the control message from the processing system to the packet communication system; and

generating a signaling message for the user communication and transferring the signaling message from the processing system to the narrowband communication system;

receiving the user communication in the packet communication system and using the network code to route the user communication through the packet communication system to the network element; and

transferring the user communication from the network element to the narrowband communication system to provide egress from the the packet communication system.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein generating and transferring the signaling message comprises generating and transferring an Initial Address Message (IAM).

26. The method of claim 24 wherein generating and transferring the signaling message comprises generating and transferring a Signaling System #7 (SS7)message.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein generating and transferring the signaling message comprises generating and transferring a Q.931 message.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein generating and transferring the signaling message comprises generating and transferring in-band signaling.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the network code comprises a logical address of the network element.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising selecting a DS0 connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system and identifying the DS0 in the signaling message.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprising selecting a wireless connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system and identifying the wireless message in the signaling message.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the network element comprises a switch.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the network element comprises a multiplexer.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the network element comprises a server.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein the network element comprises a service platform.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the user communication comprises voice.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein the user communication comprises data.

38. The method of claim 24 wherein the processing system is external to any communication switches.