Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 6,643,282 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• 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:
  US09/082,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/353-357, 370/360, 370/401, 370/395.1, 370/396-400, 370/410, 370/522, 370/426, 370/389, 370/338, 370/349, 379/90.1, 379/221.08, 379/219, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/221.12, 379/230, 379/229
• 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 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• 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: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• 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 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• 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 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors

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 communication network comprising:

a packet communication system configured to receive a user communication;

a call processor configured to process a signaling message from a narrowband communication system to select a network code that identifies a network element to provide egress from the packet communication system for the user communication;

an interface configured to receive the signaling message for the user communication from the narrowband communication system and transfer a control message indicating the network code to the packet communication system; and

wherein

the packet communication system is configured to use the network code to route the user communication through the packet communication system to the network element wherein the network element transfers the user communication to provide egress from the packet communication system.

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

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

4. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the signaling message comprises a Q.931 message.

5. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the signaling message comprises in-band signaling.

6. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process caller number information in the signaling message to select the network code.

7. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process called number information in the signaling message to select the network code.

8. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process a point code in the signaling message to select the network code.

9. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process a circuit identification code in the signaling message to select the network code.

10. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process the signaling message to generate and transfer a query to a service control point and receive and process a response from the service control point to select the network code.

11. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process geographic information to select the network code.

12. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process load balancing information to select the network code.

13. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process time of day information to select the network code.

14. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process a network alarm to select the network code.

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

16. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process the signaling message to select a DS0 connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system.

17. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the call processor is configured to process the signaling message to select a wireless connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

24. A communication network comprising:

a packet communication system configured to receive a user communication;

a call processor configured to select a network code that identifies a network element to provide egress from the packet communication system to a narrowband communication system for the user communication;

an interface configured to transfer a control message indicating the network code from the processing system to the packet communication system and transfer a signaling message for the user communication from the processing system to the narrowband communication system; and

the packet communication system is configured to use the network code to route the user communication through the packet communication system to the network element wherein the network element transfers the user communication to the narrowband communication system to provide egress from the packet communication system.

25. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the signaling message comprises an Initial Address Message (IAM).

26. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the signaling message comprises a Signaling System #7 (SS7) message.

27. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the signaling message comprises a Q.931 message.

28. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the signaling message comprises in-band signaling.

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

30. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the call processor is configured to select a DS0 connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system, and the signaling message identifies the DS0 connection.

31. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the call processor is configured to select a wireless connection to provide the egress from the packet communication system, and the signaling message identifies the wireless connection.

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

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

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

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

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

37. The communication network of claim 24 wherein the processing system is external to any communication switches.