Broadband telecommunications system

• US 6,665,294 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• 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:
  US10/212,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-356, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/397, 370/398, 370/399, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/426, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 379/219, 379/220.01
• 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 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/64 Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/206 Real Time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/251 Cut-through or wormhole routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/256 Routing or path finding in 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: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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

Abstract

The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.

Claims

1. A telecommunication signal embodied in a tangible medium, the telecommunication signal comprising:

a first signal component including user information from a narrowband communication signal; and

a second signal component including an identifier for routing the user information, wherein the identifier is selected by processing a signaling message, wherein an interworking device receives the narrowband communication signal and a control signal indicating the narrowband communication signal and the identifier, and in response to the control signal, converts the narrowband communication signal into a packet format having the first signal component including the user information and the second signal component including the identifier to form the telecommunication signal.

2. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the user information comprises echo-cancelled communications.

3. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the user information comprises encrypted communications.

4. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the user information comprises compressed communications.

5. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

6. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the identifier is selected by processing an Initial Address Message (IAM).

7. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the identifier is selected by processing a called number.

8. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the narrowband communication signal comprises a DS0 communication signal.

9. The telecommunication signal of claim 1 wherein the tangible medium is an optical medium.

10. A control signal embodied in a tangible medium, the control signal comprising:

a first signal component indicating a narrowband communication signal having user information; and

a second signal component indicating an identifier for routing the user information, wherein the identifier is selected by processing a signaling message, wherein an interworking device receives the narrowband communication signal and the control signal indicating the narrowband communication signal and the identifier, and in response to the control signal, converts the narrowband communication signal into a packet format having the user information and the identifier to form a telecommunication signal.

11. The control signal of claim 10 further comprising a third signal component indicating an echo cancellation instruction.

12. The control signal of claim 10 further comprising a third signal component indicating an encryption instruction.

13. The control signal of claim 10 further comprising a third signal component indicating a compression instruction.

14. The control signal of claim 10 wherein the identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

15. The control signal of claim 10 wherein the identifier is selected by processing an Initial Address Message (IAM).

16. The control signal of claim 10 wherein the identifier is selected by processing a called number.

17. The control signal of claim 10 wherein the narrowband communication signal comprises a DS0 communication signal.

18. The control signal of claim 10 wherein the control signal comprises an Internet Protocol message.

19. A method of transferring a telecommunication signal, the method comprising:

transferring a first signal component including user information from a narrowband communication signal; and

transferring a second signal component including an identifier for routing the user information, wherein the identifier is selected by processing a signaling message, wherein an interworking device receives the narrowband communication signal and a control signal indicating the narrowband communication signal and the identifier, and in response to the control signal, converts the narrowband communication signal into a packet format having the first signal component including the user information and the second signal component including the identifier to form the telecommunication signal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the user information comprises echo-cancelled communications.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the user information comprises encrypted communications.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the user information comprises compressed communications.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the identifier is selected by processing an Initial Address Message (IAM).

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the identifier is selected by processing a called number.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the narrowband communication signal comprises a DS0 communication signal.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein transferring the telecommunication signal comprises transferring the telecommunication signal over an optical medium.

28. A method of transferring a control signal, the method comprising:

transferring a first signal component indicating a narrowband communication signal having user information; and

transferring a second signal component indicating an identifier for routing the user information, wherein the identifier is selected by processing a signaling message, wherein an interworking device receives the narrowband communication signal and the control signal indicating the narrowband communication signal and the identifier, and in response to the control signal, converts the narrowband communication signal into a packet format having the user information and the identifier to form a telecommunication signal.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising transferring a third signal component indicating an echo cancellation instruction.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising transferring a third signal component indicating an encryption instruction.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising transferring a third signal component indicating a compression instruction.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein to identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the identifier is selected by processing an Initial Address Message (IAM).

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the identifier is selected by processing a called number.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the narrowband communication signal comprises a DS0 communication signal.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein the control signal comprises an Internet Protocol message.