Method and apparatus for backhaul of telecommunications signaling protocols over packet-switching networks

• US 6,680,952 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Berg, Diane M., Morneault, Kenneth Alfred, Auerbach, David
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/323,272
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control

Abstract

A generic backhaul protocol is provided for passing telecommunication signaling messages according to multiple signaling protocols between a gateway and a media gateway controller. A message in accordance with the generic backhaul protocol includes a message header that indicates the signaling protocol and/or the channel being used on the gateway. The message also includes a message body that contains a protocol data unit encapsulating signaling data in accordance with a signaling protocol.

Claims

1. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a gateway in communication with a packet-switching network and a first node originating a first voice call bearing first signaling data according to a first signaling protocol;

a media gateway controller coupled to the gateway and configured to control one or more gateways, in communication with the packet-switching network and a terminating node terminating the voice call, based on the first signaling data to provide voice communications over the packet-switching network between the first node and a terminating gateway;

wherein the gateway is further configured to extract the first signaling data from the first voice call, package the first signaling data into a first message, and transmit the first message to the media gateway controller, said first message including a first message header indicating the first signaling protocol and a first message body containing a first protocol data unit encapsulating the first signaling data.

2. The telecommunications network of claim 1, wherein:

the gateway is further in communication with a second node originating a second voice call bearing second voice data and second signaling data according to a second signaling protocol incompatible with the first signaling protocol; and

the gateway is further configured to extract the second signaling data from the second voice call, package the second signaling data into a second message, and transmit the second message to the media gateway controller, said second message including a second message header having indicating the second signaling protocol and a second message body containing a second protocol data unit encapsulating the second signaling data.

3. The telecommunications network of claim 2, wherein:

the gateway is in communication with the first node by a first channel;

the gateway is in communication with the first node by a second channel;

the first message header further indicates the first channel; and

the second message header further indicates the second channel.

4. The telecommunications network of claim 3, wherein the first channel and the second channel are of the same signaling protocol type and are multiplexed over the same IP session group.

5. The telecommunications network of claim 3, wherein the first channel and the second channel are of different protocol types.

6. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a gateway in communication with a packet-switching network and a first node by a first channel originating a first voice call bearing first signaling data;

a media gateway controller coupled to the gateway and configured to control a first gateway and a terminating gateway, in communication with the packet-switching network and a terminating node terminating the voice call, based on the first signaling data to provide voice communications over the packet-switching network between the first node and the terminating gateway;

wherein the gateway is further configured to extract the first signaling data from the first voice call, package the first signaling data into a first message, and transmit the first message to the media gateway controller, said first message including a first message header indicating the first channel and a first message body containing a first protocol data unit encapsulating the first signaling data.

7. The telecommunications network of claim 6, wherein:

the gateway is further in communication with a second node originating a second voice call by a second channel other than the first channel bearing second signaling data; and

the gateway is further configured to extract the second signaling data from the second voice call, package the second signaling data into a second message, and transmit the second message to the media gateway controller, said second message including a second message header having indicating the second channel and a second message body containing a second protocol data unit encapsulating the second signaling data.

8. The telecommunications network of claim 7, wherein:

the first signaling data is formatted according to a first signaling protocol;

the second signaling data is formatted according to a second signaling protocol;

the first message header further indicates the first signaling protocol; and

the second message header further indicates the second signaling protocol.

9. The telecommunications network of claim 8, wherein the first signaling protocol and the second signal protocol are compatible.

10. The telecommunications network of claim 8, wherein the first signaling protocol and the second signaling protocol are incompatible.

11. A telecommunication device, comprising:

a communication interface in communication with a gateway;

one or more processors coupled to the communication interface; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing an arrangement of instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the telecommunications device to perform the steps of;

instantiating a plurality of protocol adapters for processing signaling data according to a plurality of signaling protocols;

receiving a first message from the gateway, said message including a first message header indicating the first signaling protocol and a first message body containing a first protocol data unit encapsulating the first signaling data; and

identifying and causing a first protocol adapter that is instantiated to process signaling data according to the first signaling protocol to process the first signaling data encapsulated in the first protocol data unit based on the first message header.

12. The telecommunications device of claim 11, wherein said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a second message from the gateway, said message including a second message header indicating a second signaling protocol incompatible with the first signaling protocol and a second message body containing a second protocol data unit encapsulating the second signaling data; and

identifying and causing a second protocol adapter that is instantiated to process signaling data according to the second signaling protocol to process the second signaling data encapsulated in the second protocol data unit based on the second message header.

13. The telecommunications device of claim 12, wherein:

the first message header further indicates a first channel on the gateway;

the second message header further indicates a second channel on the gateway;

said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of;

instantiating a plurality of call instances for processing signaling data borne on a plurality of channels on the gateway;

identifying and causing a first call instance that is instantiated to process a first voice call borne on the first channel and formatted according to the first signaling protocol to process the first signaling data based on the first message header; and

identifying and causing a second call instance that is instantiated to process a second voice call borne on the second channel and formatted according to the second signaling protocol to process the second signaling data on the second message header.

14. The telecommunications device of claim 11, wherein said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the step of sending a message to the gateway to causing a channel of the gateway to come into or go out of service.

15. A telecommunications device, comprising:

a communication interface in communication with a gateway;

one or more processors coupled to the communication interface; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing an arrangement of instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the telecommunications device to perform the steps of;

instantiating a plurality of call instances for processing signaling data borne on a plurality of channels of the gateway;

receiving a first message from the gateway, said message including a first message header indicating the first channel and a first message body containing a first protocol data unit encapsulating the first signaling data; and

identifying and causing a first call instance that is instantiated to process signaling data borne on the first channel to process the first signaling data encapsulated in the first protocol data unit based on the first message header.

16. The telecommunications device of claim 15, wherein said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a second message from the gateway, said message including a second message header indicating a second channel of the gateway other the first channel and a second message body containing a second protocol data unit encapsulating the second signaling data; and

identifying and causing a second call instance that is instantiated to process signaling data borne on the second channel to process the second signaling data encapsulated in the second protocol data unit based on the second message header.

17. The telecommunications device of claim 16, wherein:

the first message header further indicates a first signaling protocol of the first protocol data unit;

the second message header further indicates a second signaling protocol of the second protocol data unit;

said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of;

instantiating a plurality of protocol adapters for processing signaling data according to a plurality of signaling protocols;

identifying and causing a first protocol adapter that is instantiated to process the first voice call formatted according to the first signaling protocol to process the first signaling data based on the first message header; and

identifying and causing a second call instance that is instantiated to process the second voice call formatted according to a second signaling protocol to process the first signaling data.

18. The telecommunications device of claim 15, wherein said instructions are further arranged to cause the one or more processors to perform the step of sending a message to the gateway to causing a channel of the gateway to come into or go out of service.

19. A method of backhauling signaling data in voice calls to a media gateway controller, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first voice call in accordance with a first signaling protocol;

extracting the first signaling data from the first voice call;

packaging the first signaling data into a first message, said first message including a first message header indicating the first signaling protocol and first message body including a first protocol data unit encapsulating the first signaling data; and

transmitting the first message to the media gateway controller.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second voice call with a first signaling protocol incompatible with the first signaling protocol;

extracting the second signaling data from the second voice call;

packaging the second signaling data into a first message, said second message including a first message header indicating the second signaling protocol and second message body including a second protocol data unit encapsulating the second signaling data; and

transmitting the second message to the media gateway controller.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the first voice call is received over a first channel;

the second voice call is received over a second channel;

the first message header further indicates the first channel; and

the second message header further indicates the second channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first channel and the second channel are of the same protocol type and the first voice call and the second voice call are multiplexed over the same channel.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first channel and the second channel are of different protocol types.