ATM gateway system

• US 6,683,878 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• 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: DuRee, Albert Daniel, Christie, Joseph Michael, Nelson, Tracy Lee, Wiley, William Lyle, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US10/119,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-356, 370/389, 370/395.1, 370/396-399, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/466, 370/395.3, 379/219, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 370/395.3
• 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 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• 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 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 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• 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 invention is a system for modifying the VPI/VCIs in ATM cells transferred between two ATM systems on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for the call and selects a new VPI/VCI for the call. The signaling processor generates a control message that identifies the old and new VPI/VCIs and transfers the control message to an ATM gateway. The ATM gateway modifies the old VPI/VCI in the ATM cells to the new VPI/VCI.

Claims

1. A method of handling a telecommunications call, the method comprising:

receiving an initial address message for the call in a call processor;

receiving asynchronous communications for the call in a gateway wherein the asynchronous communications for the call include a first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications;

in the call processor, processing the initial address message to select a second virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications;

transferring an instruction indicating the second virtual identifier from the call processor to the gateway;

in the gateway, modifying the first virtual identifier in the asynchronous communications to the second virtual identifier; and

transferring the asynchronous communications including the second virtual identifier from the gateway, wherein the call processor and the gateway do not include a switching fabric.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the initial address message for the call comprises receiving Signaling System #7 signaling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the initial address message comprises processing a dialed number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the initial address message comprises accessing a Service Control Point.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a release message for the call in the call processor;

in response to the release message, transferring another instruction indicating the second virtual identifier from the call processor to the gateway; and

in the gateway, disassociating the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in response to the other instruction.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving and processing an address complete message for the call in the call processor.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving and processing an answer message for the call in the call processor.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving and processing a release complete message for the call in the call processor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating billing information for the call in the call processor.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising validating a caller in the call processor.

11. A telecommunications system for handling a call, wherein the call includes an initial address message and asynchronous communications, wherein the asynchronous communications include a first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications, the telecommunications system comprising:

a call processor configured to receive the initial address message for the call, process the initial address message to select a second virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications, and transfer an instruction indicating the second virtual identifier; and

a gateway coupled to the call processor and configured to receive the instruction, to receive the asynchronous communications for the call that include the first virtual identifier for routing the asynchronous communications, modify the first virtual identifier in the asynchronous communications to the second virtual identifier in response to the instruction, and transfer the asynchronous communications including the second virtual identifier, wherein the call processor and the gateway do not include a switching fabric.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein the initial address message for the call comprises Signaling System #7 signaling.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 12 wherein the call processor is configured to process a dialed number from the initial address message.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein the call processor is configured to access a Service Control Point.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein:

the call processor is configured to receive a release message for the call, and in response to the release message, transfer another instruction indicating the second virtual identifier to the gateway; and

the gateway is configured to disassociate the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in response to the other instruction.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 15 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process an address complete message for the call.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 16 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process an answer message for the call.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 17 wherein the call processor is configured to receive and process a release complete message for the call.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein the call processor is configured to generate billing information for the call.

20. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein the call processor is configured to validate a caller.

21. A method of operating a telecommunications system for handling a call, the method comprising:

receiving communications with a header for the call into a first gateway, wherein the header includes a first identifier;

receiving a called number for the call into a first call processor;

in the first call processor, processing the called number to select a second identifier for routing the communications, and transferring an instruction indicating the second identifier;

in the first gateway, receiving the instruction indicating the second identifier, modifying the first identifier in the communications to the second identifier in response to the instruction indicating the second identifier, and transferring the communications including the second identifier, wherein the first call processor and the first gateway do not comprise an asynchronous transfer mode switch; and

in a first routing system, receiving the communications with the second identifier and transferring the communications based on the second identifier.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving a call setup message into the first call processor.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising generating billing information for the call in the first call processor.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving the communications with the second identifier into a second gateway;

receiving the called number for the call into a second call processor;

in the second call processor, processing the called number to select a third identifier for routing the communications and transferring an instruction indicating the third identifier;

in the second gateway, receiving the instruction indicating the third identifier, modifying the second identifier in the communications to the third identifier in response to the instruction indicating the third identifier, and transferring the communications including the third identifier, wherein the second call processor and the second gateway do not comprise an asynchronous transfer mode switch; and

in a second routing system, receiving the communications with the third identifier and transferring the communications based on the third identifier.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the first call processor does not include a switching fabric.

26. A telecommunications system for handling a call, the telecommunications system comprising:

a first gateway configured receive communications with a header for the call, wherein the header includes a first identifier;

a first call processor configured to receive a called number for the call, process the called number to select a second identifier for routing the communications, and transfer an instruction indicating the second identifier;

the first gateway being further configured to receive the instruction indicating the second identifier, modify the first identifier in the communications to the second identifier in response to the instruction indicating the second identifier, and transfer the communications including the second identifier, wherein the first call processor and the first gateway do not comprise an asynchronous transfer mode switch; and

a first routing system configured to receive the communications with the second identifier and transfer the communications based on the second identifier.

27. The telecommunications system of claim 26 wherein the first call processor is further configured to receive a call setup message.

28. The telecommunications system of claim 26 wherein the first call processor is further configured to generate billing information for the call.

29. The telecommunications system of claim 26 further comprising:

a second gateway configured receive the communications with the second identifier;

a second call processor configured to receive the called number for the call, process the called number to select a third identifier for routing the communications, and transfer an instruction indicating the third identifier;

the second gateway being further configured to receive the instruction indicating the third identifier, modify the second identifier in the communications to the third identifier in response to the instruction indicating the third identifier, and transfer the communications including the third identifier, wherein the second call processor and the second gateway do not comprise an asynchronous transfer mode switch; and

a second routing system configured to receive the communications with the third identifier and transfer the communications based on the third identifier.

30. The telecommunications system of claim 26 wherein the first call processor does not include a switching fabric.