Universal protocol conversion

• US 6,741,610 B1
• Filed: 08/16/1999
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabinovitch, Mikhail, Turvene, David S., Boshkin, Anatoly V., Volftsun, Lev, Rednor, Fred R., Neighbors, Clay H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander O.
• Application Number:
  US09/375,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 370/466, 370/467, 370/401, 370/402, 370/465, 370/524, 370/522, 370/469, 379/229, 379/230, 379/242
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A scalable, programmable software based application run on a programmed general purpose digital computer is used for interconnecting a plurality of heterogeneous network nodes. The application has the ability to convert between any two signaling protocols used, such as those used over a telecommunications network, by converting an originating protocol to a universal non-protocol specific representation, and then converting the universal non-protocol specific representation to a receiving protocol. A call context is used to store information elements created from the originating protocol so that a universal call model applies inter-working rules. The universal call model is also in communication with state machines associated with both the originating and the terminating sides in order to supply the appropriate response signals anticipated by the originating and terminating sides received when each is in communication with its own protocol. As such, the universal call model allows both the originating and terminating sides of a call to operate independently of each other by virtue of the fact that each side deal through the universal call model and not directly with the side for which the protocol message is being converted. Therefore, any protocol is easily converted to any other protocol by first translating the protocol message to the universal protocol non-specific format.

Claims

1. A universal protocol converter for use in a telecommunications network that has bearer channels and data channels and that includes at least a first telecommunications system having first signals with a first protocol and a second telecommunications system having second signals with a second protocol that is different from the first protocol, said protocol converter comprising:

an input/output means for receiving and transmitting said first and second signals conforming to the first protocol and associated with a call from and to a data channel;

first converting means connected to said input/output mean for converting said first protocol of said first signals to a generic internal protocol that is different from the first protocol and the second protocol;

state machine means connected to said first converting means for keeping track of the state of the call; and

second converting means connected to said state machine means for converting said generic internal protocol of said first signals to said second protocol.

2. A method for converting in real time between two different telecommunications call protocols comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving an incoming message that conforms to a first telecommunication call protocol;

converting said incoming message into a first internal message that conforms to a generic internal protocol;

inter-working at least a portion of said first internal message in accordance with a set of inter-working rules to create a second internal message that conforms to the generic internal protocol; and

converting said second internal message to an outgoing message that conforms to a second telecommunication call protocol that is different from the first telecommunication call protocol and the generic internal protocol.

3. A method for converting protocols in a telecommunications network having bearer channels, data channels, at least a first telecommunications system having first signals formatted in a first protocol, and a second telecommunications system having second signals formatted in a second protocol that is different from the first protocol, wherein said first signals with said first protocol are converted to said second signals with a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

converting said first signals formatted in said first protocol to universal signals having a non-protocol specific representation in a generic internal protocol; and

converting said universal signals into said second protocol such that any first protocol can be converted to any second protocol via conversion to said non-protocol specific representation in the generic internal protocol by translating only relevant information required by said second telecommunications system into said second protocol.

4. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to convert messages in real time between two different telecommunications signaling protocols by performing the steps of:

receiving an incoming message that conforms to a first one of the telecommunications signaling protocols;

converting said incoming message into a fist internal message that conforms to an internal generic protocol;

inter-working at least a portion of said first internal message in accordance with a set of inter-working rules to create a second internal message that conforms to the internal generic protocol; and

converting said second internal message to an outgoing protocol-specific message that conforms to a second one of the telecommunications signaling protocols.

5. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to convert in real time between two different protocols by performing the steps of:

receiving an incoming message that conforms to a first one of the protocols;

converting said incoming message into a first internal message that conforms to a generic internal protocol;

inter-working at least a portion of said first internal message in accordance with a set of inter-working rules to create a second internal message that conforms to the generic internal protocol; and

converting said second message to an outgoing message that conforms to a second one of the protocols.