Client/server based architecture for a telecommunications network

• US 6,765,918 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Teledata Networks Ltd.
• Inventors: Dixon, Timothy J., Zimmerman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/334,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352-358, 370/386, 370/389, 370/397, 370/391, 370/395, 370/395.1, 370/395.2, 370/395.3, 370/395.31, 370/395.41, 370/395.5, 370/395.51, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370/395.63, 370/401, 370/431, 370/229, 370/384, 370/385, 370/373, 370/377, 709/208, 709/203, 709/209
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A telecommunications network is provided. The network includes a packet network. The network also includes a plurality of multimedia channel banks. The multimedia channel banks are coupled to the packet network over a communication link, and are configurable to have a plurality of ports that are each capable to receive signals from user equipment in one of a variety of formats. The network also includes a multimedia resource manager communicatively coupled to the packet network. The plurality of multimedia channel banks and the multimedia resource manager are associated in a client/server relationship to control attributes of the multimedia channel banks and to control allocation of bandwidth in the communication link between the multimedia channel bank and the packet network.

Claims

1. A method for establishing connections in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for service at a multimedia channel bank;

communicating the request to a multimedia resource manager;

identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager;

communicating the information to the multimedia channel bank;

controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank based on the information from the multimedia resource manager; and

launching selected protocol stacks at the multimedia channel bank.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for service comprises receiving a request generated by a user accessing a designated web page.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for service comprises receiving a request from an application socket launched to activate a protocol stack towards the multimedia channel bank.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises intercepting an initiation message at the multimedia channel bank.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the request to the multimedia resource manager comprises tunneling the message to the multimedia resource manager from the multimedia channel bank.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager comprises at least one of resolving destination addresses and making a routing choice, consulting a database for security and authorization, translating the request to a network protocol stack and generating reports to a billing server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the information to the multimedia channel bank comprises launching the application protocol stack in the multimedia channel bank and modifying the multimedia channel bank resources to correspond to the request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank comprises at least one of controlling traffic attributes and user profiles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank comprises controlling at least one of routing information, protocols for service connection, and class of service.

10. A method for controlling provision of services in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for service at a multimedia channel bank;

communicating the request to a multimedia resource manager;

identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager;

communicating the information to the multimedia channel bank; and

controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank based on the information from the multimedia resource manager.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a request for service comprises receiving a request generated by a user accessing a designated web page.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a request for service comprises receiving a request from an application socket launched to activate a protocol stack towards the multimedia channel bank.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the request comprises intercepting an initiation message at the multimedia channel bank.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating the request to the multimedia resource manager comprises tunneling the message to the multimedia resource manager from the multimedia channel bank.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager comprises at least one of resolving destination addresses and making a routing choice, consulting a database for security and authorization, translating the request to a network protocol stack and generating reports to a billing server.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating the information to the multimedia channel bank comprises launching the application protocol stack in the multimedia channel bank and modifying the multimedia channel bank resources to correspond to the request.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank comprises at least one of controlling traffic attributes and user profiles.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank comprises controlling at least one of routing information, protocols for service connection, and class of service.

19. A method for establishing connections in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for service at a multimedia channel bank with a traffic-servicing client and a flow engine;

communicating the request to a multimedia resource manager;

identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager;

communicating the information from a traffic-servicing server of the multimedia resource manager to the traffic-servicing client of the multimedia channel bank; and

controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank based on the information received by the traffic-servicing client of the multimedia channel bank.

20. A method for establishing connections in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for service at a multimedia channel bank that operates as a transport oriented element on layers 3 and below of the protocol stack;

communicating the request to a multimedia resource manager that provides a mechanism for the multimedia channel bank to communicate with layer 3 and above servers;

identifying information relating to the request at the multimedia resource manager;

communicating the information to the multimedia channel bank; and

controlling attributes of the multimedia channel bank based on the information received from the multimedia resource manager.