Data calls using both constant bit rate and variable bit rate connections

• US 6,785,377 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Boldt, Dean, Torrey, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/487,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.61, 370/395.64, 370/395.65, 370/395.5, 379/207.02, 379/229, 379/230, 379/219, 379/221, 379/220.01, 379/221.08
• US Class Current: 379/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5651 Priority, marking, classes
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13208 Inverse multiplexing, channel bonding, e.g. TSSI aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation

Abstract

A first call processing system advantageously uses a constant bit rate connection and a variable bit rate connection to utilize the bandwidth for a data call. The first call processing system receives signaling for the data call. The first call processing system then processes the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system and a second call processing system. The first call processing system processes the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system. Any bandwidth that the data call does not need and use can be utilized for other calls. Thus, the performance of other calls is improved.

Claims

1. A method of processing a data call, the method comprising:

receiving signaling for the data call into a first call processing system;

processing the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system and a second call processing system; and

processing the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a third instruction to alter the variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system during the call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling is Signaling System #7.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling is C7.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein processing the signaling comprises processing the Bearer Capacity parameter of the Initial Address Message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a minimum rate for the data call and wherein the first instruction indicates the minimum rate.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining burst characteristics for the data call and wherein the second instruction indicates the burst characteristics.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the signaling to generate and transfer an Initial Address Message to the second call processing system.

10. A software product for processing a data call comprising:

communication software operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to receive signaling for the data call into a first call processing system, process the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system and a second call processing system, and process the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system; and

a software storage medium operational to store the communication software.

11. The software product of claim 10 wherein the communication software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to generate a third instruction to alter the variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system during the call.

12. The software product of claim 10 wherein the signaling is Signaling System #7.

13. The software product of claim 10 wherein the signaling is C7.

14. The software product of claim 10 wherein the signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

15. The software product of claim 14 wherein the communication software is further operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process the Bearer Capacity parameter of the Initial Address Message.

16. The software product of claim 10 wherein the communication software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to determine a minimum rate for the data call and wherein the first instruction indicates the minimum rate.

17. The software product of claim 10 wherein the communication software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to determine burst characteristics for the data call and wherein the second instruction indicates the burst characteristics.

18. The software product of claim 10 wherein the communication software operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process the signaling to generate and transfer an Initial Address Message to the second call processing system.

19. A call processing system for processing a data call, the call processing system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive signaling for the data call, process the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between a first routing system and a second routing system, and process the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first routing system and the second routing system; and

the first routing system configured to receive and process the first instruction to set up the constant bit rate connection for the data call with the second routing system, receive and process the second instruction to set up the variable bit rate connection with the second routing system, and receive and transfer data through the constant bit rate connection and the variable bit rate connection to the second routing system.

20. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein:

the signaling processor is configured to generate a third instruction to alter the variable bit rate connection between the first routing system and the second routing system based on the capacity needed for the data call; and

the first routing system is configured to receive and process the third instruction to alter the variable bit rate connection.

21. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling is Signaling System #7.

22. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling is C7.

23. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

24. The call processing system of claim 23 wherein the signaling processor configured to process the Bearer Capacity parameter of the Initial Address Message.

25. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling processor is configured to determine a minimum rate for the data call and wherein the first instruction indicates the minimum rate.

26. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling processor is configured to determine burst characteristics for the data call and wherein the second instruction indicates the burst characteristics.

27. The call processing system of claim 19 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the signaling to generate and transfer an Initial Address Message to the second call processing system.

28. A communication system for processing a data call, the communication system comprising:

a first call processing system configured to receive signaling for the data call, process the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system and a second call processing system, generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system to handle peak bursts of the data call based on the processing of the signaling, and transfer data to the second call processing system through the constant bit rate connection and the variable bit rate connection; and

the second call processing system configured to exchange data through the constant bit rate connection and the variable bit rate connection with the first call processing system.

29. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the first call processing system is configured to generate a third instruction to alter the variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system during the call.

30. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the signaling is Signaling System #7.

31. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the signaling is C7.

32. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

33. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the first call processing system is configured to process the Bearer Capacity parameter of the Initial Address Message.

34. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the first call processing system is configured to determine a minimum rate for the data call and wherein the first instruction indicates the minimum rate.

35. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the first call processing system is configured to determine burst characteristics for the data call and wherein the second instruction indicates the burst characteristics.

36. The communication system of claim 28 wherein:

the first call processing system is configured to process the signaling to generate and transfer an Initial Address Message to the second call processing system; and

the second call processing system is configured to receive the Initial Address Message.