System and method for processing a call

• US 6,816,497 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wiley, William L., Torrey, Jason P., Boldt, Dean C., Salisbury, Bruce F., Howell, R. Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Jamal A.
• Application Number:
  US09/435,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 370/467, 370/375, 370/54, 370/401, 370/211, 370/269, 370/522, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/395.6, 370/352, 370/354, 379/211, 379/269, 379/221.06
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5634 In-call negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5639 Tariffs or charging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5653 using the ATM adaptation layer [AAL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The invention comprises a telecommunications signaling processor that processes signaling system #7 telecommunications signaling messages to select asynchronous transfer mode connections and time division multiplex connections and to provide control messages indicating the selected connections. The telecommunications signaling processor also processes non-call associated signaling messages for call maintenance.

Claims

1. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

an origination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit to determine if a first terminating circuit should be selected; and

a termination process module adapted to process the signaling information parameters to select the first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect, the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor further is adapted to process the call processing logic module to determine new signaling information parameters.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor further is adapted to create new call signaling and to transmit the new call signaling.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the termination process module further is adapted to determine new signaling information parameters.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor further is adapted to create at least one control message identifying the first termination circuit and the second termination circuit and to transmit the control message to the connection system.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor is adapted to create a first control message identifying the first terminating circuit, to create a second control message identifying the second terminating circuit, and to transmit the first control message and the second control message to the connection system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is adapted to transmit at least one control message to the connection system identifying the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the termination process module comprises:

a routing process module adapted to determine a correct route; and

a termination call control process module adapted to establish the first termination circuit and the second termination circuit that corresponds to the route.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a maintenance process module adapted to process information parameters to maintain the originating circuit, the first terminating circuit, and the second terminating circuit; and

wherein the processor further is adapted to execute the maintenance process module to maintain the originating circuit, the first terminating circuit, and the second terminating circuit.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one data structure having call-associated data and wherein the termination process module is adapted to process the signaling information parameters with the call-associated data in the data structures to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to circuit connections.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a time division multiplex circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to time division multiplex circuit connections.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises an asynchronous transfer mode circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to asynchronous transfer mode circuit connections.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a trunk group data structure that contains information pertinent to trunk group connections.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a carrier data structure that contains information pertinent to a carrier of the call.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises an exception data structure that contains information pertinent to call route exceptions.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a line information data structure that contains information pertinent to information digits transmitted from a carrier.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a caller number data structure that contains information pertinent to caller numbers.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a called number screening data structure that contains information pertinent to a trigger detection point for a ported number query.

20. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a called number data structure that contains information pertinent to called numbers.

21. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a local routing number data structure that contains information pertinent to routing requirements for a ported number.

22. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a routing data structure that contains information pertinent to call route selections.

23. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a class of service data structure that contains information pertinent to a class of service of trunks.

24. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a day of week data structure that contains information pertinent to a day of week of the call.

25. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a day of year data structure that contains information pertinent to a day of year of the call.

26. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a time of day data structure that contains information pertinent to a time of day of the call.

27. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a time zone data structure that contains information pertinent to a time zone of the call.

28. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises a treatment data structure that contains information pertinent to an error of the call.

29. The system of claim 10 wherein the data structure comprises an outgoing release data structure that contains information pertinent to an outgoing release message for the call.

30. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one data structure having call-associated data and wherein the origination process module is adapted to process the signaling information parameters with the call-associated data in the data structures to determine if the first terminating circuit should be selected.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to circuit connections.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a time division multiplex circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to time division multiplex circuit connections.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises an asynchronous transfer mode circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to asynchronous transfer mode circuit connections.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a trunk group data structure that contains information pertinent to trunk group connections.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a carrier data structure that contains information pertinent to a carrier of the call.

36. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises an exception data structure that contains information pertinent to call route exceptions.

37. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a line information data structure that contains information pertinent to information digits transmitted from a carrier.

38. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a caller number data structure that contains information pertinent to caller numbers.

39. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a called number screening data structure that contains information pertinent to a trigger detection point for a ported number query.

40. The system of claim 30 wherein the data structure comprises a treatment data structure that contains information pertinent to an error of a call.

41. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one data structure having call-associated data and wherein the processor further is adapted to process the call processing logic module with the call-associated data in the data structures to determine new signaling information parameters.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a message mapping data structure that contains information pertinent to new signaling parameters.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a database services data structure that contains information pertinent to a type of database service requested by the call processing logic module.

44. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a signaling connection control part data structure that contains information pertinent to building a signaling connection control part message.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a transactions capabilities application part data structure that contains information pertinent to building a transactions capabilities application part message.

46. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a network identification data structure that contains information pertinent to a network used to route a signaling connection control part message.

47. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a advanced intelligent network event parameters data structure that contains information pertinent to parameters to be included in a transactions capabilities application part message.

48. The system of claim 41 wherein the data structure comprises a treatment data structure that contains information pertinent to an error of a call.

49. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling information parameters comprise local number portability parameters.

50. The system of claim 1 wherein the origination process module further is adapted to determine that additional signaling information parameters are needed so that the termination process module can select the first terminating circuit and the second termination circuit.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the additional signaling information parameters comprises local number portability parameters.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the termination process module processes the local number portability parameters to select the first termination circuit and the second termination circuit.

53. The system of claim 1 wherein the origination process module is adapted to perform automatic congestion control.

54. The system of claim 1 wherein the origination process module is adapted to determine glare control requirements for the call.

55. The system of claim 1 wherein the origination process module is adapted to determine continuity check requirements for the call.

56. The system of claim 1 wherein the termination process module is adapted to determine echo control requirements for the call.

57. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one data structure having connection system-associated data and wherein the processor further is adapted to process the call processing logic module with the connection system-associated data in the data structures.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the data structure comprises an interworking unit data structure that contains connection address information.

59. The system of claim 57 wherein the data structure comprises an external echo canceller data structure that contains information pertinent to an external echo canceller used for the call.

60. The system of claim 57 wherein the data structure comprises an asynchronous transfer mode matrix data structure that contains information pertinent to an asynchronous transfer mode matrix used for the call.

61. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor and the call processing logic module are not on a bearer path.

62. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminating circuit comprises an asynchronous transfer mode circuit and the second terminating circuit comprises another asynchronous transfer mode circuit.

63. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminating circuit comprises an asynchronous transfer mode circuit and the second terminating circuit comprises a time division multiplex circuit.

64. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

an origination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit to determine whether a call attempt is to be authorized; and

a termination process module adapted to process the signaling information parameters to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

65. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

an origination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit to determine whether the call is to be accepted; and

a termination process module adapted to process the signaling information parameters to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

66. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic mode comprising;

an origination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit to determine additional signaling information parameters that relate to the originating circuit are needed and to collect the additional signaling information parameters; and

a termination process module adapted to process the signaling inflammation parameters and the additional signaling information parameters to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

67. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

an origination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit and to segment the call for particular processing based on the signaling information parameters; and

a termination process module adapted to process the signaling information parameters with particular processing to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

68. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

a termination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit; and

an origination process module adapted to error check the signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit to determine if the signaling information parameters can be processed by the termination process module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit.

69. A system that processes a call, the system comprising:

a call processing logic module comprising;

a termination process module adapted to process signaling information parameters to select a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit; and

an origination process module adapted to obtain signaling information parameters that relate to an originating circuit in order to allow the termination process module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit;

a processor adapted to execute the call processing logic module to select the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit; and

a connection system comprising an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix, wherein the interworking unit is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the second terminating circuit, and wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit.

70. A method of processing a call, the method comprising:

in a processor, receiving signaling information parameters relating to an originating circuit for the call;

in the processor, processing the signaling information parameters using call-associated data in data structures to determine if the call can be connected through a connection system that includes an interworking unit and an asynchronous transfer mode matrix;

in the processor, selecting a first terminating circuit and a second terminating circuit based on the call-associated data;

transmitting a first control message from the processor to the interworking unit indicating the originating circuit and the first terminating circuit;

in the interworking unit, connecting the first terminating circuit to the originating circuit based on the first control message;

transmitting a second control message to the asynchronous transfer mode matrix indicating the first terminating circuit and the second terminating circuit;

in the asynchronous transfer mode matrix, connecting the second terminating circuit to the first terminating circuit based on the second control message; and

in the interworking unit, interworking communications for the call through the connection system.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the data structures comprise a circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to circuit connections.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a time division multiplex circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to time division multiplex circuit connections.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise an asynchronous transfer mode circuit data structure that contains information pertinent to asynchronous transfer mode circuit connections.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a trunk group data structure that contains information pertinent to trunk group connections.

75. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a carrier data structure that contains information pertinent to a carrier of the call.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise an exception data structure that contains information pertinent to call route exceptions.

77. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a line information data structure that contains information pertinent to information digits transmitted from a carrier.

78. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a caller number data structure that contains information pertinent to caller numbers.

79. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a called number screening data structure that contains information pertinent to a trigger detection point for a ported number query.

80. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a called number data structure that contains information pertinent to called numbers.

81. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a local routing number data structure that contains information pertinent to routing requirements for a ported number.

82. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a routing data structure that contains information pertinent to call route selections.

83. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a class of service data structure that contains information pertinent to a class of service of trunks.

84. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a day of year data structure that contains information pertinent to a day of year of the call.

85. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a day of week data structure that contains information pertinent to a day of week of the call.

86. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a time of day data structure that contains information pertinent to a time of day of the call.

87. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a time zone data structure that contains information pertinent to a time zone of the call.

88. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a treatment data structure that contains information pertinent to an error of the call.

89. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise an outgoing release data structure that contains information pertinent to an outgoing release message for the call.

90. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a message mapping data structure that contains information pertinent to new signaling parameters.

91. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a database services data structure that contains information pertinent to a type of database service requested by the call processing logic module.

92. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a signaling connection control part data structure that contains information pertinent to building a signaling connection control part message.

93. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a transactions capabilities application part data structure that contains information pertinent to building a transactions capabilities application part message.

94. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise a network identification data structure that contains information pertinent to a network used to route a signaling connection control part message.

95. The method of claim 71 wherein the data structures comprise an advanced intelligent network event parameters data structure that contains information pertinent to parameters to be included in a transactions capabilities application part message.

96. The method of claim 70 wherein the processor is adapted to execute an origination process module wherein the origination process module determines if the call can be connected through the connection system.

97. The method of claim 70 wherein the processor is adapted to execute a termination process module wherein the termination process module selects the first terminating circuit and the second termination circuit based on the call-associated data.