Transport mechanism for ISDN backhaul over IP
First Claim
1. A method of backhauling a Layer Three Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) message from a gateway to an Application Server Process (ASP) over an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the gateway receiving the Layer Three ISDN message from an ISDN based network, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a backhaul link between the gateway and the ASP in conformance with a Transmission Control Protocol; and
monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for establishing and maintaining a backhaul link over an Internet Protocol based network for transporting Layer 3 ISDN messages. A signalling gateway establishes a TCP connection to a Media Gateway Controller through the IP based network. The Layer 3 ISDN messages generated within an ISDN network attached to the IP based network are then transported between the signalling gateway and the Media Gateway Controller over the TCP connection. The integrity of the TCP connection is monitored using a heartbeat mechanism based on UDP packets. Both the signalling gateway and the Media Gateway Controller transmit UDP packets at regular intervals, and monitor for the arrival of UDP packets from the other device. If a provisioned number of consecutive UDP packets do not arrive from the other device, then a failure of the backhaul link is declared. The signalling gateway then attempts to re-establish the backhaul link.
32 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of backhauling a Layer Three Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) message from a gateway to an Application Server Process (ASP) over an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the gateway receiving the Layer Three ISDN message from an ISDN based network, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a backhaul link between the gateway and the ASP in conformance with a Transmission Control Protocol; and
monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gateway capable of transmitting Layer Three Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) messages to an Application Server Process (ASP) through an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the gateway comprising:
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means for establishing a backhaul link in conformance with a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP); and
means for monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An Application Server Process (ASP) capable of receiving Layer Three Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) messages from a gateway through an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the ASP comprising:
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means for accepting a backhaul link connection in conformance with a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP); and
means for monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A communication system comprising a gateway coupled to an IP based network, comprising a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) coupled to the IP based network, and comprising:
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means within the gateway for establishing a backhaul link to the MGC through the IP based network in conformance with a Transmission Control Protocol;
means within the gateway for transmitting a Layer Three Integrated Services Digital Network message to the MGC over the backhaul link;
means within the gateway for monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP); and
means within the MGC for monitoring for a failure of the backhaul link by using heartbeat messages in conformance with the UDP.
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Specification