System and method for processing call signaling

• US 6,888,833 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Howell, Royal Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Seema S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/219,096
• Time in Patent Office: 2,324 Days
• Field of Search: 370/467, 370/395.2, 370352-357, 370/360, 370/429, 370/522
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5629 Admission control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting, receiving, generating, and processing call signaling comprises a signaling point to receive and transmit call signaling over access links to, for example, time division multiplex (TDM) communication devices. A signaling interface receives and processes message parameters and call signaling and transmits call signaling and message parameters between the signaling point and a call processor. A call processor processes call signaling and can transmit call signaling message parameters to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) matrix for transmission through an ATM network or to the signaling interface for transmission of call signaling messages from the signaling point. An ATM matrix transmits call signaling message parameters on designated virtual paths/virtual connections (VP/VCs) to communication devices.

Claims

1. A system for connecting a call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a signaling interface adapted to receive and process the call signaling to determine call information elements, to transmit the call information elements, to receive new call information elements, and to transmit the now call information elements as new call signaling;

a call processor adapted to receive the call information elements from the signaling interface, to process the call information elements to determine the new call information elements, to determine a destination for the new call signaling, to select either a Signaling System #7 (SS7) format or a packet signaling format for the new call signaling, and to transfer the new call information elements to the signaling interface in either the SS7 format or the packet signaling format; and

an asynchronous transfer mode matrix adapted to receive the new call signaling in the packet signaling format from the signaling interface and to transmit the new call signaling using an asynchronous transfer mode connection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein

the call processor further is adapted to transmit a control message to the asynchronous transfer mode matrix designating the asynchronous transfer mode connection over which to connect the new call signaling;

and

the asynchronous transfer mode matrix further is adapted to receive the control message and to connect the new call signaling using the asynchronous transfer mode connection in response thereto.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the asynchronous transfer mode matrix is adapted to connect the new call signaling to the asynchronous transfer mode connection without requiring the call processor to designate the asynchronous transfer mode connection.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the call processor further is adapted to transmit a control message to the asynchronous transfer mode matrix designating the connection for the user communications; and

the asynchronous transfer mode matrix further is adapted to receive the user communications, to receive the control message, and to connect the user communications using the connection designated in the control message.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a communication device adapted to receive the user communications over the connection.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the call processor further is adapted to determine a second connection for the user communications and to transmit a second control message designating the second connection, and the system further comprises:

an interworking unit adapted to receive the second control message from the call processor, to receive the user communications, and to interwork the user communications to the designated second connection.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a communication device adapted to transport the user communications to the interworking unit.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling interface and the call processor are connected by at least one of a backplane, a bus structure, and a single computer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the new call signaling transmitted by the asynchronous transfer mode matrix comprises new call information elements.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a call process control system adapted to manage and administer the system.