System and method for allocating bandwidth for a call

• US 6,922,409 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Medhat, Khalid Mohamed, Gardner, Michael Joseph, Boldt, Dean Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US10/408,952
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.1, 370/389, 370/385, 370/467, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/468, 370/397, 370/399, 370/395.2, 370/466, 370/410, 379/350, 379/230, 379/229, 379/231
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system and method for allocating bandwidth in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) system over-allocates bandwidth in virtual paths for virtual path groups between ATM devices. A bandwidth allocation platform manages the virtual paths in the ATM system to control allocation and to prevent congestion, while providing efficient utilization of the bandwidth within the ATM system. The bandwidth allocation system over-allocates virtual paths for virtual path groups that require additional bandwidth to make connections for calls. When a connection is selected on the over-allocated virtual path, the virtual path may use bandwidth from another virtual path in the virtual path group or from a virtual path in another virtual path group if needed. A communication device transports user communications and call signaling for a call. A signaling processor processes the call signaling to select a connection in one of the over-allocated virtual paths for the call over the virtual path group. An interworking unit interworks the user communications from the format in which the user communications are received from the communication device to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection.

Claims

1. A communication system having a plurality of first identifiers for routing calls and a plurality of second identifiers for routing calls, the communication system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive call signaling for a call, determine if the call would exceed an allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers, if the call would exceed the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers, then select one of the second identifiers for the call, and transmit a control message indicating the one of the second identifiers; and

an interworking unit configured to receive user communications for the call and the control message, convert the user communications to include the one of the second identifiers, and transmit the user communications that identify the one of the second identifiers.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling processor is further configured to:

provision the plurality of first identifiers and the plurality of second identifiers in the communication system.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling processor is configured to:

select one of the first identifiers for the call if the call would not exceed the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling processor is configured to query a bandwidth management platform to select the one of the second identifiers.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling processor is configured to query another signaling processor in the communication system to select the one of the second identifiers.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first identifiers comprises an ATM virtual path.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the first identifiers comprise ATM virtual connections.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first identifiers and the plurality of second identifiers comprise an ATM virtual path group.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the interworking unit is configured to convert the communications from TDM format to ATM format.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the call signaling comprises Signaling System #7 signaling.

11. A method of operating a communication system having a plurality of first identifiers for routing calls and a plurality of second identifiers for routing calls, the method comprising the steps of:

in a signaling processor,

receiving call signaling for a call,

determining if the call would exceed an allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers,

if the call would exceed the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers, then selecting one of the second identifiers for the call, and

transmitting a control message indicating the one of the second identifiers; and

in an interworking unit,

receiving user communications for the call and the control message,

converting the user communications to include the one of the second identifiers, and

transmitting the user communications that identify the one of the second identifiers.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

in the signaling processor, provisioning the plurality of first identifiers and the plurality of second identifiers in the communication system.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

in the signaling processor, selecting one of the first identifiers for the call if the call would not exceed the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of first identifiers.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

in the signaling processor, querying a bandwidth management platform to select the one of the second identifiers.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

in the signaling processor, querying another signaling processor in the communication system to select the one of the second identifiers.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first identifiers comprises an ATM virtual path.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first identifiers comprise ATM virtual connections.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first identifiers and the plurality of second identifiers comprise an ATM virtual path group.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

in the interworking unit, converting the user communications from TDM format to ATM format.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the call signaling comprises Signaling System #7 signaling.