Establishing a broadband connection that saves resources and satisfies billing conditions

• US 7,068,662 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Stelzl, Rudolf, Stademann, Rainer, Zeiner, Johann, Herzinger, Jeanette, Kalkbrenner, Andreas, Benini, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/748,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.2, 370/395.21, 370/395.4, 370/935.41, 370/395.42, 370/395.43, 370/412, 370/413, 370/468, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/114.07, 379/120, 455/452.1, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 370/395.42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket

Abstract

The invention relates to a communications system and a method for establishing a broadband connection, for example a multi-media connection between two or more users, by means of exchanges in a communications network, for example an ATM network. According to the invention, when the exchanges receive a request from a calling user to establish a broadband connection, said exchanges first establish a minimal connection between the users and once the minimal connection is in operation between the users, the requested broadband connection is established. The users of broadband network capacities, which have been reserved by the network at the request of the user, are billed during the call phase. Broadband connections of this type can receive a higher priority than the upgrade of minimal connections to complete connections. A voice connection comprising audio data constitutes for example a minimal connection. The broadband connection takes place for example between video telephones.

Claims

1. A communication system for establishing a broadband connection between a plurality of subscribers by switches in a communication network, comprising:

a calling subscriber that sends a plurality of bandwidth requests, the plurality of bandwidth requests having a broadband request;

a switch operatively connected to the calling subscriber that selects a minimum bandwidth, the minimum bandwidth being the smallest bandwidth within the plurality of bandwidth requests;

minimum connection is established between the calling subscriber and the called subscriber using the minimum bandwidth; and

a broadband connection for the broadband request is not established until after the called subscriber has answered in the event that the called subscriber is unavailable.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein a data stream determined by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the minimum connection.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein one of the subscribers first initiates the establishment of the minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein one of the subscribers first initiates the establishment of the minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the calling subscriber is charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

6. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein upon receiving a minimum connection answer message the switch is adapted to establish a connection using the plurality of bandwidth requests and excluding the minimum bandwidth request, the connection includes the broadband connection.

7. A communication system according to claim 6, wherein the calling subscriber is charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

8. A communication system according to claim 7, wherein the establishment of the broadband connection has a higher priority in the communication network than the establishment of broadband connections which are not charged for during the broadband connection setup phase.

9. A method for establishing a broadband connection between a plurality of subscribers in a communication network, comprising;

receiving a plurality of bandwidth requests from a calling subscriber operatively connected to a switch, the plurality of bandwidth requests having a broadband request;

determining a minimum bandwidth by the switch, the minimum bandwidth being the smallest value within the bandwidth request;

establishing a minimum connection between the calling subscriber and a called subscriber using the minimum bandwidth, a broadband connection for the broadband request is not established until after the called subscriber has answered in the event that the called subscriber is unavailable; and

establishing a connection after the called subscriber has answered between the subscribers using the plurality of bandwidth requests and excluding the minimum bandwidth after establishing the minimum connection.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein a data stream determined by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the minimum connection.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the calling subscriber initiates the establishment of a second broadband connection.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the calling subscriber is charged as early as the broadband connection setup phase.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein a calling subscriber first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.

14. A method for charging for a broadband connection between a plurality of subscribers in a communication network, comprising:

indicating a high priority broadband connection by the subscriber initiating the connection;

establishing the high priority broadband connection prior to establishing a non-high priority broadband connection; and

charging the subscriber requesting the high priority broadband connection during setup of the high priority broadband connection and before the high priority broadband connection has been established.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the establishment of the broadband connection has a higher priority in the communication network than the establishment of broadband connections which are not charged for during the broadband connection setup phase.

16. A method for charging for a broadband connection between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber in a communication network, comprising:

indicating a high priority broadband connection by the calling subscriber requesting the connection;

establishing the high priority broadband connection prior to establishing a non-high priority broadband connection; and

charging the calling subscriber during setup of the high priority broadband connection so that the calling subscriber is charged from the high priority broadband connection in the event a called subscriber does not answer.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the establishment of the broadband connection charged for during the connection setup phase has a higher priority in the network than a broadband connection not charged during the connection setup phase.