System and method for configuring bandwidth transmission rates for call connections

• US 7,103,068 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wiley, William Lyle, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US09/304,379
• Time in Patent Office: 2,681 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-234, 370/235, 370351-356, 3703951-39543, 370/375.4, 370/431, 370/437, 370453-468, 370522-525, 370/433, 379229-234
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 Traffic shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13164 Traffic (registration, measurement,...)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a call comprises a signaling processor for processing call signaling to determine connections for the user communications and to determine a bandwidth at which the user communications are to be connected. A connection system connects the user communications to a connection at a bandwidth specified by the signaling processor. The signaling processor may select a particular bandwidth for a call based on call signaling, subscriber profiles, call admission control, call triggers, accounting measures, the type of call including voice, voice band data, clear channel, or other data, and other methods.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive and process signaling for a call to select a connection, a bandwidth rate, an encoding scheme, and a billing rate, to transfer a first message indicating the connection, the bandwidth rate, and the encoding scheme, and transfer a second message indicating the billing rate to an accounting system; and

an interworking unit configured to receive the first message and user communications for the call, and in response, to apply the encoding scheme to the user communications and transfer the user communications over the connection at the bandwidth rate.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises a signaling system seven message.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select the bandwidth rate based on a caller number.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select the bandwidth rate based whether the call is a voice call or a data call.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select the encoding scheme based on a caller number.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the encoding scheme comprises compression.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the encoding scheme comprises encryption.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select the billing rate based on the bandwidth rate.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to select the billing rate based on the encoding scheme.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein:

the interworking unit is configured to detect a call trigger in the user communications and transfer a third message indicating the call trigger;

the signaling processor configured to receive and process the third message to select a new bandwidth rate and to transfer a fourth message indicating the new bandwidth rate; and

the interworking unit is configured to receive the fourth message, and in response, to transfer the user communications over the connection at the new bandwidth rate.

11. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

in a signaling processor, receiving and processing signaling for a call to select a connection, a bandwidth rate, an encoding scheme, and a billing rate, transferring a first message indicating the connection, the bandwidth rate, and the encoding scheme, and transferring a second message indicating the billing rate to an accounting system;

in an interworking unit, receiving the first message and user communications for the call, and in response, applying the encoding scheme to the user communications and transferring the user communications over the connection at the bandwidth rate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving and processing the signaling comprises receiving and processing a signaling system seven message.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the bandwidth rate comprises selecting the bandwidth rate based on a caller number.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the bandwidth rate comprises selecting the bandwidth rate based on whether the call is a voice call or a data call.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the encoding scheme comprises selecting the encoding scheme based on a caller number.

16. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the encoding scheme comprises compression.

17. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the encoding scheme comprises encryption.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the billing rate comprises selecting the billing rate based on the bandwidth rate.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the billing rate comprises selecting the billing rate based on the encoding scheme.

20. The method of claim 11 her comprising:

in the interworking unit, detecting a call trigger in the user communications and transferring a third message indicating the call trigger;

in the signaling processor, receiving and processing the third message to select a new bandwidth rate and transferring a fourth message indicating the new bandwidth rate; and

in the interworking unit, receiving the fourth message, and in response, transferring the user communications over the connection at the new bandwidth rate.