Intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM

• US 7,266,111 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, John K., Hall, Thomas Glenn Jr., Barnhouse, Robert Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/768,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 370/385, 370/230, 370/352, 370/392, 370/393, 370/395.2, 370/395.3, 370/395.51, 370/395.61, 370/397, 370/401, 370/410, 370/465, 370/467, 370/524, 370/231, 370/356, 370/395.6, 370/353, 370/395.1, 370/395.4, 370/395.52, 370/354
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5671 Support of voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5687 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/203 ATM switching fabrics with multicast or broadcast capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 : virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42187 : Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 : Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13242 : Broadcast, diffusion, multicast, point-to-multipoint (1 : N)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0066 : Bandwidth allocation or management

Abstract

An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM are provided that can provide significant advantages. The intelligent network includes a multi-service control point, an ATM signaling intercept processor, and a service administration. The multi-service control point receive an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generates an output in response for use in generating an output ATM setup message. The ATM signaling intercept processor intercepts the input ATM setup message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extracts the input from the input ATM setup message, communicates the input to the multi-service control point, receives the output generated by the multi-service control point, generates the output ATM setup message using the output, and communicates the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network. The service administration provisions the multi-service control point and the ATM signaling intercept processor. An illustrative method for providing VToA is also provided.

Claims

1. An intelligent network for use with an ATM network to set up an ATM switched virtual circuit to provide VToA services, the intelligent network comprising:

a multi-service control point operable to receive an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generate an output in response for use in generating an output ATM setup message;

an ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the input ATM setup message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extract the input from the input ATM setup message, communicate the input to the multi-service control point, receive the output generated by the multi-service control point, generate the output ATM setup message using the output, and communicate the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network; and

a service administration operable to provision the multi-service control point and the ATM signaling intercept processor.

2. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the input includes a calling party phone number value.

3. The intelligent network of claim 2, wherein the input includes an ATM address of a calling party CPE.

4. The intelligent network of claim 3, wherein the called party phone number value is stored in a called party subaddress parameter of the input ATM setup message, the VToA designator is stored in a called party number parameter of the input ATM setup message, the calling party phone number value is stored in a calling party subaddress parameter of the input ATM setup message, and the ATM address of the calling party CPE is stored in a calling party number parameter of the input ATM setup message.

5. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the called party phone number value is stored in a called party subaddress parameter of the input ATM setup message, the VToA designator is stored in a called party number parameter of the input ATM setup message.

6. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the output includes an ATM address of a called party.

7. The intelligent network of claim 6, wherein the called party phone number value is stored in a called party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup message, the ATM address of the called party is stored in a called party number parameter of the output ATM setup message, a calling party phone number value is stored in a calling party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup message, and an ATM address of a calling party CPE is stored in a calling party number parameter of the output ATM setup message.

8. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point determines if the input ATM setup message requests a SVC for VToA by analyzing the VToA designator portion of the input.

9. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point further includes:

a database that correlates the called party phone number value with an ATM address of a called party CPE, and wherein the multi-service control point includes the ATM address of the called party CPE in the output.

10. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point further includes:

a database that correlates the called party phone number value with a forwarded called party phone number value when the called party phone number value has been forwarded, correlates the forwarded party phone number value with an ATM address of a forwarded party CPE, and wherein the multi-service control point includes the forwarded party phone number value and an ATM address of the forwarded party CPE in the output.

11. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point further includes:

a database that correlates the called party phone number value with a translated called party phone number value when the called party phone number should be translated, correlates the translated party phone number value with an ATM address of a translated party CPE, and wherein the multi-service control point includes the translated party phone number value and the ATM address of the translated party CPE in the output.

12. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point is operable to receive an input extracted from an input ATM connect message and to generate an output in response for use in generating an output ATM connect message, and wherein the ATM signaling intercept processor is operable to intercept the input ATM connect message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, to extract the input from the input ATM connect message, to communicate the input to the multi-service control point, to receive the output generated by the multi-service control point, to generate the output ATM connect message using the output, and to communicate an output ATM signaling message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network.

13. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point is operable to receive an input extracted from an input ATM release message and to generate an output in response for use in generating an output ATM release message, and wherein the ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the input ATM release message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, to extract the input from the input ATM release message, to communicate the input to the multi-service control point, to receive the output generated by the multi-service control point, to generate the output ATM release message using the output, and to communicate an output ATM signaling message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network.

14. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point includes various applications operable to provide the VToA services through analyzing the input to generate the output.

15. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the ATM signaling intercept processor is operable to model multiple switched virtual circuits, including the ATM switched virtual circuit, for providing VToA using the ATM network.

16. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the ATM edge switch receives the input ATM setup message in a predefined format from a customer premises equipment.

17. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the ATM edge switch receives the input ATM setup message from an enterprise gateway.

18. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein content exchanged through the ATM switched virtual circuit of the ATM network includes video.

19. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein content exchanged through the ATM switched virtual circuit of the ATM network includes data.

20. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the multi-service control point is operable to determine if the called party phone number value is valid, and wherein the input ATM setup message is rejected if the called party phone number value is not valid.

21. The intelligent network of claim 1, further comprising:

a second multi-service control point operable to receive an egress input extracted from the output ATM setup message that includes the called party phone number value, and generate an egress output in response,

a second ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the output ATM setup message from an egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extract the egress input from the output ATM setup message, communicate the egress input to the second multi-service control point, receive the egress output generated by the multi-service control point, generate an ATM setup message using the egress output, and communicate the ATM setup message to the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, and wherein the service administration is operable to provision the second multi-service control point and the second ATM signaling intercept processor.

22. The intelligent network of claim 21, wherein the second multi-service control point is the multi-service control point.

23. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the service administration maintains a database of record.

24. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the service administration provides an interface to the multi-service control point and the ATM signal intercept processor.

25. The intelligent network of claim 1, wherein the ingress ATM switch has a device side portion and a network side portion.

26. An ATM telecommunications network with an intelligent network for providing VToA services using an ATM switched virtual circuit, the ATM telecommunications network comprising:

an ATM network operable to communicate ATM cells and ATM messages;

an ingress ATM edge switch in communication with the ATM network and an ingress CPE, the ingress ATM edge switch operable to receive an input ATM setup message from an ingress CPE and to communicate an output ATM setup message to the ATM network;

an egress ATM edge switch in communication with the ATM network and an egress CPE, the egress ATM edge switch operable to receive the output ATM setup message from the ATM network and to communicate an ATM setup message to an egress CPE;

an intelligent network that includes;

a multi-service control point operable to receive an input extracted from the input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generate an output in response for use in generating the output ATM setup message,

an ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the input ATM setup message from the ingress ATM edge switch, extract the input from the input ATM setup message, communicate the input to the multi-service control point, receive the output generated by the multi-service control point, generate the output ATM setup message using the output, and communicate the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network,

a second multi-service control point operable to receive an egress input extracted from the output ATM setup message that includes the called party phone number value, and generate an egress output in response,

a second ATM signaling intercept processor operable to intercept the output ATM setup message from the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extract the egress input from the output ATM setup message, communicate the egress input to the second multi-service control point, receive the egress output generated by the multi-service control point, generate an ATM setup message using the output, and communicate the ATM setup message to the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network,

a service administration operable to provision the multi-service control point, the ATM signaling intercept processor, the second multi-service control point and the second ATM signaling intercept processor.

27. The ATM telecommunications network of claim 26, wherein the input includes a calling party phone number value and an ATM address of a calling party CPE, and wherein the called party phone number value is stored in a called party subaddress parameter of the input ATM setup message, the VToA designator is stored in a called party number parameter of the input ATM setup message, the calling party phone number value is stored in a calling party subaddress parameter of the input ATM setup message, and an ATM address of the calling party CPE is stored in a calling party number parameter of the input ATM setup message.

28. The ATM telecommunications network of claim wherein the called party phone number value is stored in a called party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup message, an ATM address of the called party is stored in a called party number parameter of the output ATM setup message, the calling party phone number value is stored in a calling party subaddress parameter of the output ATM setup message, and the ATM address of the calling party CPE is stored in a calling party number parameter of the output ATM setup message.

29. A method for providing VToA using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network, the method comprising:

intercepting an input ATM setup message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting information from the input ATM setup message;

analyzing the information to determine if the input ATM setup message is a request to set up an SVC for VToA, the analyzing including checking for presence of a VToA designator;

determining an ATM address of a called party CPE;

generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of a called party CPE; and

communicating the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein extracting information from the input ATM setup message includes generating an input from the input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an ATM address of a called party CPE includes correlating the called party phone number value of the input with the ATM address of the called party CPE using a database.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of a called party CPE further includes generating the output ATM setup message that includes the called party phone number value.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein intercepting the input ATM setup message from the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, and extracting information from the input ATM setup message are performed using an ATM signaling intercept processor.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein analyzing the information to determine if the input ATM setup message is a request to set up an SVC for VToA, and determining the ATM address of the called party CPE are performed using a multi-service control point.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of a called party CPE is performed using the ATM signaling intercept processor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the input ATM setup message provides the VToA designator stored in a called party address parameter and the called party phone number value stored in a called party subaddress parameter.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the output ATM setup message provides the ATM address of the called party CPE stored in a called party address parameter and the called party phone number value stored in a called party subaddress.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein analyzing the information to determine if the input ATM setup message is a request to set up an SVC for VToA further includes processing the information to provide VToA services.

39. A method for providing VToA using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network, the method comprising:

receiving a request at an ingress CPE to make a VToA call that includes a called party phone number value;

generating an input ATM setup message at the ingress CPE that includes the called party phone number value and a VToA designator stored in a designated parameter of the input ATM setup message;

receiving the input ATM setup message at a device side of an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

intercepting the input ATM setup message from the device side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting information from the input ATM setup message that includes the VToA designator and the called party phone number value;

analyzing the information to determine if the VToA designator is present;

determining an ATM address of a called party CPE using the called party phone number value and a database;

generating an output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of a called party CPE and the called party phone number value;

communicating the output ATM setup message to a network side of the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

receiving the output ATM setup message at a network side of an egress ATM edge switch;

intercepting the output ATM setup message from the network side of the egress ATM edge switch of the ATM network;

extracting egress information from the output ATM setup message that includes the ATM address of the called party CPE;

communicating the output ATM setup message to a device side of the egress ATM edge switch; and

communicating the output ATM setup message to the called party CPE.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein generating an input ATM setup message at the ingress CPE includes storing the VToA designator in a called party address parameter and storing the called party phone number value in a called party subaddress parameter.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein generating an output ATM setup message includes storing the ATM address of the called party CPE in the called party address parameter and storing the called party phone number value stored in the called party subaddress.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

processing the information to provide VToA services after analyzing the information to determine if the VToA designator is present.