System and method for transporting a call

• US 7,376,131 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, legal representative, DuRee, Albert Daniel, Christie, Joseph Michael, Sucharczuk, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US11/679,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A communication system receives a signaling message for a voice communication and processes the signaling message to select a route identifier. The system selects a processing technique for the voice communication, such as compression or encryption. The system processes the voice communication with the selected processing technique. The system adds the selected route identifier to the voice communication. The system adds a processing indicator to the voice communication. The system transfers the voice communication with the route identifier and the processing indicator.

Claims

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

receiving a signaling message for a voice communication;

processing the signaling message to select a route identifier for the voice communication;

selecting a compression technique for the voice communication;

receiving the voice communication;

compressing the voice communication using the selected compression technique;

adding the selected route identifier to the compressed voice communication;

adding a compression indicator indicating the selected compression technique to the compressed voice communication; and

transferring the compressed voice communication with the route identifier and the compression indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the compressed voice communication with the route identifier and the compression indicator;

identifying the compression technique based on the compression indicator; and

decompressing the voice communication using the compression technique.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

receiving the voice communication comprises receiving the voice communication from a circuit-based network; and

transferring the compressed voice communication comprises transferring the compressed voice communication over a broadband network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the route identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the compression indicator comprises an asynchronous transfer mode convergence sublayer indicator.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the signaling message comprises an initial address message.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the voice communication comprises receiving the voice communication from a DS0 connection.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein:

receiving and processing the signaling message for the voice communication comprises receiving and processing the signaling message in a signaling processor;

receiving and compressing the voice communication comprises receiving and compressing the voice communication in an interworking unit; and

further comprising;

transferring a control message from the signaling processor to the interworking unit indicating the route identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting the compression technique for the voice communication comprises processing the signaling message in the signaling processor to select the compression technique and indicating the compression technique in the control message.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting the compression technique for the voice communication comprises selecting the compression technique in the interworking unit.

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

receiving a signaling message for a voice communication;

processing the signaling message to select a route identifier for the voice communication;

selecting an encryption technique for the voice communication;

receiving the voice communication;

encrypting the voice communication using the selected encryption technique;

adding the selected route identifier to the encrypted voice communication;

adding an encryption indicator indicating the selected encryption technique to the encrypted voice communication; and

transferring the encrypted voice communication with the route identifier and the encryption indicator.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving the encrypted voice communication with the route identifier and the encryption indicator;

identifying the encryption technique based on the encryption indicator; and

decrypting the voice communication using the encryption technique.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

receiving the voice communication comprises receiving the voice communication from a circuit-based network; and

transferring the encrypted voice communication comprises transferring the encrypted voice communication over a broadband network.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the route identifier comprises an asynchronous transfer mode virtual identifier.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the encryption indicator comprises an asynchronous transfer mode convergence sublayer indicator.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the signaling message comprises an initial address message.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving the voice communication comprises receiving the voice communication from a DS0 connection.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein:

receiving and processing the signaling message for the voice communication comprises receiving and processing the signaling message in a signaling processor;

receiving and encrypting the voice communication comprises receiving and encrypting the voice communication in an interworking unit; and

further comprising;

transferring a control message from the signaling processor to the interworking unit indicating the route identifier.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein selecting the encryption technique for the voice communication comprises processing the signaling message in the signaling processor to select the encryption technique and indicating the encryption technique in the control message.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein selecting the encryption technique for the voice communication comprises selecting the encryption technique in the interworking unit.