Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

• US 7,505,454 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Application Number:
  US11/560,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/247 ATM or packet multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• 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 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors

Abstract

The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Claims

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

receiving first signaling from customer premises equipment into a communication control processor;

processing the first signaling in the communication control processor to select an address of a network element;

transferring second signaling indicating the address from the communication control processor;

transferring third signaling from the communication control processor to a narrowband network;

receiving a voice communication from the customer premises equipment into a broadband network;

transferring the voice communication in the broadband network to the network element; and

transferring the voice communication from the network element to the narrowband network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first signaling comprises broadband signaling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signaling comprises broadband signaling.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the third signaling comprises Signaling System Seven (SS7) signaling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the third signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the voice communication in the broadband network to the network element comprises transferring the voice communication over connections, and further comprising in the broadband network, selecting the connections.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the network element is connected to a local switch in the narrowband network and transferring the voice communication to the narrowband network comprises transferring the voice communication to the local switch.

8. A telecommunication system comprising:

a communication control processor configured to receive first signaling from customer premises equipment, process the first signaling to select an address of a network element, transfer second signaling indicating the address, and transfer third signaling to a narrowband network;

a broadband network configured to receive a voice communication from the customer premises equipment and transfer the voice communication to the network element; and

the network element is configured to receive the voice communication from the broadband network and transfer the voice communication to the narrowband network.

9. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the first signaling comprises broadband signaling.

10. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the second signaling comprises broadband signaling.

11. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the third signaling comprises Signaling System Seven signaling.

12. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the third signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.

13. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the broadband network is configured to select connections and transfer the voice communication to the network element over the connections.

14. The telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the network element is connected to a local switch in the narrowband network and is configured to transfer the voice communication to the local switch.