Multiplex communications – Data flow congestion prevention or control – Flow control of data transmission through a network
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-16
2001-04-17
Patel, Ajit (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Data flow congestion prevention or control
Flow control of data transmission through a network
C370S230000, C370S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219338
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a method of establishing a connection wherein a requesting terminal signals a call request to a control unit of a first communications network, and wherein the control unit determines whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network for establishing the connection requested by the call request, such that in the absence of sufficient capacity, the control unit initiates an alternative establishment of the requested connection through another, second communications network based on parameters assigned to the requesting terminal.
The invention is also directed to an exchange of a first communications network with means for receiving a call request from a requesting terminal and with a control unit which is provided with means for determining whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network for establishing the connection requested by the call request.
The invention is still further directed to a service computer for a first communications network or for two or more communications networks with means for receiving data of a call request from a requesting terminal and with a control unit which is provided with means for determining whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network or in a first of the two or more communications networks for establishing the connection requested by the call request.
It is also directed to a communication network using the above methodology.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Approaches for establishing connections in an overloaded communication network are known, in particular, from private communication networks.
The invention is based on a conventional method for establishing a connection, as used with private branch exchange networks, for example with internal company networks which have several network access points to a public telephone network. This method is described, for example, in the article “Network TK Installations without Limits”, by Hilmar Dehlen, NTZ, Vol. 45 (1992), No. 9 on pages 714 to 720.
The private communication network is formed by several private branch exchanges interconnected via direct routes. Each of the individual private branch exchanges have network access to the public telephone network. When a private branch exchange receives a call request requesting a connection to a terminal of a different private branch exchange of the private network, and if a bottleneck exists in the private network for establishing the requested connection via links of the private network, then there is an automatic overflow into the public telephone network, i.e. the call request is routed onward from the private branch exchange to the public telephone network, and a connection to the requested terminal is established via the public telephone network.
This method for establishing a connection has the disadvantage that significant expenses are incurred in an overloaded situation, since the public telephone network has to be used without the possibility to achieve a more uniform utilization of the private communication network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a method for establishing a connection for an overloaded network which allows optimization of the alternate routing in an overloaded situation based on cost and traffic.
This object is solved by a method of establishing a connection wherein a requesting terminal signals a call request to a control unit of a first communications network, and wherein the control unit determines whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network for establishing the connection requested by the call request, such that in the absence of sufficient capacity, the control unit initiates an alternative establishment of the requested connection through another, second communications network based on parameters assigned to the requesting terminal.
Another object of the invention is an exchange of a first communications network with means for receiving a call request from a requesting terminal and with a control unit which is provided with means for determining whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network for establishing the connection requested by the call request, such that the control unit is designed to initiate an alternative establishment of the requested connection through another, second communications network based on parameters assigned to the requesting terminal if insufficient capacity is determined.
A still further object of the invention is a service computer for a first communications network or for two or more communications networks with means for receiving data of a call request from a requesting terminal and with a control unit which is provided with means for determining whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network or in a first of the two or more communications networks for establishing the connection requested by the call request, such that the control unit is designed to initiate an alternative establishment of the requested connection through another, second communications network based on parameters assigned to the requesting terminal if insufficient capacity is determined.
Another object of the invention is a communication network using the above methodology.
The invention is based on the concept to treat, in an overloaded situation, the call request for each terminal on an individual basis, i.e. to decide individually for each terminal if or to which one of several communication networks the call request has to be rerouted and consequently, if or over which communication network the requested connection has to be established. In this way, an individually customized profile for each subscriber can be advantageously established, taking into account the costs associated with an overloaded situation, while the response of a subscriber in an overloaded situation can be controlled by a specific choice of parameters characteristic for a specific terminal, so that a more uniform network utilization can be attained.
It is another advantage of the invention that it can be used in other communication environments besides private branch exchanges and public telephone networks. The invention can be employed in any heterogeneous network environment with several private and/or public communication networks or virtual communication networks. The method of the invention for establishing a connection satisfies, in particular, the requirements created by a deregulated heterogeneous communication environment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5023868 (1991-06-01), Davidson et al.
patent: 5051992 (1991-09-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 5317566 (1994-05-01), Joshi
patent: 5375167 (1994-12-01), Bales et al.
patent: 5550906 (1996-08-01), Chau et al.
patent: 5675577 (1997-10-01), Komatsu
patent: 5898673 (1999-04-01), Riggan et al.
patent: 2430958 (1975-10-01), None
patent: 2431007 (1976-01-01), None
patent: 3126383 (1983-01-01), None
patent: 1952329 (1996-01-01), None
“Vernetzte TK-Analgen ohne Grenzen” (Network TK Installations without Limits by Hilmar Dehlen, NTZ, vol. 45, (1992), No. 9 on pp. 714-720.
“A Self-Heating ATM Network Based on Multilink Principles” by Landegem et al, IEEE Journal of Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 12, No. 1,Jan. 1994, pp. 139-148.
Alcatel
Patel Ajit
Phunkulh Bob A.
Ware Fressola Van der Sluys & Adolphson LLP
LandOfFree
Method of establishing a connection, as well as exchange,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of establishing a connection, as well as exchange,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of establishing a connection, as well as exchange,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544096