Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2004-09-14
Cangialosi, Salvatore (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S395100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06791972
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for interfacing a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) with an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In
FIG. 1
, a conventional system for interfacing a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) with an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network is illustrated. In the prior art system, the PBX
20
is coupled to a plurality of subscriber extensions
11
,
12
,
13
and a central office switch
30
to provide communication service over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Alternatively, the PBX
20
can be directly connected to the PSTN to provide communication service without any additional interface device. Moreover, the ATM network is coupled to a multimedia terminal
80
and a hub
60
via an ATM switch
40
. The hub
60
of the ATM network
60
is coupled to a plurality of workstations
71
,
72
to provide wide-band multimedia service.
In order for the PBX
20
to provide wide-band multimedia service through the ATM network, the PBX
20
must be connected to an ATM CES Interworking Function (ATM CES IWF)
50
to convert its signal frame into a corresponding ATM cell to be applied to the ATM switch
40
. The conversion is necessary since the PBX communication process is completely different from the ATM network. The ATM CES IWF
50
serves as a proprietary interface to make a permanent virtual channel (PVC) connection between the PSTN and the ATM network to transmit the voice traffic of the PBX
20
by way of the PVC connection. Thus, in the conventional system, the ATM CEF IWF
50
must be separately provided to cross-interface between the PBX
20
and the ATM switch
40
. However, the prior art system has drawbacks in that the ATM CEF IWF
50
is overloaded with the tasks of processing voice traffic calls due to the double signaling and the information exchanges occurring between two different networks. As a result, the prior art interfacing system is not efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for interfacing a PBX with an ATM network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for interfacing a PBX with an ATM network.
According to the present invention, an apparatus for interfacing a PBX with an ATM network includes a circuit switch part for establishing an ATM communication channel to connect the ATM network if a subscriber requests an access to the ATM network, and an ATM network switch part for converting the signaling information from the ATM communication channel into the corresponding ATM network cell to be applied to the ATM network.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for interfacing a PBX with an ATM network includes the steps of establishing an ATM communication channel to connect the ATM network if a subscriber requests access to the ATM network, and converting the signaling information of the subscriber from the ATM communication channel into a corresponding ATM network cell to be applied to the ATM network.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more detailed description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5987025 (1999-11-01), Hokari
patent: 6038237 (2000-03-01), Tsuruta et al.
patent: 6363064 (2002-03-01), Yamaguchi
patent: 6487198 (2002-11-01), Pierson, Jr.
patent: 6556568 (2003-04-01), Sasaki
patent: 6574220 (2003-06-01), Petty
patent: 2002/0089987 (2002-07-01), Sasaki
patent: 2003/0026284 (2003-02-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 16429/97 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 2294840 (1996-05-01), None
Cangialosi Salvatore
Cha & Reiter L.L.C.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for interfacing a private branch exchange with an... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for interfacing a private branch exchange with an..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for interfacing a private branch exchange with an... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3224614