Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Through a circuit switch
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-12
2001-03-20
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2738)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Through a circuit switch
C379S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205136
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a telecommunication network and a method of controlling the switching of a telecommunication signal in a telecommunication network. More particularly, the present invention relates to the control arrangement for controlling the switching of a telecommunication signal in a telecommunication network.
2. Related Art
In a modern telecommunication network there is a need to provide flexible call control architectures of the switched networks to facilitate the implementation of new features and services. Networks which provide such flexibility have been termed ‘intelligent networks’ and are discussed in detail in “Intelligent Networks” by Jan Thörner (Artech House. Boston. London).
A typical intelligent network is illustrated in FIG.
1
. In such a network when a local exchange
1
receives a telecommunication signal from a telephone
2
, the signal is interpreted by the call control function (CCF). Limited processing of the telecommunication signal can take place within the service switching function (SSF). However, if more advanced processing is required the SSF has the ability to generate a query i.e. a request for control from a centralised transaction processor termed the service control function (SCF). The query from the SSF is passed initially to a signalling transfer function which routes the query to the required SCF. The SCF is a centralised transaction processor which hosts advanced services controlled software termed service logic programs (SLPs) or applications. When an SCF receives a query, an application will be initiated which requires data. The application running in the SCF refers to a service data function (SDF) for the requisite data. The SCF can then return instructions to the SSF in the local exchange
1
via the STF.
The advantage of this arrangement is that the advanced services are provided at a centralised location. This enables both the applications in the SCF and the data in the SDF to be updated as desired when advanced services are to be updated. A customer is able to modify the applications for data in the SCF and SDF respectively by changing the application or data in a service management function (SMF). The SMF is able to update the applications and data in the SCFs and SDFs respectively easily in view of their centralisation location. The SMF is also able to manage the STF and SSF if required.
In order to standardise communication over intelligent networks, various standard signalling protocols have been agreed. For instance, communication between the SSFs, the STFs, the SCFs and the SDFs can be achieved using the CCITT (Consultative Council of International Telephone and Telegraph)
7
common channelling signalling network. The CCITT
7
protocol comprises a signalling connection control part (SCCP) and transaction capabilities (TCs). In addition an intelligent network application part (INAP) can be stacked on this C
7
transport.
The communication of the management functions from the service management function can be carried out using an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) X25 link which uses a file transfer protocol (FTP) for the transfer of management data e.g. for the updating of the applications and data in the SCFs and SDFs respectively.
A centralised architecture has the advantage that it provides for flexibility compared with a distributed network. It also provides savings on management network infra structure since the centralised applications and data only have to be updated for one location. In a distributed network the applications and data would need to be updated throughout the network.
The centralised network however suffers from the disadvantage that the SSF must transmit a query to a centralised SCF thus causing switching delays for the signal over the speech path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce the switching delay in a telecommunication network without requiring a significant increase in the signalling network infra structure compared to the prior art centralised structure.
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a telecommunication network comprising:
local switch means for receiving and switching a telecommunication signal to remote switch means in the network;
local control means including storage means for storing instructions and/or data, said local control means being adapted to use said stored instructions and/or data to control the switching operation of said local switch means;
remote control means including storage means for storing instructions and/or data equivalent to the instructions and/or data stored in said storage means of said local control means, said remote control means being adapted to control the switching operation of said local switch means, said local switch means being controlled by either said local control means or said remote control means;
management means for modifying said instructions and/or data of said storage means of said local and remote control means, said management means being adapted to modify said instructions and/or data of said storage means of one of said local and remote control means immediately, to associate a marker with said instructions and/or data in said storage means of said local control means to indicate whether said storage means of said local control means contains the most recently modified instructions and/or data, and to similarly modify said instructions and/or data of said storage means of the others of said local and remote control means subsequently;
said switching means being adapted to request control from said local control means;
marker checking means for checking said marker to determine if said instructions and/or data in said storage means of said local control means are the most recently modified instructions and/or data; and
passing means responsive to said marker means for passing the control request from said local switch means to said remote control means if said marker checking means determines that said instructions and/or data are not the most recently modified instructions and/or data.
In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling the switching of a telecommunication signal in a telecommunication network comprising local switch means for switching the telecommunication signal, local control means containing instructions and/or data for controlling the switching operation of said switch means, and remote control means containing equivalent instructions and/or data for controlling the switching operation of said switch means, the method comprising:
control modification steps of
modifying said instructions and/or data in one of said local and remote control means;
associating a marker with said instructions and/or data contained in said local control means to indicate wherein said local control means contains the most recently modified instructions and/or data;
subsequently similarly modifying said instructions and/or data of the other of said local and remote control means;
and switching control steps of
said local switch means requesting control from said local control means;
checking said marker to determine if said instructions and/or data of said local control means is not the most recently modified instructions and/or data; and
if it is determined that said instructions and/or data are not the most recently modified instruction and/or data;
passing the control request from said local switch means to said remote control means and controlling said local switch means from said remote control means, or if it is determined that said instructions and/or data re the most recently modified instructions and/or data, controlling said local switch means from said local control means.
In accordance with the third aspect, the present invention provides a local switching arrangement for use in the method of any one of claims
29
to
38
comprising:
said local switching means for receiving and switching a telecommunication signal to remote swit
British Telecommunications public limited company
Elallam Ahmed
Kizou Hassan
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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