Multiplex communications – Communication techniques for information carried in plural... – Combining or distributing information via frequency channels
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-01-30
Marcelo, Melvin (Department: 2739)
Multiplex communications
Communication techniques for information carried in plural...
Combining or distributing information via frequency channels
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181715
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing telephony services.
BACKGROUND ART
Telephony services that are available today stem from the existing wireline intelligent network. The primary elements of the intelligent network are a switching system, a signaling network, a centralized database, and an operations support system which supports the database. In general, the switching system intercepts a call from a call source, and suspends call processing while launching a query through the signaling network to the centralized database. The database, in turn, retrieves the necessary information to handle the call, and returns that information through the signaling network to the network switch, which may be a local digital switch, so that the call can be completed. The operations support system administers the appropriate network and customer information.
The intelligence of the intelligent network is found at the service control points. A service control point is a transaction-processing database which provides call-handling information in response to network queries. The signaling network is made up of signal transfer points. A signal transfer point is a packet switch found in the common-channel signaling network. The signal transfer point is used to route signaling messages between network access nodes, such as switches and service control points. Signaling system
7
is a common communications protocol used in common-channel signaling networks.
An end user gains access to the wireline network via a twisted pair that generally runs from the local switch to the end user residence. Typically, the intelligent network is accessible by the end user as part of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The twisted pair running from the central office to the residence is a standard telephone line, and communicates over the low frequency band associated with normal, plain old telephone systems (POTS). Also, existing telephony equipment for use at the end user residence is typically low power, and can be powered by the twisted pair. That is, in the event of a local power outage, an end user does not lose telephony services because the telephony device draws power from the telephone network. In addition to voice calls, existing telephone networks may also be used for modem applications to provide data services in the traditional plain old telephone system (POTS) bandwidth.
Recently, it has become desirable for many end users including home users, and office users, to obtain higher bandwidth data connections for access to data networks such as the Internet. These high speed network connections generally provide a much higher data bit rate than does the traditional arrangement with a modem connected to the plain old telephone system (POTS) physical drop.
The number of available voice and data services over different types of networks is now rapidly increasing. Unfortunately, rapid changes in technology sometimes limit the availability to the end user of the opportunity to expand services in a cost effective manner. That is, added services often require new hardware and sometimes even a new physical drop to be run to the residence.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to expand telephony services in a cost effective manner while utilizing the rapidly advancing technologies in networking.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for providing telephony services by emulating a telephony channel within an allocated portion of the bandwidth of a digital subscriber line (DSL).
In carrying out the above object, a method for providing telephony services is provided. The method comprises establishing a digital subscriber line connection to a packet switched network. The digital subscriber line connection has a bandwidth. The method further comprises allocating a portion of the bandwidth for telephony services, and emulating a telephony channel within the allocated portion of the digital subscriber line bandwidth.
In a preferred embodiment, the emulated telephony channel is adapted to function with the existing packet switched network. That is, the digital subscriber line supports a first packet format, while the packet switched network supports a second packet format. The digital subscriber line preferably is connected to the packet switched network through an adaption layer. The method preferably further comprises mapping digital subscriber line packets passing through the adaption layer into packet switched network packets.
Further, in a preferred embodiment, the digital subscriber line is connected to a telephony device through a remote adaption layer. The method preferably further comprises mapping signals from the telephony device passing through the remote adaption layer into digital subscriber line packets. Advantageously, appropriate adaption layers allow embodiments of the present invention to be utilized with existing telephony devices and with an existing packet switched network such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or an Internet protocol (IP) network.
Preferably, the digital subscriber line supports a packet having a header and a payload. Further, in a preferred embodiment, either information in the header or information in the payload is utilized to indicate a packet residing on the emulated telephony channel. That is, packets residing on the emulated telephony channel are distinguished from other packets riding over the remaining bandwidth of the digital subscriber line, such as video or data packets.
Presently, it is preferred that the allocating of the bandwidth portion is a substantially permanent allocation for telephony services. Of course, it may be possible to provide temporary allocation of the bandwidth portion for telephony services upon demand by an end user. Further, it is preferred that the telephony channel includes at least one 64,000 bits per second telephony channel that is emulated within the allocated portion of the digital subscriber line bandwidth. Of course, any number of telephony channels may be emulated within the allocated bandwidth portion, as required by the end user.
Further, in carrying out the present invention, a system for providing telephony services is provided. The system comprises a digital subscriber line, a server terminal, and a remote terminal. The digital subscriber line has a bandwidth with a portion allocated for telephony services. The server terminal connects the digital subscriber line to a packet switched network. The remote terminal is connected to the digital subscriber line. The server terminal and the remote terminal are configured to emulate a telephony channel within the allocated portion of the digital subscriber line bandwidth.
Preferably, the system further comprises an adaption layer configured to map digital subscriber line packets passing through the adaption layer into packet switched network packets. That is, the packet switched network and the digital subscriber line may support different types of packets, which is reconciled by the adaption layer at the server terminal. Further, preferably, the system further comprises a telephony device connected to the remote terminal, and a remote adaption layer. The remote adaption layer is configured to map signals from the telephony device passing through the remote adaption layer into digital subscriber line packets. That is, the remote adaption layer allows traditional telephony devices to utilize the emulated telephony channel.
Preferably, packets residing on the emulated telephony channel are indicated by packet header or packet payload information. If desired, the payload may be extended to hold such information, and then the server terminal adaption layer may be configured to map the packets onto the packet switched network, such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, or an Internet protocol (IP) network.
The advantages associated with embodiments of the present invention are numerous. For example, methods and systems of the present invention provide
Fink Richard H.
Kung Darwei
Phillips Bruce A.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Marcelo Melvin
Nguyen Phuongchau Ba
Qwest Communications International Inc.
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