Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-01
2001-08-21
Nguyen, Chau (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S466000, C370S522000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278707
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to telecommunications and specifically to a platform for coupling a circuit-switched network to a packet-switched network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The public Internet has become an extremely popular source of information and vehicle for communications. Each day, millions of people log on to the numerous available web sites. Nearly every major company as well as many small companies and even individuals have web sites which allow the general public to visit. Every indication leads one to believe this trend will only continue to grow.
Physically, the Internet is a huge, global network spanning nearly 100 countries and comprising a great number of academic, commercial, government, and military networks. Each of the computers on this network uses the data network protocol TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Some users have direct access to the Internet. In other words, these users have computer systems which are connected via dedicated transmission facilities connecting the users at access points provided by Internet service providers, typically at speeds of 1,536 mbps and above.
Many other users, however, must connect to the Internet through an Internet service provider (ISP) via circuit switched access at speeds below 56 kpbs. An ISP can receive communications from a user's computer through a modem connected over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The ISP owns equipment that provides an interconnection from a circuit-switched network to a packet switched network. There is a need to make the connection from the PSTN to the Internet more efficient.
One common method of Internet connectivity is over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The PSTN was designed for voice traffic for an average hold time of about three minutes. Internet traffic using the voice network, on the other hand, has an average hold time of about thirty-five minutes and is constantly growing. For example, the 1997 average hold time of twenty minutes has grown to thirty-eight minutes in about a year. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that peak traffic periods of the Internet and Voice traffic overlap. These factors cause congestion at high concentration points in the network and an inefficient use of the existing network, which is not optimized for Internet traffic.
FIG. 1
illustrates a block diagram of a common method of connection from computer (PC)
10
to Internet
12
. The computer
10
is coupled to a modem
14
. The modem generates signals which can be transported along the PSTN
16
where the necessary switching occurs so that a connection is made to a network access server (NAS)
17
. In particular, PSTN
16
utilizes a number of switches including class
3
and class
5
switches. The PSTN may be operated by a local telephone company, e.g., a regional Bell operating company (RBOC), and NAS
17
is controlled by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP also owns computer hardware such as routers and servers which are linked to the Internet
12
.
One of the problems associated with the system of
FIG. 1
is the high cost of communications between the switch (such as switch
22
in
FIG. 2
) and NAS
17
. This connection is usually made using a POTS (plain old telephone service) or ISDN (integrated services digital network) connection. These systems typically use channel associated signaling and tend to be very expensive.
FIG. 2
illustrates an alternative prior art system which will lower the cost of communication between computer
10
and Internet
12
. In this case, NAS
17
has been located physically near to switch
22
, which is typically a class
5
switch. Since the cost of the link between NAS
17
and switch
22
is distance sensitive, total cost can be lowered by locating the two components closely.
This same concept applies where more than one local exchange carrier controls the switches
15
,
22
. In that case, communications from modem
14
go first to incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) and from there to competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). For example, the ILEC may be a local telephone company such as one of the RBOCs (regional Bell operating companies). The CLEC may be another carrier such as MCI or AT&T.
In the prior art, the class
5
switch causes network congestion. With increasing hold times, this congestion may cause impacts to community related (e.g., public) services such as 911 if the carrier does not closely monitor switch capacity and utilization.
Another disadvantage of the prior art is that it makes very inefficient use of class
5
switch
22
. The class
5
switch has many capabilities which are not utilized or required by the system of FIG.
1
. While the system of
FIG. 2
has advantages over that of
FIG. 1
because of the reduced communication cost, it still requires a class
5
or similar switch and does not address the problem of network congestion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention takes calls destined for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and diverts the calls to a platform, which is optimized to handle this type of traffic. In various aspects, this invention uses innovative integration of signaling systems, numbering plans, data communications and switching systems. This invention can also be applied to any type of voice network call traffic.
In a preferred embodiment, a communication system includes an interface between two networks, for example the public telephone system and an IP-based network. The system includes a network access server or digital signal processor (DSP) bank (e.g., modem bank) which receives bearer channel inputs from one network and provides outputs to the second network. A protocol converter interfaces with a signaling network such as a common channel signaling (CCS) network (e.g., a Signaling System
7
or SS
7
network). The protocol converter communicates signaling information to the DSP bank. A resource manager is coupled to the protocol converter and includes a memory which stores status information relating to the system.
This method is technically advantageous because of the increased bandwidth being consumed by the Internet users. As the Internet usage continues to increase, congestion will increase and the number of failed calls will increase. Many other methods of decreasing the impact of the Internet on competitive local exchange carriers are costly and inefficient. The solution provided by this architecture is an advantageous solution.
One advantage of the present invention is its flexibility. A platform of the type described herein has the ability to support a number of diverse applications. In addition to the signaling point (SP) used as the example this platform has the ability to support IP, telephony (including fax as well as voice services), conferencing ports, and digital communications. The present invention also supports call origination as well as call termination. Other applications include dial-up video (e.g., multicasting and H.323/H.324 video gateway services as just two examples), operator services and others if desired.
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3 Com and DSC to Provide New Solutions for Internet Access Based on SS7 Network Control, Jul. 7, 1997.
Digital Loop Carrier, May 18, 1998.
Dendi Ranga
MacMillan Ian
Read Dale Gil
Sherman Frederick A.
Hyun Soon-Dong
MCI Communications Corporation
Nguyen Chau
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