Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-20
2001-11-06
Ngo, Ricky (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314103
ABSTRACT:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications call switching and transport and bandwidth allocation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Broadband systems are being developed and implemented. Broadband systems provide telecommunications providers with many benefits, including greater bandwidth, more efficient use of bandwidth, and the ability to integrate voice, data, and video communications. These broadband systems provide callers with increased capabilities at lower costs.
It is difficult to estimate the anticipated need for the number of virtual circuits between devices in the broadband systems. As a result, the bandwidth capacity of virtual circuit groups in broadband systems often is underutilized. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can manage virtual connections in broadband systems so that the available bandwidth capacity is more effectively utilized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a system for allocating bandwidth for a call having call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a virtual path group having a plurality of virtual paths. Bandwidth initially is under-allocated to each of the virtual paths. The system further comprises a signaling processor that is adapted to re-allocate the bandwidth available to a particular one of the virtual paths in a particular one of the virtual path groups when the bandwidth initially allocated to the particular virtual path is not sufficient to connect the call. The particular virtual path uses bandwidth initially allocated for another virtual path in the virtual path group. The signaling processor processes the call signaling to select a connection over the particular virtual path and transports a control message that designates the selected connection. An interworking unit is included in the system. The interworking unit is adapted to receive the user communications in a communication format and to receive the control message from the signaling processor. The interworking unit interworks the user communications between the communication format and asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection and transports the asynchronous transfer mode cells over the selected connection.
The present invention also comprises a system for allocating bandwidth for a call having call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a virtual path group having a plurality of virtual paths. Bandwidth initially is under-allocated to each of the virtual paths. The system further comprises a signaling processor that is adapted to re-allocate the bandwidth available to a particular one of the virtual paths in a particular one of the virtual path groups when the bandwidth initially allocated to the particular virtual path is not sufficient to connect the call. The particular virtual path uses bandwidth initially allocated for another virtual path in another virtual path group. The signaling processor processes the call signaling to select a connection over the particular virtual path and transports a control message that designates the selected connection. An interworking unit is included in the system. The interworking unit is adapted to receive the user communications in a communication format and to receive the control message from the signaling processor. The interworking unit interworks the user communications between the communication format and asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection and transports the asynchronous transfer mode cells over the selected connection.
The present invention further comprises a system for allocating bandwidth for a call having call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a plurality of virtual channels and a plurality of virtual paths that each have a portion of the virtual channels available for use. A plurality of virtual path groups is included, and each virtual path group has a portion of the virtual paths available for use. The system further comprises a signaling processor that is adapted to allocate the virtual paths in the virtual path groups so that particular virtual paths use virtual channels from other virtual paths when needed. The signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to select a connection over a selected one of the allocated virtual paths over a selected one of the virtual path groups. The signaling processor transports a control message that designates the selected connection. The system includes an interworking unit that is adapted to receive the user communications in a communication format, to receive the control message from the signaling processor, and to interwork the user communications between the communication format and asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection. The interworking unit transports the asynchronous transfer mode cells over the selected connection.
Still further, the present invention comprises a bandwidth allocation system for connecting a call over a network having a plurality of virtual channels with bandwidth and a plurality of virtual paths. Each virtual path is configured to use a portion of the bandwidth of the virtual channels. The call has call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a signaling processor and an interworking unit. The signaling processor is adapted to re-allocate bandwidth available to the virtual paths for use by a selected one of the virtual path groups. The signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to select a connection on a selected one of the re-allocated virtual paths. The signaling processor transports a control message that designates the selected connection. The interworking unit is adapted to receive the user communications in a communication format, to receive the control message from the signaling processor, and to interwork the user communications with the selected connection so that the selected virtual path uses bandwidth from another of the virtual paths.
The present invention is directed to a bandwidth allocation system for connecting a call over an asynchronous transfer mode system that has a plurality of virtual paths. Each virtual path has bandwidth initially under-allocated thereto. The call has call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a signaling processor that is adapted to receive the call signaling and to process the call signaling to select a virtual connection over a selected one of the under-allocated virtual paths. The selected under-allocated virtual path has used all of the bandwidth initially allocated thereto, thus reaching its critically allocated point. The signaling processor transports a control message that designates the selected virtual connection. The system has a bandwidth allocation platform that is adapted to determine that the selected under-allocated virtual path has used all of the bandwidth initially allocated thereto and to allocate bandwidth, if available, from another virtual path so that the selected under-allocated virtual path can use the bandwidth. The system further includes an interworking unit adapted to receive the user communications in a communication format, to receive the control message from the signaling processor, and to interwork the user communications between the communication format and asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected virtual connection. The interworking unit transports the asynchronous transfer mode cells over the selected virtual connection.
The present invention also is directed to a bandwidth allocation system for connecting a call over an asynchronous transfer mode system that has a plurality of virtual paths. Each virtual path has bandwidth initially under-allocated thereto. The call has call signaling and user communications. The system comprises a signaling processor that is adapted to receive the call signaling and to process the call signaling to selec
Boldt Dean Charles
Gardner Michael Joseph
Medhat Khalid Mohamed
Ball Harley R.
Funk Steven J.
Ngo Ricky
Sprint Communications Company L.P.
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