Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-28
2004-02-03
Vu, Viet D. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S230000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06687747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to control functions in each network layer of a complex multimedia network, and more specifically to a simplified signaling protocol supporting network distributed control functions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a complex multimedia network, a wide range of control issues arise in each of the network layers ranging from the physical layer to the application layer. Therefore, multimedia networks require distributed control functions to be implemented between network entities. Control issues in a telecommunication network arise in the physical layer, data link layer, network layer, session layer, and application layer. Distributed control issues typically include call processing, resource allocation, capacity exchanging, routing, dynamic configuration, protection, and restoration.
A signaling channel may be established either inside or outside of a network in order to provide for the exchange of messages for control and management purposes. The signaling channel may be supported by a transmission protocol in any network layer if the protocol provides a point-to-point channel between control protocol entities across mediated nodes. A physical layer transmission protocol supports only message exchanges between physical nodes. A data link layer transmission protocol provides a channel between adjacent switches. Transmission protocols implemented over the network layer provide signaling channels between switches and between end-points.
The network layer provides a transparent means for transmitting data from a calling party to a called party. Data transmission methods used in telecommunication networks generally include connection oriented transmission methods and connectionless oriented transmission methods. In connection oriented networks (e.g., STM, ATM, SDH, or PDH), the calling party must first establish a path to a called party and reserve resources along the path before transmitting user data, and then release the path and associated resources after the transmission is terminated. In connectionless oriented networks, a special protocol is provided in the network layer (e.g., Internet Protocol (IP)). This protocol makes the network layer completely world-wide transparent. In connectionless oriented networks, a calling party delivers packages containing the address of the called party and corresponding data establishing a connection. The Internet Protocol has been used in both the Internet and Intranet. A variety of new multi-media services have been provided based on the IP infrastructure.
Therefore, transmission of user data may be supported by either a connection-oriented network or a connectionless oriented network. Likewise, a carrier of signaling messages may be supported by either a connection-oriented network or a connectionless oriented network. A signaling channel in a connection-oriented network requires the support of a protocol for establishing the signaling channel for exchanging messages. A signaling channel in an IP connectionless oriented network typically requires only the support of User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
A complex multimedia network generally includes a signaling system for carrying control messages associated with distributed control functions between protocol entities within the network. A signaling system typically supports control functions including: establishing and releasing connections; transmitting and receiving the status of endpoints and connections; testing connections; and performing remote control functions.
Conventional signaling systems include: Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) which is a signaling protocol widely used to provide message exchange between switches in telecommunication networks; digital subscriber signaling system No. 1 (DSS 1) which is a signaling protocol used in the User-Network Interface (UNI); Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) which is an Internet Protocol (IP) network layer signaling protocol used for session control; and session initiation protocol (SIP) which provides for end-to-end control in IP networks. Also, communication between management stations and managed networks in management protocols such as in (CMIP) common management information protocol (see ITU-T recommendation X.711), and simple network management protocol (SNMP) may be considered to be types of signaling protocols.
Typically, most switches in telecommunication networks are signaled in accordance with Common Signaling System No. 7 (SS7). User-network interface (UNI) of ISDN networks supports DSS 1. IP networks use RSVP to support QoS guaranteed multimedia services. The IP telephony and teleconference adopts the H.323 signaling function. Web-based multimedia communication on IP networks uses SIP for ordering and customizing enhanced services on the basis of HTTP services.
One common signaling system used in switches of telecommunication networks is the Common Signaling System No. 7 (SS7). The specifications of the SS7 are published by ITU-T recommendations Q.700-Q.849. The Digital Subscriber Signaling System No. 1 (DSS 1) is also a specification of ITU-T. DSS 1 is offered by the ITU-T recommendation Q.850-Q.999.
The H.323 signaling system used on IP-based networks for end-to-end controls of multimedia communication is specified by the ITU-T. Subscriber signaling fluctions in the H.323 signaling system are derived from DSS 1. The H.323 signaling system is specified by ITU-T Recommendations H.323, H.245 and H.225.0.
A signaling system used in IP-based networks for session establishment and QoS control in the network layer is Resource reSerVation Protocol (RSVP) proposed by IETF. RSVP is published by IETF in RFC 2205.
A signaling system used for session initiation in multimedia services in IP-based network is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) defined by IETF. The protocol is described by IETF RFC 2543.
In prior art signaling protocols, network control functions are typically implemented in accordance with function-oriented methods wherein each network control function is divided into several functional components. Control information, such as control messages for implementing each of a corresponding plurality of network control functions, is typically specified in terms of the corresponding function. In a typical prior art function-oriented signaling system supporting interoperations between functional components, a protocol must be specified for each control issue. A protocol is usually specified by components including: a collection of designated primitives and parameters associated with interfaces between protocol users and protocol entities; a set of messages transmitted between protocol entities; and a set of state transition machines and associated message processing within protocol entities. In a typical prior art function-oriented signaling system, each protocol associated with a corresponding control function includes semantic dependent primitives which are uniquely specified for the corresponding control function. As an example, for a control function for establishing a logical channel across a network, “connect” and “disconnect” primitives are used. Because a protocol must be specified for each control issue in a typical prior art function-oriented signaling system, the number of protocols used for communication between network entities may be very large and the maintenance for the system is very difficult and complicated. This problem becomes increasingly more important as required network services increase.
For example, SS7 is designed to provide message exchange for interoperations between specific functional entities distributed in network switches. SS7 provides for establishing a signaling channel within a common signaling channel across switches for conveying messages associated with corresponding network control functions. SS7 has been widely used in single-service networks such as telephone networks. However, the bandwidth of the bearer channel is restricted to 64 KB. SS7 does not provide any mechanism for security and access contr
Huang Bill
Koulouras Spero
Shen Yu
Yang Jing
Boyce Justin
Fischer Felix L.
UTStarcom Inc.
Vu Viet D.
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