US6404782B1
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US
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Method and apparatus for signaling over packet-based systems
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1998-09-21
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Granted: 2002-06-11
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Expires: 2018-09-21
Abstract
Abstract Signaling information is communicated over an ATM link or other packet-based communication link using packet headers. The information may be, for example, telephony signaling information such as an on-hook/off-hook indicator, a ring/no-ring indicator, or any other type of information used in establishing, maintaining, terminating or otherwise configuring a telephony-based communication. In an illustrative embodiment, a single bit of signaling information is incorporated into a low order bit of a packet type indicator field in a header of an ATM user data cell. This low order bit, which is generally used as an End of Message (EOM) indicator in a cell which is part of a multi-cell message, can be used to transmit the signaling information in packets corresponding to single-cell messages. For example, out-bound telephony signaling information may be received from a telephony device such as a telephone or a computer modem, incorporated into an ATM cell header of a single-cell voice sample message, transmitted over an ATM link, removed from the header in an ATM processing device, and delivered to a public switched telephone network. In-bound telephony signaling information may be received from the public switched telephone network, incorporated into an ATM cell header of a single-cell voice sample message, transmitted over an ATM link, removed from the header in an ATM processing device, and delivered to a telephony device.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan David Berenbaum
- 👤 Robert Brian Dianda
- 👤 Hubert Rae McLellan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5671
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving signaling information; and incorporating the signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets which contains a single-packet message, wherein the signaling information is incorporated into a portion of the header which serves a different function if the packet is a part of a multi-cell message.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving signaling information; and incorporating the signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets which contains a single-packet message, wherein the signaling information is incorporated into a portion of the header which serves a different function if the packet is a part of a multi-cell message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling information is telephony signaling information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the packet-based communication system is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 further including the step of incorporating voice samples corresponding to the telephony signaling information into a payload portion of the given one of the packets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of incorporating signaling information into a header further includes incorporating at least one bit of signaling information in a header of each of a plurality of the packets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of incorporating signaling information into a header further includes incorporating an on-hook/off-hook indicator into the header.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of incorporating signaling information into a header further includes incorporating a ring/no-ring indicator into the header.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of incorporating signaling information into a header further includes incorporating the telephony signaling information into a single bit of a payload type indicator field of the header.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of incorporating signaling information into a header further includes incorporating the information into the payload type indicator field of the header if the packet is designated as a user data packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step includes receiving the signaling information from a telephony device associated with a user of the system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step includes receiving the signaling information from a telephone network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of transmitting the packet through at least a portion of the system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive signaling information, and to incorporate the signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets which contains a single-packet message, wherein the signaling information is incorporated into a portion of the header which serves a different function if the packet is a part of a multi-cell message.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive signaling information, and to incorporate the signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets which contains a single-packet message, wherein the signaling information is incorporated into a portion of the header which serves a different function if the packet is a part of a multi-cell message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the signaling information is telephony signaling information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packet-based communication system is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing device is further operative to incorporate voice samples corresponding to the signaling information into a payload portion of the given one of the packets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing device is further operative to incorporate at least one bit of signaling information in a header of each of a plurality of the packets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the telephony signaling information includes an on-hook/off-hook indicator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the telephony signaling information includes a ring/no-ring indicator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processing device is further operative to incorporate the signaling information into a single bit of a payload type indicator field of the header.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the processing device incorporates the signaling information into the payload type indicator field of the header if the packet is designated as a user data packet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing device receives the signaling information from one of: (i) a telephony device associated with a user of the system, and (ii) a telephone network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing device is further operative to transmit the packet through at least a portion of the system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing device includes at least one of an interworking function and a telephony-to-packet converter.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving telephony signaling information; and incorporating the telephony signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving telephony signaling information; and incorporating the telephony signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive telephony signaling information, and to incorporate the telephony signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive telephony signaling information, and to incorporate the telephony signaling information into a header of a given one of the packets.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving signaling information; and incorporating the signaling information into a portion of a header of a given one of the packets, wherein the portion of the header would otherwise be end-to-end unmodified for a corresponding connection.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving signaling information; and incorporating the signaling information into a portion of a header of a given one of the packets, wherein the portion of the header would otherwise be end-to-end unmodified for a corresponding connection.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the portion of the header includes a cell loss priority bit of the header.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the portion of the header includes at least one bit of a payload type indicator field of the header.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive signaling information, and to incorporate the signaling information into a portion of a header of a given one of the packets, wherein the portion of the header would otherwise be end-to-end unmodified for a corresponding connection.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for communicating information in packets of a packet-based communication system, the apparatus comprising: a processing device operative to receive signaling information, and to incorporate the signaling information into a portion of a header of a given one of the packets, wherein the portion of the header would otherwise be end-to-end unmodified for a corresponding connection.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the portion of the header includes a cell loss priority bit of the header.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the portion of the header includes at least one bit of a payload type indicator field of the header.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |