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US6424652B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications control

Assignee: Sprint Communications Co LP
•
Filing: 1998-05-20
•
Granted: 2002-07-23
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Expires: 2018-05-20
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Michael Christie

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 18:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/12; H04J3/125; H04J3/24; H04J3/247; H04L49/00; H04L49/25; H04L49/253; H04L49/255; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q3/54541; H04Q3/54566; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5609; H04L2012/561; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5672; H04L49/20; H04L49/30; H04L49/3009; H04L49/50; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13104; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13167; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13296; H04Q2213/13349; H04Q2213/1338; H04Q2213/13389; H04Q2213/13399; H04Q2213/13527

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of processing telecommunications signaling for a telecommunication network that includes a first network element, a second network element, and a plurality of connections between the first network element and the second network element, the method comprising: receiving a Signaling System #7 signaling message into a processing system that is external to any telecommunication switches; in the processing system, processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select one of the connections between the first network element and the second network element; in the processing system, generating a first control message indicating the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element; in the processing system, generating a second control message indicating the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element; transferring the first control message from the processing system for the first network element before the first network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message; and transferring the second control message from the processing system for the second network element before the second network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of processing telecommunications signaling for a telecommunication network that includes a first network element, a second network element, and a plurality of connections between the first network element and the second network element, the method comprising: receiving a Signaling System #7 signaling message into a processing system that is external to any telecommunication switches; in the processing system, processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select one of the connections between the first network element and the second network element; in the processing system, generating a first control message indicating the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element; in the processing system, generating a second control message indicating the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element; transferring the first control message from the processing system for the first network element before the first network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message; and transferring the second control message from the processing system for the second network element before the second network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting a physical connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting a logical connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a point code in the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a circuit identification code in the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a message type in the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a called number in the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a caller number in the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on loading information for the first network element and the second network element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on status information for the connections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected connection between the first network element and the second network element comprises selecting the selected connection based on a network alarm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating the second control message comprises generating another Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 183 words
A telecommunication network that comprises: a plurality of connections configured to transfer a user communication; a first network element configured to use the connections and to receive a first control message indicating a selected one of the connections, and in response, transfer the user communication over the selected one of the connections; a second network element configured to use the connections and to receive a second control message indicating the selected one of the connections, and in response, receive the user communication over the selected one of the connections; a processing system that is external to any telecommunication switches and that is configured to receive a Signaling System #7 signaling message, process the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected one of the connections, generate the first control message and the second control message, transfer the first control message to the first network element before the first network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message, and transfer the second control message to the second network element before the second network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 183 words
A telecommunication network that comprises: a plurality of connections configured to transfer a user communication; a first network element configured to use the connections and to receive a first control message indicating a selected one of the connections, and in response, transfer the user communication over the selected one of the connections; a second network element configured to use the connections and to receive a second control message indicating the selected one of the connections, and in response, receive the user communication over the selected one of the connections; a processing system that is external to any telecommunication switches and that is configured to receive a Signaling System #7 signaling message, process the Signaling System #7 signaling message to select the selected one of the connections, generate the first control message and the second control message, transfer the first control message to the first network element before the first network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message, and transfer the second control message to the second network element before the second network element has applied the Signaling System #7 signaling message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the telecommunication network comprises an interexchange carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the telecommunication network comprises a local exchange carrier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the telecommunication network comprises an international gateway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 14 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the telecommunication network comprises a satellite network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the telecommunication network comprises a wireless network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the first network element comprises a broadband switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the first network element comprises an asynchronous transfer mode switch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 15 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the first network element comprises a packet switch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 15 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the second network element comprises a narrowband switch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
The telecommunication network of claim 13 wherein the second network element comprises a server.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-07-22 2006-01-21 2006-07-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-07-22 2010-01-21 2010-07-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-07-22 2014-01-21 2014-07-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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