← Back to Patent Explorer
US6430195B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Broadband telecommunications system interface

Assignee: BALL HARLEY R
•
Filing: 1996-11-22
•
Granted: 2002-08-06
•
Expires: 2016-11-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The invention is a system for interfacing an ISDN or non-ISDN system with a broadband system. The broadband system can be an ATM system. The invention can process the ISDN signaling to select ATM connections and then interwork the ISDN connections with the selected ATM connections. The invention can interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling. The invention can also process SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections and then interwork ATM connections with the selected ISDN connections. The invention can also interwork ISDN systems with non-ISDN systems.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Michael Christie
  • 👤 Michael Joseph Gardner
  • 👤 Tracy Lee Nelson
  • 👤 William Lyle Wiley
  • 👤 Albert Daniel Duree

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 14:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/12; H04J3/125; H04J3/16; H04J3/24; H04J3/247; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/20; H04L49/205; H04L49/25; H04L49/253; H04L49/255; H04L49/30; H04L49/3081; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0478; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04Q3/0029; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5609; H04L2012/561; H04L2012/5619; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5626; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5663; H04L2012/5672; H04L49/10; H04L49/101; H04L49/3009; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13104; H04Q2213/1313; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13296; H04Q2213/13375; H04Q2213/1338; H04Q2213/13389; H04Q2213/13513; H04Q2213/13531

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim 234 words
A telecommunications system that provides an interface between a broadband system and an ISDN system for a telecommunications call, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select a broadband connection for the call, and to provide a control message that identifies the selected broadband connection and causes an ATM multiplexer to convert the ISDN bearer communications into broadband bearer communications; a signaling converter that is operational to convert ISDN signaling into the SS7 signaling and to provide the SS7 signaling to the signaling processor; the ATM multiplexer that is operational to receive the ISDN signaling from the ISDN system and to provide the ISDN signaling to the signaling converter, to receive the ISDN bearer communications from the ISDN system and to receive the control message from the signaling processor, to convert the ISDN bearer communications into the broadband bearer communications in response to receiving the control message, and to transmit the broadband bearer communications to the broadband system on the selected broadband connection based on the control message; and a first link between the ATM multiplexer and the signaling converter that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling, a second link between the signaling converter and the signaling processor that is operational to carry SS7 signaling, and a third link between the signaling processor and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the control messages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 234 words
A telecommunications system that provides an interface between a broadband system and an ISDN system for a telecommunications call, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select a broadband connection for the call, and to provide a control message that identifies the selected broadband connection and causes an ATM multiplexer to convert the ISDN bearer communications into broadband bearer communications; a signaling converter that is operational to convert ISDN signaling into the SS7 signaling and to provide the SS7 signaling to the signaling processor; the ATM multiplexer that is operational to receive the ISDN signaling from the ISDN system and to provide the ISDN signaling to the signaling converter, to receive the ISDN bearer communications from the ISDN system and to receive the control message from the signaling processor, to convert the ISDN bearer communications into the broadband bearer communications in response to receiving the control message, and to transmit the broadband bearer communications to the broadband system on the selected broadband connection based on the control message; and a first link between the ATM multiplexer and the signaling converter that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling, a second link between the signaling converter and the signaling processor that is operational to carry SS7 signaling, and a third link between the signaling processor and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the control messages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 178 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the system provides an interface between the broadband system and the ISDN system for another telecommunications call wherein: the signaling processor is further operational to process other signaling from the broadband system for the other call, to select an ISDN connection for the other call, to provide another control message for the other call that identifies the selected ISDN connection, and to provide other SS7 signaling for the other call to the signaling converter; the signaling converter is further operational to convert the other SS7 signaling into other ISDN signaling and to provide the other ISDN signaling to the ATM multiplexer; the ATM multiplexer is further operational to provide the other ISDN signaling to the ISDN system, to receive other broadband communications for the other call from the broadband system, to receive the other control message from the signaling processor, to convert the other broadband communications into other ISDN communications, and to transmit the other ISDN communications to the ISDN system on the selected ISDN connection based on the other control message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is also operational to exchange Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling with the broadband system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the broadband system is an ATM system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 145 words
A telecommunications system for use between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processing system that is operational to process call signaling from the ISDN system and from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the call signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, and to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 145 words
A telecommunications system for use between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processing system that is operational to process call signaling from the ISDN system and from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the call signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, and to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the signaling processing system is also operational to interwork the ISDN signaling and Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the signaling processing system is also operational to interwork ISDN set-up messages and Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Messages (IAMs).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the signaling processing system is also operational to process a Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Message to select the ATM connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the selected ATM connection is provisioned through an ATM cross-connect before the call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the signaling processing system is also operational to process a Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Message to select the ISDN connection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the ISDN connection is designated by a DS0.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising an ATM cross-connect coupled to the ATM multiplexer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the signaling processing system is further operational to exchange Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling with the ATM system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the ATM multiplexer is further operational to provide ringback.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the ATM multiplexer is further operational to interwork between ISDN signaling and Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the ATM multiplexer is further operational to interwork between communications and signaling from another system and ISDN bearer communications and ISDN signaling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 5 further including at least one link between the signaling processing system and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling and the control messages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 153 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN for telecommunication calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; a signaling converter that is operational to interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling and to exchange SS7 signaling with the signaling processor; and an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange ISDN signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling converter, to receive the control messages from the signaling processor, and to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 153 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN for telecommunication calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; a signaling converter that is operational to interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling and to exchange SS7 signaling with the signaling processor; and an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange ISDN signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling converter, to receive the control messages from the signaling processor, and to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 64 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a first link between the ATM multiplexer and the signaling converter that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling, a second link between the signaling converter and the signaling processor that is operational to carry SS7 signaling, and a third link between the signaling processor and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the control messages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 220 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and another communications system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunication system comprising: an ISDN converter that is operational to interwork between bearer communications and signaling from the other communications system and ISDN bearer communication and ISDN signaling, a signaling processing system that is operational to process the ISDN signaling and signaling from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections; an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the ISDN signaling between the ISDN converter and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, and to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages; at least one link between the ATM multiplexer and the signaling processing system that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling and the control messages, and at least one connection between the ISDN converter and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the ISDN bearer communications and the ISDN signaling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 220 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and another communications system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunication system comprising: an ISDN converter that is operational to interwork between bearer communications and signaling from the other communications system and ISDN bearer communication and ISDN signaling, a signaling processing system that is operational to process the ISDN signaling and signaling from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections; an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the ISDN signaling between the ISDN converter and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, and to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages; at least one link between the ATM multiplexer and the signaling processing system that is operational to carry the ISDN signaling and the control messages, and at least one connection between the ISDN converter and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to carry the ISDN bearer communications and the ISDN signaling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 250 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and another communications system for telecommunications call, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections; an ISDN converter that is operational to interwork the bearer communications and signaling from the other communications system with ISDN bearer communication and ISDN signaling; an SS7 converter that is operational to interwork the ISDN signaling and the SS7 signaling and to exchange the SS7 signaling with the signaling processor; an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the ISDN signaling between the ISDN converter and the SS7 converter, to receive the control messages from the signaling processor, and to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages; a linking means between the ATM multiplexer and the SS7 converter for carrying the ISDN signaling, between the SS7 converter and the signaling processor for carrying the SS7 signaling, and between the signaling processor and the ATM multiplexer for carrying the control messages; and a connection between the ATM multiplexer and the ISDN converter that is operational to carry the ISDN bearer communications and the ISDN signaling.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 250 words
A telecommunications system that interworks between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and another communications system for telecommunications call, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processor that is operational to process SS7 signaling, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections; an ISDN converter that is operational to interwork the bearer communications and signaling from the other communications system with ISDN bearer communication and ISDN signaling; an SS7 converter that is operational to interwork the ISDN signaling and the SS7 signaling and to exchange the SS7 signaling with the signaling processor; an ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the ISDN signaling between the ISDN converter and the SS7 converter, to receive the control messages from the signaling processor, and to interwork the bearer communications between the ISDN converter and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages; a linking means between the ATM multiplexer and the SS7 converter for carrying the ISDN signaling, between the SS7 converter and the signaling processor for carrying the SS7 signaling, and between the signaling processor and the ATM multiplexer for carrying the control messages; and a connection between the ATM multiplexer and the ISDN converter that is operational to carry the ISDN bearer communications and the ISDN signaling.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 169 words
A telecommunications system for use between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processing system that is operational to process call signaling from the ISDN system and from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the call signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages, and to interconnect other incoming bearer communications from the ISDN system with other outgoing bearer communications to the ISDN system based on the control messages.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 169 words
A telecommunications system for use between an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the telecommunications system comprising: a signaling processing system that is operational to process call signaling from the ISDN system and from the ATM system, to select at least one of an ISDN connection and an ATM connection for each call, and to provide control messages that identify the selected connections and cause an ATM multiplexer to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections; and the ATM multiplexer that is operational to exchange the call signaling between the ISDN system and the signaling processing system, to receive the control messages from the signaling processing system, to interwork bearer communications between the ISDN system and the ATM system on the selected connections in response to receiving the control messages, and to interconnect other incoming bearer communications from the ISDN system with other outgoing bearer communications to the ISDN system based on the control messages.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 66 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an ISDN system and an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system for telecommunications calls, the method comprising: receiving ISDN signaling and ISDN bearer communications into the telecommunications system; converting the ISDN signaling into Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling; processing the SS7 signaling to select ATM connections; and interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 66 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an ISDN system and an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system for telecommunications calls, the method comprising: receiving ISDN signaling and ISDN bearer communications into the telecommunications system; converting the ISDN signaling into Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling; processing the SS7 signaling to select ATM connections; and interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: receiving SS7 signaling and ATM communications into the telecommunications system; processing the SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections; and interworking the ATM communications with the selected ISDN connections.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: receiving additional ISDN signaling and additional ISDN bearer communications into the telecommunications system; converting the additional ISDN signaling into additional Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling; processing the additional SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections; and interconnecting the additional ISDN bearer communications with the selected ISDN connections.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an ISDN system and an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system for a telecommunications calls from callers, the method comprising: receiving ISDN set-up messages from the ISDN system into the telecommunications system; converting the ISDN set-up messages into Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Messages (IAMs); processing the SS7 IAMs to select ATM connections to the ATM system; receiving ISDN bearer communications from the ISDN system; interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections to the ATM system.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an ISDN system and an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system for a telecommunications calls from callers, the method comprising: receiving ISDN set-up messages from the ISDN system into the telecommunications system; converting the ISDN set-up messages into Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Messages (IAMs); processing the SS7 IAMs to select ATM connections to the ATM system; receiving ISDN bearer communications from the ISDN system; interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections to the ATM system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising: receiving other SS7 IAMs from the ATM system into the telecommunications system; processing the other SS7 IAMs to select ISDN connections; receiving ATM communications from the ATM system; interworking the ATM communications with the selected ISDN connections.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 72 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising: receiving additional ISDN set-up messages from the ISDN system into the telecommunications system; converting the additional ISDN set-up messages into additional Signaling System #7 (SS7) Initial Address Messages (IAMs); processing the additional SS7 IAMs to select ISDN connections to the ISDN system; receiving ISDN bearer communications from the ISDN system; interconnecting the additional ISDN bearer communications with the selected ISDN connections to the ISDN system.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 83 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a non-ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the method comprising: receiving signaling and bearer communications from the non-ISDN system into the telecommunications system; converting the non-ISDN signaling and non-ISDN bearer communications into ISDN signaling and ISDN bearer communications; converting the ISDN signaling into Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling; processing the SS7 signaling to select ATM connections; and interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections.
Claim 38
Independent Claim 83 words
A method for operating a telecommunications system that interworks between an Asyncronous Transfer Mode (ATM) system and a non-ISDN system for telecommunications calls, the method comprising: receiving signaling and bearer communications from the non-ISDN system into the telecommunications system; converting the non-ISDN signaling and non-ISDN bearer communications into ISDN signaling and ISDN bearer communications; converting the ISDN signaling into Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling; processing the SS7 signaling to select ATM connections; and interworking the ISDN bearer communications with the selected ATM connections.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 54 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising: receiving SS7 signaling and ATM communications into the telecommunications system; processing the SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections; interworking the ATM communications with the selected ISDN connections; converting the ISDN bearer communications and the ISDN signaling from the ISDN connection into non-ISDN bearer communications and non-ISDN signaling.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the non-ISDN system is an Extended Superframe (ESF) system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the non-ISDN system is a Superframe (SF) system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4201889A Cited
US4310727A Cited
US4348554A Cited
US4453247A Cited
US4565903A Cited
US4554659A Cited
US4683563A Cited
US4763317A Cited
US4730312A Cited
US4736364A Cited
US4720850A Cited
US4748658A Cited
US5036318A Cited
US4757526A Cited
US4916690A Cited
US4823338A Cited
US4823338B1 Cited
US4926416A Cited
US4985889A Cited
US4896319A Cited
US4853955A Cited
US5058104A Cited
US5089954A Cited
US5101404A Cited
US5233607A Cited
US5258752A Cited
US4991204A Cited
US5073890A Cited
US4979118A Cited
US5163057A Cited
US4993014A Cited
EP0403414A2 Cited
US5067123A Cited
US5091903A Cited
US4993104A Cited
US5231631A Cited
US5084867A Cited
US5434981A Cited
US5018191A Cited
EP0426911A1 Cited
US5048081A Cited
US5086461A Cited
US5185743A Cited
US5258979A Cited
US5239539A Cited
US5216669A Cited
US5003584A Cited
US5268895A Cited
EP0460843B1 Cited
US5231633A Cited
EP0466078B1 Cited
US5249178A Cited
US5253247A Cited
US5204857A Cited
US5115431A Cited
US5193110A Cited
US5453981A Cited
US5255266A Cited
US5271010A Cited
US5274680A Cited
US5317562A Cited
US5479402A Cited
US5218602A Cited
US5168492A Cited
US5251255A Cited
US5363433A Cited
US5282244A Cited
US5291479A Cited
US5179556A Cited
US5490251A Cited
US5239542A Cited
US5327433A Cited
US5394393A Cited
US5311509A Cited
EP0539016A3 Cited
US5339318A Cited
EP0549016B1 Cited
US5291492A Cited
US5418783A Cited
US5367566A Cited
US5289472A Cited
US5420857A Cited
US5357510A Cited
US5550834A Cited
US5375124A Cited
US5420916A Cited
US5285441A Cited
US5400339A Cited
US5373504A Cited
US5345443A Cited
US5278889A Cited
US5329308A Cited
US5461669A Cited
DE4225203A1 Cited
EP0582418A3 Cited
US5479401A Cited
US5323389A Cited
US5600640A Cited
US5394398A Cited
US5541926A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-08-05 2006-02-04 2006-08-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-08-05 2010-02-04 2010-08-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-08-05 2014-02-04 2014-08-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag