US 6,282,191 B1 · Methods and apparatus for transporting narrowband (voice) traffic over a broadband (ATM) network

Abstract

A SS7 signalling router receives SS7 signalling regarding narrowband calls to be routed over the ATM network. When the SS7 router receives signalling from the SS7 network, it does not process the signalling, but reads the originator point code (OPC) and forwards the signalling via the ATM network to the ATM switch which is attached to the originator of the message. An interworking function (IWF) at the ATM switch processes the SS7 signalling by generating the appropriate ATM signalling to set up a circuit between the originating ATM switch and the destination ATM switch. The IWF at the originating ATM switch also processes the SS7 signalling by returning it to the SS7 router with the destination point code (DPC) of the PSTN switch coupled to the destination ATM switch. When the SS7 router receives an SS7 signalling message from an ATM switch, it forwards it to the SS7 network where it is sent to the DPC. The IWF at each ATM switch is preferably distributed among several processors including a signalling VSM controller (an SVSM), a plurality of VSM controllers and an ISUP controller. SS7 SUs enter the SVSM controller which separates MSUs from FISUs and LSSUs. The MSUs are sent to the ISUP controller which interrogates the CIC of the IAM messages and forwards the IAM information to the appropriate VSM controller for narrowband to broadband conversion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for transporting narrowband voice traffic from an originating PSTN switch which is coupled to an SS7 network, over a broadband ATM network, comprising:

a) a first ATM switch coupled to the ATM network and coupled to the originating PSTN switch, said first ATM switch having a first interworking function means for converting SS7 signalling into ATM signalling;
b) a second ATM switch coupled to the ATM network;
c) an SS7 signalling router coupled to the SS7 network and to the ATM network, wherein
said SS7 signalling router includes means for receiving, via the SS7 network, an SS7 SU generated by the originating PSTN, means for mapping at least a portion of the SS7 SU into one or more ATM cells, means for sending the one or more ATM cells via the ATM network to said first ATM switch,
said interworking function means includes means for reading the SS7 SU from the one or more ATM cells, converting the SS7 SU into ATM signalling and sending the ATM signalling via one or more ATM cells to said second ATM switch in order to establish a VC between said first ATM switch and said second ATM switch.

2 more elements

A system for transporting narrowband voice traffic from a plurality of originating PSTN switches which are coupled to an SS7 network, over a broadband ATM network, comprising:

a) a first ATM switch coupled to the ATM network and coupled to the plurality of originating PSTN switches;
and
b) a first interworking function means coupled to said first ATM switch for receiving SS7 signalling from the plurality of originating PSTN switches, wherein
said first interworking function means includes a corresponding plurality of processing means for converting SS7 signalling into ATM signalling and controller means for distributing SS7 MSUs among said plurality of processing means.

1 more element

A method for transporting narrowband voice traffic from an originating PSTN switch which is coupled to an SS7 network and to a first ATM switch which is coupled to an ATM network over the ATM network to a second ATM switch which is coupled to the ATM network, said method comprising:

a) receiving from the SS7 network SS7 signalling messages generated by the originating PSTN switch;
b) mapping at least a portion of the SS7 SU into one or more ATM cells;
c) sending the one or more ATM cells via the ATM network to the first ATM switch;
d) converting the SS7 SU at the first ATM switch into ATM signalling;
and
e) sending the ATM signalling via one or more ATM cells to the second ATM switch in order to establish a VC between the first ATM switch and the second ATM switch.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for transporting narrowband (voice) traffic over a broadband (ATM) network

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for transporting narrowband (voice) traffic over a broadband (ATM) network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20