US 6,714,544 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for proxied signalling of an end to end connection across a connection oriented network

AssigneeAlcatel Canada Inc.

InventorsJonathan L. Bosloy, John C. Burns, Mark Tooker

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Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for establishing a connection across a connection oriented network to enable communication between an originating network element and a destination network node. The originating network element is connected to source network node in the connection oriented network by a source communications channel which is addressable in the connection oriented network. The connection oriented network has a signalling infrastructure employing a network signalling protocol for establishing connections within the connection oriented network. A connection establishment request message is generated for requesting the establishment of the connection between the originating network element and the destination network node and includes information identifying the source and destination communications channels. A proxy connection establishment request message is sent from a network controlling element to the connection oriented network over a proxy signalling link provided therebetween. The proxy connection establishment request message is received at the connection oriented network and the channel identifying information is extracted from the proxy connection establishment request message. A network connection establishment request message according to the network signalling protocol is then generated and sent over the signalling infrastructure to establish a path between the source network node and the destination network node. The path is connected to the communications channel identified in the proxy connection establishment request message, thereby establishing the connection between the originating network element and the destination network node.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A method for establishing a connection across a connection oriented network on behalf of an originating network element to enable communications between the originating network element and a destination network node, the destination network node being addressable in the connection oriented network, the originating network element being connected to a source network node in the connection oriented network by a source communications channel addressable in the connection oriented network, the connection oriented network having a signalling infrastructure employing a network signalling protocol for establishing connections within the connection oriented network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a proxy connection establishment request message for requesting the establishment of the connection between the originating network element and the destination network node, the proxy connection establishment request message comprising information identifying the source communications channel;
(b) sending the generated proxy connection establishment request message from a network controlling element to the connection oriented network over a proxy signalling link provided between the network controlling element and the signalling infrastructure of the connection oriented network;
(c) receiving the proxy connection establishment request message at the connection oriented network over the signalling link;
(d) extracting the information identifying the source communications channel from the proxy connection establishment request message so received and establishing a cross-connect at the source network node to the source communications channel identified in the proxy connection establishment request message;
(e) generating a network connection establishment request message based on information contained in said proxy connection establishment message according to the network signalling protocol;
(f) sending the generated network connection establishment message over the signalling infrastructure to establish a path between the source network node and the destination network node using automated signalling procedures according to the network signalling protocol;
(g) sending a network acknowledgement message which confirms establishment of said path, said network acknowledgement message being sent according to the network signalling protocol from the destination network node to the source network node over said signalling infrastructure;
(h) after said path is established, sending a proxy acknowledgement message which confirms establishment of said connection between the originating network entity and the destination node, said proxy acknowledgement message being sent to the network controlling element from the source network node.

5 more elements

A network controlling element for signalling a connection across a connection oriented network on behalf of an originating network element to enable communications between the originating network element and a destination network node, the destination network node being addressable in the connection oriented network, the originating network element being connected to a source network node in the connection oriented network by a source communications channel addressable in the connection oriented network, the connection oriented network having a signalling infrastructure employing a network signalling protocol for establishing connections within the connection oriented network, a proxy signalling link being provided between the network controlling element and the signalling infrastructure of the connection oriented network, the network controlling element comprising:

(a) a communications interface for receiving instructions for establishing the connection on behalf of the originating network element;
(b) a proxy signalling interface for generating a proxy connection establishment request message, for transmitting the proxy connection establishment request message over the proxy signalling link to the signalling infrastructure of the connection oriented network, and for receiving a proxy connection acknowledgement message from the source network node which is indicative of the establishment of the connection;
and
wherein the proxy connection establishment request message comprises information identifying the source communications channel, the information identifying the source communications channel being extracted from the proxy connection establishment request message when same is received at the connection oriented network over the proxy signalling link, wherein a cross-connect is established at the source network node to the source communications channel identified in the proxy connection establishment request message and wherein a network connection establishment request message is generated according to the network signalling protocol based on information contained in said proxy request message and is sent over the signalling infrastructure to establish a path between the source network node and the destination network node using automated signalling procedures according to the network signalling protocol, whereupon the proxy connection acknowledgement message is sent to the network controlling element from the source network node.

1 more element

An apparatus associated with a source network node for establishing a connection across a connection oriented network between an originating network element and a destination network node via the source network node, the source network node and the destination network node being addressable in the connection oriented network the originating network element being connected to the source network node by a source communications channel addressable in the connection oriented network, the connection oriented network having a signalling infrastructure employing a network signalling protocol for establishing connections within the connection oriented network the source communications channel being identified in information included in a proxy signalling message consisting of a proxy connection establishment request message received by the apparatus over a proxy signalling link, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a proxy signalling interface which sends and receives proxy signalling messages over the proxy signalling link;
(b) a network signalling interface which sends and receives network signalling messages over the signalling infrastructure of the connection oriented network;
(c) a call controller which extracts from the proxy connection establishment request message the information identifying the source communications channel, which establishes a cross-connect at the source network node to the source communications channel identified in the proxy connection establishment request message and which generates a network signalling message based on information contained in said proxy connection establishment request message and consisting of a network connection establishment request message according to the network signalling protocol, the call controller providing the network connection establishment request message to the network signalling interface which in turn sends the network connection establishment request message over the signalling infrastructure of the connection oriented network to thereby establish a path between the source network node and the destination network node;
and
wherein after the path between the source network node and the destination network node has been so established, the apparatus receives a network signalling message consisting of a network connection acknowledgement message from the destination network node over the signalling infrastructure and at the network signalling interface, following which the call controller provides a proxy signalling message consisting of a proxy connection acknowledgement message to the proxy signalling interface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.