US5381471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centralized service circuit deployment
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1993-01-29
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2013-01-29
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to the minimizing of call set-up time for calls requiring the use of service circuits provided from a separate switching system, such as a service circuit node (SCN). Groups of semi-permanent circuits through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) are allocated to each of the switching systems served by the SCN. Thus, whenever a switching system has a call that requires the use of a service circuit housed in the SCN, the connection is already established. Traffic is controlled by limiting in the size of the semi-permanent circuit groups, but these groups can be made larger or smaller, up to some overall total for the SCN, as traffic to each switching system changes. Advantageously, this arrangement permits efficient use of a large group of service circuits at the SCN, while minimizing the total call set-up time.
Inventors
- 👤 Annapurna Balakrishnan
- 👤 Stuart J. Lark
- 👤 Paul R. Sand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13514; H04Q2213/13522
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN; establishing semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths; establishing semi-permanent connections in a switching network of said SCN between the pre-allocated service circuits, each connectable to customer lines, and the established communication paths; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN; establishing semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths; establishing semi-permanent connections in a switching network of said SCN between the pre-allocated service circuits, each connectable to customer lines, and the established communication paths; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: pre-allocating ones of said plurality of service circuits to calls from said one switching system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: changing the number of said pre-allocated paths for said one switching system to meet changes of demand for said service circuits from said one switching system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said changing said number is performed in response to a pre-programmed time indication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said changing said number is performed in response to utilization changes for said service circuits from said one switching system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said changing is performed in response to a request message from said one switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said changing is performed by allocating an additional semi-permanent path if the number of allocated paths is less than a maximum for said SCN.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said changing is performed by de-allocating a path to another switching system and allocating an additional path to said one switching system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said de-allocating is performed if said another switching system would have a semi-permanent path occupancy ratio below a predefined threshold if one of its paths were de-allocated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing comprises: establishing said communication paths from said SCN.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN, said paths being switched via at least one intermediate switching system of a public switched network; establishing communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths, said establishing being initiated from said SCN; changing the number of said pre-allocated paths for said one switching system to meet changes of utilization changes for said service circuits from said one switching system; wherein said changing is performed by de-allocating a path to another switching system and allocating an additional path to said one switching system if said another switching system would have a semi-permanent path occupancy ratio below a predefined threshold for said another switching system if one of the paths of said another switching system were de-allocated; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN, said paths being switched via at least one intermediate switching system of a public switched network; establishing communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths, said establishing being initiated from said SCN; changing the number of said pre-allocated paths for said one switching system to meet changes of utilization changes for said service circuits from said one switching system; wherein said changing is performed by de-allocating a path to another switching system and allocating an additional path to said one switching system if said another switching system would have a semi-permanent path occupancy ratio below a predefined threshold for said another switching system if one of the paths of said another switching system were de-allocated; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN; establishing semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths; establishing semi-permanent connections in a switching network of said SCN between the pre-allocated service circuits, each connectable to customer lines, and the established communication paths; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system; wherein once of said semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN each comprise a switchable connection in at least one switching system between said one switching system and said SCN.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of seizing one of a plurality of service circuits connectable to customer lines, said service circuits housed in a service circuit node (SCN), from one of a plurality of switching systems, said SCN for serving said plurality of switching systems, comprising the steps of: pre-allocating a plurality of semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN; establishing semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN for each of said pre-allocated paths; establishing semi-permanent connections in a switching network of said SCN between the pre-allocated service circuits, each connectable to customer lines, and the established communication paths; and seizing one of said pre-allocated paths from said one switching system; wherein once of said semi-permanent communication paths between said one switching system and said SCN each comprise a switchable connection in at least one switching system between said one switching system and said SCN.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-09 | 1998-07-11 | 1999-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-09 | 2002-07-11 | 2003-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-09 | 2006-07-11 | 2007-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |