Method and cell based wide area network alternative access telephone and data system

Claim 1

In a communications network, an arrangement to define the virtual path to be taken by ATM cells from a calling terminal device to a called terminal device comprising: a calling terminal device which sends out a call establishment ATM cell, the payload of said call establishment cell containing the number of said called terminal device; a local switching system coupled to said calling terminal device which utilizes the information received from said calling terminal device and contained within both the header and the payload section of said call establishment ATM cell for routing said ATM cell; a long distance switching network coupled to said local switching system using information contained within said header of said call establishment ATM cell being switched and received from said local switching system for routing said ATM cell; and a directory computer coupled to said local switching system, said directory computer includes a table lookup unit to translate the number of said called terminal device to a physical path description through said local switching system and said long distance switching network, and to send an ATM cell containing said physical path description to said calling terminal device for inclusion within subsequent cells sent by said calling terminal device to route said subsequent cells to said called terminal device directly through said local switching system and said long distance switching network.

Claim 6

A method for establishing a virtual circuit in an ATM network transporting 53 byte ATM cells having a 5 byte header and a 48 byte payload section in said ATM network having a multiplicity of terminal interfaces, said virtual circuit being between a first terminal device connected to a first terminal interface of said ATM network and a second terminal device connected to a second terminal interface of said ATM network, said ATM network having a directory computer connected to a third terminal interface of said ATM network, and said first terminal device transmits and receives cells containing routing information in-part within said 5 byte header of said cells for ATM network routing and in-part within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte ATM cells to address other individual terminal devices or said directory computer, said method comprising the following sequential steps: a. a user inserting a telephone number or name designation of said second terminal device into said first terminal device to designate said second terminal device as being the device to be connected to said first terminal device; b. said first terminal device creating a first ATM cell containing the telephone number or name designation of each of said first and second terminal devices in said 48 byte payload section of said first ATM cell and said first terminal device transmitting said first ATM cell to said directory computer via said ATM network; c. said directory computer receiving said first ATM cell; d. said directory computer translating said telephone number or name designation contained in said received first ATM cell for each of said first and second said terminal devices to define routing path information between said first and second terminal devices through the said ATM network; e. said directory computer creating a second ATM cell containing said routing path information through said ATM network within said 5 byte header of said second ATM cell and said telephone or name for each of said first and second terminal devices within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte second ATM cell; f. said directory computer transmitting said second ATM cell to said first terminal device via the ATM network; g. said first terminal device receiving said second ATM cell; h. said first terminal device creating additional ATM cells each having the same 5 byte header as said second ATM cell and by inserting said routing path information contained within said 48 byte payload section of said second ATM cell into the 48 byte payload section of each subsequent ATM cell transmitted from said first terminal device to said second terminal device via said ATM network.

Claim 7

A method for establishing a virtual circuit in an ATM network transporting 53 byte ATM cells having a 5 byte header and a 48 byte payload section in said ATM network having a multiplicity of terminal interfaces, said virtual circuit being between a first terminal device connected to a first terminal interface of said ATM network and a second terminal device connected to a second terminal interface of said ATM network, said ATM network having a directory computer connected to a third terminal interface of said ATM network, and said first terminal device transmits and receives cells containing routing information in-part within said 5 byte header of said cells for ATM network routing and in-part within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte ATM cells to address other individual terminal devices or said directory computer, said method comprising the following sequential steps: a. a user inserting a telephone number or name designation of said second terminal device into said first terminal device to designate said second terminal device as being the device to be connected to said first terminal device; b. said first terminal device creating a first ATM cell containing the telephone number or name designation of each of said first and second terminal devices in said 48 byte payload section of said first ATM cell and said first terminal device transmitting said first ATM cell to said directory computer via said ATM network; c. said directory computer receiving said first ATM cell; d. said directory computer translating said telephone number or name designation contained in said received first ATM cell for each of said first and second said terminal devices to define routing path information between said first and second terminal devices through the said ATM network; e. said directory computer creating a second ATM cell containing said routing path information through said ATM network within said 5 byte header of said second ATM cell and said telephone or name for each of said first and second terminal devices within said 48 byte payload section of said 53 byte second ATM cell; f. said directory computer transmitting said second ATM cell to said first terminal device via the ATM network; g. said first terminal device receiving said second ATM cell; h. said first terminal device creating additional ATM cells each having the same 5 byte header as said second ATM cell and by inserting said routing path information contained within said 48 byte payload section of said second ATM cell into the 48 byte payload section of each subsequent ATM cell transmitted from said first terminal device to said second terminal device via said ATM network.