US6014378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telecommunications tandem system for circuit-based traffic
Assignee: Sprint Communications Co LP
•
Filing: 1996-11-22
•
Granted: 2000-01-11
•
Expires: 2016-11-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a tandem system for providing a tandem connection for circuit-based traffic. This tandem system comprises an ATM cross-connect, ATM interworking multiplexers, and a signaling processor. The multiplexer converts the traffic received by the tandem system into ATM where it is routed through the cross-connect and re-converted back into the circuit-based format at an ATM interworking multiplexer. The signaling processor controls the virtual connections and out going circuit-based connections used by the multiplexers.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Michael Christie, deceased
- 👤 legal representative by Joseph S. Christie
- 👤 legal representative by Jean M. Christie
- 👤 Michael Joseph Gardner
- 👤 William Lyle Wiley
- 👤 Albert Daniel Duree
- 👤 Tracy Lee Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04M3/42297; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5619; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5672
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A telecommunications tandem system for providing a tandem connection for a call, wherein the tandem system comprises; a first ATM interworking multiplexer that is operational to receive circuit-based traffic for the call from a first circuit-based connection, to convert the circuit-based traffic into ATM cells that identify a selected virtual connection based on a first control message, and to transmit the ATM cells; an ATM cross-connect that is connected to the first ATM interworking multiplexer and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the first ATM interworking multiplexer and to route the ATM cells based on the selected virtual connection identified in the ATM cells; a second ATM interworking multiplexer that is connected to the ATM cross-connect and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect, to convert the ATM cells into the circuit-based traffic, and to transmit the circuit-based traffic over a selected second circuit-based connection based on a second control message; and a signaling processor that is linked to the first ATM multiplexer and the second ATM multiplexer and that is operational to receive and process telecommunications signaling for the call to select the virtual connection and the second circuit-based connection, to provide the first control message for the call to the first ATM multiplexer, and to provide the second control message for the call to the second ATM multiplexer, wherein the first control message identifies the first circuit-based connection and the selected virtual connection, wherein the second control message identifies the selected virtual connection and the selected second circuit-based connection, and wherein the first circuit based connection, the selected virtual connection, and the selected second circuit based connection form the tandem connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A telecommunications tandem system for providing a tandem connection for a call, wherein the tandem system comprises; a first ATM interworking multiplexer that is operational to receive circuit-based traffic for the call from a first circuit-based connection, to convert the circuit-based traffic into ATM cells that identify a selected virtual connection based on a first control message, and to transmit the ATM cells; an ATM cross-connect that is connected to the first ATM interworking multiplexer and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the first ATM interworking multiplexer and to route the ATM cells based on the selected virtual connection identified in the ATM cells; a second ATM interworking multiplexer that is connected to the ATM cross-connect and that is operational to receive the ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect, to convert the ATM cells into the circuit-based traffic, and to transmit the circuit-based traffic over a selected second circuit-based connection based on a second control message; and a signaling processor that is linked to the first ATM multiplexer and the second ATM multiplexer and that is operational to receive and process telecommunications signaling for the call to select the virtual connection and the second circuit-based connection, to provide the first control message for the call to the first ATM multiplexer, and to provide the second control message for the call to the second ATM multiplexer, wherein the first control message identifies the first circuit-based connection and the selected virtual connection, wherein the second control message identifies the selected virtual connection and the selected second circuit-based connection, and wherein the first circuit based connection, the selected virtual connection, and the selected second circuit based connection form the tandem connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection for the call between two circuit-based switches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection for the call between two circuit-based switching networks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection for the call between a circuit-based switch and an enhanced services platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the selected virtual connection is provisioned from the first ATM interworking multiplexer to the second ATM interworking multiplexer through the ATM cross-connect before the call.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the circuit-based connections are DS0 connections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the first ATM multiplexer and the second ATM multiplexer are incorporated into a single ATM multiplexer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the first control message and the second control message are incorporated into a single control message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the first ATM multiplexer, the second ATM multiplexer, and the ATM cross-connect are physically located at the same site.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor, the first ATM multiplexer, the second ATM multiplexer, and the ATM cross-connect are physically located at the same site.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications signaling is a call set-up message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications signaling is a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message (SS7 IAM).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on an NPA in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on an NXX in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on an NPA-NXX in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a destination network identified in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a transit network selection code in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a carrier identification perameter in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a nature of address in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a network element identified in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a local route number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is operational to select the connections for the call based on a trunk group to be used for the call.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to apply echo cancellation to the call.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to exchange ATM traffic with an ATM system for another call.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to exchange B-ISDN signaling with an ATM system for another call.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection between an incumbent local exchange carrier and a competitive local exchange carrier for the call.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection between a first competitive local exchange carrier and a second competitive local exchange carrier for the call.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection between a local exchange carrier and an interexchange carrier for the call.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection between a local exchange carrier and an international carrier for the call.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tandem system of claim 1 wherein the tandem system is operational to provide the tandem connection between an interexchange carrier and an international carrier for the call.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for operating a telecommunications tandem system for providing a tandem connection for a call, wherein the method comprises; receiving circuit-based traffic for the call into a first ATM multiplexer from a first circuit-based connection; receiving telecommunications signaling for the call into a signaling processor; processing the telecommunications signaling in the signaling processor to select an ATM connection and a second circuit-based connection for the call; providing a first control message from the signaling processor to the first ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the first control message identifies the first circuit-based connection and the selected ATM connection; providing a second control message from the signaling processor to a second ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the second control message identifies the selected ATM connection and the selected second circuit-based connection; converting the circuit-based traffic in the first ATM multiplexer into ATM cells that identify the selected ATM connection based on the first control message; transmitting the ATM cells from the first ATM multiplexer to an ATM cross-connect; routing ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect to the second ATM multiplexer based on the selected ATM connection that is identified in the ATM cells; receiving the ATM cells into the second ATM multiplexer over the selected ATM connection; converting the ATM cells in the second ATM multiplexer into the circuit-based traffic; and transmitting the circuit-based traffic over the selected second circuit-based connection for the call based on the second control message, wherein the first circuit-based connection, the selected ATM connection, and the selected second circuit-based connection form the tandem connection.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for operating a telecommunications tandem system for providing a tandem connection for a call, wherein the method comprises; receiving circuit-based traffic for the call into a first ATM multiplexer from a first circuit-based connection; receiving telecommunications signaling for the call into a signaling processor; processing the telecommunications signaling in the signaling processor to select an ATM connection and a second circuit-based connection for the call; providing a first control message from the signaling processor to the first ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the first control message identifies the first circuit-based connection and the selected ATM connection; providing a second control message from the signaling processor to a second ATM interworking multiplexer wherein the second control message identifies the selected ATM connection and the selected second circuit-based connection; converting the circuit-based traffic in the first ATM multiplexer into ATM cells that identify the selected ATM connection based on the first control message; transmitting the ATM cells from the first ATM multiplexer to an ATM cross-connect; routing ATM cells from the ATM cross-connect to the second ATM multiplexer based on the selected ATM connection that is identified in the ATM cells; receiving the ATM cells into the second ATM multiplexer over the selected ATM connection; converting the ATM cells in the second ATM multiplexer into the circuit-based traffic; and transmitting the circuit-based traffic over the selected second circuit-based connection for the call based on the second control message, wherein the first circuit-based connection, the selected ATM connection, and the selected second circuit-based connection form the tandem connection.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection for the call between two circuit-based switches.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection for the call between two circuit-based switching networks.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection for the call between a circuit-based switch and an enhanced services platform.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the selected ATM connection is provisioned from the first ATM interworking multiplexer to the second ATM interworking multiplexer through the ATM cross-connect before the call.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the circuit-based connections are DS0 connections.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the first ATM multiplexer and the second ATM multiplexer are incorporated into a single ATM multiplexer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the first control message and the second control message are incorporated into a single control message.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the first ATM multiplexer, the second ATM multiplexer, and the ATM cross-connect are physically located at the same site.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor, the first ATM multiplexer, the second ATM multiplexer, and the ATM cross-connect are physically located at the same site.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the telecommunications signaling is a call set-up message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the telecommunications signaling is a Signaling System #7 Initial Address Message (SS7 IAM).
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on an NPA in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on an NXX in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on an NPA-NXX in a called number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a destination network identified in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a transit network selection code in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a carrier identification perameter in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a nature of address in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a network element identified in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a local route number in the telecommunications signaling.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the signaling processor selects the connections for the call based on a trunk group to be used for the call.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system applies echo cancellation to the call.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system exchanges ATM traffic with an ATM system for another call.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system exchanges B-ISDN signaling with an ATM system for another call.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection between an incumbent local exchange carrier and a competitive local exchange carrier for the call.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection between a first competitive local exchange carrier and a second competitive local exchange carrier for the call.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection between a local exchange carrier and an interexchange carrier for the call.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection between a local exchange carrier and an international carrier for the call.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tandem system provides the tandem connection between an interexchange carrier and an international carrier for the call.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |