US6070192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control in a data access transport service
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1997-12-24
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2017-12-24
Abstract
Abstract In a Data Access Transport Service (DATS), Data Service Providers (DSPs) share dial-in access (e.g. analog modem or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) access) resources from a common pool maintained by a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) (or potentially a DSP. A system is disclosed wherein a Network Controller (NC) performs the role of DSP service partitioning, quota enforcement, and resource load balancing to ensure that a DATS provider can provide a high quality of service (availability, response time & consistent bandwidth) to subscribed DSPs and their end-users. The Network Controller assists in Internet Data call establishment and tear-down, with the ability to refuse calls when the associated DSP has exceeded its service quota. The Network Controller also assists in the routing of calls to one of the DSPs Network Gateways (or data routers), using a load balancing scheme that maintains a pre-defined relative load on given DSP Network Gateways. The Network Controller will also provide an implementation that supports Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol (MLP) and 56 kbps data calls for ISDN BRI access. Additionally, the Network Controller will perform such functions as statistics collection, and network element administrative control. The Network Controller can be positioned to provide similar service control functionality with higher speed access technologies such as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) and high-speed cable modems.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Hugh Holt
- 👤 Robert Thomas Gibson
- 👤 Robert Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/70; H04L47/82; H04L47/825; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/287; H04L12/2872; H04L47/10; H04L47/12; H04L47/125; H04L47/74; H04L47/746; H04L47/78; H04L47/781; H04L47/822; H04L47/828; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04L69/00; H04L69/14; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13039; H04Q2213/1307; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13174; H04Q2213/13196; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/13298; H04Q2213/13389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers and a network controller connected to the network access servers; each network access server being operable: to send a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; and to receive a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; to respond to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed by answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider; and to respond to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed by initiating a busy indication; and the network controller being operable: to receive a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; to determine whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than an service quota assigned to the data service provider; and to send a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
A data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers and a network controller connected to the network access servers; each network access server being operable: to send a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; and to receive a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; to respond to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed by answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider; and to respond to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed by initiating a busy indication; and the network controller being operable: to receive a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; to determine whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than an service quota assigned to the data service provider; and to send a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each network access server is operable: to detect termination of data calls; and to send a connection release request to the network controller upon detection of termination of a data call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
A network controller for use in a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers connected to the network controller, the network controller comprising: means for receiving a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; means for determining whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than an service quota assigned to the data service provider; and means for sending a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A network controller for use in a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers connected to the network controller, the network controller comprising: means for receiving a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; means for determining whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than an service quota assigned to the data service provider; and means for sending a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
A network controller as defined in claim 3, further comprising: means for maintaining a count of active calls to each data service provider served by the data access transport system; means for maintaining a count of active calls served by each network gateway served by the data access transport system; and means for selecting a network gateway for completing a connection to a data service provider based on the counts of active calls served by each network gateway connected to the data service provider; the means for sending a connection setup response being responsive to the means for selecting a network gateway to send a connection setup response specifying the selected network gateway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A network controller as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for maintaining a record of tunnels currently connected between network access servers and network gateways, the means for selecting a network gateway being operable to select a network gateway based on the counts of active calls served by each network gateway and the record of tunnels currently connected between network access servers and network gateways.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A network controller as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for recognizing call setup requests corresponding to segments of a MLP call, the means for selecting a network gateway for completing a connection to a data service provider being responsive to the means for recognizing call setup requests corresponding to segments of a MLP call to select the same network gateway for all segments of a MLP call.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A network controller as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for recognizing call setup requests corresponding to data calls requiring 56 kbps service, the means for sending a connection setup response being responsive to the means for recognizing call setup requests corresponding to data calls requiring 56 kbps service to send a connection setup response indicating that 56 kbps service is required.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A network controller as defined in claim 3, further comprising: means for deriving operational data from at least one of connection setup requests, connection setup responses, connection release requests, connection release acknowledgements and error conditions detected by the network controller; and means for recording at least some of the derived operational data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A network controller as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for flagging network gateways as disabled, the means for selecting a network gateway responding to the means for flagging network gateways as disabled by not selecting any network gateway currently flagged as disabled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A network controller as defined in claim 9, wherein the means for flagging network gateways as disabled is responsive to receipt of a message from a network access server indicating a failure to open a connection to a particular network gateway to flag that particular network gateway as disabled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network controller as defined in claim 10, wherein the means for selecting a network gateway is responsive to receipt of the message indicating a failure to open a connection to a particular network gateway to select another network gateway for connection of the call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A network controller as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for flagging groups of directory numbers as disabled, each directory number group comprising at least one directory number, the means for sending a connection setup response being responsive to the means for flagging directory number groups as disabled to send connection setup responses indicating that connections are not to be completed in response to connection setup requests specifying directory numbers in directory number groups which are flagged as disabled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A network controller as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for flagging network access servers as disabled, the means for sending a connection setup response being responsive to the means for flagging network access servers as disabled to send connection setup responses indicating that connections are not to be completed in response to connection setup requests sent by network access servers which are flagged as disabled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A network access server for use in a data access transport system comprising a network controller connected to the network access server, comprising: means for sending a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; means for receiving a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; means for answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed; and means for initiating a busy indication in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A network access server for use in a data access transport system comprising a network controller connected to the network access server, comprising: means for sending a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; means for receiving a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; means for answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed; and means for initiating a busy indication in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A network access server as defined in claim 14, further comprising: means for detecting termination of data calls; and means for sending a connection release request to the network controller upon detection of termination of a data call.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A network access server as defined in claim 14, wherein the means for initiating a connection to the specified data service provider initiates a connection via a network gateway specified in the connection setup response.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network access server as defined in claim 14, further comprising means for sending a message the network controller upon failure to complete a connection to a particular network gateway, the message specifying the particular network gateway.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network access server as defined in claim 14, further comprising means responsive to a signal indicating that the network access server is disabled to send a signal to an access network indicating that access channels of the network access server are unavailable for use.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network access server as defined in claim 18, further comprising means responsive to a signal indicating that the network access server is re-enabled to send a signal to an access network indicating that access channels of the network access server are available for use.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for operating a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers and a network controller connected to the network access servers, the method comprising: sending a connection setup request from a network access server to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; determining at the network controller whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than a service quota assigned to the data service provider; sending a connection setup response from the network controller to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota; responding at the network access server to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed by answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider; and responding at the network access server to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed by initiating a busy indication.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for operating a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers and a network controller connected to the network access servers, the method comprising: sending a connection setup request from a network access server to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; determining at the network controller whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than a service quota assigned to the data service provider; sending a connection setup response from the network controller to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota; responding at the network access server to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed by answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider; and responding at the network access server to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed by initiating a busy indication.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising: detecting termination of a data call at a network access server; and sending a connection release request to the network controller upon detection of the termination.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for operating a network controller for use in a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers connected to the network controller, the method comprising: receiving a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; determining whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than a service quota assigned to the data service provider; and sending a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for operating a network controller for use in a data access transport system comprising a plurality of network access servers connected to the network controller, the method comprising: receiving a connection setup request from any of the network access servers; determining whether a quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider specified in the connection setup request is less than a service quota assigned to the data service provider; and sending a connection setup response to the network access server which sent the connection setup request, the connection setup response indicating that the requested connection is to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is less than the assigned service quota and the connection setup response indicating the requested connection is not to be completed when the quantity of network resources currently used by the data service provider is not less than the assigned service quota.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising: maintaining a count of active calls to each data service provider served by the data access transport system; maintaining a count of active calls served by each network gateway served by the data access transport system; and selecting a network gateway for completing a connection to a data service provider based on the counts of active calls served by each network gateway connected to the data service provider; the step of sending a connection setup response comprising sending a connection setup response specifying the selected network gateway.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as defined in claim 23, further comprising maintaining a record of tunnels currently connected between network access servers and network gateways, the step of selecting a network comprising selecting a network gateway based on the counts of active calls served by each network gateway and the record of tunnels currently connected between network access servers and network gateways.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 23, further comprising recognizing call setup requests corresponding to segments of a MLP call, the step of selecting a network gateway for completing a connection to a data service provider comprising selecting the same network gateway for all segments of a MLP call.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising recognizing call setup requests corresponding to data calls requiring 56 kbps service, the step of sending a connection setup response comprising sending a connection setup response indicating that 56 kbps service is required.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising: deriving operational data from at least one of connection setup requests, connection setup responses, connection release requests, connection release acknowledgements and error conditions detected by the network controller; and recording at least some of the derived operational data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising flagging network gateways as disabled, the step of selecting a network gateway comprising not selecting any network gateway currently flagged as disabled.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising flagging directory number groups as disabled, each directory number group comprising at least one directory number, the step of sending a connection setup response comprising sending a connection setup response indicating that a connection is not to be completed for any connection setup request specifying a directory number in a directory number group which is flagged as disabled.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising flagging network access servers as disabled, the step of sending a connection setup response comprising indicating that connections are not to be completed in response to connection setup requests sent by network access servers which are flagged as disabled.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for operating a network access server in a data access transport system comprising a network controller connected to the network access server, comprising: sending a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; receiving a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed; and initiating a busy indication in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for operating a network access server in a data access transport system comprising a network controller connected to the network access server, comprising: sending a connection setup request to the network controller on receipt of a data call before answering the data call, the connection setup request specifying a data service provider to which a connection is requested; receiving a connection setup response from the network controller, the connection setup response indicating whether the requested connection is to be completed; answering the data call and initiating a connection to the specified data service provider in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is to be completed; and initiating a busy indication in response to a connection setup response indicating that the connection is not to be completed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 31, further comprising: detecting termination of data calls; and sending a connection release request to the network controller upon detection of termination of a data call.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 31, wherein the step of initiating a connection to the specified data service provider comprises initiating a connection via a network gateway specified in the connection setup response.
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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) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |