US6298059B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple quality of service asynchronous transfer mode-frame relay interworking function and method
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1998-12-23
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Granted: 2001-10-02
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Expires: 2018-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for interworking between FR (frame relay) and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) using permanent virtual circuits. An ATM VCC between two interworking functions is dedicated to FR LMI signalling traffic, while the FR data traffic is carried by ATM VCCs which do not carry any FR LMI signalling traffic. The FR data traffic of a given FR DLCI is carried by an ATM VCC having a service category and bandwidth parameters which reflect the transfer priority and bandwidth needs of the particular FR DLCI. This allows a high priority to be assigned to all LMI traffic carried over the ATM network independent of the priority assigned to the FR data traffic.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc St-Amand
- 👤 Yvon Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/60; H04L49/606; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5651; H04L2012/5665; H04L2012/567
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of interworking between a first network having a first native protocol, and a second network having a second native protocol for implementation by a near end IWF (interworking function) located at an interface between the two networks, the method comprising: mapping each logical data connection incoming from the first network to one of one or more data connections between the near end IWF and a far end IWF; mapping all control/signalling messages relating to the logical connections incoming from said first network to a dedicated signalling connection between the near end IWF and the far end IWF.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of interworking between a first network having a first native protocol, and a second network having a second native protocol for implementation by a near end IWF (interworking function) located at an interface between the two networks, the method comprising: mapping each logical data connection incoming from the first network to one of one or more data connections between the near end IWF and a far end IWF; mapping all control/signalling messages relating to the logical connections incoming from said first network to a dedicated signalling connection between the near end IWF and the far end IWF.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: provisioning said one or more data connections between the near end IWF and the far end IWF; and provisioning said dedicated signalling connection between the near end IWF and a far end IWF.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the first network is a FR (frame relay) network and the second network is an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network, and said dedicated signalling channel is a first ATM VCC, and each of said data connections is another ATM VCC.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein: said step of mapping each logical data connection comprises mapping each of the logical data connections to a respective unique DLCIs on one or more ATM VCCs between the two interworking functions; said step of mapping all control/signalling messages relating to the logical connections comprises mapping these messages to a single ATM VCC between the two interworking functions not used for any of the logical connections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein each incoming logical connection is mapped to a unique data connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the control/signalling messages are mapped to DLCI- 0 of said first ATM VCC.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein dedicated signalling connection has ATM QoS VBR-nrt {variable bit rate—non-real time).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: mapping a transfer priority of each FR logical connection to a respective ATM QoS (quality of service}; mapping all FR logical connections having transfer priorities mapped to the same ATM QoS to one or more ATM VCCs between two ATM interworking functions with that ATM QoS, with each FR logical connection mapped to a unique DLCI; and mapping all control/signalling information relating to the plurality of FR logical connections to a single ATM VCC between the two interworking functions not used for any of the FR logical connections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: mapping connection characteristics of each incoming logical connection to respective connection characteristics on said second network; mapping all incoming logical connections having connection characteristics mapped to the same second network connection characteristics to one or more data connections between two interworking functions having those second network connection characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
An ATM-FR switching node comprising: an FR switch for receiving and sending frame relay frames over a frame relay an ATM switch for receiving and sending ATM cells over an ATM network; a DLCI in-out mapping which maps data DLCIs incoming from the frame relay network to DLCIs assigned to ATM VCCs on the ATM network; and which identifies a dedicated signalling ATM VCC for carrying FR LMI (local management interface) frames; and FR over ATM conversion circuitry for taking incoming FR frames and generating ATM cells, with each ATM cell containing a first vci.vpi of the assigned ATM VCC in the case that the FR frame is a data frame, and with each ATM cell containing a second vci.vpi of the dedicated signalling VCC in the case the FR frame is an LMI frame; FR frame regeneration circuitry for taking incoming ATM cells from the assigned VCCs and the dedicated VCC and regenerating FR data frames and LMI frames as appropriate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
An ATM-FR switching node comprising: an FR switch for receiving and sending frame relay frames over a frame relay an ATM switch for receiving and sending ATM cells over an ATM network; a DLCI in-out mapping which maps data DLCIs incoming from the frame relay network to DLCIs assigned to ATM VCCs on the ATM network; and which identifies a dedicated signalling ATM VCC for carrying FR LMI (local management interface) frames; and FR over ATM conversion circuitry for taking incoming FR frames and generating ATM cells, with each ATM cell containing a first vci.vpi of the assigned ATM VCC in the case that the FR frame is a data frame, and with each ATM cell containing a second vci.vpi of the dedicated signalling VCC in the case the FR frame is an LMI frame; FR frame regeneration circuitry for taking incoming ATM cells from the assigned VCCs and the dedicated VCC and regenerating FR data frames and LMI frames as appropriate.
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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) | 2004-10-01 | 2005-04-02 | 2005-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-01 | 2009-04-02 | 2009-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-01 | 2013-04-02 | 2013-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |