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US6331981B1
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Method and network component for switching low bit rate connections between input modules and output modules in a communication network
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 1998-09-22
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Granted: 2001-12-18
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Expires: 2018-09-22
Abstract
Abstract In a method and network component of a communications network for switching connections of low bit rate between input modules and output modules, the input modules and the output modules form a first switching level, and an ATM switching stage arranged between the input modules and the output modules forms a second switching level. In the first switching level, a number of low bit rate connections at the input module, which are to be transmitted to the same output module, are respectively merged by the input module into at least one ATM connection. In the second switching level, the switching through of the ATM connections for transmitting data in ATM cells ensues by the ATM switching stage. Subsequently, in the first switching level, the ATM connections which have been switched through are converted by the output module into the low bit rate connections. The combined switching in two switching levels represents an especially economical solution for functions specific to mobile radio and switching applications dealing with low bitrate traffic, by simultaneously assuring an acceptable speech quality with good exploitation of the ATM bandwidth.
Inventors
- 👤 Arno Harth
- 👤 Petra Tippmann-Krayer
- 👤 Peter Holzner
- 👤 Werner Korte
- 👤 Karl Schrodi
- 👤 Andreas Klug
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/30; H04L49/3081; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for switching low bit rate connections between input and output modules connected to a network component in a communication network, comprising the steps of: providing input and output modules with an ATM switching stage connected therebetween; forming a first switching level comprising said input modules and said output modules; forming a second switching level comprising said ATM switching stage; in said first switching level, merging a plurality of low bit rate connections at said input module, which are all to be transmitted to one of said output modules, into at least one ATM connection; in said second switching level, switching through said at least one ATM connection by said switching stage for transmission of information in ATM cells; and in said first switching level, converting said through-switched ATM connection in said one of said output modules into a low bit rate connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for switching low bit rate connections between input and output modules connected to a network component in a communication network, comprising the steps of: providing input and output modules with an ATM switching stage connected therebetween; forming a first switching level comprising said input modules and said output modules; forming a second switching level comprising said ATM switching stage; in said first switching level, merging a plurality of low bit rate connections at said input module, which are all to be transmitted to one of said output modules, into at least one ATM connection; in said second switching level, switching through said at least one ATM connection by said switching stage for transmission of information in ATM cells; and in said first switching level, converting said through-switched ATM connection in said one of said output modules into a low bit rate connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional step of employing a common control means for controlling said first switching level and said second switching level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising driving said ATM switching stage with said common control means according to a decentralized switching principle and with said common control means adjusting said input modules and said output modules in said first switching level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said input modules and said output modules has external lines respectively connected thereto, and wherein said input and output modules respectively receive and transmit data via said external lines by time-division multiplex connections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said input modules and said output modules respectively transmit and receive data via a plurality of connections using ATM minipackets, which are carried inside said ATM cells, and comprising the additional step of: in said input modules in said first switching level, collecting said minipackets and forming ATM cells from the collected minipackets using a connection table to determine which minipackets are inserted into which of said ATM cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 comprising the additional step of, in the respective input modules and the respective output modules of said first switching level, multiplexing and demultiplexing connections by a switching element with an allocation of connections between said input modules and said output modules being made using a connection table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said input modules and said output modules has external ATM lines respectively connected thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said input modules and said output modules respectively transmit and receive data via a plurality of connections using ATM minipackets, which are carried inside said ATM cells, and comprising the additional step of: in said input modules in said first switching level, collecting said minipackets and forming ATM cells from the collected minipackets using a connection table to determine which minipackets are inserted into which of said ATM cells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said input modules and said output modules has external lines respectively connected thereto, and wherein said input modules and said output modules respectively transmit and receive data via a plurality of connections using ATM minipackets, which are carried inside said ATM cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising the additional step of: in said input modules in said first switching level, collecting said minipackets and forming ATM cells from the collected minipackets using a connection table to determine which minipackets are inserted into which of said ATM cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising the additional step of: passing said ATM cells through a delay arrangement having random transit times, in an input module of said first switching level and subsequently storing said ATM cells intermediately in an ATM cell memory before transmitting said ATM cells to said ATM switching stage in said second switching level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising forming each minipacket with a packet header containing at least one connection address, said packet header having a format selected from the group consisting of a proprietary header format and a standardized header format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein, in said output modules of said first switching level, said ATM cells are collected and ATM minipackets are generated from the collected ATM cells and intermediately stored, and employing a connection table to determine which minipackets are distributed to which connections of said output module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional step of, in the respective input modules and the respective output modules of said first switching level, multiplexing and demultiplexing connections by a switching element with an allocation of connections between said input modules and said output modules being made using a connection table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 comprising the additional step of: in said input modules, forming ATM cells from data multiplexed at common outputs and intermediately storing said ATM cells in an ATM cell memory before transmitting said ATM cells to said ATM switching stage of said second switching level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising the additional step of: filling said ATM cells with data arriving at a common output being written in succession into said ATM cells independently of whether said data comprises traffic information or signaling information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising the additional step of: filling said ATM cells as structured ATM cells with data arriving at a common output containing a pointer identifying a beginning of each structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising the additional step of: partially filling said ATM cells with data arriving at a common output with each ATM cell containing synchronization data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 comprising the additional step of: in said output modules of said first switching level, intermediately storing incoming ATM cells in an ATM memory and subsequently collecting said ATM cells before transmitting said ATM cells to said switching element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said connection table comprises a first connection table, and comprising the additional step of: using a second connection table, selecting at one of said input modules which of said ATM cells are switched through to which of said output modules by said ATM switching stage of said second switching level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 comprising the additional step of: using a third connection table, determining at one of said output modules how said ATM cells are to be distributed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
151 words
A network component for a communication network comprising: a first switching level comprising a plurality of input modules and a plurality of output modules; means in at least one of said input modules of said first switching level for merging a plurality of low bit rate connections at said at least one input module which are to be transmitted to one of said output modules, into at least one ATM connection; forming a second switching level comprising an ATM switching stage connected between said input modules and said output modules, said ATM switching stage comprising means for switching through connections between said input modules and said output modules; and means in at least one of said output modules of said first switching level for, upon receipt of a switched-through connection from said switching stage of said second switching level, converting the switched-through ATM connection into an output low bit rate connection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
151 words
A network component for a communication network comprising: a first switching level comprising a plurality of input modules and a plurality of output modules; means in at least one of said input modules of said first switching level for merging a plurality of low bit rate connections at said at least one input module which are to be transmitted to one of said output modules, into at least one ATM connection; forming a second switching level comprising an ATM switching stage connected between said input modules and said output modules, said ATM switching stage comprising means for switching through connections between said input modules and said output modules; and means in at least one of said output modules of said first switching level for, upon receipt of a switched-through connection from said switching stage of said second switching level, converting the switched-through ATM connection into an output low bit rate connection.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A network component as claimed in claim 22 comprising a mobile radio network component.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network component as claimed in claim 23 wherein said network component comprises a mobile radio network component selected from the group consisting of a base station control unit, a radio network controller and a transcoding unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A network component as claimed in claim 22 comprising a hardwired network component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-06-18 | 2005-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-17 | 2009-06-18 | 2009-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-17 | 2013-06-18 | 2013-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |