Patent ID: 6714560
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for transmitting SS7 signalling data between a node and an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (â€œATMâ€ ) network, said SS7 signalling data destined for a plurality of physical links in communication with said ATM network, said method comprising:for each of said plurality of physical links, establishing a virtual channel over a multiplexing physical link connecting said node and said ATM networks; providing an identifier unique to each of said established virtual channels, said identifier comprising a Virtual Path Identifier (â€œVPIâ€ ) and a Virtual Channel Identifier (â€œVCIâ€ ); encapsulating said SS7 signalling data into ATM cells incorporating said identifier corresponding to a destined one of said plurality of physical links; transmit encapsulated data from said node to said ATM network over said multiplexing physical link on said virtual channel corresponding to said identifier in said encapsulated data; providing a logical connection over said ATM network between each of said virtual channels on said multiplexing physical link and each of said plurality of physical links; and wherein said transmitting further comprises: further transmitting said encapsulated data to said plurality of physical links over said logical connections.