Abstract:
A processing system receives and processes telecommunication signaling for a user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication. The processing system transfers control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication to a routing system. The routing system receives the control information and the user communication, and in response, transfers the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path. The first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth, and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/487,147; filed Jan. 19, 2000; entitled “Data Calls Using Both Constant Bit Rate and Variable Bit Rate Connections”; and which is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent application. 
     
    
     
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable  
         MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    The invention is related to the field of communication systems, and in particular, to a system that provides data calls using both constant bit rate and variable bit rate connections.  
           [0006]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0007]    Telecommunication providers use broadband systems to carry data calls. Data calls are calls that are established to carry primarily data instead of voice. One example of a data call is a call originating from a computer through a modem for web surfing. Data calls can carry voice such as through a data call established for video conferencing.  
           [0008]    The broadband system must efficiently use the bandwidth for all types of calls to improve overall call performance. One prior solution determines the bandwidth on a call by call basis. FIG. 1 depicts a system level block diagram in an example of a prior solution. The prior solution is disclosed in a pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/304,379, entitled “System and Method for Configuring Bandwidth Transmission Rates for Call Connections”, filed on May 4, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In FIG. 1, a communication system  100  comprises a call processing system  130  and a call processing system  150 . The call processing system  130  and the call processing system  150  are disclosed in a pending U.S. patent application, entitled “System and Method for Processing a Call”, filed on Nov. 5, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The call processing system  130  comprises a signaling processor  132  and a routing system  134 . The call processing system  150  comprises a signaling processor  152  and a routing system  154 . A communication device  110  is connected to the signaling processor  132  and the routing system  134 . The signaling processor  132  is connected to the routing system  134  and the signaling processor  152 . The signaling processor  152  is connected to the routing system  154  and a communication device  160 . The communication device  160  is connected to the routing system  154 . The routing system  154  is connected to the routing system  134 .  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 depicts a message sequence chart that depicts the operation of the communication system  100  depicted in FIG. 1. To initiate a data call, the communication device  110  transmits an Initial Address Message (IAM) in Signaling System #7 (SS7) to the signaling processor  132 . The signaling processor  132  processes the IAM and determines the bandwidth for the call based on the IAM. The signaling processor  132  transfers the IAM to the signaling processor  152 . The signaling processor  132  generates and transmits a first control message identifying the bandwidth for the call to the routing system  134 .  
           [0010]    The signaling processor  152  processes and transfers the IAM to the communication device  160 . The signaling processor  152  generates and transmits a second control message to the routing system  154  based on the IAM. Subsequent SS7 signaling messages for call setup such as address complete messages are not shown for the sake of clarity. The routing system  134  receives the call from the communication device  110 . The routing system  134  processes the first control message and routes the call to the routing system  154  based on the first control message. The routing system  154  processes the second control message and routes the call to the communication device  160  based on the second control message.  
           [0011]    The data call is made up of N×56K or N×64K connections between the communication device  110  and the routing system  134 . The N×56K or N×64K connections are identified by a session identification number. Between the routing system  134  and the routing system  154 , the call uses one constant bit rate connection for each N×56K or N×64K connection for the duration of the call.  
           [0012]    Typically, the actual bandwidth needed for the data call varies. One problem is the quality of the call is degraded when the actual bandwidth for the data call is greater than the allocated bandwidth. Another problem is unused allocated bandwidth is not utilized when the actual bandwidth is less than the allocated bandwidth. If the data call is not utilizing the unused allocated bandwidth, then this bandwidth could be utilized by other calls.  
           [0013]    Variable bit rate connections have been used for calls between asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switches. The call uses only as much bandwidth as needed with the remaining bandwidth being allocated to other telecommunication services. Unfortunately, call processing systems do not effectively use both constant bit rate and variable bit rate connections for data calls.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    A processing system receives and processes telecommunication signaling for a user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication. The processing system transfers control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication to a routing system. The routing system receives the control information and the user communication, and in response, transfers the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path. The first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth, and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a system level block diagram in an example of a prior solution.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a message sequence chart in an example of a prior solution.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a system level block diagram in an example of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a system level block diagram of a communication system in an example of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a message sequence chart for the operation of a communication system in an example of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    First Call Processing System and Second Call Processing System  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 depicts a system level block diagram in an example of the invention. A communication device  300  is connected to a first call processing system  310  by a first call link  302 . The first call processing system  310  is connected to a second call processing system  320  by a second call link  312 . The second call processing system  320  is connected to a communication device  330  by a third call link  322 .  
         [0022]    The communication device  300  and the communication device  330  could be any device configured to exchange calls. Some examples of the communication device  300  and the communication device  330  are customer premises equipment (CPE), a service platform, a switch, and a remote digital terminal. CPE can be, for example, a telephone, a computer, a facsimile machine, or a private branch exchange. A service platform can be, for example, any enhanced computer platform that is capable of processing calls. A remote digital terminal is a device that concentrates analog twisted pairs from telephones and other like devices and converts the analog signals to a digital format known as GR-303.  
         [0023]    The first call processing system  310  could be any system that is configured to (1) receive signaling for the data call, (2) process the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system  310  and the second call processing system  320 , and (3) process the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system  310  and the second call processing system  320 . One example of the signaling for the call is an Initial Address Message (IAM). The LAM could be in Signaling System #7 (SS7) or C7.  
         [0024]    The second call processing system  320  could be any system that is configured to exchange calls with the first call processing system  310  through a constant bit rate connection and variable bit rate connections and exchange calls with the communication device  330 .  
         [0025]    In operation, the communication device  300  transmits signaling for a data call to the first call processing system  310  to initiate the data call. The first call processing system  310  receives the signaling for the data call. The first call processing system  310  then processes the signaling to generates a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system  310  and the second call processing system  320 . The first call processing system  310  then processes the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system  310  and the second call processing system  320 . The first call processing system  310  then extends the signaling for the data call to the second call processing system  320 . The second call processing system  320  then extends the signaling for the data call to the communication device  330 . The communication device  300  transfers data to the first call processing system  310 . The first call processing system  310  transfers data to the second call processing system  320  via the constant bit rate connection and the variable bit rate connection. The second call processing system  320  then transfers the data to the communication device  330 . If desired, the first instruction and second instruction could be combined into one instruction.  
         [0026]    Call Processing Systems with Signaling Processors and Routing Systems  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 4-5 disclose one embodiment of the invention, but the invention is not restricted to the configuration provided below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations in a communication system configuration and operation that are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate how the principles illustrated in this example can be used in other examples of the invention. A particular reference number in one figure refers to the same element in all of the other figures.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 depicts a system level block diagram of a communication system  400  in an example of the invention. The communication system  400  comprises a call processing system  430  and a call processing system  450 . The call processing system  430  comprises a signaling processor  432  and a routing system  434 . The call processing system  450  comprises a signaling processor  452  and a routing system  454 . A communication device  110  is connected to the signaling processor  432  and the routing system  434 . The signaling processor  432  is connected to the routing system  434  and the signaling processor  452 . The signaling processor  452  is connected to the routing system  454  and a communication device  160 . The communication device  160  is connected to the routing system  454 . The routing system  454  is connected to the routing system  434  via a call link  442 . The call link  442  is comprised of a constant bit rate connection  444  and variable bit rate connections  446 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 depicts a message sequence chart for the operation of the communication system  400  in an example of the invention. To initiate the call, the communication device  110  transmits an Initial Address Message (IAM) in Signaling System #7 (SS7) to the signaling processor  432 . The signaling processor  432  processes the IAM and identifies the call as a data call based on the information in the IAM. Because the call is a data call, the signaling processor  432  identifies the minimum rate based on the information in the IAM. In one embodiment of the invention, the minimum rate is based on the Bearer Capacity parameter of the IAM. The minimum rate is the lowest acceptable rate of data transfer for the data call. The signaling processor  432  determines the burst characteristics of the data call from the information in the IAM. The burst characteristics are the information associated with the maximum rate that the data call can achieve. The signaling processor  432  transfers the IAM to the signaling processor  452 . Based on the processing of the IAM, the signaling processor  432  then generates and transfers a first instruction to the routing system  434  to set up a constant bit rate connection  444  between the routing system  434  and the routing system  454  via the call link  442 . The first instruction indicates the minimum rate for the data call. Based on the processing of the IAM, the signaling processor  432  generates and transfers a second instruction to the routing system  434  to set up a variable bit rate connection  446  between the routing system  434  and the routing system  454  via the call link  442  based on the processing of the IAM.  
         [0030]    The signaling processor  452  processes and transfers the IAM to the communication device  160 . The signaling processor  452  then generates and transfers a control message to the routing system  454  to route the data call to the communication device  160  based on the processing of the IAM. Subsequent SS7 signaling messages related to call setup such as address complete messages are not shown for the sake of clarity.  
         [0031]    The routing system  434  then receives the data call from the communication device  110 . The data call between the communication device  110  and the routing system  434  could be made up of N×56K or N×64K connections identified by a session identification number. The routing system  434  processes the first instruction and sets up a constant bit rate connection  444  with the routing system  454  via the call link  442  based on the first instruction. The routing system  434  also routes the data call to the routing system  154  based on the first instruction. The routing system  434  processes the second instruction and sets up the variable bit rate connection  446  with the routing system  454  via the call link  442  based on the second instruction. The second instruction indicates the burst characteristics of the data call. The routing system  454  processes the control message and routes the call to the communication device  160  based on the control message.  
         [0032]    During the data call, the available bandwidth could be increased or decreased within the variable bit rate connections  446 . The signaling processor  432  generates a third instruction to the routing system  434  to alter the variable rate connections  446  based on the capacity needed for the data call. Thus, the bandwidth for the data call can be optimized so performance of other calls could improve with increased bandwidth.  
         [0033]    The above-described processor logic can be comprised of instructions that are stored on storage media. The instructions can be retrieved and executed by a processor. Some examples of instructions are software, program code, and firmware. Some examples of storage media are memory devices, tape, disks, integrated circuits, and servers. The instructions are operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to operate in accord with the invention. Those skilled in the art are familiar with instructions, processor, and storage media.  
         [0034]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples and illustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.