Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7173940?dq=7,134,016
Timestamp: 2014-12-27 02:58:55
Document Index: 104508587

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Patent US7173940 - Providing gateway functionality in a virtual private network - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention relates to a signaling method and a network element for a virtual private network, wherein a request for dropping a signaling of the virtual private network is transmitted from a network element (DXD) to a proceeding network element (DXC), if the network element (DXD) detects that...http://www.google.com/patents/US7173940?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7173940 - Providing gateway functionality in a virtual private networkAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7173940 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/161,110Publication dateFeb 6, 2007Filing dateMay 31, 2002Priority dateDec 1, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2393037A1, CA2393037C, DE69942463D1, EP1236362A1, EP1236362B1, US20030016681, WO2001041465A1Publication number10161110, 161110, US 7173940 B2, US 7173940B2, US-B2-7173940, US7173940 B2, US7173940B2InventorsPekka LampolaOriginal AssigneeNokia CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (6), Non-Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (1), Classifications (23), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetProviding gateway functionality in a virtual private networkUS 7173940 B2Abstract The present invention relates to a signaling method and a network element for a virtual private network, wherein a request for dropping a signaling of the virtual private network is transmitted from a network element (DXD) to a proceeding network element (DXC), if the network element (DXD) detects that the virtual private network signaling cannot be continued through a connection of the telecommunication network. A predetermined network element (DXB) is provided for transmitting a transparency information indicating a virtual private network signaling transparency to an originating network element (DVA) of the connection in response to the receipt of the dropping request, and the virtual private network signaling is collected at the predetermined network element. (DXB) Thereby, the public network operator is allowed to optimize the VPN signaling load and service provision by arranging the predetermined network element (DXB) at a suitable location in the transmission network.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/EP99/09388 having an International Filing Date of 1 Dec. 1999 and from which priority is claimed under all applicable sections of Title 35 of the United States Code including, but not limited to, Sections 120, 363 and 365(c).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a signaling method and a network element for a telecommunication network providing a virtual private network (VPN).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The VPN concept allows private traffic traditionally served by leased private lines to share the existing trunk capacity of the PSTN (Public Switched Telecommunication Network). This allows for a more efficient utilization of network resources and provides a number of benefits to both operators and users. Network costs can be more closely tied to actual usage. With private networks, the cost of intersite traffic is tied to the maximum capacity required, not overall usage. VPN also allows for increased flexibility in configuring the network.
QSIG (unified international corporate network signaling standard) is an ISDN common channel signaling system designed for use in corporate networks. It was developed in an open forum for all major European PBX manufacturers. The name QSIG refers to signaling across the ISDN �IQ� reference point which is the logical signaling point between two PINXs (Private Integrated Services Network Exchanges). For private ISDNs, only one protocol is necessary as the QSIG protocols have sufficient functionality to be used both within the network at transit nodes and outside at access nodes. Hence, QSIG can be used between all PINXs. In particular, QSIG defines a set of protocols for the interaction of PINXS, so that common sets of services and features, with similar appearances, are available to users across private networks, including multi-site networks.
The transport of the QSIG signaling over the PSTN (e.g. ISDN network) is accomplished by �enveloping� QSIG messages within ISUP (ISDN User Part) messages. This method enables common ISUP signaling links and associated bearers to be provisioned for VPN and non-VPN traffic for greater efficiency.
Since there may be parts of the PSTN that do not support the signaling, or the destination subscriber is not capable of supporting the protocol, a method has been suggested to drop the call to support only a basic call. When such a situation is detected, a so-called gateway function is performed and the necessary parts of the private network signaling are transformed to a PSTN signaling. If transparency is lost, i.e. the destination does not support QSIG, then the QSIG data is dropped from subsequent messages and a gateway function is performed in the network after this condition is detected. In particular, a gateway request indicating that no QSIG information transparency can be achieved is sent from a first network exchange or switch to a preceding second network exchange or switch, if the first network switch recognizes that the QSIG information flow cannot be continued due to a lack of network signaling capability. This Gateway Request procedure is defined in the ETSI specification EN 301 062-1 (Q.765-1), chapter 7.2.3.2.6, �Gateway PINX transformation request mechanism�. In addition thereto, the Gateway functionality of the QSIG-VPN is described in ETSI specification EN 301 069 and the ISO specifications ISO/IEC 11582 and ISO/IEC 11575.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a signaling method and network element for a telecommunication network providing a virtual private network, by means of which the VPN signaling load and service provision can be optimized.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the following, the preferred embodiment of the signaling method and network element according to the present invention will be described on the basis of a network structure shown in FIG. 1.
The network switches DXA to DXD are connected via ISUP3 (ISDN User Part 3) interfaces which enable the transmission of QSIG information. ISUP is a part of the Exchange Application Process underlying the VPN applications. The term �Exchange Application Process� is used to describe all application functionality in an exchange or switch.
In addition to the network switches DXA to DXD, other network switches DX1 and DX2 are connected to the network switch DXB via additional ISUP3 interfaces in a �star� architecture which allows QSIG parts to be provisioned more efficiently. In particular, a PINX connected to one of the network switches can be marked to be conforming to a specific reference or service entry point.
FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a message flow in case a VPN connection is to be established from the originating node QSIG PINX via the network switches DXA to DXD to the other network. According to FIG. 2, the QSIG information flow originating from the originating node (QSIG PINX) is transmitted from the originating network element (local exchange DXA) via the ISUP3 interfaces of the network switches DXA to DXD to the other network. Then, the network switch DXD recognizes that the QSIG information flow cannot continue due to the lack of VPN signaling capability in the other network, and detects that no QSIG transparency can be provided in the established connection. Therefore, the network switch DXD performs a gateway functionality as defined in the initially described known method, and sends a gateway request to the preceding network switch DXC with an indication that no QSIG information transparency can be achieved. In particular, the network switch DXD sets a VPN feature transparency indication to �no indication�. This gateway request is used in the network to indicate a non-QSIG transparency, wherein a network switch receiving the gateway request performs a gateway functionality and drops the QSIG information included in the received messages.
Accordingly, the network switch DXD transmits a QSIG information flow indicating a non-QSIG transparency and comprising a gateway request bit set to �Gateway PINX Transformation Request� to the preceding network switch DXC. The preceding network switch DXC has been configured by the public network operator as a conventional network switch which transmits the QSIG gateway request transparently. Thus, the gateway request comprising the indication of non-QSIG transparency is forwarded to the next preceding network switch DXB.
In contrast to the other network switches shown in FIG. 1, this network switch DXB has been configured not to transmit the QSIG gateway request backwards after the receipt thereof. The network switch DXB has been configured as a network's QSIG gateway arranged to transmit a VPN feature transparency indication to the originating local exchange DXA in response to the receipt of a gateway request. In case a required QSIG network service cannot be provided by the network switch DXB, it may send the QSIG service rejection received from the network switch DXD to the preceding network switch DXA, wherein a VPN feature transparency indication is set to �call with VPN feature transparency capability�.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5826239 *Dec 17, 1996Oct 20, 1998Hewlett-Packard CompanyDistributed workflow resource management system and methodUS6075852 *Feb 9, 1996Jun 13, 2000Nortel Networks CorporationTelecommunications system and method for processing call-independent signalling transactionsUS6160882 *May 12, 1998Dec 12, 2000AlcatelSubscriber access network, exchange, service control point, and method of establishing a connectionUS6751308 *Dec 1, 1999Jun 15, 2004Nokia CorporationSignaling method and network element for a virtual private networkUS6801523 *Jul 1, 1999Oct 5, 2004Nortel Networks LimitedMethod and apparatus for performing internet protocol address resolutions in a telecommunications networkWO1998021903A1Nov 5, 1997May 22, 1998Allard Frank RichardTelecommunications networks* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1"DX 200; QSIG, Service Description Document Class 1.11;" Nokia Telecommunications; K. Sahala; Sep. 1997.2"Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. one (DSS!) protocol; Data link layer; Part 1: General aspects;" (ETSI) ETS 300 402-1; Nov. 1995.3"Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. one (DSS1) protocol; Generic functional protocol for the support of supplementary services at the "b" service entry point for Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications; Part 1: Protocol specification;" (ETSI) EN 301-061-1 V1.2.2 (Apr. 1998).4"Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Digital Sugscriber Signalling System No. one (DSS1) protocol; Basic call control; Enhancement at the "b" service entry point for Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications; Part 1; Protocol specification;" (ETSI) En 301 060-1 V1.2.2 (Apr. 1998).5"Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Signalling System No. 7 (SS7); ISDN user Part (ISUP); Application transport mechanism; Part 1: Protocol specification;" (ETSI) EN 301 069-1 V1.3.1 (Feb. 2001).6"Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Signalling System No. 7; Support of virtual Private Network (VPN) applications with Private network Q reference point Signalling System No.1 (PSS1) information flows; Part 1: Protocol specification;" (ETSI) EN 301 062-1 V1.2.3 (Oct. 1999).7"Private Integrated Services Network (PISN); Inter-exchange signalling protocol; Circuit-mode basic services;" ETSI; ETS 300 172, Nov. 1995, Third Edition.8"Private Integrated Services Network (PISN); Inter-exchange signalling protocol; Generic functional protocol for the support of supplementary services;" (ETSI) ETS 300 239; Nov. 1995, Second Edition.9"Series Q: Switching and Signalling; Signalling System No. 7-Application transport mechanism-Support of VPN applications with PSS1 information flows;" ITU-T Q.765.1; May 1998.10"Signalling System No. 7-Application transport mechanism-Support of VPN applications with PSS1 information flows;" Series Q: Switching and Signalling, Specifications of Signalling System No. 7-ISDN user part; ITU-T Recommendation Q.765.1; May 1998.11Allard, F. Broadband Virtual Private Network Signalling: BT Technology Journal GB.BT Laboratories, vol. 16, No. 2, Apr. 1998, pp. 112-119. XP000750523, ISSN: 1358-3948, p. 113.12Signalling System No. 7-Applicaiton transport mechanism-Support of VPN applications with PSSI information flows: UTU-T Recommendation Q.765.1 (May 1998) XP002144798, pp. 15, 22.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20070280221 *May 31, 2007Dec 6, 2007Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaTelephone system, telephone exchange apparatus, and route switching method* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification370/401, 370/399, 370/410International ClassificationH04Q3/00, H04L12/28, H04Q11/04, H04Q3/62Cooperative ClassificationH04Q3/62, H04Q2213/13222, H04Q2213/1322, H04Q3/0025, H04Q2213/13209, H04Q2213/13204, H04Q11/0457, H04Q2213/13176, H04Q2213/13399, H04Q2213/13196, H04Q2213/13384, H04Q2213/13205, H04Q2213/13385European ClassificationH04Q3/62, H04Q11/04S1P, H04Q3/00D2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 9, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jul 8, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 16, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: NOKIA CORPORATION, FINLANDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LAMPOLA, PEKKA;REEL/FRAME:013298/0566Effective date: 20020722RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google