摘要:
This invention relates to a supplementary services layer (SSL) application (200) in the switching node (32) for the development and execution of subscriber-based supplementary services. The SSL communicates with the L4 application (36) through an L4-L5 interface (240). Therefore, a system operator may configure the switching node (32) to execute supplementary services without intervention from a host application and without modification to the current L4 application. The SSL also communicates with the L5 application in order for that application to integrate supplementary services without further modifications. The SSL comprises a Database Interface Service (202), a Service Object Manager (SOM) (204) and one or more instances of a Supplementary Service Object (SSO) (206; 208). The database interface service (202) provides connection to an external database which stores each subscriber's profile. Each SSO instance (206; 208) implements one or more supplementary services for a call. The SOM (204) exercices overall control over these SSO instances (206; 208).
摘要:
A network protocol data intelligence (NPDI) software in the switching node that enables the call processing components in the L4 and L5 applications to interpret and manipulate different network signalling data protocols. The call processing applications are expanded to understand different network signalling protocols and to extract the required information from each protocol's data stream. The NPDI provides the means for the L4 application to convert from one network signalling data format to another either, by itself or in conjunction with the L5 application. Thus, the system operator may configure the switch to perform all call processing functions or by-pass the NPDI and have the L5 application perform these functions. The L4 application may also perform data translation from host applications written against the underlying network protocol to the different signalling protocols from other networks. Thus, a host application written against one network signalling protocol may communicate with an application using another signalling protocol without modification to the host application. The NPDI service further enables the L4 application to convert protocol-specific data from other applications in the system to protocol independent data that can be 'understood' by the L3 and L5 applications. In addition, the L4 application may route calls in the switching node based on network signalling information from the L3 application.
摘要:
A telephone switching system comprises a plurality of switching nodes interconnected by a call-switching network. The switching nodes are also linked by a host network to one or more hosts that exercise supervisory control over the nodes. The hosts communicate directly with one or more of the nodes, termed 'switching nodes', by means of virtual connections over the host network. The other switching nodes, termed 'slave nodes', are assigned to host nodes. The hosts communicate indirectly with the slave nodes by way of switching nodes to which they are assigned. Communications between a host and a slave node thus comprise messages: (a) over the host network between the slave node and the switching node to which the slave node is assigned and (b) by way of a virtual connection, between the switching node and the host.
摘要:
A redundancy arrangement for use in connection with a programmable telecommunications switch or other device. An active hardware device, such as an ISDN packet engine card, is paired with a substantially identically configured standby device. During operation, the active device, in addition to performing all of its normal functions, also advises the standby device of all events which have an effect of the operational state of the active device. By ensuring that the standby device processes the same events in the same sequence as the active device, the standby device's operational state continuously tracks that of the active device. Should the active device malfunction or be taken out of service, the standby device becomes active without significant interruption or loss of service.
摘要:
A programmable telecommunications switch has automatic backup of line cards to provide complete redundancy. The switch has I/O cards which terminate the external telecommunications spans. Each I/O card passes the data from its spans to a line card. When the line card fails, the I/O card switches the data onto an I/O bus which is connected to a standby I/O card. The standby I/O card switches a standby line card into connection with the I/O bus such that the data stream is then serviced by the standby line card. The failed line card may then be removed and replaced. All I/O cards are attached to the I/O bus such that redundancy for all active line cards using the same signalling protocol is provided with a single standby line card. With multiple I/O busses, standby I/O cards and standby line cards, multiple redundancy is possible. Finally, the failure of a single line module of a line card may be handled by switching only the span serviced by that module to a standby line card. Spans from different I/O cards may be serviced by different line modules of a single standby line card, and may be all connected to the same standby line card by the same bus.
摘要:
A method of operating a programmable telecommunication switch comprising controllable-switching means for dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports or channels in response to messages generated by a host device, the method comprising the steps of defining one or more protocols associated with the processing of incoming or outgoing calls, wherein each of the one or more call-associated protocols is represented by a finite state machine and configured to perform even processing, and further wherein different ones of the one or more protocols may be assigned to different ports or channels, detecting the occurrence of an event at one of the plurality of ports or channels, dynamically selecting one of the one or more call associated protocols for processing the occurring event, and performing the selected protocol to process the occurring event.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for conferencing two or more calls in an expandable telecommunications system. The system may include a plurality of nodes connected by an inter-nodal network such that the nodes communicate with each other by exchanging variable-length packets of information. At least one node in the system contains digital signal processing circuitry capable of conferencing the voice information from three or more callers interfaced with the system. Packets containing voice information from each conference participant are preferably transmitted via the inter-nodal network to the node having the requisite digital signal processing circuitry. This node performs a conferencing function on that information, packets the resulting conferenced information and transmits those packets via the inter-nodal network to the nodes interfaced with the conference participants.
摘要:
A telephone switching system comprises a plurality of switching nodes interconnected by a call-switching network. The switching nodes are also linked by a host network to one or more hosts that exercise supervisory control over the nodes. The hosts communicate directly with one or more of the nodes, termed "switching nodes", by means of virtual connections over the host network. The other switching nodes, termed "slave nodes", are assigned to host nodes. The hosts communicate indirectly with the slave nodes by way of switching nodes to which they are assigned. Communications between a host and a slave node thus comprise messages: (a) over the host network between the slave node and the switching node to which the slave node is assigned and (b) by way of a virtual connection, between the switching node and the host.
摘要:
An open, high speed, high bandwidth digital communication network for connecting multiple programmable telecommunications switches to form a large capacity, non-blocking switching system. Each network switching node includes circuitry for transmitting and receiving variable-length, packetized information over the network, thus enabling each node to receive information from or transmit information to all other nodes. The network may carry any type of information present in the system including voice, data, video, multimedia, control, configuration and maintenance, and the bandwith of the network may be divided or shared across various information types. Devices such as voice processing resources may also interface with the network, thereby gaining direct access to all information passing through the network. Also provided are methods and packet structures for communicating information over the network. Multiple networks may be interconnected to provide even greater switching capacity or voice processing capacity.
摘要:
We have included a Dialing Plan Engine (DPE) software component in the SSL in order for other components in the SSL to access DPE services. The DPE allows the SSL object to 'learn' the dialing plan rules for a given network. Input strings are submitted from a SSO instance to the DPE. The DPE analyzes the strings, performs necessary modifications and operations and returns a result comprising commands or subsequent instructions to the SSO instance. The DPE analyzes the input string to identify which call formats, code prefix, and/or Supplementary services apply to the call. Examples of call format include local call format, domestic long distance call format, and service call. The DPE also recognizes user-dialed Carrier Identification Codes which enables the calls to be implemented by the identified carrier; it recognizes user-dialed errors such as, partial digits, and missing code prefix and it responds appropriately to these errors.