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`
`United States Patent [19]
`La Porta et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,473,679
`Dec. 5, 1995
`
`[54] SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR BROADBAND
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
`
`5,278,889
`5,329,308
`
`1/1994 Papanicolaou et a1. .............. .. 379/230
`711994 Binns m1. ............................ .. 348/14
`
`[75] Inventors: Thomas F. La Porta, Thornwood,
`N.Y.; Malathi Veeraraghavan, Atlantic
`Highlands, NJ.
`
`[73] Assignee: AT&T Corp., Murray Hill, NJ.
`
`Primary Examiner—leffery A. Hofsass
`Assistant Examiner—Parag Dharia
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—.Iohn A. Caccuro
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 164,514
`[22] Filed:
`Dec. 9, 1993
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 .................................................. .. H04M 11/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. .................... .. 379/201; 370/110.1; 370/581;
`370/601; 370/73; 348/14; 348/12; 348/6;
`379/207; 379/220; 379/221
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 379/201, 207,
`379/94, 220, 221, 112; 370/1101, 58.1,
`58.2, 60.1, 71, 73, 76; 348/14, 6, 7, 8,
`l2, 13
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A network architecture is designed to allow a communica
`tions service subscriber to select a signaling provider inde
`pendently of a) the transport carriers which control the local
`loops for particular communications services, and b) the
`providers of those services. Upon the establishment of a
`signaling connection from a subscriber’s terminal device to
`the signaling provider’s network, the latter requests those
`services from the service providers selected by the sub
`scriber for delivery over the local loops of the transport
`providers.
`
`4,565,903
`
`1/1986 Riley ..................................... .. 379/201
`
`22 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`LONG DISTANCE SERVICE
`PROVIDER NETWORK
`
`ATV
`SWITCH
`
`LONG DISTANCE SERVICE
`PROVIDER NETWORK Z
`
`ATM
`/
`SWITCH
`_/ 2032
`
`\ TRANSPORT
`
`/
`2071
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1039, Page 1
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`

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`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1039, Page 2
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. s, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
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`5,473,679
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`y 03
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`
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`N $252 $25”:
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`85mm 825% 023
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`fll-lllllllN.lllllllllllllJ
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`as 55m 3525;
`as ‘ 35mm 2 $52
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`22E
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`_ E23“;
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`55mm 3325::
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`:2
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`N 65%
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`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1039, Page 3
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`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1039, Page 4
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`De;.5,1995
`
`sheet 4 of 4
`
`5,473,679
`
`FIG. 4
`
`401
`a“
`
`USER SENDS A SIGNALING MESSAGE TO THE
`SSP NODE REQUESTING ONE OR
`MORE COMMUNICATION SERVICE.
`I
`THE SSP NoDE ExTRAcTS FROM THE SIGNALING MESSAGE
`INFQRNATIDN To IDENTIFY THE CALLING PARTY,
`THE REQUESTED SERVICE(S), AND THE CALLED PARTY.
`
`402»
`
`U
`40k THE SSP NoDE QUERIES ITS DATABASE To IDENTIFY ANY
`USER-PRESELECTED ouTGoING FEATURES
`ASSOCIATED wITH THDSE SERvIGES
`
`U
`. 404“ THE SSP NODE QUERIES ITS DATABASE T0 DETERMINE'THE
`SIGNALING SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE CALLED PARTY.
`
`405‘-
`
`I
`THE SSP SENDS A SIGNALING MESSAGE TO THE
`CALLED PARTY SIGNALING SERVICE PROVIDER NODE.
`
`II
`THE GALLED PARTY SSP NoDE QUERIES ITS DATABASE TO
`IDENTIFY ANY cALLED-PARTY PRE-SELEGTED INCOMING
`40k
`FEATURES THAT ARE ASSQGIATED wITH THE
`SERVICES DESTINED FDR THE CALLED PARTY.
`
`_
`
`Y
`
`THE CALLED PARTY SSP NODE RESPONDS TO THE CALLING
`407
`\ PARTY SSP NODE VIA A SIGNALING MESSAGE.
`
`I
`THE CALLING PARTY SSP
`408
`“ SENDS A SIGNALING MESSAGE TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS
`OF THE CALLING AND CALLED PARTIES TO ESTABLISH A
`CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CALLING AND THE CALLED PARTY.
`
`409“ ANY ADDITIoNAL SIGNALING NESSAGES ARE
`SENT DIRECTLY TO THE SSP
`
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`1
`SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR BROADBAND
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to communication systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`For most communications services, prior art communica
`tions network architecture limits a subscriber’s ability to
`freely select services and/or service providers. For example,
`most subscribers are constrained to receive their local com
`munications services exclusively from the carrier e.g., a
`local phone company, or a cable television operator, serving
`the geographical area where those subscribers live. Thus,
`those subscribers are limited to the services provided by
`their serving local carrier(s) singly or in agreement with
`other carriers. For some other communications services,
`such as long distance or cellular communications services,
`subscribers typically have more freedom in the selection of
`service providers. However, the in?exibility of today’ s com~
`munications network architecture prevents subscribers from
`freely mixing and matching features from different carriers
`for a particular service. Thus, a problem of the prior art is a
`rigid communications architecture which does not allow
`subscribers to select feature and/or services from competing
`carriers on a call-by-call basis or on a subscription basis.
`Another problem of the prior art is the inability of
`end-users who have access/egress facilities to multiple com
`peting carriers to specify a particular carrier from which they
`want to receive incoming communications services.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`We have realized that the root causes of the aforemen
`tioned prior art problems can be traced back to the logical
`dependency of end-user signaling systems on end-user
`switching points. Speci?cally, the end-user switching points
`originate, process and terminate signaling messages for
`end-user devices. Because of that dependency, the end
`points for user signaling are switching systems that are
`generally managed and owned by a single communications
`carrier, such as a Local Exchange Carder (LEC), a cellular
`communications provider or a cable television operator.
`Thus, the communication carrier that controls the local loop
`associated with the terminal device of a subscriber also
`controls the nature and type of signaling messages for all
`communications services received and requested by that
`subscriber over that loop. Hence, the subscriber is at the
`mercy of the loop~controlling communications carrier
`(transport provider) for the type of communications services
`and features available to that subscriber.
`The present invention is directed to a communications
`network architecture in which, a subscriber is allowed to
`select a signaling provider independently of a) the transport
`carriers which control the local loops for particular commu
`nications services, and b) the providers of those services. In
`accordance with the principles of the invention, bidirectional
`signaling messages associated with communications ser
`' vices requested by, or destined for a subscriber’s terminal
`device are sent unprocessed to a signaling provider selected
`by the subscriber. The signaling provider then requests those
`services from the service providers selected by the sub
`scriber.
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a user estab
`lishes a signaling connection to a node of a signaling
`
`2
`provider of his or her choice via a transport provider
`network. The signaling provider node processes call setup
`signaling messages to determine the type of connections and
`services desired by the user. The signaling provider node
`then retrieves a pro?le associated with the terminal device or
`user-identi?cation information contained in a signaling mes
`sage. The pro?le identi?es through a table lookup operation,
`the particular features and service providers selected by the
`user. Service providers are selected by a user either on a
`subscription basis or on a call-by-call basis. In the latter
`case, service provider identi?cation information needs to be
`included in the call setup signaling message. Once the
`appropriate service providers have been identi?ed, the sig~
`naling provider node initiates and transmits service request
`signals to each of the signaling nodes of those service
`providers networks to set up the appropriate connections for
`the user’s call. If the services requested by the user are
`limited to information retrieval, the retrieved information is
`then delivered to the user by the service provider over the
`facilities of the access transport provider that is determined
`from the aforementioned table lookup operation.
`If interactive conversational services are requested by the
`subscriber, the signaling provider of the subscriber commu
`nicates with the signaling provider of each called party to
`determine the selected transport provider for incoming com
`munications services for each called party who has access/
`egress facilities to more than one transport provider. Once
`the egress transport provider is identi?ed for each called
`party, the subscriber’s signaling provider establishes the
`appropriate connection(s) between the subscriber and each
`called party over the local loop (and other loops, if needed)
`of the transport provider of each called party.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a narrowband
`communications system embodying the principles of the
`invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a broadband commu
`nications system arranged in accordance with the principles
`of the invention;
`FIG. 3 shows a table illustrating subscribers’ pro?les that
`are stored in a signaling provider’s network; and
`FIG. 4 is a ?owchart describing the logical sequence of
`steps in methods for completing calls in the communications
`system of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a narrowband
`communications system embodying the principles of the
`invention. The narrowband communications network illus
`trated in FIG. 1 is arranged to support Narrowband Inte
`grated Services Digital Network (N -ISDN) standards from a
`signaling standpoint as well as from a transport perspective.
`Shown in FIG. 1 are transport provider and local service
`provider networks 100, 110, 180 and 190; long distance
`service provider networks 130 and 140; multimedia service
`provider networks 150 and 160; and signaling provider
`networks 120 and 170. Local Transport provider and local
`service provider networks 100, 110, 180 and 190 may be
`Local Exchange Carrier (LEC), cable television operator
`networks or cellular telephone networks or a combination of
`the above. One of the main characteristics of transport
`provider and local service provider networks 100, 110, 180
`and 190 is that they provide the local loop to end-user
`devices at subscribers’ premises.
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`In FIG. 1, user devices, such as telephone set 101,
`processor 102 and videophone 103 are connected to multi
`plexer/demultiplexer 104 via Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
`access/egress links 109, 108, 107, respectively. As is well
`known in the art, one of the N-ISDN transport standards is
`the Basic Rate Interface (BRI) speci?cation which de?nes
`operating parameters for the transmission and reception of
`multiplexed digital information (user information and sig
`naling information) over a two-wire or four-wire digital
`subscriber loop. Digital information received and transmit
`ted over that loop is logically partitioned into two bearer (B)
`channels for user information, and one data (D) channel for
`signaling information. The logical partitioning of dam over
`those channels is commonly referred in the art as the “2B+D
`interface”. That interface is also supported on access/egress
`links 117—119 that connect end-user devices 111—113 to
`multiplexer/demultiplexer 114. BRI access/egress links are
`also provided to mux/demux 184 and 194‘ for end-user
`devices 181—183 and 191-193, respectively. End-user
`devices 101 to 103, 111 to 113, 181 to 183 and 191 to 193
`are ISDN-compatible devices that are arranged to packetize
`signaling information that is transmitted over the D channel
`to initiate communications with other ISBN-compatible
`devices. Multiplexer/demultiplexers 104-114 and 184-194
`demultiplex signaling data received over the D channel and
`forward those signals to Signaling Nodes 121 and 171,
`respectively. User information destined for the end-user
`devices are transmitted to those devices via the B channels
`of the access/egress links. User information received from
`the end-user devices are routed by multiplexer/demultiplex
`ers 104-114 and 184-194 to switches 106-116 and
`186-196, respectively. The latter switches are software
`driven, processor-controlled telephone systems designed to
`route calls either from one switch to another or to end-user
`devices. A well-known Local Service Provider switch is the
`AT&T No. 5ESS® which is described in AT&T Technical
`Journal, Vol. 64, No. 6, part 2, pp. 1305-1564, July/August,
`1985.
`Also shown in FIG. 1 is signaling provider network 120
`(170) which includes a signaling service provider node
`(hereinafter called SSP) 121 (171) and a toll switch 122
`(172). The latter switch, which may be implemented using,
`for example, an AT&T No. 4ESS®, is a software-driven,
`processor-controlled switching system which is arranged to
`communicate primarily with other toll switches or central
`o?ice switches. SSP node 121 (171) performs three primary
`functions. First, SSP node 121 (171) is the access and egress
`point for all signaling messages received from, and destined
`for the end-user devices. Secondly, SSP node 121 (171)
`processes the received signaling messages by requesting
`from the appropriate service providers the necessary con
`nections, based on the services requested by the users.
`Thirdly, it exchanges signaling messages with switches and
`processors in the network of FIG. 1 via other signaling
`nodes. While SSP node 121 (171) is illustrated in FIG. 1 as
`one physical node for the sake of simplicity, it is to be
`understood that SSP node 121 (171) may be composed of a
`plurality of interconnected nodes within signaling provider
`network 120, which can be arranged to switch signaling
`information according to ISDN-based signaling speci?c
`protocol.
`FIG. 1 also discloses subscribers’ database 123 (173) that
`is connected to SSP node 121 (171). Subscriber’s database
`123 (173) is a computer system with mass storage that
`contains addresses of particular service providers selected
`by each subscriber. A detailed description of the format in
`which information is stored in database 123 (173) is pro
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`vided below.
`Also shown in FIG. 1 are long distance service provider
`networks 130 (140) and multimedia service provider 150
`(160). Long distance service provider network 130 (140) is
`comprised of toll switches 131 (141), 132 (142), and 133
`(143) that are interconnected by transmission systems. Long
`distance service provider network 130 (140) is arranged to
`route calls to destination addresses received by Signaling
`Service Node 134 (144) (hereinafter called SSN) from SSP
`node 121 or 171. Similarly, multimedia service provider
`network 150 (160) receives destination addresses via SSN
`154 (164). Multimedia service provider network 150 (160)
`may contain, for example, a repository of information such
`as data library, digitized imaging information, digital voice
`mail systems. Users wishing to get access to aparticular type
`of stored information in multimedia service provider net
`work 150 (160) provides addressing information to the
`signaling node of their signaling provider network which
`requests connection(s) to the targeted service from multi
`media service provider network 150 (160) via SSN 154
`(164).
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a broadband commu
`nications system arranged in accordance with the principles
`of the invention. In FIG. 2, end-user device 201 (202) is
`connected to two separate transport providers networks 206
`and 203 (250 and 220). End-user device 201 is an integrated
`television and workstation which is equipped with a camera
`and a telephone set and which is arranged to process digital
`information in the form of voice data, image and video. The
`transport provider networks 206 and 203 (220 and 250) to
`which end-user device 201 (202) is connected, include
`Asynchronous Transport Mode (ATM) switches 2061 and
`2031 (2501 and 2101), respectively. The latter switches are
`?xed-length cell (packet), digital, self-routing switching
`systems comprised of a switching fabric designed to route
`cells to logical channels indicated by their headers indepen
`dently of the applications or media. ATM switches 2061 and
`2031 (2501 and 2101) also include a) line cards (not shown)
`that are designed to terminate incoming ATM lines 2030
`(2500) and 2060 (2200) connected to end-user device 201
`(202), and b) trunk cards terminating trunk facilities 2032
`and 2072 (2502 and 2072) that provide channel links
`between ATM switches 2031 (2101) and 2071 (2501). Also
`included in ATM switches 2031 (2501) and 2061 (2201) are
`components, such as multiplexing/demultiplexing modules
`and cross-connect hardware (not shown). Those components
`are arranged to multiplex lower speed input tra?ic (received
`from line cards connected to end-user devices 201 and 202)
`into the higher speed switching fabric which supports Vir
`tual Path and Virtual Circuit connections as de?ned in
`CCITT broadband standards. In particular, the CCI’IT stan
`dards provide for a routing header to be prepended to each
`cell. The header of each cell is comprised of ?elds which
`store Virtual Channel Indicator (VCI) and Virtual Path
`Indicators (VPI) data. The VPI data identify a logical
`channel (that may be subdivided into lower bandwidth
`logical channels identi?ed by VCI data) for a physical
`transmission path between two end points. The CCI'I'I‘
`standards further proscribe for a lookup table to map input
`pair of VPI/VCI for each cell to a corresponding output pair
`of VPI/VCI before a cell is transferred from one channel link
`(between two switching points) to another. Thus, a virtual
`channel connection is de?ned as the association of all the
`individual channel links between each pair of switches as
`determined by the lookup tables in those switches. If, for
`example, signaling provider network 207 is selected by’the
`user of device 201 as the “signaling agent” for all services
`
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`requested by device 201, then all signaling messages initi
`ated by or destined for end-user 201 are processed by
`signaling provider network 207.
`In this example, virtual channel connections are used to
`transport users’ real data (payload) as well as user signaling
`information to a signaling provider selected by a user. While
`protocols for signaling messages are still being de?ned by
`the international standard bodies, it is clear that the ATM
`Adaptation Layer (AAL) will be used for signaling mes
`sages. Thus, signaling messages will be carded as cells or
`frames in all signaling connections (point-point or multi
`point) between an end-user device and ATM switches or any
`intelligent node in the network.
`Also included in signaling providers networks 207 and
`210 are databases 2072 and 2102, respectively. Those data
`bases store signaling provider pro?le information which
`identi?es the particular service providers and features
`selected by a subscriber. The type of information that is
`stored in databases 2072 and 2102 are described in further
`detail below.
`Signaling provider networks 207 and 210 are arranged to
`a) receive signaling requests for access to services from
`end-user devices 201 and 202, and b) establish the appro
`priate connections to service providers networks selected by
`the users as determined by the end-user pro?les. Although
`signaling provider networks 207 and 210 are shown as
`separate and independent networks, it is to be understood
`that the capabilities of signaling provider networks 207 and
`210 can be included in multimedia service provider network
`209 or 208 or long distance service provider network 205 or
`230
`FIG. 2 also depicts long distance provider networks 205
`and 230. The latter are communications systems comprised
`of ATM switches interconnected by transmission facilities to
`establish multimedia connections requested by users. For the
`sake of simplicity the ATM switches in long distance pro
`vider networks 205 and 230 are represented by a single
`switch 2051 and 2301, respectively. Multimedia connections
`that can be established over long distance networks 205 and
`230 include audio (low and high ?delity), video (high and
`low bandwidth moving pictures) images (high bandwidth
`scanned images). These multimedia connections allow
`broadband multimedia telephony services to be provided
`between two locations. Long Distance Service provider
`network 205 (230) is also arranged to provide video and
`audio teleconferencing services between more than two
`locations.
`Also illustrated in FIG. 2 are multimedia service provider
`networks 208 and 209. Multimedia service provider network
`208 (209) includes a Service Control Point 2081 (2091) and
`a database 2082 (2092). Service Control Point 2081 (2091)
`is a preprocessor arranged to recognize the particular mul
`timedia service requested by a user and to formulate a query
`that is launched to database 2082 (2092) to retrieve the
`particular set of information desired by the user. Hence,
`Service Control Point 2081 (2091) acts as an interface
`between signaling provider networks 207 and 210 and
`database 2082 (2092). Service Control Point 2081 (2091)
`may also provide the human interface between Database
`2082 (2092) and the users. Database 2082 (2092) is a
`processor-controlled mass storage device that contains band
`width-intensive digitized imaging information such as medi
`cal images (X rays and MRI data), movies, video mail
`messages, to name a few.
`FIG. 3 shows a table illustrating subscribers’ pro?les that
`are stored in a signaling provider’s network. The table of
`
`6
`FIG. 3 contains information that is grouped under four major
`headers, namely, subscribers’ addresses, transport/service
`providers, incoming services and outgoing services. The
`subscriber’s address ?eld typically identi?es the telephone
`number of a subscriber. For data retrieval service applica
`tions, however, a physical port identi?cation number may
`also be used as a subscriber’s address.
`Under the transport/service providers header are grouped
`three segments, namely, access, egress and long distance.
`Each segment comprises two ?elds, namely, voice and
`multimedia. The voice ?eld in all three segments indicates
`the transport/service provider selected by a subscriber for
`communications services, such as conventional telephony,
`voiceband data, low bandwidth video services (less than 64
`kilobits per second), to name a few. The multimedia ?eld
`identi?es a particular multimedia service/transport provider
`selected by a subscriber for communications services in
`which two bearer (B) channels are used for mixed voice,
`data and video applications. The access and egress segments
`identify the transport providers selected by a subscriber for
`receiving voice or multimedia communications services. For
`example, subscriber—1 has selected a) his/her Local
`Exchange Carder as the transport provider for access/egress
`local telephone services, and b) Monmouth Cable TV Com
`pany as the access/egress transport provider for multimedia
`services. The long distance segment identi?es the service/
`transport provider selected by the subscriber for voice and
`multimedia long distance services. For example, sub
`scriber-2 has opted to use US Sprint and Iridium as the long
`distance service provider for voice and multimedia services,
`respectively. Subscriber-1 has selected AT &T as the long
`distance service provider for both voice and multimedia
`services. The voice ?eld in all three segments indicates the
`transport/service provider selected by a subscriber for com
`munications services, such as conventional telephony, voi
`ceband data, low bandwidth video services (less than 64
`kilobits per second), to name a few. Multimedia Services
`refer to communications services in which two bearer (B)
`channels are used for mixed voice, data and video applica
`tions.
`Also shown in FIG. 3 is the incoming services header.
`Under that header are grouped particular incoming call
`features selected by a subscriber. For the sake of simplicity,
`only call waiting and voice mail are shown as incoming call
`features in FIG. 3. It is to be understood, however, that other
`incoming call features, such as call forwarding, call restric
`tion or call redirection can also be part of a subscn'ber’s
`pro?le.
`A subscriber can also include in his/her pro?le desired
`features for outgoing calls. Those features are illustrated in
`FIG. 3 as quality of service ?eld for voice and video
`services. For example, subscriber-2 has opted for high
`quality for voice and video services. High quality for audio
`services in an N-ISDN environment may be implemented by
`dedicating an end-to-end full bearer channel—sixty-four
`(64) kilobits, as opposed to ?fty-six (56) kilobits——for a
`regular telephone call. In a broadband environment, high
`quality audio services may require high ?delity character’
`istic for a call. High quality video in a broadband ISDN
`environment may require the use of High De?nition Tele
`vision (HDTV) standards for video connection, as opposed
`to the lower bandwidth~intensive National Television Stan
`dards Committee (NTSC) standards for a video call.
`FIG. 4 is a ?owchart describing the logical sequence of
`steps in an illustrative method for completing calls in the
`N-ISDN communications system of FIG. 1 and the broad
`band communications network of FIG. 2. That method is
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`initiated in step 401, when a user at device 113 (of FIG. 1)
`or device 201 (of FIG. 2) for example, places a video call by
`dialing a called party number. The dialing of that number
`causes a signaling message to be launched to the signaling
`service provider pre-selected by the user. For example, in
`FIG. 1, a Q.93l or (alternatively) an ISUP information
`message is launched to the SSP node 121 of signaling
`service provider 120 via the signaling channel (D channel or
`SS7 link) of loop 117 and mux/demux 114. When the ISUP
`protocol is used, the signaling information message is car
`ried in an Message Transfer Part (MTP) packet that allows
`the mux/demux 114 to route the signaling message directly
`to the SSP node 121. Similarly, when the Q.93l protocol is
`used, the signaling information message is carried in a “Link
`Access Procedures on the D channel” (LAPD) packet that
`allows the mux/demux 114 to route the signaling message to
`SSP node 121 using well-known frame relay switching
`techniques. As to FIG. 2, the signaling message is a Q.93B
`message that is included in one or more ATM cells that are
`routed to signaling provider 207 by transport provider
`network 203 or 206, based on the VPI/VCI of the cell(s).
`Upon receiving the signaling message, the signaling pro
`vider network, in step 402, extracts information from the
`message to identify the calling party address or number, the
`requested services and the called party address or number.
`For example, in FIG. 1, SSP node 121 extracts the ISUP
`(Q.93l) information message from the MTP (LAPD) packet
`and identi?es the calling party, the requested services, and
`the called party. Similarly, in FIG. 2 the headers and ATM
`Adaptation Layer (AAL) related bits are discarded to iden
`tify the requested service(s) and the addresses of calling and
`called parties.
`The signaling provider node proceeds, in step 403, to
`query an attached database to identify any particular features
`that are associated with the requested service(s) and that
`have been pre-selected by the user. In FIG. 1, SSP node 121
`queries database 123 to determine whether the user has
`subscribed to any of those features. In FIG. 2, ATM switch
`2071 queries database 2072 to inquire about the aforemen
`tioned features. This determination is based on the user’s
`pro?le that is illustrated in FIG. 3. Thereafter, in step 404,
`the signaling provider of the called party is identi?ed. Two
`alternate methods 'can be used to identify the signaling
`provider of the called party. The address of the signaling
`provider of the called party may be stored in database 123
`of FIG. 1 or database 2072 of FIG. 2. Hence, a database
`search that uses the called party number as a key allows the
`signaling provider of the called party to be identi?ed.
`Alternatively, information associated with the signaling pro
`vider of the called party may be included in the dialed
`number that is included in the signaling message received by
`signaling provider network 120 or 207. For example, if
`AT&T is the signaling provider of subscriber-1 in FIG.. 3, a
`caller who wants to direct a call to subscriber-1 will dial the
`number of subscriber-1 preceded by X288 where “X” is a
`digit between 0 and 9 and 288 corresponds to the letters
`A,T,T on the dialpad.
`Once the signaling provider of the called party has been
`identi?ed, the signaling provider network of the calling
`party, in step 405, sends a signaling message to the signaling
`provider of the called party indicating the requested services
`that are to be provided to the called party. In FIG. 1, SSP
`121, sends an ISUP information message to the called party
`SSP node, in this case SSP 171. The message is carried in an
`MTP packet that is routed by intervening SSPs (if any) to
`SSP 171. In FIG. 2, ATM switch 2071 sends a B-ISUP
`message to the called party signaling provider, in this
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`example ATM switch 2104 indicating the particular service
`that is destined for the called party. It is worth noting that
`step 405 is skipped when the calling and called parties have
`a common signaling provider.
`In step 406, the signaling provider network queries its
`database to identify any pre-selected features that are asso
`ciated with the services destined for the called party. For
`example, in FIG. 1, SSP node 171 queries database 173 to
`determine a) the egress transport provider selected by the
`called party and, b) the features pre-selected by the called
`party for incoming calls. Similarly, in FIG. 2, ATM switch
`207 1 queries database 2072 to determine the associated
`features and the transport provider pre-selected by the called
`Party
`In step 407, the called party signaling provider network
`responds to the the message of the calling party signaling
`provider network by identifying the address of the transport
`provider pre-selected by the called party and the particular
`features associated with the service(s) destined for the called
`party. Illustratively, in FIG. 1, SSP node 171 sends to SSP
`node 121 an ISUP information message which contains
`addressing information of the called party’s transport pro
`vider and incoming call feature routing information, if any.
`As to FIG. 2, ATM switch 2104 sends a B-ISUP message to
`ATM switch 2071 containing addresses of the transport
`provider pre-selected by the called party for that service and
`any features associated with that service.
`Upon receiving the signaling message from the signaling
`provider of the called party, the signaling provider of the
`calling party has all the information required to invoke the
`services requested by the caller and to deliver those services.
`Hence, in step 408, the signaling provider network of the
`calling party, sends a signaling message to the appropriate
`service providers of the calling and called parties to establish
`a connection between those parties. In FIG. 1, SSP 121,
`sends an information message to the access switch (in this
`example, access switch 116) of the transport provider to
`establish a connection between the calling party and the
`called party. The access switch 116 seizes the incoming line
`117 from the calling party by generating an IAM message to
`end-user device 113. Access switch 116, then sends an IAM
`signaling message to switch 122 which, in turn, forwards
`that message to a switch of the long distance provider, say
`switch 133. The latter propagates the IAM message through
`the long distance service provider network to switch 172 and
`ultimately to egress switch 186. Alternatively, a direct
`connection via a link can be established between switches
`116 and 133 and/or between switches 186 133 after
`exchanging signaling messages between those switches.
`After ISUP answer mess