Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for switching a data flow of information packets intended for paths between a respective sending and receiving entity, the method includes buffering the packets from the paths in a queue; halting a sending entity on congestion of the queue; storing the halt condition in a switch state; noting the individual portions that different of the paths occupy in the queue; halting the sending entity for the path occupying the individually greatest portion of the queue; storing the halted path in a free one of the switch states including storing its bandwidth; successively updating the respective bandwidth of halted paths as the queue is repeatedly congested; determining an older part of the states; and purging the state for a path having the smallest bandwidth in said older part of the states.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transportation of user information in a core network (CN). The core network is located between a source access network (SAN) and a destination access network (DANB). The method comprises the following steps: collecting in a source center (MSCa) in the source network (SAN) of voice packets from source units (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) in the source network. The voice packets have the destination network (DANB) specified as receiving network; arranging of the collected voice packets into a payload part (IPPL) of an IP-packet (IP) in the core network (CN); transferring of the IP-packet in the core network (CN) from the source center (MSCa) to a destination center (MSCb) in the destination network (DANB).

Abstract: The present invention refers to a gateway (MGW1) in a telecommunication system (TS1) enabling connections to be effectively established between various networks (N1, N2, N3) in the telecommunication system. The gateway comprises resources from different nodes (RNC1, MSC1, IP1, VX1) of the various networks. Servers (S1-S6) from the networks are connected to the gateway (MGW1) and co-utilize the resources, which contributes to the effective utilization of the resources. This effective utilization of the resources is supported by the resources being divided into resource groups. Specific ones of these resource groups can be utilized by solely each one of the servers. Consequently, important services such as alarm services and security services can always reach the necessary resources in the gateway. Other resource groups can be co-utilized by only a small number of the servers while additional resource groups may be co-utilized by all of the servers (S1-6).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for sequencing user data packets (e.g., voice packets) segmented into plural AAL2 packets which are in turn carried over Internet Protocol (IP). Concerning segmented user data packets, the techniques of the present invention utilize one or more predetermined values in the length indicator (LI) field in the headers of the certain ones of the plural AAL2 packets to carry information other than packet size information. Further, the techniques of the present invention use the User-to-User indicator (UUI) field of the AAL2 packets to carry AAL2 information such as segmentation notification and sequence-derivable information. For AAL2 packets which carry non-segmented user data packets (e.g., user data packets which can fit with the maximum size of a single AAL2 packet), the length indicator (LI) field contains the actual length of the AAL2 packet in conventional manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling node (MG1) for coupling of communications in a telecommunication system, comprising networks (N1, N2) with different signal formats. The coupling node has switching and trunking functions (CP21, CP23) corresponding to the signal formats, and telefunctions, e.g. coders/decoders (F21) and echo cancellers (F22), which the node can couple into a communication by means of a selector (PS1). The functions are supported by printed board assemblies (CB1–CB9) in magazines (SR1), and the printed board assemblies have signal processors (DSP11–DSP13) with access points (SAP11–SAP14). The selector hunts one of the signal processors for handling one of the functions. If the processor has sufficiently free memory space in its data store and in its instruction memory and sufficient processor capacity, this processor is selected. Otherwise a new processor is hunted which is investigated in the same way.

Abstract: A method of indicating the length of a mini cells in a mobile telephony network. Non linear coding of a short fixed length field in the header of the mini cell is described. Either an extension bit method or an extension code method is used to extend the length field so as to increase the number of length values available for coding of the mini cell sizes. The length of a mini cell is indicated in the individual mini cell or is indicated indirectly using a CID/length mapping table. Mini cell sizes are changed during a connection and methods are described for doing this. Cell header reading devices for extracting user information of individual mini cells are described. A mobile telephone network using the cell header reading devices is described.

Abstract: A switching node (20) has a semiconductor switch core (22) and plural switch port devices (24). The semiconductor switch core comprises a two dimensional buffer matrix having one buffer memory (40) per crosspoint to which cells having differing priority classes are written. The switch core further has plural switch core ports (30), with each of the switch core ports writing traffic cells to a row (42) of the matrix and reading traffic cells from a column (44) of the matrix. For each crosspoint of the matrix a high priority signaling element (46H) is formed in the semiconductor switch core. A novel low priority cell flushing operation the present invention moots any cell blocking problems.

Abstract: A media stream system (140) processes plural media streams (148), e.g., speech streams or speech channels. The system comprises plural processors (146), each of which execute one or more plural types of media stream processing functions (147). A switch function (144) routes packets of the plural media streams to a sequence of the plural processors whereby the plural types of media stream processing functions are sequentially performed relative to the packets. A packet size for the packets is chosen to minimize overhead load on at least one of the plural processors without causing undue delay for a packet awaiting processing by the at least one of the plural processors. In an example non-limiting implementation, the packet size for a packet of media information is chosen to be 160 octets, consecutive packets of a same media stream being separated by a packet repetition interval which is 20 milliseconds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing data in a multi-processor environment are provided. An application chain is built including at least one application to be performed on the data. The data is received, and program information, e.g., a pointer, is added to the data for identifying a current application in the application chain to be performed on the data. The data is forwarded to an available processor in the multi-processor environment and is processed using the current application identified by the added program information. The processed data is updated with new program information identifying a next application in the application chain to be performed, if any. The processed data is forwarded to an available processor, processed, and updated repeated times until the data is processed by all applications in the application chain.

Abstract: A communications network (40) has ATM cells with AAL2 protocol packets carried on a first interface (54) between two nodes (42, 44) of the network. Using the AAL2 protocol packets, many user channels are multiplexed onto one ATM VC between the two nodes. In one of the two nodes designated as a control node (44), user channels are terminated by mapping AAL2 packets of the user channels into modified ATM cells having a AAL protocol different than AAL2. The AAL protocol utilized for the modified ATM cells, termed AAL2 prime, requires that AAL2 packets carried in the ATM cell payload be whole packets and that the ATM payload not have an AAL2-type start field. Preferably, in the AAL2 prime protocol only one whole AAL2 packet is carried per ATM cell payload. Termination of the AAL2 user channels at the control node preferably occurs at a pooled and centralized resource termed a cell handling unit (32).

Abstract: Asynchronous data samples are received from a plurality of data channels for distribution onto a plurality of data processors each having a plurality of processing-slots. The identity of a channel from which a sample is received is determined using a channel ID associated with the sample. A time-stamp is assigned to at least one sample from each respective channel. Finally, at least one time-stamped sample is assigned to a processing-slot such that the separation between the time-stamp and a nearest time-stamp of at least one sample assigned to at least one other processing-slot of each respective processor is maximized.

Abstract: A gateway (MG1) interconnects telecom networks (N1,N2) of different types with different signal formats (ATM,IP). A first control unit (CC1), connected (C1) to a server, controls connection set up. A second control unit (RC2) provides telecom functions (F21-F28), such as speech coder/decoder or echo extinguisher, to the connection. A third control unit (BC3) establishes connections and sets up switch functions (CP21-CP27) corresponding to the different signal formats (ATM,IP). A signal format converter (CP29) converts to/from a common signal format (COM1) that the telecom functions uses. A speech request goes via the server to the first control unit (CC1), which requests telecom function (F21) by the second control unit (RC2). This returns the address (ADR11) of the telecom function to the first control unit (CC1) which sends the function address (ADR11) and the network address (ADR2) of the connection to the third control unit (BC3).

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch (20) has plural switch ports (24) connected by respective bidirectional links (27, 28) to a switch core (22). Connected to each switch port is a corresponding row column unit (40), each row column unit managing the writing of service cells to one row of cross point units (32) and the reading of service cells from one column of cross point units. The bidirectional links between each switch port and its corresponding row column unit of the switch core carry both service cells and control cells. An interactive exchange of control cells is implemented to sequence operation of the switch core. The operations particularly dependent upon control cell generation include transmission of service cells from the switch core; transmission of pollstate control cells from the switch core; retrieval of contents of certain control registers maintained by the switch core; and synchronization procedures.

Abstract: A queuing system (230) stores a package (246) derived from an ATM cell, the package including an internal interface header (IIH) and either an ATM cell payload or an AAL2 packet. The queuing system comprises a queue (312, 320) for storing the package, as well as a processor which executes plural functions. A time stamping function applies a time stamp upon storage of the package in the queue. The time stamping function can apply the time stamp to a package as replacement of the internal interface header. A time stamp checking function uses the time stamp to make a determination whether the tenure of the package in the queue is longer than permissible. The time stamp checking function can make the tenure determination in conjunction with a potential readout of the package from the queue. Alternatively, time stamp checking function can make the tenure determination when invoked by a queue monitoring function which monitors a fill level of the queue (e.g., when a queue fill level exceeds a threshold).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of changing the size of mini cells belonging to an individual connection during an ongoing connection. A control mini cell is used for this purpose. The control mini cell is transported either in a separate connection or in the same individual connection the mini cell size of which it shall change. Depending on system design the control mini cell is handled either at the control plane by the operation and maintenance system of the telecommunication network or is it handled at the traffic plane by transmission equipments.

Abstract: A method of multiplexing a plurality of virtual channel connections into a single channel is disclosed. Each of the virtual channel connections is made up of a plurality of minicells within an AAL2 protocol. The user to user indication field of the minicell is used in addition to the connection identifier to identify each of the virtual channel connections. A method is also disclosed for demultiplexing virtual channel connections from a single channel into AAL2 minicells.

Abstract: An ATM switching node has an ATM switch (30) to which at least one inter-node physical link (56) is connected. In addition, a cell handling unit (32) connected to the ATM switch has a centralized queuing resource (230) which queues ATM cells which are to be routed through the ATM switch for transmission from the node on the physical link. ATM cells destined for the physical link from the queuing resource are discharged from the queuing resource in accordance with a parameter of the physical link. The parameter is preferably the capacity (e.g., transmission rate) of the physical link. In the illustrated embodiment, the node is one of the following nodes of a cellular telecommunications network: a base station (42); a base station controller (44); a mobile switching center (46).

Abstract: A distributed voice mail system in a network includes a server in a control layer of the network and one or more media gateways in a connectivity layer of the network, wherein the server controls resources in the media gateways to provide distributed voice mail services.

Abstract: A mobile radio communications network includes mobile radio units, radio base stations for communicating with the mobile radio units over a radio-based channel, and a radio switching controller connected to the radio base stations for routing calls to and from various ones of the base stations. Each of the radio base stations, the radio switching controller, and/or other nodes in the mobile radio communications network includes an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch connected to plural function modules. Signaling and traffic communications between the function modules are effected asynchronously to efficiently meet current service bandwidth/data rate demands using the ATM switch and ATM switching protocol. Each function module includes a data processing circuitry that performs ATM cell buffering and other ATM control tasks in addition to other dedicated application tasks for supporting mobile radio communications.

Abstract: An ATM switching node has a queuing resource (230) connected to an ATM switch core (30). The queuing resource provides centralized queuing for ATM cells destined for routing through the ATM switch core to plural output links. The ATM switch core routes an ATM cell destined for any output link requiring queuing to the centralized queuing resource. ATM cells for output links not requiring queuing are not directed to the queuing resource. The queuing resource has a link multiplexer (280) for each output link which is handled by the queuing resource. Each link multiplexer has both a first stage (304) and a second stage (302). The second stage comprises plural queues (312) for storing ATM packets and a second stage multiplexer (314) for selecting the ATM packets stored in the plural queues of the second stage for transmission to the first stage.