Patents by Inventor Michael Christie

Michael Christie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6452928
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6449280
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6430195
    Abstract: The invention is a system for interfacing an ISDN or non-ISDN system with a broadband system. The broadband system can be an ATM system. The invention can process the ISDN signaling to select ATM connections and then interwork the ISDN connections with the selected ATM connections. The invention can interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling. The invention can also process SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections and then interwork ATM connections with the selected ISDN connections. The invention can also interwork ISDN systems with non-ISDN systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Michael Joseph Gardner, Tracy Lee Nelson, William Lyle Wiley, Albert Daniel Duree
  • Patent number: 6424652
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6421344
    Abstract: The invention is an ATM system to route DS0 traffic from T1 Extended Superframe (ESF)or Superframe (SF) systems that use robbed bit signaling. The invention is able to route the call selecting the ATM VPI/VCI that routes the call within the ATM system. DS0s with robbed bit signaling are transported transparently by the ATM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Albert D. Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, Mark Sucharczuk, William Lyle Wiley
  • Publication number: 20020089986
    Abstract: The invention comprises a telecommunications signaling processor that processes Signaling System #7 (SS7) telecommunications signaling messages to select Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) virtual connections and provide control messages indicating the selected ATM virtual connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Joseph S. Christie, Jean M. Christie, William Lyle Wiley, Royal Dean Howell
  • Patent number: 6411624
    Abstract: The invention comprises a telecommunications signaling processor that processes Signaling System #7 (SS7) telecommunications signaling messages to select Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) virtual connections and provide control messages indicating the selected ATM virtual connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, William Lyle Wiley, Royal Dean Howell
  • Publication number: 20020064178
    Abstract: The invention is a system for interfacing an ISDN or non-ISDN system with a broadband system. The broadband system can be an ATM system. The invention can process the ISDN signaling to select ATM connections and then interwork the ISDN connections with the selected ATM connections. The invention can interwork ISDN signaling and SS7 signaling. The invention can also process SS7 signaling to select ISDN connections and then interwork ATM connections with the selected ISDN connections. The invention can also interwork ISDN systems with non-ISDN systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Jean M. Christie, Michael Joseph Gardner, Tracy Lee Nelson, William Lyle Wiley, Albert Daniel DuRee
  • Publication number: 20020039372
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6366586
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Publication number: 20020031145
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for converting point codes in a signal transfer point in a telecommunications signaling system. The STP converts point codes which designate the origination and destination signaling points for the message. The conversion is based on information defined by the messages, such as origination or destination information. The present invention creates a virtual signaling system which can be reconfigured at the STP by converting point codes, and thus, altering the identities of the signaling points. The present invention is also operable to convert circuit identification codes and transfer integrated services user part messages to a user part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Albert Daniel Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6349100
    Abstract: A system and method provide enhanced services for a call that is transported from a communication device through an asynchronous transfer mode system. The call has user communications in asynchronous transfer mode cells and call signaling. A signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to determine a connection to a service platform. The signaling processor transports a processor control message designating the selected connection. An asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit receives the user communications from the communication device and the processor control message from the signaling processor. The asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit converts the user communications from the asynchronous transfer mode cells to a format compatible with the service platform and dynamically transports the user communications to the service platform in real time. The service platform processes the user communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 6343084
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Publication number: 20010053154
    Abstract: The invention is a system for modifying the VPI/VCIs in ATM cells transferred between two ATM systems on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for the call and selects a new VPI/VCI for the call. The signaling processor generates a control message that identifies the old and new VPI/VCIs and transfers the control message to an ATM gateway. The ATM gateway modifies the old VPI/VCI in the ATM cells to the new VPI/VCI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: JOSEPH MICHAEL CHRISTIE, ALBERT DANIEL DUREE, TRACY LEE NELSON, WILLIAM LYLE WILEY
  • Patent number: 6330224
    Abstract: A system and method provide enhanced services for a call that is transported from a communication device through an asynchronous transfer mode system. The call has user communications in asynchronous transfer mode cells and call signaling. A signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to determine a connection to a service platform. The signaling processor transports a processor control message designating the selected connection. An asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit receives the user communications from the communication device and the processor control message from the signaling processor. The asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit converts the user communications from the asynchronous transfer mode cells to a format compatible with the service platform and dynamically transports the user communications to the service platform in real time. The service platform processes the user communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Telecommunications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 6327270
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for converting point codes in a signal transfer point in a telecommunications signaling system. The STP converts point codes which designate the origination and destination signaling points for the message. The conversion is based on information defined by the messages, such as origination or destination information. The present invention creates a virtual signaling system which can be reconfigured at the STP by converting point codes, and thus, altering the identities of the signaling points. The present invention is also operable to convert circuit identification codes and transfer integrated services user part messages to a user part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Jospeh Michael Christie, Albert Daniel Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6304572
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6304580
    Abstract: The invention is a system for interfacing a GR-303 system with a broadband system. The broadband system can be an ATM system. The invention can process the GR-303 signaling to select ATM connections and then interwork the GR-303 connections with the selected ATM connections. The invention can interwork GR-303 signaling and SS7 signaling. The invention can also process SS7 signaling to select GR-303 connections and then interwork ATM connections with the selected GR-303 connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Michael Joseph Gardner, Tracy Lee Nelson, William Lyle Wiley, Albert Daniel DuRee
  • Patent number: 6298064
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6272142
    Abstract: The invention is a tandem system for providing a tandem connection for circuit-based traffic. This tandem system comprises an ATM cross-connect, ATM interworking multiplexers, and a signaling processor. The multiplexer converts the traffic received by the tandem system into ATM where it is routed through the cross-connect and re-converted back into the circuit-based format at an ATM interworking multiplexer. The signaling processor controls the virtual connections and out going circuit-based connections used by the multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Michael Joseph Gardner, Albert Daniel DuRee, William Lyle Wiley, Tracy Lee Nelson