Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Arne Lundb&auml;ck

Lars-G&ouml;ran Petersen

Mattias &Ouml;stman

Johan Mikael Agnevik

Torgny Anders Lindberg

G&ouml;ran Hansson

Ola Engstr&ouml;m

A queuing system ( ) stores a package ( ) derived from an ATM cell, the package including an internal interface header (IIH) and either an ATM cell payload or an AAL packet. The queuing system comprises a queue ( ) 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). A discard function is provided for discarding the package if the tenure of the package in the queue is longer than permissible.

ATM time stamped queuing

An ATM switching node has an ATM switch ( ) to which at least one inter-node physical link ( ) is connected. In addition, a cell handling unit ( ) connected to the ATM switch has a centralized queuing resource ( ) 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 ( ); a base station controller ( ); a mobile switching center ( ).

Coordinated cell discharge from ATM queue

An ATM switching node has a queuing resource ( ) connected to an ATM switch core ( ). 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 ( ) for each output link which is handled by the queuing resource. Each link multiplexer has both a first stage ( ) and a second stage ( ). The second stage comprises plural queues ( ) for storing ATM packets and a second stage multiplexer ( ) for selecting the ATM packets stored in the plural queues of the second stage for transmission to the first stage. The first stage comprises plural queues ( ) for storing ATM cells and a first stage multiplexer ( ) for selection of ATM cells including ATM cells formed of multiplexed ATM packets of the second stage for discharge from the queuing resource. The centralized and selective queuing resource obviates the necessity for queuing at each terminal board connected to the ATM switch core.

Centralized queuing for ATM node

To form internal control paths in an ATM node ( ), &ldquo;half trails&rdquo; (HF) are initially established and subsequently connected to form complete trails (FT). In an ATM node having plural node entities ( ) or device boards connected to a switch core ( ), for each node entity a main control path program ( ) executed by a node main processor () initially forms both a listening half trail and a sending half trail extending from the node main processor and switch core. Separately and independently, i.e., without prior communication with the node main processor, an entity control path program ( ) executed by an entity processor ( ) at each node entity establishes a listening half trail between itself and the switch core. For each node entity, the entity control path program establishes the same VPI/VCI as the listening half trail. The entity processor then receives on its independently established listening half trail (i.e., on the predetermined VPI/VCI) a handshaking request. The handshaking request (HR) includes information indicating what half trail (e.g., what other VPI/VCI) the node entity can use as a sending half trail for sending control cells to node main processor. The node entity then responds to the handshaking request with a response message (RM) sent over the sending half trail. Single stage and multi-stage ATM node embodiments are provided. The entity control path program ( ) is preferably the same for each node entity.

Growing community of inventors

Skogås, Sweden

Arne Lundbäck

Growing community of inventors

Skogås, Sweden

Arne Lundb&auml;ck

Arne Lundbäck