Mci Communications Corporation

Mci Worldcom, Inc. Technology Department

Duke Bond

Ranga R Dendi

Frederick A Sherman

Timothy A Morgan

Robert Gary Leonard

A programmable gateway for processing protocol conversion for a virtual bearer channel platform. The platform includes a plurality of transaction processing units (TPUs). Each TPU processes service requests transmitted by a caller or transmits service requests to a destination called party. The platform has a distribution network that interfaces with the TPUs and acts as a shared bus between the TPUs. The platform receives and transmits communications with a communications network over bearer channels of a high bandwidth pipe. A cross-connecting controller multiplexes the signals coming into the platform over the bearer channels onto the distribution network, and also demultiplexes signals going out over the bearer channels from the distribution network. A resource manager provides a centralized control for the allocation of bandwidth to the transaction processing units. The resource manager allocates available bearer channels for the connections with the communications network, and also allocates available time slots in the distribution network to the TPUs. The gateway functions as a programmable protocol converter handling all the signaling functions of the platform. It acts as a conduit between the resource manager and the communications network. It converts incoming signaling messages into an internal protocol used by the resource manager. Likewise, it converts internal messages from the resource manager into signaling messages for transmission over the communications network.

Programmable gateway for a virtual bearer channel platform

A resource manager for managing the resources of a virtual bearer channel platform. The platform includes a plurality of transaction processing units (TPUs). Each TPU processes service requests transmitted by a caller or transmits service requests to a destination called party. The platform has a distribution network that interfaces with the TPUs and acts as a shared bus between the TPUs. The platform receives and transmits communications with a communications network over bearer channels of a high bandwidth pipe. A cross-connecting controller multiplexes the signals coming into the platform over the bearer channels onto the distribution network, and also demultiplexes signals going out over the bearer channels from the distribution network. The resource manager provides a centralized control for the allocation of bandwidth to the transaction processing units. It allocates available bearer channels for the connections with the communications network, and also allocates available time slots in the distribution network to the TPUs. The resource manager updates the status of the distribution network in real time, responding to the platform communication needs adaptively.

Resource manager for a virtual bearer channel platform

A virtual bearer channel platform includes a plurality of transaction processing units. Each transaction processing unit processes one or more service requests received as a call on a bearer channel. The call data is distributed to individual transaction processing units using a high-speed shared network such as a SONET-type network. In one embodiment, the standard SONET format is modified to eliminate fields which contain data of no significance to the present environment. In another embodiment, the standard SONET format, itself, is used. The platform includes a resource manager for allocating the newly received calls to individual transaction processing units. The resource manager sets up outbound calls when requested by a transaction processing unit. A gateway interfaces with the resource manager and the external communication network for assisting in call setup in both inbound and outbound directions.

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Allen, TX, United States of America

Duke Bond