Alcatel N.v.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co Kg

Siemens Aktiengesell Schaft

Alcatel Sel Aktiengesellschaft

Karl Schrodi

Gert Eilenberger

Gert Willmann

Bodo Pfeiffer

Bozo Cesar

Joachim Charzinski

Stefan Wahl

Matthias Wippenbeck

Wolfgang Fischer

Andreas Klug

Werner Korte

Walter Klausberger

Peter Holzner

Jürgen Lantermann

Christoph Reichert

Ernst-Heinrich G&ouml;ldner

Petra Tippmann-Krayer

Arno Harth

Dietrich Boettle

Helmuth Preisach

Jean-Michel Delmas

The invention relates to a method for storing and passing on multimedia messages for a multimedia call in a packet-switching telecommunication network (TN), with the called subscriber (B subscriber) having network access with a known and predetermined bandwidth to the telecommunication network (TN). In the situation where it is found () during the setting up of a multimedia call that the available bandwidth is too narrow () because the called subscriber (B subscriber) is currently using a further multimedia service, the multimedia call is diverted () to a recording device (ABZ) which is available in the telecommunication network (TN). A calling subscriber (A subscriber) can then leave a multimedia message on the recording device (ABZ), which is then passed () to a local recording device (ABL) for the called subscriber (B subscriber) via the network access and using the bandwidth that is still available. The arrival of the new multimedia message is then indicated () to the called subscriber (B subscriber) after complete transmission. The method according to the invention results in the subscriber (B subscriber) in a packet-switching telecommunication network (TN) being informed () that a multimedia call has arrived, with the recording device (ABZ) that is available in the telecommunication network (TN) advantageously carrying out a form of buffer function. This buffer function makes it possible to use time expansion to make use of the bandwidth that is still available for transmission of the multimedia message ().

Method for storing and forwarding multimedia messages for multimedia calls

According to the present invention, a large scale traffic distribution is carried out in a packet-oriented communication network. The distribution results, in a simple, practical and inexpensive way, for all the services and applications which reliably and efficiently preserve their specific quality of service requirements, in a highly balanced quality of service with best effort character. Preferably, there is in the traffic at least a priority class traffic whereof the traffic concerned is transmitted in distributed manner and in packets with strict priority in the communication network. The observance of specific quality of service requirements is monitored at least for the priority traffic. Classification in the priority class traffic enables to provide an adequate quality of service, even for real-time services and applications.

Data transmission in a packet-oriented communication network

The invention relates to the routing of data packets comprising a target address in a packet switching data network. According to the invention, a first and second transmission path are assigned respective traffic distribution weightings in a routing table for individual target addresses that is assigned to a network node, said weightings indicating the respective allocated traffic load per transmission path. The maximum traffic distribution weighting is assigned to the respective first transmission path and the minimum traffic distribution weighting is assigned to the second transmission path. During undisturbed operation, data packets are routed via the first transmission path and if said path is interrupted, the packets are routed via the second transmission path.

Method and arrangement for routing data packets in a packet-switching data network

The invention relates to the routing of data packets in a packet-switched network, e.g. in an autonomous system, having traffic distribution. According to the invention, the forwarding or the routing of data packets occurs via the access interface based on an item of information and via the output interface of the data packet based on an item of information. Both these items of information are, for example at the input interface, placed in front of the data packet in the form of information fields or labels. The invention enables, with a moderate expense and limited degree of complexity, a flexible and loop-free routing under the terms of a traffic distribution.

Efficient intra-domain routing in packet-switched networks

The invention relates to a method, a boundary node and a server for restricting the traffic in a packet-oriented, connectionless network for an efficient QoS transmission of prioritized data packets. According to the invention, reliability checks are carried out that include a reliability check with respect to the network input and the network output. The reliability checks allow to check whether resources meeting the requirements to transmission of a group of data packets of a priority class are available in the network. The invention allows to avoid resource shortages, especially at the network input and network output, thereby safeguarding QoS transmission.

Traffic restriction for a network with QoS transmission

At least one queue is provided per current branch pattern in a network node. In this way, a queue can be jointly used for a plurality of distribution compartments which are imaged onto the same branch pattern in said node. Arriving packets are differentiated according to the particular distribution compartment to which they belong (i.e. not according to a particular flow to which they belong inside the distribution compartment). They are then inserted into a corresponding queue accordingly. Said queues are used by the ports belonging to each branch pattern. As soon as a port is free, it selects the next queue to use. The selection thus begins in sufficient time to ensure that no gaps appear on the outgoing line from said port. If a port uses a plurality (in this case fully or partially overlapping) of branch patterns, a search is then carried out for non-empty queues in all of that branch patterns, during the selection. If a plurality of non-empty queues are found in different branch patterns, the following queue to be used is selected according to a pre-determined criteria. The packet to be emitted from said queue is then defined according to a further criterion.

Distributed transmission of traffic flows in communication networks

Components for transmitting ATM cells related to Internet data packets are additionally integrated in an ATM communications system for transmitting data and data packets packed in ATM cells for ATM communications networks which are formed by ATM communications systems. The complete integration of the Internet transmission function into ATM communications systems results in effective traffic and network management of ATM cells related to Internet data packets with a very low level of integration complexity.

ATM communications system for transmitting internet data packets

In a method and network component of a communications network for switching connections of low bit rate between input modules and output modules, the input modules and the output modules form a first switching level, and an ATM switching stage arranged between the input modules and the output modules forms a second switching level. In the first switching level, a number of low bit rate connections at the input module, which are to be transmitted to the same output module, are respectively merged by the input module into at least one ATM connection. In the second switching level, the switching through of the ATM connections for transmitting data in ATM cells ensues by the ATM switching stage. Subsequently, in the first switching level, the ATM connections which have been switched through are converted by the output module into the low bit rate connections. The combined switching in two switching levels represents an especially economical solution for functions specific to mobile radio and switching applications dealing with low bitrate traffic, by simultaneously assuring an acceptable speech quality with good exploitation of the ATM bandwidth.

Method and network component for switching low bit rate connections between input modules and output modules in a communication network

Data packets (D1, D2) each assigned to one of at least two priority classes (P1, P2) are stored in a buffer (MEM2) designed to hold data on a threshold value for each priority class wherein, instead of having the threshold fixed for each priority class whereby the data packets of the corresponding priority class will no longer be written into the buffer (MEM2) when the threshold is exceeded ('partial buffer sharing'), one or more thresholds are dynamically controlled. The current loss probability of the highest priority class (P1) is determined, and the threshold (MEM1) of the lowest priority class (P2) is then raised or lowered (REG1). This results in improved buffer utilization in applications which require a given loss probability for high priority classes, and calculation of a threshold value is no longer necessary.

Method of controlling access to a buffer and a device for temporary

A method is provided for temporarily storing data packets, in which incoming data packets (D1, D2, D3) are distributed to and temporarily stored in two or more logic queues (QU1, QU2) on the basis of data (P1, P2) contained in the incoming data packets (D1, D2, D3), and in which all of the logic queues (QU1, QU2) share a common buffer memory (MEM) having locations that are dynamically allocated to the logic queues (QU1, QU2) only when required. The method features the steps of rejecting individual data packets (D1, D2, D3) if proper treatment is not ensured for all data packets, determining queue length data on the lengths of the logic queues (QU1, QU2), determining queue allocation data on which of the logic queue (QU1, QU2) an incoming data packet (D1, D2, D3) will be allocated, and selecting the incoming data packets (D1, D2, D3) to be rejected on the basis of the queue length data and the queue allocation data.

Method and facility for temporarily storing data packets, and exchange

Prior Art/Technical Problem: During the establishment of a call through a switching network 20, the path is selected on the basis of the instantaneous loading of the switching network and maintained during the call. The problem of eliminating local blocking by rearranging existing connections has not been satisfactorily solved because of errors occurring during the rearranging process. Basic Idea: Provide in an ATM exchange operating with virtual connections the same devices which assure the correct order of the cells in the 'connectionless' mode. Solution: Each output of the switching network is followed by an output unit 30 which ensures that the cells are output in the correct order. Advantage(s): Virtual connections can be adapted to the instantaneous loading of the switching network error-free at any time. The assurance of the correct order can be implemented so as to largely compensate for delay jitter.

ATM exchange which resequencies the cells using their sequence numbers

A switching element with a plurality of operating modes, in particular for switching asynchronous time-division multiplexed packets, comprises inputs, outputs, a selective retransmission device for retransmitting a packet received on one input to one or more outputs on the basis of routing data associated with the packet, and a retransmission control device determining the mode of operation of the retransmission device. The retransmission control device comprises a direct routing device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input a destination indication and to decode it into an output identifier corresponding to one output at least in order to retransmit the packet to an output designated by the identifier. It additionally comprises a translated routing device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input a reference number and to translate it using a translation memory into one or more output identifiers each corresponding to at least one output for retransmitting the packet to one output for each output identifier designated by the identifier. It additionally comprises a routing mode selector device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input routing mode data and adapted to command selectively according to the data the use of a selected routing device which may be one of the above-mentioned routing devices. The routing mode selector device commands alternately the use of at least one predetermined non-selective routing mode according to the routing mode data contained in the label of a received packet.

Switching element with multiple operating modes and switching network

In practice, switching is a continuously changing mixture of point-to-point connections, point-to-multipoint connections with low fanout, and point-to-multipoint connections with high fanout. The switching elements of a switch optimized for point-to-point connections are additionally enabled to copy a few input signals for an arbitrary number of outputs, so that a very large number of copies is attainable for few input signals. This switch is supplemented by a copy switch which serves exclusively to make limited numbers of copies for a large number of input signals, which are then switched in the (group) switch as point-to-point connections. Point-to-point connections are operated as connectionless connections, but outside the switch act as virtual connections. Point-to-multipoint connections are operated as virtual connections (connection-oriented) by means of connection tables.

ATM exchange with copying capability

To be able to load an ATM switching network as efficiently as possible, the successive cells of one and the same connection are routed to the output by as many different paths as possible; however, mutual overtaking of successive cells must be avoided or corrected. Each cell is held at the output until it is certain that no older cell can be buffered in the switching network. Before the cell is passed on, a check is made to determine whether the cells received from the switching network later include an older cell which must be passed on before that cell. At the input end, consecutive numbers ('Sequence Numbers') are allocated to the cells. A buffer (1) at the output end is operated, at least in part (1 . . . d), in the manner of a shift register, thereby introducing a predetermined delay. Prior to the output of a cell, at least the shift-register-like portion of the buffer is examined as to whether a cell written in later is to be put out earlier: if so, the two cells are interchanged.

Method of restoring the correct cell sequence, particularly in an ATM

The disclosed asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching network evenly scatters individual cells of an ATM data stream in the first half of the network and routes them to their intended destination in the second half of the network. The network is constructed from interchangeable switching modules each preferably containing only two stages of switching elements, with each switching element having a common memory, thus reducing the component count by one third compared to Clos' 3-stage non-blocking modules. Each individual module provides a switched path from any selected one of its module inputs to any selected one of its module outputs, with the common memory acting as a buffer until a path becomes available to the desired module output. Since the additional stages between the module's input stage and the module's output stage typically used to provide a non-blocking module are dispensed with, not only the component count, but also the transmission delay through the switching network may be reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Geretsried, Germany

Karl Schrodi