Method and a detector unit for setting up connections in a teletransmission network

Abstract

In a method of setting up connections for the transfer of information in the form of calls between at least two arbitrary subscribers in a teletransmission network ( 1 ), it is detected at a subscriber interface on the basis of an identification associated with a given call whether the call is of a first type or of a second type. Then the connection is set up via a first transmission path comprising one or more exchanges ( 2 ) in case of calls of the first type, and via a second transmission path bypassing the exchange or exchanges ( 2 ) in case of calls of the second type. A detector unit ( 25; 41 ) for use in the setting up of connections in such a teletransmission network ( 1 ) comprises means ( 32, 33; 43 ) for detecting on the basis of an identification associated with a given call whether the call is of the first type or of the second type. The detector unit moreover comprises means ( 34 ) for setting up calls of the first type via the first transmission path and calls of the second type via the second transmission path.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for setting up connections in a teletransmission network, comprising: 
 receiving an incoming call;    determining a call type associated with the incoming call, the call type being determined at any time during the incoming call;    transferring the incoming call to a first transmission path in response to the incoming call being of a first call type;    transferring the incoming call to a second transmission path in response to the incoming call being of a second call type.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission path routes the incoming call through one or more exchanges, the second transmission path operable to bypass the one or more exchanges.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 switching the incoming call from the first transmission path to the second transmission path in response to the incoming call changing from the first call type to the second call type.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 switching the incoming call from the second transmission path to the first transmission path in response to the incoming call changing from the second call type to the first call type.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the incoming call includes overhead signals;    transferring the incoming call to one of the first and second transmission paths in response to the overhead signals.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating a control signal in response to the incoming call being of the second call type.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 mapping an appropriate connection for the incoming call on the second transmission path in response to the control signal.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 monitoring the incoming call;    identifying any change in the call type of the incoming call.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing the call type determination at an interface associated with an originator of the incoming call.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second transmission path includes an asynchronous transfer mode network.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for setting up connections in a teletransmission network, comprising: 
 a line interface operable to receive an incoming call;    a monitor operable to determine a call type associated with the incoming call, the monitor operable to determine the call type at any time during the duration of the incoming call;    a switch unit operable to place the incoming call on one of a plurality of transmission paths according to the call type associated with the incoming call.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the call type is determined according to a destination telephone number associated with the incoming call.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the call type is determined according to overhead signals associated with the incoming call.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the monitor is operable to determine that the incoming call has changed from a first call type to a second call type, the monitor operable to control the switch unit in order to place the incoming call on a different transmission path according to the detected change in the call type.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the monitor is operable to generate a control signal, the control signal operable to map the incoming call to an appropriate connection of the one of the plurality of transmission paths.  
     
     
         16 . A system for setting up connections in a teletransmission network, comprising: 
 means for receiving an incoming call;    means for determining a call type associated with the incoming call, the call type being determined at any time during the incoming call;    means for transferring the incoming call to a first transmission path in response to the incoming call being of a first call type;    means for transferring the incoming call to a second transmission path in response to the incoming call being of a second call type.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for monitoring the incoming call;    means for identifying any change in the call type of the incoming call.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for switching the incoming call from the second transmission path to the first transmission path in response to the incoming call changing from the second call type to the first call type.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 switching the incoming call from the first transmission path to the second transmission path in response to the incoming call changing from the first call type to the second call type.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for mapping the incoming call to an appropriate connection of the second transmission path.