Telecommunications system

Abstract

A communication system routes user communications for a telecommunication call. The communication system comprises a processing system and an interworking system. The processing system receives a Signaling System Seven (SS7) Initial Address Message (IAM) message that indicates an originating connection and a called number for the call. The processing system enters a first data structure with the originating connection to identify a second data structure, and enters the second data structure with the called number to identify interworking information. The processing system transfers a control instruction indicating the interworking information. The interworking system receives the control instruction and the user communications, and in response, transfers packets having the interworking information and the user communications. The packets are routed based on the interworking information in the packets. The processing system is external to the interworking system.

1 . A communication system to route user communications for a telecommunication call, the communication system comprising: 
 a processing system configured to receive a Signaling System Seven (SS7) Initial Address Message (IAM) message that indicates an originating connection and a called number for the call, enter a first data structure with the originating connection to identify a second data structure, enter the second data structure with the called number to identify interworking information, and transfer a control instruction indicating the interworking information;    an interworking system configured to receive the control instruction and the user communications, and in response, to transfer packets having the interworking information and the user communications wherein the packets are routed based on the interworking information in the packets; and    wherein the processing system is external to the interworking system.    
   
   
       2 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the first data structure includes trunk circuit information related to originating trunk circuits and includes trunk group information related to originating trunk groups.  
   
   
       3 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the originating connection comprises a time division multiplex connection.  
   
   
       4 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the originating connection comprises a DS0 connection.  
   
   
       5 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the SS7 IAM indicates a caller number and the processing system processes the caller number to identify the interworking information.  
   
   
       6 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is configured, in response to the SS7 IAM, to transfer a query, receive a response, and process the response to identify the interworking information.  
   
   
       7 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is configured to transfer an SS7 Address Complete Message (ACM) in response to the SS7 IAM.  
   
   
       8 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is configured to transfer an SS7 Answer Message (ANM) in response to a called party answering the call.  
   
   
       9 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is configured to transfer an SS7 Release Message (REL) in response to a called party terminating the call.  
   
   
       10 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein the interworking information indicates an asynchronous transfer mode connection.  
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a communication system to route user communications for a telecommunication call, the method comprising: 
 receiving a Signaling System Seven (SS7) Initial Address Message (IAM) message into a processing system indicating an originating connection and a called number for the call;    in the processing system, entering a first data structure with the originating connection to identify a second data structure and entering the second data structure with the called number to identify interworking information;    transferring a control instruction from the processing system indicating the interworking information;    in an interworking system, receiving the control instruction and the user communications, and in response, transferring packets having the interworking information and the user communications wherein the packets are routed based on the interworking information in the packets; and    wherein the processing system is external to the interworking system.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first data structure includes trunk circuit information related to originating trunk circuits and includes trunk group information related to originating trunk groups.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the originating connection comprises a time division multiplex connection.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the originating connection comprises a DS0 connection.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the SS7 IAM indicates a caller number, and further comprising in the processing system, processing the caller number to identify the interworking information.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising in the processing system, transferring a query in response to the SS7 IAM, receive a response to the query, and processing the response to identify the interworking information.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transferring an SS7 Address Complete Message (ACM) from the processing system in response to the SS7 μM.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transferring an SS7 Answer Message (ANM) from the processing system in response to a called party answering the call.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transferring an SS7 Release Message (REL) from the processing system in response to a called party terminating the call.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the interworking information indicates an asynchronous transfer mode connection.