Gateway system to interface different communication networks

Abstract

A first communication network transfers a signaling message for a call to a second communication network. The signaling message indicates a first identifier that represents a connection through the first communication network to the second communication network. The second communication network processes the signaling message to select a second identifier. The first communication network transfers a user communication for the call to the second communication network. The user communication has a header indicating the first identifier. In response to the first identifier, the second communication network modifies the first identifier in the header to the second identifier. The second communication network transfers the user communication to a destination node in response to the second identifier in the header of the user communication.

1 . A method of processing a call from a first communication network, the method comprising: 
 in a call processor in a second communication network, receiving a signaling message from the first communication network wherein the signaling message indicates a first identifier that represents a connection through the first communication network to the second communication network;    in the call processor, processing the signaling message to select a second identifier;    in the call processor, transferring a control message indicating the first identifier and the second identifier;    in a gateway in the second communication network, receiving the control message;    in the gateway, receiving a user communication from the first communication network wherein the user communication has a header indicating the first identifier, and in response to the first identifier and the control message, modifying the first identifier in the header to the second identifier; and    transferring the user communication from the gateway through the second communication network to a destination node in response to the second identifier in the header of the user communication.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second communication network has a routing configuration and the first identifier in the header of the user communication is not compatible with the routing configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the second identifier in the header of the user communication is compatible with the routing configuration and wherein transferring the user communication through the second communication network to the destination node in response to the second identifier in the header of the user communication comprises transferring the user communication through the second communication network to the destination node based on the routing configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first communication network receives the user communication with the first identifier in the header from customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the destination node comprises customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the destination node comprises another gateway.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein processing the signaling message to select the second identifier comprises processing a dialed number in the signaling message to select the second identifier.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gateway has single input/output throughput.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user communication comprises an asynchronous transfer mode cell.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the call processor does not include a switching fabric.  
   
   
       11 . A second communication network to process a call from a first communication network, the second communication network comprising: 
 a call processor configured to receive a signaling message from the first communication network wherein the signaling message indicates a first identifier that represents a connection through the first communication network to the second communication network, process the signaling message to select a second identifier, and transfer a control message indicating the first identifier and the second identifier;    a gateway configured to receive the control message, receive a user communication from the first communication network wherein the user communication has a header indicating the first identifier, and in response to the first identifier and the control message, to modify the first identifier in the header to the second identifier; and    a routing system configured to transfer the user communication from the gateway to a destination node in response to the second identifier in the header of the user communication.    
   
   
       12 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the routing system has a routing configuration and the first identifier in the header of the user communication is not compatible with the routing configuration.  
   
   
       13 . The second communication network of  claim 12  wherein the second identifier in the header of the user communication is compatible with the routing configuration and wherein the routing system is configured to transfer the user communication to the destination node based on the routing configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the first communication network receives the user communication with the first identifier in the header from customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       15 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the destination node comprises customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       16 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the destination node comprises another gateway.  
   
   
       17 . The second communication network of  claim 11  the call processor is configured to process a dialed number in the signaling message to select the second identifier.  
   
   
       18 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the gateway is configured with single input/output throughput.  
   
   
       19 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the user communication comprises an asynchronous transfer mode cell.  
   
   
       20 . The second communication network of  claim 11  wherein the call processor does not include a switching fabric.