An interenterprise communications center has a computer hub comprising a common core and a plurality of input and output modules. The input modules connect to a first end user and converts a message sent by the first end user into a universal format. The hub core queues the message and forwards it to the output module for conversion into the format of the destination user.

Interenterprise electronic mail hub

A scalable, programmable software based application run on a programmed general purpose digital computer is used for interconnecting a plurality of heterogeneous network nodes. The application has the ability to convert between any two signaling protocols used, such as those used over a telecommunications network, by converting an originating protocol to a universal non-protocol specific representation, and then converting the universal non-protocol specific representation to a receiving protocol. A call context is used to store information elements created from the originating protocol so that a universal call model applies inter-working rules. The universal call model is also in communication with state machines associated with both the originating and the terminating sides in order to supply the appropriate response signals anticipated by the originating and terminating sides received when each is in communication with its own protocol. As such, the universal call model allows both the originating and terminating sides of a call to operate independently of each other by virtue of the fact that each side deal through the universal call model and not directly with the side for which the protocol message is being converted. Therefore, any protocol is easily converted to any other protocol by first translating the protocol message to the universal protocol non-specific format.

Universal protocol conversion

The invention relates to a communication system (100) in which information (AV) from a server (101) is transmitted in one direction via a first communication path to a user terminal (102), such as a PC. In response to said information, the user can transmit selection information (I), such as control commands, in the form of data packets via a second communication path. According to the invention the data packets, for example ATM cells, are transmitted in the second communication path over a non-packet switching network (107), such as a telephony network. The invention further provides a device (108; 200) for receiving and routing data packets from a non-packet switching network (107), as well as a method for implementing telecommunication services in which use is made of a communication system (100; 100') of the above-mentioned kind.

Communication system for interactive services with a packet switching interaction channel over a narrow-band circuit switching network, as well as a device for application in such a communication system

Service resource items for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service item is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI which is then used to access the desired service resource item.

Method for Accessing Service Resource Items That are For Use in a Telecommunications System

A method and apparatus for protocol conversion using channel associated signaling (CAS) is disclosed. A protocol conversion system is located logically between a first signaling system and a second signaling system, in which the first signaling system uses the Common Channel Signaling (CCS) protocol and the second signaling system uses CAS, which is incompatible with CCS. The protocol conversion system receives a first message from the first signaling system that conforms to the CCS protocol, converts the first message to one or more second messages that conform to the CAS protocol, and communicates the one or more second messages to the second signaling system, whereby a voice conversation is established between the first signaling system and the second signaling system. The protocol conversion system preferably comprises a universal protocol converter coupled to a CAS module. The CAS module interfaces trunks of the two incompatible networks and drops or inserts signaling information in frames carried by the trunks. The universal protocol converter executes a state machine that determines how to convert CCS messages into CAS messages, and instructs the CAS module what messages are to be sent to each network. In this configuration, voice conversations can be set up over incompatible signaling networks.

Protocol conversion using channel associated signaling

An X.25 protocol apparatus can communicate with another X.25 apparatus or a X.32 apparatus through a telephone network, an ISDN network, or a PBX network, by attaching protocol conversion system to the X.25 apparatus. The conversion system has a pair of signal identification portions (1, 6) for separating a receive packet to a data packet and a control packet, a call process portion (3, 12) for dial signal process, and an address table (4) and a packet edition portion (5) for address conversion of a control packet. A data packet is forwarded from one signal identification portion to another signal identification portion through direct path (53). A control packet is forwarded to a control packet identification portion (2) for control process which includes dial signal process, address conversion, and protocol sequences. This system is applicable to couple a data communication network which has a X.32 correspondence portion to another data communication network.

Hisao Yamagata

Papers

Protocol conversion system