Providing minimum and maximum bandwidth for a user communication

Abstract

A processing system receives and processes telecommunication signaling for a user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication. The processing system transfers control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication to a routing system. The routing system receives the control information and the user communication, and in response, transfers the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path. The first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth, and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of processing a user communication, the method comprising: 
 in a processing system, receiving and processing telecommunication signaling for the user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication;    transferring control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication from the processing system; and    in a routing system, receiving the control information and the user communication, and in response, transferring the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path, wherein the first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 transferring other control information indicating another maximum bandwidth for the user communication from the processing system; and  
 in the routing system, receiving the other control information, and in response, transferring the user communication over the second communication path to support the other maximum bandwidth.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the telecommunication signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein processing the telecommunication signaling to determine the minimum bandwidth comprises processing a bearer capacity parameter of an initial address message to determine the minimum bandwidth.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein processing the telecommunication signaling to determine the maximum bandwidth comprises processing burst characteristics for the user communication to determine the maximum bandwidth.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in the processing system, transferring other telecommunication signaling for the user communication to another processing system wherein the other telecommunication signaling indicates the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first communication path comprises a packet connection.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second communication path comprises a packet connection.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first communication path comprises a constant bit rate connection and the second communication path comprises a variable bit rate connection.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first communication path comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection and the second communication path comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.  
     
     
         11 . A communication system to process a user communication, the method comprising: 
 a processing system configured to receive and process telecommunication signaling for the user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication, and to transfer control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication; and    a routing system configured to receive the control information and the user communication, and in response, transfer the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path, wherein the first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth.    
     
     
         12 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the processing system is configured to transfer other control information indicating another maximum bandwidth for the user communication; and  
 the routing system is configured to receive the other control information, and in response, transfer the user communication over the second communication path to support the other maximum bandwidth.  
 
     
     
         13 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the telecommunication signaling comprises an Initial Address Message.  
     
     
         14 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the processing system is configured to process a bearer capacity parameter of an initial address message to determine the minimum bandwidth.  
     
     
         15 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the processing system is configured to process burst characteristics for the user communication to determine the maximum bandwidth.  
     
     
         16 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the processing system is configured to transfer other telecommunication signaling for the user communication to another processing system wherein the other telecommunication signaling indicates the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth.  
     
     
         17 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the first communication path comprises a packet connection.  
     
     
         18 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the second communication path comprises a packet connection.  
     
     
         19 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the first communication path comprises a constant bit rate connection and the second communication path comprises a variable bit rate connection.  
     
     
         20 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the first communication path comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection and the second communication path comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.