Binding information for telecommunications network

Abstract

Various binding information techniques are provided for a telecommunications network ( 20 ) having separated call and connection layers. In a first embodiment of the invention, binding information is associated with connection endpoint information for a first connection end point ( 36 A) at a first end node ( 22 A) of the network. In a second embodiment, an ATM end system address (AESA) is associated with a first connection end point at the first end node and is transmitted in the call layer to the second end node, and included in connection layer signaling sent from the call layer to the connection layer. Upon receipt of the connection layer signaling at the first end node, the first end node uses the AESA to through connect the ATM switch in the physical layer to the first connection endpoint. In a third embodiment, a dynamic ATM end system address (AESA) is associated both with a first end node of the network and with a first connection end point at the first end node. Since the dynamic AESA is reusable for association with other connection end points at the first end node, a table maintained at the first end node keeps track for which end point the dynamic AESA is currently used. In a fourth embodiment, connection endpoint information for a first connection end point of a first end node of the network is included in a vacant or otherwise unused field in an ATM end system address (AESA) of the first end node.

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       19 . A telecommunications network including a first end node and a second end node which are connected by separated call and connection layers, wherein the first end node associates binding information with connection endpoint information for a first connection end point at the first end node and transmits the binding information through the call layer to the second end node so that, upon receipt of a connection layer signaling routed from the second end node to the first end node through the connection layer, the first end node uses the binding information carried in the connection layer signaling to obtain the connection endpoint information for the first connection end point.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a physical layer having a first ATM switch at the first end node; and wherein the first node through connects the first ATM switch in accordance with the connection endpoint information for the first connection endpoint.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a call layer process at the first node which obtains the binding information from the connection layer.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first end node further transmits the binding information to a call layer process at the call layer to obtain the connection endpoint information for the first connection endpoint.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first end node orders the connection layer to through connect the ATM switch in the physical layer of the first end node in accordance with the connection endpoint information for the first connection endpoint.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the connection endpoint information for the first connection end point at the first end node of the network is vendor specific for a physical layer entity at the first end node.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the connection endpoint information is a concatenation of one or more of a node identifier, a hardware cabinet rack, a hardware slot, a hardware port, and a resource.  
   
   
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       27 . A telecommunications network including a first end node and a second end node which are connected by separated call and connection layers, wherein the first end node transmits a dynamic routing number to the second end node, the dynamic routing number being associated both with the first end node of the network and with a first connection end point at the first end node, so that upon receipt of connection layer signaling routed through the connection layer from the second end node to the first end node using the dynamic routing number, the first node also uses the dynamic routing number to obtain the first connection end point.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the dynamic routing number is an ATM end system address (AESA) for the first end node.  
   
   
       29 . A telecommunications network including a first end node and a second end node which are connected by separated call and connection layers, wherein the first end node includes connection endpoint information for a first connection end point of the first end node of the network in a routing number of the first end node, so that upon receipt of connection layer signaling routed through the connection layer from the second end node to the first end node using the routing number of the first end node, the first node uses the connection endpoint information for the first connection end point of the first end node included in the routing number of the first end node to through connect a switch in the physical layer to the first connection endpoint.  
   
   
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       31 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the associating is performed in only one of the call layer and the connection layer, resulting in an association which is known only in the layer in which the association is made.