Telecommunications system

Abstract

Virtual dedicated voice connections between parties 18, 19 to a packet switched system can be created by reserving capacity for such connections in the packet switched system. The capacity reservable by any one party is limited, to prevent oversubscription of resources in the packet switched. The system incorporates a call admission control processor 12, 17 for controlling access to the packet switched call routing system such that a voice call attempt is successful only if capacity for such a dedicated connection has previously been reserved. The capacity reserved for the virtual connections is made available for use by other traffic when not required for voice calls.

1 . A method of creating virtual dedicated connections between parties to a packet switched system by reserving capacity for such connections in the packet switched system. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated connections are reserved for voice traffic. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein reservation of capacity for a connection between two parties requires the co-operation of both parties. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the capacity reservable by any one party is limited to prevent oversubscription of resources in the packet switched. 
     
     
         5 . Call admission control process for controlling access to a packet switched call routing system in which, when a call is set up between a first party and a second party, the call is placed only if a dedicated connection between a first party and a second party has previously been created according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . Call admission control process according to  claim 5 , wherein voice calls are controlled such that they can only be connected if a dedicated connection has been reserved. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  in which a user may establish calls to two or more other parties at once, each call using a dedicated link reserved by creating virtual dedicated connections between parties to a packet switched system by reserving capacity for such connections in the packet switched system. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein a network termination currently associated with an individual user identity is identified, and a dedicated link with the network termination so identified is established using capacity reserved for the user identity associated therewith 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the capacity reserved for the virtual connections is made available for use by other traffic when not required for the purpose for which it is reserved. 
     
     
         10 . A packet switching system comprising means for reserving capacity for virtual dedicated connections between parties to the packet switched system. 
     
     
         11 . A packet switching system according to  claim 10 , comprising means for reserving the dedicated connections for voice traffic. 
     
     
         12 . A packet switched telecommunications network according to  claim 10 , wherein the means for reserving capacity for a dedicated link is controlled by the co-operation of both parties to the link. 
     
     
         13 . A packet switched telecommunications network according to  claim 10 , comprising means for storing data relating to the dedicated links between individual parties, and further comprising means to limit the capacity reservable by any one party to prevent oversubscription of the resources in the network. 
     
     
         14 . A packet switched telecommunications network according to  claim 10 , comprising a call admission control processor for controlling access to the packet switched call routing system, the call admission control processor comprising means for receiving a request from a first party to set up a call to a second party, means for identifying whether capacity for a dedicated link between the first party and the second party has previously been reserved, and means for completing the connection if such capacity is reserved. 
     
     
         15 . A packet switched telecommunications system according to  claim 14 , wherein the call admission control processor comprises means for controlling voice calls such that they can only be connected over such a dedicated connection. 
     
     
         16 . A packet switched telecommunications system according to  claim 14 , wherein the call admission control processor comprises means to establish calls from a user to two or more other parties at once, each call using a dedicated connection. 
     
     
         17 . A packet switched telecommunications network according to  claim 14 , wherein the call admission control processor comprises location tracking means to identify a network termination currently associated with an individual user identity, and means for establishing a dedicated link with the network termination so identified using capacity reserved for the user identity associated therewith. 
     
     
         18 . A packet switched telecommunications network according to  claim 10 , further comprising means for allowing the capacity reserved for the virtual connections to be made available for use by other traffic when not required for the purpose for which it is reserved.