Gregory Allan Graham

US Patent:

6519249, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Dec 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/220549

Inventors:

Brian Joseph Bennefeld - Allen TX
Patrick SzeChing Ma - Plano TX
Gregory Scott Graham - Richardson TX
Michael Flynn Thomas - Plano TX

Assignee:

Nortel Networks LTD - St. Laurent

International Classification:

H04L 1266

US Classification:

370352, 370465

Abstract:

An Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system manages Gatekeeper subscriber load by assigning subscriber load among a plurality of Gatekeepers during the Gatekeeper discovery and registration process. A Registration Load Management Unit (RLMU) is primarily responsible for assigning subscriber load to the plurality of Gatekeepers. In one embodiment, the plurality of Gatekeepers are organized without a hierarchy structure and are made up of a plurality of Gatekeeper service nodes and a plurality of Gatekeeper Database nodes. The Gatekeeper service nodes provide the Registration, Admission, Status, Location, Call Set Up and other operating functions of the Gatekeeper while the plurality of Gatekeeper Database nodes store subscriber information. In a second embodiment, the plurality of Gatekeepers are organized in a hierarchy with a Root Gatekeeper at the top of the hierarchy and a plurality of Gatekeepers residing below the Root Gatekeeper in the hierarchy.

US Patent:

60977221, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Dec 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/768022

Inventors:

Gregory S. Graham - Garland TX
Kim Holmes - Rowlett TX

Assignee:

Nortel Networks Corporation - Montreal

International Classification:

H04L 1228
H04L 1256

US Classification:

370395

Abstract:

A system comprises a first asynchronous transfer mode switch, a second asynchronous transfer mode switch, and a system control module. The first asynchronous transfer mode switch and the second asynchronous transfer mode switch are interconnected with one another via a physical interface. The first asynchronous transfer mode switch is in communication with the with the second asynchronous transfer mode switch via a virtual connection on the physical interface. The virtual connection has a corresponding bandwidth. The system control module is in communication with the first asynchronous transfer mode switch. The system control module is in communication with the second asynchronous transfer mode switch via the first asynchronous transfer mode switch and the physical interface. The system control module dynamically controls the corresponding bandwidth of the virtual connection over time. The system control module is centralized for the first asynchronous transfer mode switch and the second asynchronous transfer mode switch.

US Patent:

59533382, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Dec 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/764959

Inventors:

Patrick S. Ma - Plano TX
Gregory S. Graham - Garland TX

Assignee:

Northern Telecom Limited - Montreal

International Classification:

H04L 1228
H04L 1256

US Classification:

370395

Abstract:

A system comprises a system control module and a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches the interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form a network. The network is used to transfer various types of information. Each asynchronous transfer mode switch has a connection admission control module to determine whether a virtual connection, such a virtual path, virtual channel, or grouping of virtual paths, can be connected through that particular asynchronous transfer mode switch. The virtual connection is formed from one asynchronous transfer mode switch to at least one other asynchronous transfer mode switch via a link of the at least one physical interface. The system control module connects to at least one asynchronous transfer mode switch and determines whether the virtual connection can be created in the network. A process of monitoring a utilization level of a grouping of a virtual path on a physical interface comprises checking the utilization level of the virtual path, updating an amount of available bandwidth for the virtual path, and comparing the amount of available bandwidth with a maximum threshold for the available bandwidth and setting an overload condition if the amount exceeds the maximum threshold and clearing the overload condition if the amount is below the maximum threshold.