text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Mar 18, 2008
|Filing date
|Nov 6, 2003
|Priority date
|Jun 1, 1999
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Diane M. Berg, David Auerbach, Kenneth Alfred Morneault
|Original Assignee
|Cisco Technology, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (66), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (12), Classifications (30), Legal Events (2)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/323,272, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Backhaul of Telecommunications Signaling Protocols Over Packet-Switching Networks," filed by Diane M. Berg, et al., Jun. 1, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,952, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The present invention relates to telecommunications and more particularly to backhauling telecommunications signaling protocol over packet-switching networks.
There is significant market need and technical interest in finding ways to communicate voice information and call signaling information over existing data networks. An example application in this field is sending telephone calls, including both the voices of the calling parties and call set-up, tear-down, and related signaling information, over a packet-switched data network. There is particular interest in providing telephone call capability over the global, packet-switched public data network known as the Internet. A key motivation for this technology is that voice calls carried over the Internet do not incur telephone call toll charges, which are imposed by long-distance carriers and certain local telephone call carriers in the public switched telephone network. In short, voice-over-Internet technology may offer callers the ability to place low-cost calls over open protocol networks.
A significant leap forward in this field has been taken by the introduction of protocol conversion and signaling connection systems. An example of such a system is the Cisco SC2200 Signaling Converter, commercially available from Cisco Systems, Inc. Other examples of such a system are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/904,295 entitled "Universal Protocol Conversion," filed on Jul. 31, 1997 by Lev Volftsun, et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Generally, such protocol conversion systems are implemented by a highly specialized computer system that interfaces to the data network and the public switched telephone network. The computer system executes one or more signaling protocol software applications to carry out the function of the system. The computer system may include one or more gateways that pass data signals to the telephone network and a media gateway controller that controls the gateways under control of a processor in the computer system.
One or more protocol converters may be configured, by running appropriate application software, as call processing devices or as signaling terminal devices. In some configurations, a call processing device is located logically remote from a signaling terminal device, coupled to it by an Internet Protocol (IP) network. In this configuration, there is a need to send telephone call signaling information, formatted according to standard telephony protocols, from a signaling terminal device back across the IP network to a call processing device. This is referred to as "backhauling" the signaling information.
As voice-over-Internet systems become more popular, it is necessary to support a larger number of channels from the gateway. It is difficult, however, to scale call processing devices to handle an increasing number of channels from the gateways. For example, a call processing device may manage a separate IP connection for every channel supported by each of the gateways.
Another difficulty in scalability is due to the capability of some gateways of supporting multiple signaling protocols over the same channel. One approach for handling such gateways is to provide an IP connection, not only for every channel on the gateway, but for every pair of channel and supported signaling protocols. For example, a gateway that supports 24 channels and 2 protocols would require 48 separate IP connections.
The performance in managing a separate IP connection for every channel or channel-protocol pair, however, tends to degrade after a certain number of IP connections, because the number of file descriptors and other operating system resources are limited. For example, some UNIX™ operating systems only allow up to 256 file descriptors, which translates to only about 250 supportable IP connections. When a call processing device is overloaded, a second call processing device would need to be purchased, often at a considerable cost.
There exists a need for a scalable telecommunications network that backhauls signaling data to a media gateway controller from gateways with multiple channels. There is also need for a backhauling methodology in a telecommunications network that is scalable also in terms of supporting multiple protocols multiplexed on a gateway.
These and other needs are addressed by the present invention, in which a generic backhaul protocol is employed for sending signaling data or messages between a gateway and a media gateway controller. The generic backhaul protocol provides a common message header that allows separate channels and/or protocols to be specified. Consequently, the media gateway controller can use the information in the message header to multiplex signaling messages from a plurality of channels and protocols over a single IP connection, notwithstanding the number of channels and protocols supported by the gateway. Therefore, the media gateway controller is advantageously scalable in terms of the number of gateways supported instead of in terms of the much larger number of supported channels and protocols.
Accordingly, one aspect of the invention relates to a telecommunications network, comprising a gateway and a media gateway controller. The gateway, which is configured to convert between multiplexed voice data and voice data packets, is in communication with a packet-switching network and a node originating a voice call bearing voice data and signaling data according to a signaling protocol over a channel. The media gateway controller is in communication with the gateway and a terminating gateway, which is in communication with the packet-switching network and a terminating node terminating the voice call. The media gateway controller is configured to control the gateway and the terminating gateway based on the first signaling data to provide voice communications over the packet-switching network between the first node and the terminating gateway. The gateway is also configured to extract the signaling data from the voice call, package the signaling data into a message, and transmit the message to the media gateway controller, wherein the message includes a message header indicating the signaling protocol and/or the channel and a message body containing a protocol data unit encapsulating the signaling data.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to a telecommunications device comprising a communication interface in communication with a gateway; one or more processors coupled to the communication interface; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores an arrangement of instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the telecommunications device to perform the steps of: instantiating a plurality of protocol adapters and/or call instances for processing signaling data according to a plurality of signaling protocols and/or channels, respectively; receiving a message from the gateway, which includes a message header indicating the signaling protocol and/or the channel and a message body containing a protocol data unit encapsulating the signaling data; and identifying and causing a protocol adapter and/or call instance, instantiated to process signaling data according to the signaling protocol and/or the channel, respectively, to process the signaling data encapsulated in the protocol data unit based on the message header.
Yet another aspect of the invention involves a method of backhauling signaling data in a voice call from a gateway to a media gateway controller. In accordance with the method, the voice call is received, and the signaling data is extracted from the voice call. The signaling data is packaged into a message, which includes a message header indicating a signaling protocol and/or a channel and message body including a protocol data unit encapsulating the signaling data. The message is transmitted from the gateway to the media gateway controller.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
A method and apparatus for providing voice communications over a packet-switching network infrastructure are described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
In this document, certain technical terms may be used, and preferred definitions of some of terms are provided in this section. The following definitions are example definitions and are not meant to be exhaustive or restrictive. Each definition includes all equivalent structures or functions.
"Gateway" refers to a Media Gateway or Signaling Gateway. One example of a gateway is a Model 2600 Router available from Cisco Systems, Inc.
"Layer 1" refers to the Physical Layer of the Open Standards Institute (OSI) Reference Model defined in ITU X.200. Layer 1 is responsible for sending and receiving the electric signal, which can be viewed as a bit stream coming in, and going out, of the system. The precise meaning of the term will vary according to its context. For example, Layer 1 on a T1 channel operates at 1.544 Mbps, but Layer 1 on a DS-0 timeslot in the T1 channel is 64 kbps.
"Layer 2" refers to the Data Link Layer of the OSI Reference Model defined in ITU X.200. Layer 2 is responsible for point-to-point delivery of a PDU. Layer 2 protocols have two basic classes: reliable and unreliable. A reliable protocol guarantees that it will deliver or generate an error message for every message that an application program requests the transport layer using that protocol to transport. An unreliable protocol is not guaranteed to report an error message to the upper layers if delivery of application program messages does not occur.
"Layer 3" refers to the Network Layer of the OSI Reference Model defined in ITU X.200. Layer 3 is responsible for the network routing and delivery of a message. Examples of Layer 3 protocols include X.25 Packet Layer Protocol and the Internet Protocol. Q.931 is not technically considered a Layer 3 protocol, because Q.931 is not concerned with routing and delivery of a message but rather the message body itself.
"Media Gateway" refers to a hardware device and associated software that terminates PSTN facilities such as trunks. A media gateway may convert a pulse-coded-modulation signal stream from the trunks into Internet Protocol (IP) packets or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) packets or forward the signal stream to an IP network or ATM network. A media gateway can optionally support signaling backhaul.
"Media Gateway Controller" refers to a hardware device and associated software that provides call control capability to handle signaling traffic from a variety of sources. A media gateway controller manages connections and resources of the gateways. One example of a media gateway controller is a Model SC2200 Signaling Controller, available from Cisco Systems, Inc.
"Protocol Data Unit" or "PDU" is a generic term in ITU X.200 for the data passed between peer protocol layers. Each layer in the OSI Reference Model has its own definition of a PDU which is formed of the PDU from the next higher (N+1) layer and protocol control information for the Nth layer encapsulating it.
"Signaling Gateway" refers to a device that sends and receives PSTN signaling at the edge of or at an entry point of an IP or ATM network. A signaling gateway backhauls the PSTN signaling to a media gateway controller.
"Voice over IP" refers to the ability to carry normal telephone-style voice over a network that uses IP, with functionality, reliability, and voice quality equivalent to that provided by conventional telephone service.
For purposes of illustration,
Originating node 100 can be implemented as a Private Branch eXchange (PBX), a telephone switch, a "smart phone" capable of generating voice calls, a wireless PBX, or a legacy telecommunications system. Similarly, terminating node 160 can also be a PBX, telephone switch, telephone, a wireless PBX, or a telecommunications system such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Thus, originating node 100 and terminating node 160 may receive voice calls via tandem trunks from other nodes for Voice over IP.
Packet-switching network 130 is a network designed to carry information in the form of digital data packets. In such a network, data to be transmitted is subdivided into one or more individual packets of data, each having a unique identifier and a destination address. Each packet is individually routed or switched to the destination address, and individual packets for a single body of data may traverse the packet-switching network by different routes. In fact, the individual packets may even arrive at the destination in a different order from which they were shipped, to be reassembled at the destination in the proper sequence based on the packet identifiers. Packet-switching network 130 can be implemented as an IP network, an ATM network, a frame relay network, or by any other packet-switching technology. In some implementations, the packet-switching network 130 may even be overlaid on the PSTN. One example of packet-switching network 130 is the global packet-switching network known as the Internet.
The telecommunication network of
A major purpose of the originating gateway 110 is to terminate the bearers from PBX 100, and extract or "groom" the signaling data associated with the incoming voice call from originating node 100. This signaling data is then transmitted or "backhauled" over a backhaul signaling link 140 to a signaling apparatus such as media gateway controller 120. The backhaul signaling link 140 can be implemented in various ways, preferably by an IP connection over Ethernet or other Local Area Network (LAN) technology such as token ring. The signaling data in the voice call can be Channel Associated Signaling (CAS), in which case the signaling bits are isolated, time stamped, packaged in IP or ATM packets, and shipped to the media gateway controller 120.
Similarly, the terminating gateway 150 is coupled by a backhaul signaling link 142 to a signaling apparatus such as the media gateway controller 120. The terminating gateway 150 is configured for receiving traffic from the originating gateway 110 over the packet-switching network 130 and signaling messages from the media gateway controller 120 and appropriately transmitting them to the terminating node 160. Preferably, the gateways are implemented to be symmetrical, supporting the functionality of both the originating gateway 110 and the terminating gateway 150 as described herein. In fact, a single gateway can performing the both the originating and terminating functionality for the same call.
The media gateway controller 120 implements a "virtual switch" and is responsible for processing and routing the signaling messages that are exchanged to set up and tear down a voice connection. Thus, the media gateway controller 120 performs such functions as call resolution, call routing, bearer selection, and generation of call detail records (CDRs) for billing management. In one embodiment, the media gateway controller 120 also converts the protocols of the originating node 100 and the terminating node 160, such as DPNSS, ISDN_PRI, SS7/C7 (including ISUPs, TUPs, and NUPs), H.323, SIP, or CAS, into messages in protocols handled by gateways 110 and 150 over backhaul links 140 and 142, respectively. Through the backhaul link, a gateway is also controlled by a media gateway controller, for example, to establish a bearer channel for the voice data over the packet-switching network 130.
In the configuration depicted in
In one embodiment, a media gateway controller 120 is implemented by a protocol converter configured to act as a virtual switch, and in alternative embodiments, especially where protocol conversion is not required, directly by a virtual switch. A protocol converter is a telecommunications device capable of processing and converting at least those messages for establishing a connection between different protocols. For example, a protocol converter can convert messages between the DPNSS protocol and the ISDN protocol.
One implementation of a protocol converter is described in more detail in the commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/904,295 entitled "Universal Protocol Conversion," filed on Jul. 31, 1997 by Lev Volftsun, et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The above-referenced patent document discloses structural and functional details of an embodiment of a protocol converter that can be used to implement the media gateway controller 120.
Another embodiment is disclosed in the commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/163,312, entitled "Communicating Voice over a Packet-Switching Network," filed on Sep. 30, 1998 by Udaya Shankar et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. For purposes of context in this document, however, an overview of such structures and functions in an alternative embodiment is now provided.
Referring to
In some implementations, computer system 200 includes a video card 210 coupled to bus 202 for controlling display unit 212, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a video monitor or other display device, to display information to a computer user. An input device 214 is coupled to bus 202 for communicating information and command selections from a user to CPU 204. Typically an input device includes a keyboard with alphanumeric, symbolic, and cursor direction keys for receiving input from a user in the form of commands and data entry and communicating the input to CPU 204. The input device typically includes a cursor control input device, such as a mouse or a trackball, integral with or separate from the keyboard, for controlling cursor movement on display unit 212, and communicating direction information and command selections to CPU 204. A cursor control input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane. In other implementations, these devices are connected to the computer system via a local area network such as Ethernet.
Computer system 200 also includes a communication interface 218 coupled to bus 202 and comprising, for example, a plurality of I/O cards 218 a through 218 j. Ten I/O cards 218 a through 218 j are shown in
At least one of the I/O cards, for example I/O card 218 a, is in communication with a gateway 110 or 150 through control link 220. Communication interface 218 may include an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, terminal adapter, or modem for providing a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 218 may include a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN, for example an Ethernet network. Wireless links, such as infrared, for communication interface 218 may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 218 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital or analog data streams representing various types of information, in the form of carrier waves transporting the information.
This configuration enables the use of a computer system 200 for providing voice communications in a packet-switching network. For example, such functionality is provided by computer system 200 in response to CPU 204 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions arranged in main memory 206. These instructions may be written into main memory 206 from another computer-readable medium, such as storage device 208. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 206 causes CPU 204 to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 206. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to CPU 204 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 208. Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as main memory 206. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that constitute bus 202. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.
Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to CPU 204 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer and downloaded to computer system 202. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A communications interface 218 local to computer system 200 can receive the data on a telephone line or other network or telecommunication link and place the data on bus 202. Bus 202 carries the data to main memory 206, from which CPU 204 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 206 may optionally be stored on storage device 208 either before or after execution by CPU 204. The received instructions may be executed by CPU 204 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 208, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer system 200 may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.
I/O subsystem 300 contains I/O controllers 302, 304, and 306, configured for handling incoming generic backhaul protocol messages. As described in more detail hereinafter, generic protocol messages include a message header that indicates the signaling protocol and/or the channel on the gateway 110 or 150 and a message body that contains a PCU encapsulating a signaling message, such as call set-up message, in any of a plurality of supported protocols. Moreover, the I/O subsystem 300 is also responsible for converting PDUs generated by the protocol conversion engine 310 into generic backhaul protocol messages. Each I/O controller 302, 304, and 306 is responsible for messages from a network session handled by a corresponding I/O card of communications interface 218. In one embodiment the session is implemented by a single IP connection, but in other embodiments multiple, redundant IP connections are used to foster reliability. One example is disclosed in the commonly-assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/256,688, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing Continuous Voice and Call Communications Between a Data Network and a Telephony Network" filed on Feb. 23, 1999 by Diane M. Berg, Kenneth A. Morneault, Thomas Bova, and Theodore S. Krivoruchka, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The protocol conversion engine 310 includes a plurality of protocol adapters, implemented to support respective protocols or protocol families, and a number of call instances corresponding to each active call. A protocol adapter is a software module responsible for interfacing the protocol conversion engine 310 with the I/O subsystem 300. Specifically, a protocol adapter, when loaded and executed, is configured to connect with I/O subsystem 300 in order to route protocol-specific messages between a gateway 110 or 150 and the appropriate call instance. The appropriate protocol adapter is identified based on the protocol identifier in the message header of the generic backhaul protocol.
Multiple instances of the same protocol adapter may be loaded and executed, each of which is associated with a respective session. Although the protocol adapters are fundamentally bi-directional, it is convenient to refer to an originating protocol adapter 312, an external protocol adapter 314, and a terminating protocol adapter 316, based on their particular function during a call. Thus, a protocol adapter can be employed as an originating protocol adapter 312 for one call and as a terminating protocol adapter 316 for another call.
An originating protocol adapter 312 is capable of decoding an incoming message to determine the call with which the message is associated. Each message transmitted on a signaling channel contains a protocol-dependent value that serves to disambiguate messages for different calls from the same logical signaling channel on the gateway 110 or 150. The logical signaling channel on the gateway 110 or 150 is identified by the channel identifier in the message header of the generic backhaul protocol. Every telecommunications protocol provides some means for matching up a message with an associated call, for example, a specific call identifier embedded in the message (e.g., the Call Reference field used in ISDN_PRI) or the bearer channel identifier (e.g. with DPNSS and SS7/ISUP), but the present invention, which is capable of supporting many different protocols, is not limited to any particular means of matching up messages with the associated calls. Also, each call is identified internally with a unique integer identifier for the media gateway controller 120, referred to as a "Global Call Reference," which is generated when the call is first instantiated. The Global Call Reference distinguishes simultaneously handled calls from one another. When concatenated with a network or other identifier of the media gateway controller 120, the Global Call Reference serves to create a Universal Call Reference for the call that is unique for the network.
Accordingly, the originating protocol adapter 312 is configured to associate the Global Call Reference with a corresponding call instance 320. The corresponding call instance 320 is responsible for processing the call, including converting, if necessary, the protocol from the originating side to be compatible with the protocol at the terminating side. If the originating protocol adapter 312 can locate the corresponding call instance 320 for the message, then the protocol adapter 312 routes the message to the call instance 320 for further processing as described hereinafter. On the other hand, the originating protocol adapter 312 may not be able to find the corresponding call instance 320, for example, because the message is the first message pertaining to a call. In that case, the originating protocol adapter 312 is designed to instantiate a new call instance 320 corresponding to the particular phone call and to route the message into the new call instance for further processing.
When a new call instance 320 is instantiated, for example by originating protocol adapter 312, an appropriate terminating protocol adapter 316 for the call is determined based on an analysis of the content of the incoming messages and the path by which the message arrived. The logic for selecting a channel may be static or dynamic. For example, static logic may be implemented by a hard-coded table in a configuration file resident in storage device 208, and dynamic logic may be set up at run-time based on such factors as channel availability. A combination of static and dynamic techniques may be used as well. The terminating protocol adapter 316 indicates the proper I/O controller 306 and signaling protocol on the terminating side. The terminating protocol adapter 316 can route messages from associated call instances to the corresponding I/O controller 306, to a network node, and ultimately to the destination telephone. In accordance with the bi-directional nature of protocol adapters, a terminating protocol adapter 316 is configured also to receive protocol-specific messages from the terminating side of the network and pass them to the appropriate call instance. Likewise, an originating protocol adapter 312 can receive messages from a call instance 320 and pass them onto the corresponding I/O controller 302 for transmission to the appropriate destination.
An external protocol adapter 314 is a protocol adapter for interconnecting the protocol converter with an external system involved with the call. For example, the external protocol adapter 314 enables external systems to be involved in real-time Intelligent Networking (IN) call control such as Transaction Control Application Part (TCAP) communications with a C7 network Service Control Point (SCP). As another example, external protocol adapter 314 can employ a proprietary protocol for communicating with an external Fraud Control System involved in non-real-time control over the call. For implementing voice over packet-switching networks, the external protocol adapter 314 is used for real-time communication with a gateway such as originating gateway 110 and terminating gateway 150. Accordingly, the external protocol adapter 314 is responsible for connecting with the appropriate I/O controller 304 in the I/O subsystem 300 for sending and receiving messages with the gateway 110 or 150 and routing the messages to and from the proper call instance 320. In addition, external protocol adapter 314 is capable of instantiating one or more new call instances based upon a message received from the external channel. In such an event, the other protocol adapters 312 and 316 are directed to initiate a call from a logical "originating" node to a terminating node.
A call instance 320 is instantiated by an originating protocol adapter 312 (or an external protocol adapter 314) for processing a call and performing protocol conversion, if necessary. A call instance 320 may be implemented in a variety of ways, including by a separate process, thread, or an interruptible flow of execution that can be resumed. When the call instance 320 is instantiated, memory for originating call control ("OCC") 322, universal call model ("UCM") 324, and terminating call control ("TCC") 326 is allocated and initialized. The call instance 320 also contains a call context 328, which is a region of memory for storing information about the current call. Some call-related information that persists beyond the duration of the call may be stored in a database in main memory 206 or storage device 208 to implement billing records.
Preferably, OCC 322, UCM 324, and TCC 326 are implemented as state machines by objects in an object-oriented programming language such as C++ or by other data structures in other programming languages. A state machine is an automaton that transitions from one of a finite number of states to another of those states in response to particular inputs. The output of a state machine occurs upon a state transition and is based on the destination state and typically also on the input and/or source state. The OCC 322, UCM 324, and TCC 326 state machines model a call from the perspective of the originating protocol, a universal protocol, and the terminating protocol, respectively.
OCC 322 models a call from the perspective of the originating protocol. More specifically, OCC 322 receives messages in the originating protocol from originating protocol adapter 312 and, in response, transitions from one state to another state, resulting in outputting a non-protocol specific (i.e., universal protocol specific) message to UCM 324. Conversely, OCC 322 receives non-protocol specific messages from UCM 324 and, by responsively transitioning from one state to another, outputs originating protocol specific messages to originating protocol adapter 312.
Likewise, TCC 326 models the call from the perspective of the terminating protocol. More specifically, TCC 326 receives non-protocol specific messages from UCM 324 and, by responsively transitioning from one state to another, outputs terminating protocol specific messages to terminating protocol adapter 312. Conversely, TCC 326 receives messages in the terminating protocol from terminating protocol adapter 316 and, in response, transitions from one state to another state, resulting in outputting a non-protocol specific (i.e., universal protocol specific) message to UCM 324.
UCM 324 manages the call according to a universal call model that uses the universal protocol produced by OCC 322 and TCC 326. For the most part, UCM 324 merely passes the universal protocol messages between the OCC 322 and TCC 326, thereby implementing a protocol conversion of the originating protocol into the terminating protocol via a universal protocol. UCM 324 may conditionally send messages to OCC 322 and TCC 326, however, based on the capabilities and requirements of the originating and terminating protocols, respectively. For example, some protocols require acknowledgement messages to be sent in response to a call setup message and others protocols do not. In this case, UCM 324 is configured to determine whether the originating protocol needs the acknowledgement message and cause one to be generated, if needed.
Since UCM 324 is positioned to intercept messages passed between the OCC 322 and the TCC 326, UCM 324 can perform different kinds of message processing other than mere protocol conversion. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, UCM 324 is configured to provide call processing functionality for voice calls over a packet-switching network, for example, with feature transparency. If the primary communication network 130 is unable to handle a particular feature even after protocol conversion, UCM 324 arranges for the feature to be communicated over the auxiliary communication network 132 using external I/O controller 304, as described in more detail hereinafter.
In one aspect of the present invention, signaling messages are backhauled from a gateway 110 or 150 to a media gateway controller 120 according to a generic backhaul protocol, which support multiple, incompatible signaling protocols, such as ISDN, DPNSS, SS7, and CAS. One function of the generic backhaul protocol is to manage the signaling channels supported by the gateways 110 and/or 150, for example, by providing a mechanism for commanding the signaling channels into and out of service. In addition, the generic backhaul protocol allows for the gateway 110 or 150 to autonomously transmit the state of its signaling channels to the media gateway controller 120 and for the media gateway controller 120 to query the state of the signaling channels of the gateways 110 or 150.
Another function of the generic backhaul protocol is to provide an instrumentality for conveying signaling information from the gateway 110 or 150 to the media gateway controller 120. Although the media gateway controller 120 are flexible enough to process as many layers of the protocol stack as possible, down to Layer 2, typical configurations involve multiple gateways 110 and 150 provided for a single media gateway controller 120. Accordingly, scalability is fostered by terminating some of the lower-level, non-call processing messages (typically Layer 2, but part of Layer 3 for some protocols) at the multiple gateways 110 and 150 rather than at the media gateway controller 120.
The division of labor between the gateways 110 and 150 and the media gateway controller 120 in terminating some of the lower-level, non-call processing messages for a specific protocol is referred to herein as a "split." Due to the differences between incompatible protocols, it has been found that the split will be located differently. For example, with the ISDN protocol, it is desirable to split the termination at the Layer 2 (Q.921) and the Layer 3 (Q.931) boundary. Thus, the ISDN gateway would be configured to terminate Q.921 messages and backhaul Q.931 messages to the media gateway controller 120. As another example, there is no clear boundary between Layer 2 and Layer 3 of DPNSS, so it has been found desirable to split the termination between non-call control messages at the gateway and call control messages at the media gateway controller 120. In fact, the split may be located at different boundaries within the same protocol to allow a broader range of gateways to be employed. For example, some gateways for the SS7 protocol split at the Layer 2/Layer 3 boundary, supporting all MTP 1 and 2 functionality, while other SS7 gateways split at the MTP 3/User part boundary, supporting MTP 1, MTP 2, and MTP 3 functionality.
Since terminating messages from various signaling protocols, however, is preferably split at different boundaries, the generic backhaul protocol is designed to provide a superset of messages in support of various ways in which the split is implemented. Each signaling protocol may use somewhat different subsets of all the message types in the generic backhaul protocol, although some message types in the generic backhaul protocol, generally relating to management of the signaling channels, are used for all signaling protocols. For example, the Establish and Release messages for bringing a backhaul link into and out of service is one such common message type.
Each message in the generic backhaul interface includes a message header for passing information useful for backhaul. One format of the message header is depicted in
The Protocol ID field 400 holds a value that identifies the signaling protocol used by the gateway 110 or 150 and how processing the signaling protocol is split. Some gateways are multiplexed, allowing multiple signaling protocols to be used on a single channel. Where a signaling protocol can be split at different boundaries, e.g. SS7, the Protocol ID field 400 differentiates among the different split boundaries. An exemplary set of values for the Protocol ID field 400 is set forth in TABLE 1.
Split (Gateway/Controller)
MTP 3/User Part
SCCP/User Part
Layers 2, 3, HDLC/Call Control
The Message ID field 402 identifies whether the generic backhaul protocol message is a layer-to-layer message (0x0) or a management message (0x1). Most of the messages in the generic backhaul protocol are layer-to-layer messages. Among the management messages, the Management Channel Reset Request message is used to request the gateway 110 or 150 to reset the information on one or all channels and the Management Error Indication message is used to indicate an error.
The Channel ID field 406 indicates the channel, link, or SAP on the gateway 110 or 150. For example, the Channel ID field 406 can identify the physical port of a network connection used by the gateway 110 or 150 or a time slot on TDMA connection. Accordingly, the Channel ID 406 is dependent on the particular implementation of the gateway 110 or 150.
The Version field 408 identifies the particular version of generic backhaul protocol being employed and is used address upward and backward compatibility issues. The Length field 410 indicates the length of the message.
The Message Type field 404 identifies the type of the generic backhaul protocol message being passed between the gateway 110 or 150 and the media gateway controller 120. In one embodiment, the following layer-to-layer messages are supported, in which a "Request" message refers to a message sent by the media gateway controller 120 to gateway 110 or 150, which is acknowledged by the gateway 110 or 150 with a "Response" message. The gateway 110 or 150 uses an "Indication" message to autonomously provide information to the media gateway controller 120, which acknowledges with a "Confirm" message.
1. Establish {Request, Indication, Response, Confirmation}. These messages are used to establish a channel or to indicate that a channel has been established. The Establish Request message includes a 32-bit state value to request the gateway 110 or 150 to follow a normal procedure for establishing a channel, for resetting all data link connections simultaneously, or for resetting the data link connections sequentially. If the gateway 110 or 150 already has a channel established, then the gateway 110 or 150 would take no action but to return an Establish Response. These messages are used in support of backhauling every protocol.
2. Release {Request, Indication, Response, Confirmation}. These messages are used to release a channel or to indicate that a channel has been released. A 32-bit reason value is included to indicate with the management later generated the release, the physical alarm layer generated the release, or that Layer 2 should release and deny all requests from a far end to establish a channel. These messages are used in support of backhauling every protocol.
3. Data {Request, Indication}. These messages contain a PDU for backhauling a call signaling message. These messages are used in support of backhauling most protocols, i.e. ISDN, DPNSS, MTP 2 (SS7), except for the SS7 signaling protocol, when split at the Layer 3/User Part boundary, where specialized messages are used.
4. Unit Data {Request, Indication}. A Unit Data message contains a PDU, transmitted to or received by an unacknowledged transfer service. These messages are used in support of ISDN protocol backhaul.
5. MTP3 Data {Request, Indication}. An MTP3 Data message contains a SS7 User Part PDU and information from the MTP3 routing label, including the DPC, OPC, SIO, SLS, and priority. The SIO field contains the service indicator and sub-service field, and the priority field contains the priority of the messages from 0 to 3. These messages are used in support of MTP 3 (SS7) backhaul, i.e. SS7 signaling protocol, split at the Layer 3/User Part boundary.
6. MTP2 Status {Request, Indication, Response} The MTP2 Status Request message is sent from the media gateway controller 120 to cause an action on the gateway 110 or 150, which sends a MTP2 Status Response upon completion. The actions of an MTP2 Status Request are indicated by a 32-bit value for requesting a local processor outage, a local processor outage recovered, an emergency alignment procedure, a normal alignment procedure, a flushing of the transmit and retransmit buffers, and a continuation. The MTP2 Status Indication message, sent by the gateway 110 or 150 to the media gateway controller 120, indicates a condition on a channel, such as entered/exited local process outage, entered/exited a congested state, physical interface operational/down, protocol error, remote/entered/exited congestion, and remote entered/exited processor outage. These messages are used in support of MTP 2 (SS7) Backhaul, i.e. SS7 signaling protocol, split at the Layer 2/Layer 3 boundary.
7. MTP3 Status {Request, Indication, Response}. The MTP3 Status Request message is sent from the media gateway controller 120 to get a MTP3 Status Response from the gateway 110 or 150. The MTP3 Status Request and the MTP3 Status Response both include a DPC point code of interest, and the MTP3 Status Response indicates a pause status, a resume status, or a congested (multi-level) status for the point code. The MTP3 Status Indication is an autonomous message from the gateway 110 or 150 to the media gateway controller 120 to indicate for a DPC point code a pause status, a resume status, a multi-level congested status, an unavailable remote user part, a beginning/end of MTP restart, and an end of congestion. These messages are used in support of MTP 3 (SS7) backhaul.
8. MTP2 Data Retrieval {Request, Indication, Response}. The MTP2 Data Retrieval Request message is used during a changeover procedure to request a BSN, retrieve PDUs from the retransmit queue or to flush the PDUs from the retransmit queue. These messages are used in support of MTP 2 (SS7) backhaul.
9. MTP2 Data Retrieve Done {Indication}. This message is similar to an MTP2 Data Retrieval Indication message except that it further indicates that the last PDU has been retrieve from the retransmit queue. This message is used in support of MTP 2 (SS7) backhaul.
10. Flow Control {Indication, Confirmation}. The Flow Control Indication message is sent by the gateway 110 or 150 to indicate a need for starting or stopping flow control, which would typically occur if the gateway 110 or 150 reached a buffer threshold (e.g. 80% full). In response, the media gateway controller 120 should confirm and take appropriate action. This message is used in support of MTP 2 (SS7) backhaul.
In order for the gateway 110 or 150 to be used with media gateway controller 120, the physical configuration data of the gateway 110 or 150, such as the physical number of channels, the type of gateway, etc.) is registered with the media gateway controller 120. In addition, the media gateway controller 120 maintains information about the signal protocol configuration data of the gateway 110 or 150, such as Q.921 timers and counters, network/user indication, switch type, and provides an interface for a network operator to modify the signal protocol configuration data.
When the media gateway controller 120 and the gateway 110 or 150 are initialized, for example, on boot-up, they set up a session including, for example, an IP connection, to pass the Establish messages to bring one or more channels of the gateway 110 or 150 into service. When a channel of the gateway 110 or 150 is in service, the gateway 110 or 150 is ready to accept Voice over IP calls. Release messages are used, for example in network maintenance, reconfiguration or trouble-shooting, to place channels of the gateway 110 or 150 out of service.
When a voice call is received at gateway 110 from originating node 110, the signaling data in the voice call is extracted and packaged into a message body. A message header including the Channel ID 406 for the channel the voice call was received from and/or a Protocol ID 400 for the protocol of the voice call is aggregated with the message body to form a generic backhaul protocol message, such as a Data Indication message or an MTP3 Data Indication. The generic backhaul protocol message is transmitted from the gateway 110 to the media gateway controller 120 over connection 140, which controls the gateway 150 directly (or indirectly through another media gateway controller) to establish a connection through packet-switching network 130 for the voice call. Signaling data, in the other direction, from the terminating node 160 via gateway 150 is eventually received at the media gateway controller 120, converted into generic backhaul protocol messages, and transmitted to gateway 110.
The gateway 110 can continue to accept voice calls from other channels and extract and backhaul the signaling data over the same connection 140, since the message headers of the backhauled signaling data includes fields to disambiguate the signaling data. Therefore, the media gateway controller 120 need not consume system resources such as IP connections or file descriptors on a per channel or per channel-protocol pair basis, but on a more scalable per gateway 110 or 150 basis.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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|ATM transport system
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|U.S. Classification
|370/352, 370/410, 370/466, 370/401
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Sep 19, 2011
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 18, 2015
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8


text:
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Text Books on Indian Art & Culture and Indian Painting are very easy to understand and interactive in nature. These cover all basic aspects of Indian Culture. These are very useful for UPSC Civil Services Exam, TSPSC, APPSC Group -1, Group -2 and Group -3 exams.
Download these books in PDF form by clicking below link:
NIOS Indian Culture & Heritage

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My Booking Manager offers both Pay-As-You-Go pricing options or Fixed Monthly Packages.
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text:
Bidvest: We are still negotiating terms with Gamal
Bidvest Wits CEO Jose Ferreira has taken stock of the deal which...
Egypt international Ahmed Hegazy has denied media speculations that linked him with a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly by insisting that Ismaily is his home club.
The Egyptian defender, who currently plays for Perugia, joined the club from Fiorentina in the previous winter transfer market, and wishes to prove his worthiness to represent La Viola.
"My two consecutive cruciate ligament injuries have certainly impeded my career, but I'm currently focusing on my performances with Perugia in order to be able to participate with Fiorentina next season," Hegazy explained.
Ahmed Hegazy added, "In case my career abroad comes to an end, I will definitely return to Ismaily as I owe the club everything since my move abroad wouldn't have been possible without them."
It is worth noting that Ahmed Hegazy secured a move to Fiorentina in 2012, but a series of injuries saw him lack match fitness and playing time.
Following Hegazi's arrival at Perugia, the club has risen from mid-table to the Serie A promotion play-off spots, with two fixtures to be played in the Serie B.


text:
This week is going to be a bit hectic. We have a few appointments and I have a project in the works, so that will keep me occupied in the kitchen. We didn't really stick to the menu last week, so I'll be rolling over some meals this week. Once again, I'll be using whatever I have in the freezer/pantry.
- Rosemary chicken, with mashed citrus sweet potatoes(new recipe) and broccoli
- Spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread and a salad
- Mac'n'Cheese (boxed) with hot dogs and peas
- Orange Balsamic Glazed Chicken (new recipe) with cheese and bacon biscuits (new recipe)
- Country Beef Dinner (new recipe) with homemade rolls
- Blueberry waffles with fresh strawberries and melon slices
- Leftovers


text:
Have you ever had that feeling when you are falling for someone new and it's a mixture of excitement / fear?
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Yes i have fell for someone and did not waste time in courting her to become my potential lover but the fear came right away once i knew what i was getting myself into... it becomes a romantic wild crazy roller coaster ride11|00|0
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I'm terrified. I fell in love and I'm still in love with him. But he didn't feel the same. I'm so scared of getting close to any other guys00|00|0


text:
About Patrick Markey
Expertise in family law and divorce.
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The financial professional analyzes the information to help realize an agreed-upon financial outcome based on your available resources. A CFDP/CDFA can help you face the future and structure your finances for what lies ahead.


text:
"God's miraculous supernatural healing in her life, from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Depression has set her message & music apart.
|Laurie Marks Vincent
Opinion articles written by Laurie Marks Vincent
Laurie Marks Vincent is a Canadian Christian Music Artist, Songwriter, Recording Artist, Award Winning Vocalist, Author and Inspirational Speaker.
Laurie Marks Vincent started the first Canadian Christian Radio Servicing Company in Canada when Christian Radio in Canada was in it's infancy. She had always been a music artist, but took some time aside for this as Christian artists looked for assistance to get their music to Christian Radio in Canada. It started as a hands on Christian promotions service ranging from Radio Servicing in Digital form and direct mailing, Tracking, press releases and so much more for Independent Christian artists which included serving some high profile Canadian and American Artists in the past.
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She has released 4 recordings in the past. In 2012 she was nomated for video of the year "My Deliverer" by the Artists Music Guild, Nashville TN . Laurie was in the top 10 from over 600 submissions, for the prestigious award.
She has more video and recording projects slated up until the Fall 2015.
Laurie Marks Vincent can be contacted via:
Please see Ministry Portolio/Press Kit link above for further details, samples, video, references and booking information.
On her website, join her newsletter for Member Benefits> free downloads, discounts, exclusive pre-releases, previews and other special items.
Laurie posts some of her thoughts, devotionals and reviews.
|This page uses content from Wikichristian.org. The original article was at Laurie Marks Vincent. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with the Religion-wiki, the text of Wikichristian.org is available under the CC-BY-SA.
Return to Christianity -> Christian literature, art, music and media -> Media -> Media in Canada -> Media Workers in Canada


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Description : Dynasty Street Fight - Battle your way through the streets finding new weapons and power ups to rid the underground of the opposing reds. Make sure you visit the dojo before you start your missions so you know what you're doing. - jackingame.com.
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Tags : Action Beat Em Up Fighting Side Scrolling StickViews : 12,246


text:
Asian American voter turnout lags behind other groups; some non-voters say they're 'too busy'
Asian-American voters lag whites and blacks in turnout in midterm elections, an analysis of Census Bureau data shows.
Asian Americans split on whether U.S. immigration system works or needs a major overhaul
45% of Asian Americans say the U.S. immigration system "works pretty well and requires only minor changes" while 47% say the system "needs to be completely rebuilt" or "needs major changes."
More than 3.4M Americans trace their ancestry to the Philippines
Here's a data portrait of the Filipino-American community, drawn from the Pew Research Center's 2012 report on Asian Americans.
Sign of things to come? Integration without blacks in New York City neighborhoods
In a new study, researchers found nearly a three-fold increase in the share of integrated New York City neighborhoods with a mix of whites, Hispanics and Asians but few, if any, blacks.
The State of Race in America
Pew Research Center Executive Vice President Paul Taylor presented on the state of race in America at the Aspen Institute. Download the PowerPoint presentation: State of Race April 2013
Graphic: American Hindus To Celebrate a New Year
While the exact date of the Hindu New Year varies by region and custom, many Hindus celebrate in mid-April with traditional meals and activities at home and in temples.
Demographics of Asian Americans
The demographic data shown in this interactive display the varied population sizes and characteristics of the largest Asian origin groups, based on the updated edition of our survey, "The Rise of Asian Americans."
A Portrait of Second Generation Americans
A new analysis of the 20 million adult U.S- born children of immigrants finds they are substantially better off than immigrants themselves on key measures of socioeconomic attainment.
Asian Americans and Religion
As their numbers rise, Asian Americans have been largely responsible for the growth of non-Abrahamic faiths in the U.S., particularly Buddhism and Hinduism. At the same time, most Asian Americans belong to the country's two largest religious groups: Christians and people who say they have no particular religious affiliation.


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Listening Post
What is being reported by world media and how? Richard Gizbert guides you through the global news maze.
Genre: News
Running Time: 30 minutes (approx)
When is Listening Post next on TV?
It's next showing on Al Jazeera English (Freeview) August 26th, 9:30am and on Al Jazeera English (Freeview) August 26th, 8:30pm. See more...
Database last updated: 23 August - 18:10


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Institute of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry; Annual Report 2000
- Authors
- Publisher
- Forschungszentrum Dresden
- Publication Date
- Source
- Legacy
- Disciplines
Annual Report 2000 FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM ROSSENDORF WISSENSCHAFTLICH-TECHNISCHE BERICHTE FZR-312 Januar 2001 ISSN 1437-322X Institute of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Annual Report 2000 Cover Picture: Illustration of stent implantation in coronary artery after balloon angioplasty. Radioactively labelled stents prevent restenosis. Forschungszentrum Rossendorf e.V. Postfach 51 01 19 ; D-01314 Dresden Bundesrepublik Deutschland Telefon (0351) 260 3170 Telefax (0351) 260 3232 E-Mail [email protected] FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM ROSSENDORF WISSENSCHAFTLICH-TECHNISCHE BERICHTE FZR-312 Januar 2001 Institute of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Annual Report 2000 Editor: Prof. Dr. B. Johannsen Editorial staff: Dr. S. Seifert FOREWORD In 2000 the Rossendorf research centre (Forschungszentrum Rossendorf, FZR; homepage http://www.fz-rossendorf.de) continued and further developed its basic and application-oriented research. Research at the Institute of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, one of five institutes in the Research Centre, was focused on radiotracers as molecular probes to make the human body biochemically transparent with regard to individual molecular reactions. In this respect the potential for diagnostic application depends on the quality and versatility of radiopharmaceutical chemistry, which is the main discipline in our Institute. Areas in which the Institute was particularly active were the design of new radiotracers, both radiometal-based and natural organic molecules, the elaboration of radiolabelling concepts and procedures and the chemical and pharmacological evaluation of new tracers. This was complemented by more clinically oriented activities in the Positron Emission Tomography Centre Rossendorf, which closely links the Institute with the Medical Faculty of the Dresden University of Technology. The PET Centre is manned by a joint team of staff members from both the Institute and the University Departm


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Product Details
|Outer material
|Shoulder bags
|Casual wear
|Closure type
|Available since
|Product code
Bag "Park Avenue" by Brandit:
- shoulder bag made of cotton with applications and fake straps made of polyurethane
- dimensions approx 32.5 x 34 x 15 cm
- two patch pockets on the front with snap closure
- a pocket with magnetic button closure and fake strap on each side
- main compartment can be shut with a zipper
- inside in camouflage looks
- flap with magnetic closure and fake strap
- inner back with extra pocket (width 19 cm) with zipper
- carrying strap adjustable from approximately 105 to 172 cm
- strap shoulder pads about 4 cm wide
The new Park Avenue shoulder bag by Brandit shouldn't be missing from you at the next concert! It has enough space for everything and thanks to the compact design, it does not disturb you even when you are rocking out. Patch pockets with snap closure and fake straps, a cool camouflage look on the inside and a belt with wide shoulder pads, even an extra compartment - this bag has it all.
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I ordered this bag because I wanted something that I could customise with various pins, patches and studs and this is perfect. I love the distressed look and is really good quality. More than enough room, lots of extra pockets and really like the camouflage lining. One downfall however, the straps - they slip easily so by the end of the day the bag is extended down to your knees. So you so need to readjust regularly but this negative is very minor to all the positives and I would defiantly recommend.
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Strap is a little long and the whole bag itself could be a little smaller.
A quality product anyway.
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Not very happy with this bag. Strap is way too long and the bag itself seems very heavy even empty.
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Blue Cheese Dessert Sandwich - Smørrebrød
Recipe by Dreamer in Ontario
Smørrebrød - Open-Faced Sandwiches From Best of Scandinavian Cooking. Posted for ZWT6. To make smorrebrod, cut crusts from slices of pumpernickel or rye bread, but not French bread, when using them for a base. Be careful to spread soft butter entirely over the piece of bread you use. This keeps moist ingredients from seeping through and making the bread soggy.
Top Review by Studentchef
This is more like 4 1/2 stars. The blue cheese and the rye bread went very well together, but I'm not sure about the cherry preserves on top, although I do like and enjoyed all three ingredients, both separately and together.
See Discussion:1 Review
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 thin slice firm rye bread
- 1 teaspoon butter, softened
- blue cheese
- sweet cherry preserves
Directions See How It's Made
- Spread rye bread with butter.
- Cover with a layer of blue cheese.
- Top with cherry preserves.


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Headers meet RoHS reflow processes
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Lisle, Ill. Molex Inc. has introduced its Mini-Fit RTC (RoHS Temperature Capable) headers, aimed at mid-range power applications that require high-density and current-carrying capability.
Designed with a high-temperature LCP housing that can withstand high SMT solder-reflow temperatures, the Mini-Fit RTC headers guarantee compatibility with lead-free RoHS reflow processes. These headers share the same features of the Mini-Fit Jr. headers, ensuring compatibility and reliability. The Mini-Fit key design allows it to mate with standard Mini-Fit receptacles.
Product information: Mini-Fit products
Molex Inc., www.molex.com


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Out of the Northwest Passage is my favorite itinerary. As always, we'll be sailing through exploration history: John Franklin, John Rae, Thomas Simpson, Roald Amundsen. But this year, traveling in September, we'll probably be on the water at the same time as the Erebus search expedition . . . and at one point, not all that far away. Apart from which, we will sail north into Smith Sound and Kane Basin . . . and then, heading south along Greenland, we'll end up zodiac-winding among the most fantastical icebergs in the northern hemisphere.
Second, we've always enjoyed the Sea Adventurer (pictured above). But this year, we get a fancy new vessel called the Ocean Endeavour . . . and no fewer than twenty zodiacs! Multiple lounges . . . outdoor dining . . . and did someone whisper the words "hot tub?" Third, check out the resource staff. Margaret Atwood, Freeman Patterson, James Raffan . . . and that's just for starters. But see for yourself. This gang is aces, top to bottom. Believe me, that makes a difference. OK, this is my first-ever commercial for Adventure Canada and I won't go on. If you've been hankering after the Arctic, check 'em out. Tell 'em Ken sent you.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Searching for Franklin leads Our Hero to University Women
So I've narrowed my focus. I'm still Chasing the New History. But I'll talk, more specifically, about Searching for Franklin: The Lost Ships, the Discoveries, and the Woman Who Created a Legend. Above, we see one of the slides that will turn up in my presentation.
The occasion is the celebratory May Dinner of the Aurora/Newmarket branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women. The venue is the DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto. The date and time: May 12 beginning at 6 p.m. Can you afford to miss it?
Posted by Ken McGoogan at 12:39 PM No comments:
Labels: Aurora, Canadian Federation of University Women, Erebus, Franklin expedition, john franklin, Newmarket
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Hundreds of authors set to party with Canadian booksellers
Looks like The Great Canadian Book Bash is coming to a bookstore near you. On Saturday, May 2, more than 500 Canadian authors will turn up at 100-plus independent bookstores across the country.
We're calling it Authors for Indies and, yes, we mean to show our support for Canada's independent booksellers. We want them not just to survive, but to flourish. You can read all about it at www.authorsforindies.com. You can even find outwhich authors will be where. Here in the Beach Village, known for having Ontario's Best Small-Town Main Street, a bunch of us, Beachers all, will put our shoulders to the wheel at Book City (1950 Queen Street East). Wander into that well-stocked bookstore and you might run into Lee Gowan (The Last Cowboy), Tish Cohen (Town House), or Kim Echlin (The Disappeared). And that's just for starters. Yours truly (Fatal Passage) will be hanging out from around 2 p.m. And, hey, don't be surprised if I try to sell you a book. Gotta love those indies.
Book City in The Beach: Authors: Ken McGoogan, Lisa de Nikolits, DJ McIntosh, Kim Echlin, George A. Walker, Lee Gowan, Tish Cohen, Brian Panhuyzen, Dr. Vera Tarman
Posted by Ken McGoogan at 6:18 AM No comments:
Friday, April 10, 2015
Celtic Lightning to strike bookstores in September
With Celtic Lightning, best-selling author Ken McGoogan plunges into the perpetual debate about Canadian roots and identity: who do we think we are? He argues that Canadians have never investigated the demographic reality that informs this book -- the fact that more than nine million Canadians claim Scottish or Irish heritage. Did the ancestors of more than one quarter of our population arrive without cultural baggage? No history, no values, no vision? Impossible.
McGoogan writes that, to understand who we are and where we are going, Canadians must look to cultural genealogy. He builds on the work of Richard Dawkins, who contends that ideas and values ("memes") can be transmitted from one generation to another. Scottish and Irish immigrants arrived in Canada with values they had learned from their forebears. And they did so early enough, and in sufficient numbers, to shape an emerging Canadian nation. . . .
About the author:
Ken McGoogan has published a dozen books, among them How the Scots Invented Canada, Fatal Passage, and Lady Franklin's Revenge. His honours include the Pierre Berton Award, the UBC Medal for Canadian Biography, the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize, and the Canadian Authors' Association History Award. Ken has crisscrossed Ireland and Scotland numerous times, and also circumnavigated both countries.
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada / Patrick Crean Editions
Media & events: firstname.lastname@example.com
Publication rights: Beverley Slopen Literary Agency / firstname.lastname@example.com
Posted by Ken McGoogan at 10:32 AM No comments:
Labels: Canadian nation, Celtic Lightning, Irish, Scots
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Franklin's Lost Ships turn up on CBC-TV's The Nature of Things
[Here is the CBC link for online viewing: http://www.cbc.ca/
Posted by Ken McGoogan at 6:54 PM No comments:
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text: Employers? Post Jobs and More Job Seeker Sign In Home Jobs Your Profile Resources Your Account Job Seekers Sign In New Job Seeker? Sign Up Overview Your Saved Jobs Your Job Alerts Your Profile Your Documents Your Applications Help Welcome to HBA Career Center Search Browse Explore Your Job Alerts Your Saved Jobs 0 Return to Search Results Physician (Hepatologist) Department of Veterans Affairs savedJobs Apply Now Continue To Application The application opened in a new tab. By using this feature you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Details Posted: August 2, 2017 Location: Miami, Florida Salary: Open Type: Full Time - Experienced Discipline: Operations Patient care in the Hepatology clinic to manage and care for Hepatitis-c patients. Many of whom have complex liver disease, including post-transplantation. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday from 8:00 am -4:30 pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Completion of residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Physical requirements outlined below. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; straight pulling (4 hours); pushing (4 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours);standing (7 hours); kneeling (1 hour); repeated bending (4 hours); both legs required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far-vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability required. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume VA Form 10-2850 - Application for Physicians, Dentists, Podiatrists, Optometrists & Chiropractors can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), etc. Resume Internal Number: 475795400 Send Me Similar Jobs By Email About Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration View All Department of Veterans Affairs Jobs Back to top Help is on the way! We're sorry you are having trouble applying for this job. Please try loading this job using the following link before submitting your help request: Name: Email: Please provide details: Submit Help Request Error Close Continue


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Below is a list of areas in which we could utilize your special talents. Select a choice for more details. Thank you and if you have any questions or need additional information please do not hesitate to contact us.
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Program Services Developers, Trainers, Agents
- Retail Store Clerks/Agents
- IT Systems Support – Windows environment
- Social Media Content Manager
- Donation Processing – Store and Warehouse
- Donation Pick-up / Deliveries
- Marketing & Communications Coordinator
- Database Manager
- Maintenance Supervisor
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Event Planner
- General Adminsitrative/Clerical Assistants
- Online Sales Coordinator – (eBay, Craigslist, PayPal, blog, website posting)
Related pages about volunteer opportunities and experiences at St. Vincent de Paul:
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact St. Vincent de Paul – Traverse City.