Abstract: Methods and systems for selling goods and services involve the formation of a contractual alliance of distribution associates, promotion of sales of predefined goods offered by the distribution associates via a centralized Web site, and a tier-driven reverse auction process. A tier driven server system is coupled to the centralized Web site to solicit bids from the distribution associates in response to customer purchase requests made by customers using the centralized Web site. In response to a customer purchase request, distribution associates are selected from the database based on geographic proximity to the customer and availability at the distribution associate of a category of products or services requested for purchase. Information is then sent to the customer identifying the selected distribution associate, thereby including the distribution associate in sales arranged via the Internet without each distribution associate having to build and maintain a presence on the Internet.

Abstract: An integrated multi-services access platform includes a time division multiplex interface coupled to a time division multiplex network, a matrix in communications with the time division multiplex interface, a frame relay groomer coupled to the matrix, an asynchronous transfer mode matrix coupled to the frame relay groomer, and an asynchronous transfer mode interface coupled to a frame relay/asynchronous transfer mode network.

Abstract: An interface unit (12) for interfacing a digital loop carrier (16) to a digital cross-connect (14) comprises a control interface (22) coupled between the digital cross-connect (14) and digital loop carrier (16) for conversion and communication of control messages therebetween. A timing interface (32) is further coupled between the digital cross-connect (14) and digital loop carrier (16) for generally synchronizing the operations thereof. Further, a matrix interface (30) is coupled between the digital cross-connect (14) and digital loop carrier (16) for converting data rates and formats of data in the digital cross-connect (14) and digital loop carrier (16), so that network signals received by the digital loop carrier (16) are converted from a first format to a second format and communicated by the matrix interface (30) to the digital cross-connect (14) for cross-connection, and cross-connected data are converted from the second format to the first format and communicated to the digital loop carrier (16).