Abstract: A distributed telecommunications switching subsystem (100) receives and distributes data packets passed between a plurality of switching subsystems or channel banks (102, 104, 106) and a data packet switch (110). Each channel bank (102) has a stored list of addresses. When a channel bank (102) receives a data packet, it compares the address of the data packet to its stored list of addresses, and transmits the data packet to another channel bank (104) if the address of the data packet does not correspond to any of the addresses in its stored list of addresses. The data packet is passed on until it reaches a channel bank (106) with a matching address or else it is appropriately handled by a last channel bank (106) in the chain. If the address of data packet matches an address in its stored list of addresses, the channel bank (102) passes the data packet through a subscriber interface card (120) to a customer premises equipment unit (108) corresponding to the address of the data packet.

Abstract: A telephony and video telecommunications distribution network (10) includes a broadband fiber bank section (32) within a digital loop carrier system (22). The broadband fiber bank section (32) receives video information from a stored video information provider (12) through a broadband asynchronous transfer mode switch (18). The video information is received in an asynchronous transfer mode cell format. The digital loop carrier system (22) receives telephony traffic from a telephony network (24) at a common control section (28). The common control section (28) passes the telephony traffic to the broadband fiber bank section (32) where it is converted into asynchronous transfer mode cell form. The broadband fiber bank section (32) multiplexes video asynchronous transfer mode cells and telephony asynchronous transfer mode cells for transport to an optical network unit (40) over a fiber optic communication link (38).

Abstract: A video telecommunications delivery network (10) provides video channels to a plurality of set top units (24). Each set top unit sends a video channel request to an associated cell multiplexing unit (20). If the video channel is available, the cell multiplexing unit (20) provides the video channel to the set top unit (22). If the requested video channel is not available, the cell multiplexing unit (20) passes the request to an associated cell routing unit (18). The cell routing unit (18) provides the requested video channel to the set top unit (22) according to availability. If unavailable, cell routing unit 18 provides the video channel request to a digital multicast bank (16). Digital multicast bank (16) delivers the requested video channel if available, otherwise the video channel request is routed to a video information provider (12) through an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch (14).

Abstract: A telephone and video telecommunications distribution network (10) includes a telecommunications switch (12) and an optical network unit configuration (20b). The telecommunications switch (12) receives telephony traffic at a common control section (14) and video information at a video bank section (18). The video bank section receives telephony traffic from the common control section (14) and places the telephony traffic into telephony ATM cells. Video information is carried in video ATM cells. The Video Dank section (18) multiplexes telephony ATM cells and video ATM cells onto a fiber optic communication link for transport to the optical network unit configuration (20b). The optical network unit configuration (20b) includes a full service optical line unit (80) that segregates telephony ATM cells from video ATM cells. The full service optical line unit (80) transfers video ATM cells to a video brick (31) for processing.

Abstract: A distributed telecommunications switching subsystem (100) receives and distributes data packets passed between a plurality of switching subsystems or channel banks (102, 104, 106) and a data packet switch (110). Each channel bank (102) has a stored list of addresses. When a channel bank (102) receives a data packet, it compares the address of the data packet to its stored list of addresses, and transmits the data packet to another channel bank (104) if the address of the data packet does not correspond to any of the addresses in its stored list of addresses. The data packet is passed on until it reaches a channel bank (106) with a matching address or else it is appropriately handled by a last channel bank (106) in the chain. If the address of data packet matches an address in its stored list of addresses, the channel bank (102) passes the data packet through a subscriber interface card (120) to a customer premises equipment unit (108) corresponding to the address of the data packet.

Abstract: A distributed telecommunications switching system (100) is disclosed. The system includes a controller (118) in a first switching system (102). The control signal is transmitted to one or more intermediate switching system (104) and a terminating switching system (106) that generates and transmits a control signal which carries a plurality of credit allowance values. The intermediate switching system (104) receives the control signal and transmits data packets to the first switching system (102) in response to a first credit allowance value. The terminating switching system (106) receives the control signal and transmits data packets to the first switching system (102) in response to a second credit allowance value. The first switching system (102) transmits data packets from the intermediate switching system (104) and the terminating switching system (106) along with its own data packets according to its credit value to a data packet switch (110).