Abstract: The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled by implementing a hybrid switch capable of operating as a narrowband switch, a broadband switch, and/or a combination narrowband/broadband switch. The hybrid switch may be initially installed/activated as a narrowband switch in order to operate with a network of all or mostly all narrowband switches. Eventually, the hybrid switch may be used entirely as a broadband switching mechanism when operated with a network of all or mostly all broadband switches. In the interim, the hybrid switch may be operated in a narrowband or a broadband mode on a communication-by-communication basis, for example, depending on the capabilities of the node or nodes to be used in establishing a given communication. The hybrid switch may include both broadband (e.g., ATM) and narrowband (e.g., STM) switching components.

Abstract: ATM is used as a transport and switching mechanism in a hybrid STM/ATM network while the signaling remains normal narrowband signaling. The narrowband signaling is transported on permanent paths over ATM connections, and the narrowband speech channels are transported on ATM and switched on a “Per call basis” (on-demand) through an ATM switch. A translator formats a call-setup-related signaling message into ATM cells so that the signaling message can be routed through an ATM switch to a circuit switched (STM) node. The circuit switched node (PSTN/ISDN) sets up a physical connection for the call and generates a further signaling message therefor that relates to the physical connection. The ATM switch routes an ATM cell-formatted version of the further signaling message to another ATM switch over an ATM physical interface. Thus, the ATM switch switches both narrowband traffic and signaling for the call over the ATM physical interface.

Abstract: The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled with a tri-level nodal system in which a narrowband node (e.g., a telecommunications node) may provide switching intelligence to the switching fabric of multiple broadband nodes (e.g., media gateways). The switching intelligence is provided via an intermediate node (e.g., mediation logic) that emulates a switch interface for the narrowband node and translates circuit-based addresses/routing instructions to packet-based addresses/routing instructions. This translation equates to a mapping of address(es) in a first address space to address(es) in a second address space in order to utilize the address(es) of the second address space for propagating communications on a broadband transport mechanism.

Abstract: ATM is used as a transport and switching mechanism in a hybrid STM/ATM network (20), while the signaling remains normal narrowband signaling. The narrowband signaling is transported on permanent paths over ATM connections, and the narrowband speech channels are transported on ATM and switched on a “per call basis” (on-demand) through an ATM switch. The hybrid STM/ATM network has an access node (22) which services narrowband terminals and which generates a signaling message in connection with call setup. A translator (50) formats the first signaling message into ATM cells so that the first signaling message can be routed through an ATM switch (40) to a circuit switched (STM) node (30). The circuit switched node (PSTN/ISDN) sets up a physical connection for the call and generates a further signaling message for the call, the further signaling message pertaining to the physical connection.