Abstract: To ensure an effective mechanism for disaster recovery, system migration and network enlargement, a communication system (FIG. 6) comprises a narrowband-to-broadband interface (300) having a plurality of network adaptors (302-306) interconnected to a switch (314-316) that provides access to a plurality of virtual channels (318-321) supported by a broadband network. The plurality of network adaptors (302-306) are also coupled to a plurality of trunks (308-312) that each support at least one of a plurality of different communication functions. At least two call servers (324-326) are independently coupled to the narrowband-to-broadband interface (300) and are arranged to control interconnection of trunks to virtual channels, while each of the at least two call servers is responsible for controlling interconnections of group of trunks that share a common communication function within each group. Communication system functionality is therefore separated between the at least two call servers.

Abstract: An improved architecture in a circuit switched communications network is provided in which a plurality of network service provider devices, eg intelligent peripherals are arranged to provide network service data to a plurality of time division multiplex circuits and trunks by converting these circuits and trunks to streams of packets, and providing network service data packetized in a set of network service data packet streams to the circuit packet streams without incurring delays to the circuit packet streams. The circuit packet streams may be duplicated and forwarded to the network service provider devices without incurring delay to the ongoing through put packetized circuits, and similarly packet streams containing network service data may be superimposed into the circuit packet streams, without the requirement for the circuit packet streams to be switched to the network service provider devices.

Abstract: Narrowband subscriber terminals (40,52,58) of different narrowband networks are interconnected via a broadband network (48) that supports dissimilar signaling protocols to those maintained on the respective narrowband networks (40,52,58). A call server in a first narrowband network (40), in response to a call (100) from a first subscriber terminal (12) to a second subscriber terminal (68) in a second but different narrowband network (52), selects a phantom trunk (202) between the two networks. The phantom trunk has a unique circuit identity, which circuit identify is used in a first instance to relay to the second network an address of the second subscriber terminal (68). Then, in a second instance, the unique circuit identify is used to relay to the second network an address of the first subscriber terminal (68).

Abstract: To ensure an effective mechanism for disaster recovery, system migration and network enlargement, a communication system (FIG. 6) comprises a narrowband-to-broadband interface (300) having a plurality of network adaptors (302-306) interconnected to a switch (314-316) that provides access to a plurality of virtual channels (318-321) supported by a broadband network. The plurality of network adaptors (302-306) are also coupled to a plurality of trunks (308-312) that each support at least one of a plurality of different communication functions. At least two call servers (324-326) are independently coupled to the narrowband-to-broadband interface (300) and are arranged to control interconnection of trunks to virtual channels, while each of the at least two call servers is responsible for controlling interconnections of group of trunks that share a common communication function within each group. Communication system functionality is therefore separated between the at least two call servers.

Abstract: ATM cells (131-133, 141-143) are encapsulated within a DVB satellite transmission environment (10) to provide satellite broadband capabilities (74). as shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, DVB multiplexing (as opposed to ATM multiplexing), either at the ground station (71) associated with a content provider (32-28) or within a satellite (12) itself, consolidates the use of a mapping function (170) between the Program Identity (PID) of an MPEG transport (data-) stream and an ATM physical layer (PHY). More particularly, robust packaging of full (131-133) and partial (134, 144) ATM, cells within a DVB transport stream packet (150) is supported by a system-wide association between PIDs and ATM PHYs, whereby an addressed terminal or subscriber unit (18-22) reassembles ATM cells (160-162) based on PID information contained in received DVB transport stream packets (150).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling persistence measurement of channel associated signaling for a plurality of line circuits, eg, T1, E1, OC3, STM 1 circuits, which extracts channel associated signaling data from a plurality of line circuits; assembles the channel associated signaling data into a data frame; contains the data frame in a suitable carrier, eg, an AAL 0 cell; monitors a continuous stream of the data frames, to check for changes in line status; and generates an event message data frame when a persistent change of line state has been detected. The extracting of associated signaling data may be provided on a separate card to a call control processor, and using separate processor functionality.

Abstract: An improved architecture in a circuit switched communications network is provided in which a plurality of network service provider devices, eg intelligent peripherals are arranged to provide network service data to a plurality of time division multiplex circuits and trunks by converting these circuits and trunks to streams of packets, and providing network service data packetized in a set of network service data packet streams to the circuit packet streams without incurring delays to the circuit packet streams. The circuit packet streams may be duplicated and forwarded to the network service provider devices without incurring delay to the ongoing through put packetized circuits, and similarly packet streams containing network service data may be superimposed into the circuit packet streams, without the requirement for the circuit packet streams to be switched to the network service provider devices.

Abstract: An improved architecture in a circuit switched communications network is provided in which a plurality of network service provider devices, eg intelligent peripherals are arranged to provide network service data to a plurality of time division multiplex circuits and trunks by converting these circuits and trunks to streams of packets, and providing network service data packetized in a set of network service data packet streams to the circuit packet streams without incurring delays to the circuit packet streams. The circuit packet streams may be duplicated and forwarded to the network service provider devices without incurring delay to the ongoing through put packetized circuits, and similarly packet streams containing network service data may be superimposed into the circuit packet streams, without the requirement for the circuit packet streams to be switched to the network service provider devices.

Abstract: Narrowband subscriber terminals (40,52,58) of different narrowband networks are interconnected via a broadband network (48) that supports dissimilar signalling protocols to those maintained on the respective narrowband networks (40,52,58). A call server in a first narrowband network (40), in response to a call (100) from a first subscriber terminal (12) to a second subscriber terminal (68) in a second but different narrowband network (52), selects a phantom trunk (202) between the two networks. The phantom trunk has a unique circuit identity, which circuit identify is used in a first instance to relay to the second network an address of the second subscriber terminal (68). Then, in a second instance, the unique circuit identify is used to relay to the second network an address of the first subscriber terminal (68).

Abstract: Narrowband subscriber terminals (40,52,58) of different narrowband networks are interconnected via a broadband network (48) that supports dissimilar signalling protocols to those maintained on the respective narrowband networks (40,52,58). A call server in a first narrowband network (40), in response to a call (100) from a first subscriber terminal (12) to a second subscriber terminal (68) in a second but different narrowband network (52), selects a phantom trunk (202) between the two networks. The phantom trunk has a unique circuit identity, which circuit identify is used in a first instance to relay to the second network an address of the second subscriber terminal (68). Then, in a second instance, the unique circuit identify is used to relay to the second network an address of the first subscriber terminal (68).

Abstract: To segregate functionality and to eliminate redundancy in service logic and associated hardware that together control the interconnection of narrowband trunk circuits (252-256) and broadband virtual channels (258-262) of a mixed node communication system (FIG. 5), a switch fabric (16) has an associated memory (280) that contains a pre-provisioned table of mappings between narrowband trunk circuits (DS-0s) and broadband virtual channel identities. Therefore, to establish an end-to-end connection, the switch fabric (16) searches the pre-provisioned table (280) for an available connection and then performs the necessary cross-connection between the narrowband trunk circuit is (252-256) and the broadband virtual channel (258-262). The mappings principally relate to the narrowband-to-switch fabric interface and, as such, avoid the requirement for UNI signalling translation and negotiation, although the mappings may also include the broadband-to-switch fabric interface.

Abstract: A communication network (300) comprises a call server (302) and several fabric control modules (322, 326, 330-334) coupled to the call server (302) through a fabric application interface (306, 324, 328, 342). The fabric control modules are arranged to control circuit connections (310, 312) within, for example, a narrowband-broadband interface (304) in response to the call server. A management agent (338) coupled to the call server through a dedicated management interface (336) includes a memory (340) for storing network configuration information and a processor (339) arranged to provide the network configuration information to the call server over the dedicated management interface (336) to affect initial establishment of the fabric application interface (306). In this way, the fabric application interface (306) is optimized in relation to available resources and consequently provides a uniform view between the call server and a narrowband-broadband interface (304).

Abstract: A communication system typically comprises a number of interconnected broadband-narrowband interfaces (304, 402-404) that together interact to provide a communication resource (400) that can support a call across the system At a time when the communication resource (or a portion thereof) is apparently in place, a terminating node of a broadband-narrowband interface sends a verify-request message (452) backwards across the communication resource. A connection broker (322), coupled to both ends of the communication resource in a particular broadband-narrowband interface (404), is aware of the issuance of the verify-request message, and is therefore able to assess and report, principally, on path connectivity of the communication resource (either within the broadband-narrowband interface or between adjacent interfaces).

Abstract: A connection broker (44), located between lower-level system entities (16, 58, 264) associated with a narrowband-broadband interface (250) and a call server (18) that controls call connection across the narrowband-broadband network, contains a memory (251) that stores connection-related information and protocol converters. The connection broker (44) accesses the protocol converters to interpret control messages received from the call server (18) and, where necessary, transposes messages for the call server into a standardised format for use over a uniform fabric application interface (66). Control messages pertaining to connection paths within the narrowband-broadband network (250) and relayed via the connection broker (44) are appropriately phrased (by the connection-related information and protocol converters) to ensure that meaningful information and instruction is communicated between the call server (18) and the lower-level system entities (16, 58, 264).

Abstract: A number of narrow band networks are interconnected via a broad band network having a signalling protocol different from that or those of the narrow band networks. Calls between terminals associated with first and second narrow band networks are set up by the selection by a call server of a phantom trunk between the networks. This phantom trunk is used to relay the addresses of the two terminals to be connected. By recognizing that two connection requests have been received at opposite ends of the same phantom trunk, a processor in the second network determines that a connection between the terminals via the broad band network is required. Selection of the phantom trunk and sending of address messages is effected via a selected one of a number of identical connection brokers coupled to the call server. The workload of the call server is shared among the connection brokers coupled thereto.