Abstract: A system and method for sending and receiving information in a network using a redundant switching architecture. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a communications frame including a first header at a first control element. The first header is mapped to a second header and then the communications frame is encapsulated with a set of two redundant destination addresses whereby two instances of the communications frame are created. The communications frame instances, including the second header and the redundant destination addresses, are sent from the first control element via both a first switching plane and a second switching plane to a second control element. Upon receipt, only one of the communications frame instances is retained by the second control element for upstream processing.

Abstract: An service management system for an advanced intelligent network includes a plurality of gateways in communications with a plurality of network nodes and service clients which may issue service requests. The service requests are received by the gateways, which convert the service requests to orders having a predetermined format containing the service requests. An order distribution server in communication with the plurality of gateways receives and distributes the orders. A plurality of management programs receive the orders from the order distribution server and execute the service requests contained in the orders. Responses may be generated by the management programs and sent to the order distribution server for delivery to the network nodes and service clients.