Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for hierarchically organizing logical trunk groups in a packet-based network. A first hierarchical group includes a first logical trunk group that is associated with a first trunk resource parameter. The first hierarchical group is associated with a group resource parameter, a portion of which is based on the trunk resource parameter. Data associated with a telephone call is associated with a logical trunk group. Transmission of the data through a packet-based network is based in part on the group resource parameter.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for controlling time-sensitive data in a packet-based network. Data associated with a call is received, and the data includes an identifier associated with the data, a data source, or one or more data destinations. The data is associated with a logical trunk group selected from a plurality of logical trunk groups each in communication with the one or more data destinations over a packet-based network. The logical trunk group is selected based in part on the identifier. Calls through the packet-based network are managed based in part on the associated logical trunk group.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining logical trunk groups in a packet-based network. A plurality of logical trunk groups are defined for a first media gateway in communication with a packet-based network. Each of the plurality of logical trunk groups is associated with one or more media gateways in communication over the packet-based network with the first media gateway. Data associated with a call that is received or transmitted by the media gateway is associated with a first logical trunk group of the plurality of logical trunk groups.

Abstract: A switch, which connects ports on a customer port module to ports on a network port module via time slots on a dime division multiplexing bus, determines for each connection a number of required time slots, based on the current switch configuration and/or the signal traffic at the associated port. The switch then determines if it has the required number of time slots available generally and if it can make the time slots available to the port. If so, the switch assigns the time slots to the port and completes the connection. The switch determines the number of time slots required by consulting a stored port type indicator table, which lists bandwidth demand based on port type, or by detecting in-band signaling information that indicates the bandwidth demand. If the table indicates that the switch includes non-blocking ports, the switch coordinates the number of time slots allocated to a connection with the number of slots required to be kept free for the non-blocking ports.