Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network comprising a plurality of ATM switches may be arranged so that it receives calls from Synchronous Transfer Mode (STM) switches that employ in-band signaling by first converting in-band signals received from an STM switch to an out-of-band signaling message and then transmitting the message to the ATM switch that will route the associated call toward its destination. At an interface which interfaces the ATM switch with the out-of-band signaling network, the contents of the received message are converted to a form suitable for presentation to the ATM switch. For example, the identity of the trunk over which the call will be routed from the STM switch to the ATM switch is converted to a virtual channel identifier.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer(ATM) network comprising a plurality of ATM switches may be arranged so that it receives calls from Synchronous Transfer Mode (STM) switches that employ out-of-band signaling such that the ATM switches communicate telephone call signaling information between each other and the STM switches via an out-of-band signaling network associated with the ATM network and interface with out-of-band networks associated with the STM switches.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network comprising a plurality of ATM switches may be arranged so that it may receive for routing telephone calls originating at Synchronous Transfer Mode (STM) switches. This may be done in the ATM network by accumulating voice signals as they are received from a STM switch and forming an ATM data-cell payload when the accumulation includes a predetermined number of the voice signals, e.g., 48 voice signals. The payload and a header, including a virtual channel identifier determined as a function of the identity of the STM trunk over which the voice signals were received, may then be supplied to an associated ATM switch for routing to an intended destination.