Abstract: Telecommunications equipment may require network connectivity. On newer systems, an additional local management interface is provided for proprietary maintenance functions, typically via a shell-based Command Line Interface. This is not available on remote sites with only TDM connections. The invention provides a method of communicating between a management console and remote access equipment via a class 4 telecommunications switch, which comprises establishing an IP connection, establishing a synchronous telecommunications transport connection between the class 5 switch and the remote access equipment, setting up a voice call between the management console and the remote access equipment, passing the voice call over the IP connection as a VOIP call, passing the voice call over the synchronous telecommunications transport connection as a PCM encoded call, and encapsulating an IP data stream in the VOIP and PCM encoded call to establish an end-to-end IP.

Abstract: Existing telecommunications equipment may require network connectivity for data transfer but may have no external interfaces except for the TDM voice circuits to which they are connected. Thus on most newer systems, an additional local management interface is provided for proprietary maintenance functions. This is typically accessed via a shell-based Command Line Interface. This cannot be used on a remote site with only TDM connections.