Abstract: The present invention is a universal application program interface (API) utilizing a generic message format for performing call control processing and capable of being customized to meet telecommunications application and network signaling protocol requirements. The generic message formats have programmable fields for transmitting commands, status, and data between the host application and the switch. The present invention further provides the switch the ability to perform switching functions between ports associated with distinct protocols without supervision from the host application. The universal API of the present invention may be implemented to achieve communications internal to the switch as well. For example, the generic messages of the universal API may be used to support communications between any software layer within the switch.

Abstract: A network protocol data intelligence (NPDI) software in the switching node that enables the call processing components in the L4 and L5 applications to interpret and manipulate different network signaling data protocols. The call processing applications are expanded to understand different network signaling protocols and to extract the required information from each protocol's data stream. The NPDI provides the means for the L4 application to convert from one network signaling data format to another either, by itself or in conjunction with the L5 application. Thus, the system operator may configure the switch to perform all call processing functions or by-pass the NPDI and have the L5 application perform these functions. The L4 application may also perform data translation from host applications written against the underlying network protocol to the different signaling protocols from other networks.