Abstract: A system and method connects a call in a broadband system using the asynchronous transfer mode protocol for switching. Calls are connected over a SONET ring that has SONET multiplexers coupled by SONET paths. The SONET multiplexers are adapted to add calls to, and drop calls from, the SONET ring. An ATM cross connect system that has ATM cross connect devices is coupled to the SONET ring. The ATM cross connect devices provide provisioned ATM connections over the SONET ring. ATM interworking units are coupled to the ATM cross connect system. The ATM interworking units interwork calls with selected ATM connections in response to control messages. The selected ATM connections are provisioned between the ATM interworking units by the ATM cross connect system over the SONET ring. A signaling processor system receives call signaling for the calls, processes the call signaling to select the ATM connections for the calls, and sends the control messages to the selected ATM interworking units.

Abstract: A locating system includes a receiver for receiving a signal, having parameters, from a source. This locating system includes a database, which includes receiver records. Each receiver record includes (a) a source field, (b) a signal parameter field, (c) a receiver location computed using at least the source field and the signal parameter field. The receiver location computation has an accuracy. The database is indexed by the source field and the signal parameter field. The system includes a processor, which is configured to access the database using the source and signal parameters to find a coarse receiver record including a link to a fine receiver record. The fine receiver record has a better receiver location computation accuracy than the coarse receiver record.

Abstract: To provide an approach to software update with scaleable disturbance there is proposed a state copying method for a computation system with at least two logic partitions wherein a state of new software in a standby partition is updated to the state of old software in an executing partition while continuing execution of the old software. Data is transferred from the executing partition to the standby partition in a scaleable way and as soon as the same state is achieved for the standby partition and the executing partition the execution is switched to the new, software. This provides a scaleable degree of disturbance due to the software update.

Abstract: In an ATM switching module, expansion interfaces are connected in pair to an ATM switch to respectively operate in active and standby states. When another ATM switching module is installed and a connection is established between an expansion interface of standby state and the newly installed ATM switching module, a process sets the standby state expansion interface in hot-standby state, and holds off incoming ATM cells destined for the hot-standby state expansion interface until the connection is ready to accept cell traffic, whereupon the hot-standby state expansion interface is switched to active state, whereby the ATM switch and an ATM switch of the another switching module constitute a multi-stage configuration.

Abstract: A method for discovering addressing information within a network switch for an unknown MAC address received as a destination address of a packet. Where prior techniques flooded the network with the received packet, switch to switch protocols of the present invention reduce the volume of such overhead network traffic required to discover the addressing information. In particular, the present invention propagates query messages through network switches in a load balance domain (a group of switches cooperable in accordance with the protocols described herein). The query messages are propagated using a pruned broadcast tree to reduce the number of transmissions required to reach all switches in the load balance domain. The propagated query message eventual elicits a response from the device which owns the previously unknown destination address.

Abstract: A universal DS-0 channelized format is provided wherein selected states of CAS bits are used to indicate to the transport mechanism when DS-0 channels are not being used for voice and are available for use for data transport. In addition, the T1 frame format carries CAS bits only in the first DS-0 channel, so that robbed bits are disabled and not used to carry ABCD signaling bits, thereby avoiding any risk of data corruption. Still further, a special CAS signaling value not defined as a CAS state, is employed in a frame nibble instead of a frame counter to indicate that the state is in the first DS-0 slot.

Abstract: A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors, including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of the processors each providing data packet switching processors. The data packet switching processors are coupled to the plurality of network interfaces. The control processor further includes a user portion and an operating system portion. The operating system portion is provided with a pseudo-network driver that appears to be a network interface to user application programs operating on the user portion of the control processor. A memory space is shared by the control processor and the data packet switching processors.

Abstract: A router made up firstly of at least two router modules, only one of which is in an active state at any given time, and secondly of changeover means making it possible to cause one of the other router modules to go from a standby state to an active state when the router module in the active state stops, and the router modules having state machines associated with each of the neighbor routers, wherein each of the router modules has data storage means which, in the active state, enable it to store data relating to the states of the state machines, when said machines are in stable states, and data retrieval means for retrieving said data when the router module changes over to the active state.

Abstract: A metro switch and method for transporting data configured according to multiple different formats. In one aspect, a network system and method that provides for point-to-point communication of data of various different formats such as ATM, frame relay, PPP, Ethernet, etc. Accordingly, the invention may interface disparate network devices, such as private networks and other entities that operate according to various different protocols and that use various different media. At ingress points to the system, the data is received from data sources and configured according to a universal format. This allows data from origins that use different data formats and/or transmission media to be mixed and transported onto the same media. The data is then transported to one or more destinations using this format. At egress points of the system, the data is reconverted to its original format for use at its destination.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) protection triggering method using “received-AIS” flag determines whether the failure generation position is generated within a protected domain or not, by determining whether the “received-AIS” flag is “0” in case that a node detecting a failure link transmits an end-to-end AIS cell to a downstream side node, and a source point passing the end-to-end AIS cell sets the “received-AIS” flag to “1” and then receives “AIS cell receiving” signal from a sink point of the protected domain, thereby obviating a CRC-10 calculation problem and a backward compatibility.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to provide a bridge between traditional TDM PBX/KTS messaging and current IP-based messaging, allowing effective deployment of a hosted service in a transitional network that still requires TDM access via the PSTN. According to the present invention, the centralized messaging system of the prior art is decomposed into a back end cluster and a plurality of telephony access nodes (TANs). Each of the TANs will: terminate media and call processing from an associated local telephony switch; contain the service logic for the messaging application; and interact with the back end cluster. This provision permits a user to perform communications on a local telephony access node without making a call over the public switched network. However, a switch is also provided at each telephony access node to permit user access to the telephony access node.

Abstract: A signal processing method for an ATM switching network formed by connecting a plurality of ATM switching networks in which header conversion tables of line interfaces can be rewritten by control cells, includes in response to occurrence of an abnormality in a call control processor of a ATM switching system A, informing an ATM switching system B of the occurrence of the abnormality, transferring call control information in the ATM switching system A to the ATM switching system B, rewriting header conversion tables included in a plurality of line interfaces of the ATM switching system A by using control cells generated by the ATM switching system A and thereby transferring signal channel cells arriving at the ATM switching system A after occurrence of the abnormality to the ATM switching system B, and rewriting header conversion tables included in a plurality of line interfaces of the ATM switching system A by using control cells generated by the ATM switching system B and thereby making a call control proces

Abstract: A switching system for integratedly switching voice, data, image information and the like. The switching system comprises a plurality of front-end modules each adapted to perform a switching processing in association with a subscriber line or a trunk line, and a single or a plurality of central modules for interconnecting the plurality of front-end modules in star-type fashion and switching information prevailing between the front-end modules, in unit of block accommodating the information and a header added thereto to contain connection control information and in accordance with the contents of the header. The front-end modules are connected to the central module via inter-module highways each having frames occurring at a predetrmined period and time slots contained in each frame to carry blocks.

Abstract: A time slot aligner (60) determines delay (in terms of frames) of time slots of a set of frames received on Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PHD) transmission network. In accordance with the time slot frame/delay determination technique of the invention, the time slot aligner finds an initial header of an ATM cell by searching five consecutive time slots in nearby frames of the set of frames. Once the initial header is found, a frame/delay value is determined for each time slot comprising the header. The frame/delay values for selected time slots of the header are then used to form a window which is used for searching for the next header. Searching for a next header for a next ATM cell involves sliding the window to other frames of the set of frames and searching for a value in a successive time slot which will form a HEC byte for a header framed by the sliding window. When a next header is located, a frame/delay determination has to be made only for the last time slot of the header, e.g.

Abstract: There is provided a re-connection method for a communication network system that enables a multipoint connection by which the same data is transmitted from a first subscriber accommodated in a first switch to a plurality of second subscriber accommodated in a second switch, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting the data by the second switch to at least one of the second subscribers connected with the second switch; re-transmission requesting by the second switch to the first switch for re-transmitting of the data to the at least one of the second subscribers; and re-connection requesting by the first switch to the second switch for re-connecting the at least one of the second subscribers which has not connected with the second switch.

Abstract: A configuration server is incorporated into a distributed router to support multiple route servers in an internetworking system. The multiple route servers in the system provide load sharing and/or standby functionality. In the system route servers provide routing decisions while edge forwarders are the packet forwarding elements. The configuration server is responsible for mapping edge forwarders to route servers.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes a first data port interface supporting a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate. A second data port interface supports a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A CPU interface is configured to communicate with a CPU, and an internal memory communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, including an external memory interface, for communicating data from at least one of the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an external memory. A communication channel is provided, for communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, the internal memory, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: In a method and network component of a communications network for switching connections of low bit rate between input modules and output modules, the input modules and the output modules form a first switching level, and an ATM switching stage arranged between the input modules and the output modules forms a second switching level. In the first switching level, a number of low bit rate connections at the input module, which are to be transmitted to the same output module, are respectively merged by the input module into at least one ATM connection. In the second switching level, the switching through of the ATM connections for transmitting data in ATM cells ensues by the ATM switching stage. Subsequently, in the first switching level, the ATM connections which have been switched through are converted by the output module into the low bit rate connections.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an electronic chat session between at least one inquiring party and at least one agent includes an inquiring party data terminal through which an inquiring party requests an electronic chat session with a call center agent over a data flow path that the inquiring party establishes with an information provider. A computer network and associated network interfaces, interface the inquiring party data terminal, the information provider server, and the electronic chat session distribution system to the computer network and allows data to be exchanged there between. A call center controller, responsive to a chat session request, generates a routing signal which establishes a data flow path between the inquiring party and at least one call center agent.

Abstract: In one direction of transmission, an ATM switch establishes a virtual connection from any of its input ports to any of outgoing transmission links. Multiplexers receive and multiplexes user cells from the ATM switch into outbound cells having any one of all virtual channel identifiers assigned to the multiplexers and return the outbound cells to the input ports of the ATM switch, where they are routed through the virtual connections to the outgoing transmission links. In the opposite direction, the ATM switch establishes a virtual connection from any of incoming transmission links to any of its output ports. Inbound cells from the incoming links are first routed through the virtual connections in the ATM switch to demultiplexers, where they are decomposed into user cells for application to the ATM switch. Similar to the outbound cells, the inbound cells have any of the virtual channel identifiers assigned to the demultiplexers.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining and updating routing information in a packet switching network for a set of quasidynamic routes, in which intermittent routing updates are permitted, so that routes are no longer “always static” or “always dynamic”, but may change over time between static and dynamic, and are treated accordingly. The invention is particularly applicable to dial-on-demand serial communication links, but is also useful in any situation where it is desired to reduce the overhead from routing updates over a communication link, or where transmission over a communication link is not reliable. A protocol manager for a dynamic routing protocol is modified to determine, for each route, (1) whether to send updated routing information for that route (at the time it would otherwise send an update for a particular route), and (2) whether to age that route in its routing tables (at the time it would otherwise age that route).

Abstract: A port card employable in a cell switch including a host computer having a processor and a bus for interconnecting a plurality of port cards and a method of switching cells in the cell switch. The port card includes: (1) bus master circuitry for gaining control of the bus to allow the port card to place cells to be switched in the cell switch on the bus and (2) interface circuitry, coupled to the local memory and the bus master circuitry, that places the cells on the bus when the bus master circuitry has gained control of the bus, the cells communicated directly from the interface circuitry to another port card in the cell switch via the bus. The processor (or, more generally, the host computer) is relieved of having to participate directly in switching the cells.

Abstract: A large router for routing datagrams. The large router comprises a plurality of router slices, each of which receives switches and transmits datagrams. Each router slice has a routing memory for routing the packets. If a packet is received whose destination address is not known to the receiving packet slice, the packet slice broadcasts a request for routing information for that datagram to the other packet slices of the large router and routes the packet in accordance with the received responses. Groups of slices are interconnected by a time slot interchange (TSI) unit, and groups of TSIs are interconnected by a time multiplexed switch. The router can consist of more than one switch; the switches being interconnected by high speed data links. Advantageously, the router, though composed of small slices, acts as if it were a single large high capacity entity.

Abstract: Upon reception of a label request for a new flow, a path setup device searches label switched paths (LPSs) which have already been set up for comparison with a path contained in the label request. If there exists an LSP of the same path as that in the label request, the same label as that of the LSP is allocated. If no such LSP exists, a new label is allocated. An LSP is set up based on the allocated label.

Abstract: A switching system for integratedly switching voice, data, image information and the like. The switching system comprises a plurality of front-end modules each adapted to perform a switching processing in association with a subscriber line or a trunk line, and a single or a plurality of central modules for interconnecting the plurality of front-end modules in star-type fashion and switching information prevailing between the front-end modules, in unit of block accommodating the information and a header added thereto to contain connection control information and in accordance with the contents of the header. The front-end modules are connected to the central module via inter-module highways each having frames occurring at a predetrmined period and time slots contained in each frame to carry blocks.

Abstract: The system includes switching nodes with multiple ports for node-host communication, each port thereby connects the switching nodes to one or more hosts. One of the ports in a switching node is designated as a primary or master port and it connects the switching node to a default host. The default host controls all ports in the switching node and because applications on the default port are given the highest priority during switching node processing, the default host is useful for applications that require instant response from the switch. The other ports in the switching node are secondary ports and they connect the switching node to one or more secondary hosts simultaneously. The applications on the secondary hosts are given a lower priority than the default host's application. Therefore, the secondary hosts are useful for applications that do not require instant response from the switching nodes.

Abstract: A system is provided for identifying a bundle head in response to a request to establish a multilink connection. The system determines an endpoint identifier associated with the received connection request. A message is then generated to identify other devices servicing the same endpoint identifier. A random number is also generated by the system. The random number is included in the message generated to identify other devices servicing the same endpoint identifier. The current device is established as bundle head for the endpoint identifier if a timeout period expires and the random number generated by the current device is lower than random numbers generated by other devices. A message is broadcast indicating that the current device is the bundle head for the endpoint identifier if a timeout period expires and no other device is identified as servicing the same endpoint identifier.

Abstract: A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors, including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processors each providing data packet switching processors. The control processor is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of network interfaces and the data packet switching processors are coupled to each remaining one of the plurality of network interfaces. A switch is coupled to the control processor through the corresponding one of the network interfaces and is coupled to at least one of the switching processors through at least one other one of the network interfaces.

Abstract: A telephone call processing system and method for providing operator service. The system maintains a number of customer directories, each customer directory having information pertaining to a number of subscribers of the customer. When an incoming telephone call is received by the system, the system automatically identifies the customer directory corresponding to the customer indicated by the telephone number dialed by the caller. Upon locating the appropriate customer directory, the system automatically switches access by the system operator thereto. Thereafter, the system operator may perform a search in the customer directory for the subscriber who the caller wishes to contact. Upon successfully locating information pertaining to the subscriber in the customer directory, the subscriber information may be communicated to the caller.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining a plurality of minimally-overlapping paths between a source node and a destination node in a network. The system determines a first path between the source node and the destination node. Additionally, a second path between the source node and the destination node is determined. If the first path and the second path overlap, the system modifies at least one path to minimize the overlap of the paths. Both the first path and the second path contain a plurality of path elements in which the path elements including nodes and links between nodes such that a cost is assigned to both nodes and links. After the paths are identified, a first circuit is established between the source and destination nodes along the first path and a second circuit is established between the source and destination nodes along the second path.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for transporting a SONET formatted asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signal and/or a synchronous transfer mode (STM) signal on a line switched ring over a unidirectional path. The SONET formatted ATM signal comprises cells mapped into a STS-Mc or m×STS-1s while the STM signal comprises STS-1s/VTs mapped STS-W. A unidirectional line switched ring is provided for transporting the STM STS-W using a unidirectional path switched protection protocol and the ATM STS-Mc using a unidirectional line switched protection protocol. A ring node comprises input and output ring interfaces, an STS management block, an ATM cell management block, and a non-ATM payload management block. The STS management block routes the traffic to the ATM cell management block and to the non-ATM payload management block, according to the traffic type. The STS management block also provides the UPSR protection for the STS-1s and ULSR protection for the STS-Mc.

Abstract: In a switching center having input and output lines, a switching matrix includes primary switching elements, bus structures for respectively connecting one subset of input lines to the primary switching elements, and at least three assemblies each having some of the primary switching elements and at least one output interface. The primary switching elements are supported by a common supporting element and are connected on their input side to the subset of input lines by a same common bus structure. The interface input side is connected to primary switching elements of at least two of the assemblies connected to different subsets of input lines. The output interfaces are respectively disposed at the assemblies between the primary switching elements and a subset of output lines. Each of the assemblies has one of the output interfaces connected on its input side to primary switching elements of at least two of the assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention is a fiber channel switch employing a distributed queuing algorithm for interconnecting a plurality of devices (workstations, supercomputer, peripherals) through their associated node ports (N_ports) and employs a fabric having a shared memory coupled to a plurality of fabric ports (F_ports) through a bi-directional bus over which memory addresses, frame data and communications commands are transmitted. Each F_port includes a port controller employing a distributed queuing algorithm associated with a control network for communicating commands between the ports related to when and where frame transfers should be made, wherein the bi-directional bus provides an independent data network for access to the shared memory such that frames can be transferred to and from the shared memory in response to port controller commands.

Abstract: A method and system for resilient internetwork connection of frame relay (FR) networks and/or end systems. For FR relay networks interconnected by a self-healing network, a standard protocol is provided which allows a resilient network-to-network interface NNI to automatically respond to physical interfaces failures detected by the self-healing network. Switching gateways in the resilient NNI, re-route further traffic to avoid the failed physical interface. In one embodiment, a simple set of interacting protocols and mechanisms control communication between FR/ATM gateways and ATM switches. Each FR/ATM gateway includes interworking function (IWF) processing modules for converting user data between frame relay packets and ATM cells and for processing status signaling messages to achieve a resilient NNI.

Abstract: A method for providing a security mechanism to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) emulated local-area network (LAN) is disclosed. The ATM emulated LAN is served by a LAN Emulation Server (LES), a Broadcast and Unknown Server (BUS), and a LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS). After receiving a LE_JOIN_REQUEST from an LE client within the emulated LAN, the LES forms a LE_CONFIGURE_REQUEST on behalf of the LE client, by utilizing the information from the LE_JOIN_REQUEST. The LES then sends the LE_CONFIGURE_REQUEST to the LECS. In turn, the LECS sends back a LE_CONFIGURE_RESPONSE to the LES. After receiving the LE_CONFIGURE_RESPONSE from the LECS, a determination is made as to whether or not a status field within the LE_CONFIGURE_RESPONSE indicates a success and a target ATM address field within the LE_CONFIGURE_RESPONSE contains an ATM address of the LES.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for use within at least one network wherein broadcast occurs. The method and system achieve their objects as follows. In response to reception of a data frame with at least one destination indicator ordinarily requiring broadcast to a first defined group of stations, at least one attribute of the received data frame is examined. In response to the step of examining, the received data frame is transmitted to a defined second group of stations, smaller in number than the first group of stations.

Abstract: Transportation of low bit rate, circuit emulation data over an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection is improved by packetizing the circuit emulation data into short packets in accordance with a packetization clock. The packetization clock is derived as a function of the ATM cell shaping clock. The short packets are then multiplexed together into a single ATM connection and transported to a receiving unit in accordance with an ATM cell shaping clock. The circuit emulation data is then extracted at the receiving unit and forwarded to the corresponding circuit emulation connection at the appropriate service rate, which is recovered based on ATM connection characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the conversion of a file from an input format to an output format is provided. The method includes a computer-implemented method for controlling the conversion of a computer file from an input format to an output format by determining the best path for converting the file from the input format to the output format using family objects. The method includes the steps of receiving the input format and the output format, and generating a node in memory for each family object that can read the input format. The method further includes the step of generating successful branches of nodes in memory that include one or more nodes such that each successful branch includes a first node that can read the input format and a last node that can write the output format. Finally, the method includes calculating a best path through the successful branches of nodes.

Abstract: A caching method to greatly reduce the time to calculate routes based on the well known Dijkstra routing algorithm. A first embodiment is suitable for use in applications where only a single class of call is in use. A second embodiment is suitable for use where multiple classes of calls are is simultaneous use. A sequential number field and a global variable holding a sequential count are maintained by each node. When a node is put on the PATH list, the global sequential count variable is copied to the sequential number field for that particular node descriptor. Subsequently, when a route to destination node is to be calculated, for each node marked as a destination, the global sequential count variable and the node descriptor sequential number field are checked if they are equal. If they are, it means that a route has already been calculated to the destination which was already determined to be optimum.

Abstract: A packet transfer control method and a node device which are capable of providing a dedicated cut-through path for a specific end-to-end packet flow, while reducing a time required until the cut-through path is established, so as to be able to reduce the load of the address analysis processing at the router.

Abstract: A telecommunications network (12) includes a digital cross-connect system (10) that receives frame relay information carried in individual DS-0 signals over DS-0 links (14) and/or multiple DS-0 signals over FT-1 links (16). The digital cross-connect system (10) includes a cross-connect matrix (44) that consolidates DS-0 signals into DS-1 signals. The digital cross-connect system (10) further includes a frame groomer (40) that extracts frames from each DS-0 signal for consolidation into a frame groomed consolidated circuit. The frame groomed consolidated circuit is transferred to an edge switch (24) in DS-1 signals through the frame groomer (40) and the cross-connect matrix (44).

Abstract: A Quality of Service (QoS) method and mechanism enable allocation of a QoS to a flow on a network in a dynamic environment in response to detection of a new instance of an entity associated with a flow on the network. A binding is determined between the flow and the entity which is based on at least one parameter of the flow. A QoS definition is maintained in a directory service of the network. The QoS definition includes at least one configuration rule for the flow. A QoS definition for the entity is accessed, which QoS definition binds the flow with a QoS. Configuration rules of the QoS definition are applied to the flow to configure the flow. The detection of a new instance of an entity could be in response to a flow event or in response to a directory event resulting, for example, from a login event.

Abstract: According to a network system of the present invention, a protocol information requesting unit of call-out terminal requests, when setting a call between terminal devices having different signaling protocols, an ATM switch to supply signaling protocol information used by a call-in terminal. A protocol information supplying unit of the ATM switch reads protocol information corresponding to the protocol information of the call-in terminal from a first protocol information storage unit, and supplies the call-out terminal with this piece of protocol information. A protocol changing unit in the call-out terminal changes the signaling protocol used by the call-out terminal to the signaling protocol used by the call-in terminal. There comes a status wherein the two signaling protocols become coincident.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ATM network planning is described. ATM network planning involves designing an ATM network to support traffic demands, which may include voice, data, image and video traffic. It is desirable to design a backbone network for a metropolitan area which minimizes the total network cost. The design process includes the determination of network topology, location and configuration of switches, dimensioning of all links, etc. A heuristic method is described which provides a near-optimal lowest cost network design with the cost reasonably certain to be close to the optimal solution. The advantage is a versatile method which can reliably produce a lowest cost network plan in a reasonable time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting and diagnosing faults in a network. The network has a plurality of nodes through which switched virtual connections can be established. First, all attempts at establishing routes through the network are recorded. Then, the location of a failure is determined by analyzing the attempted routes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ATM switch which comprises: an ATM switch unit; a switch control unit for controlling the ATM switch unit; one or more circuit accommodation units for connecting the switch with one or more external ATM networks, respectively, and an IP routing process unit for routing IP packets in a form of ATM cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for completing inter-switch calls using a single large trunk group connected to ATM facilities. In a first embodiment, all non-featured inter-switch calls are routed to the ATM facilities over the single large trunk groups. In a second embodiment, all inter-switch calls are routed to the ATM facilities over the single large trunk group. A call manager associated with the signaling network and the ATM facilities controls call routing. The advantage is a significant simplification in the translation and routing tables at the switches in the telephone network, resulting in significant savings related to the maintenance of a plurality of trunks groups at each switch.

Abstract: A system and method connects a call in a broadband system using the asynchronous transfer mode protocol for switching. Calls are connected over a SONET ring that has SONET multiplexers coupled by SONET paths. The SONET multiplexers are adapted to add calls to, and drop calls from, the SONET ring. An ATM cross connect system that has ATM cross connect devices is coupled to the SONET ring. The ATM cross connect devices provide provisioned ATM connections over the SONET ring. ATM interworking units are coupled to the ATM cross connect system. The ATM interworking units interwork calls with selected ATM connections in response to control messages. The selected ATM connections are provisioned between the ATM interworking units by the ATM cross connect system over the SONET ring. A signaling processor system receives call signaling for the calls, processes the call signaling to select the ATM connections for the calls, and sends the control messages to the selected ATM interworking units.

Abstract: A telecommunications network provides efficient switching for voice-over-data lines by having access units coupled to the sources and destinations of telephone calls using virtual channels created in a packet switch to connect to a channel switch that converts incoming packets into the outgoing packets and causes the packet switch to route the outgoing packets to the proper access units.