Patent ID: 6757278
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: H04J,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A telecommunications network that carries control traffic and bearer traffic via ATM communications channels and TDM communications channels, the telecommunications network comprising:a plurality of ATM switches and an ATM element management system that manages an ATM switching network formed by the plurality of ATM switches; at least one closed user group comprising a plurality of closed user group members, the closed user group members including a plurality of trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices configured to receive end office voice trunks from TDM channels and convert the trunks to ATM cell streams and to receive ATM cell streams and convert the ATM cell streams to end office voice trunks; at least one centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network; and a VTOA switch management system (SMS); and a plurality of end office switches that communicate with the plurality of trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices and the at least one centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device via TDM communications channels; wherein the closed user group members do not include the plurality of ATM switches and the plurality of end office switches, and are configured to establish communications, through the plurality of ATM switches, only with other closed user group members via the ATM switching network.