Patent ID: 6373849
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A communications network comprising:A) a plurality of switching nodes each of which contains line cards with multiple ports for connections between the communications network and subscriber lines or other switching systems, each of said nodes including 1. a switch, 2 an incoming bus for transferring switched data from the line cards to the switch, and 3. an outgoing bus for transferring switched data from the switch to the line card; B) an internal network interconnecting the switching nodes for conveying switched telecommunications data between them; C) at least one node including a resource interface card that connects the node to external resources, the resource interface card including, 1. means for transmitting data to line cards on the same node over the outgoing bus and receiving data from those line cards over the incoming bus, and 2. means for transmitting data to line cards on other nodes over the incoming bus and the switch and receiving data from those line cards over the switch and the outgoing bus; D) means in each switching node for forwarding incoming information from ports to external resources for processing; and E) means for returning processed information from external resources to the requesting port through the incoming or outgoing bus.