Patent ID: 6151325
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A multiple stage switching system for use in telecommunications networks, the switching system including:A. a plurality of switch modules, each switch module including one or more switch ports, an ATM interface card and a time-division-multiplexed ""TDM"" bus that transfers user data between the switch ports and the ATM interface card;B. an asynchronous transfer mode ""ATM"" switch for interconnecting the switch modules, the ATM switch transferring the user data through the switch over pre-established connection paths;C. a system controller for dynamically establishing connections between the switch ports of the switch modules by establishing for the connections that include a given pair of switch modules one or more virtual trunks to transfer the user data between the TDM buses of the switch modules and cell payloads of ATM cells that are directed over one of the pre-established connection paths in the ATM switch.