Patent ID: 7760714

Claim:
A system for controlling a telecommunications network, the system comprising: a first switch fabric, situated within the telecommunications network, for controlling connections in the telecommunications network, the first switch fabric including (i) a first port containing a first voice data section and a first control section, (ii) a second port containing a second voice data section and a second control section, (iii) a third port containing a third voice data section and a third control section, wherein the third voice data section is communicatively coupled to a first peripheral apparatus, (iv) a fourth port containing a fourth voice data section and a fourth control section, wherein the fourth voice data section and the is communicatively coupled to a second peripheral apparatus, and (v) a bridging circuit connecting the first voice data section and the second voice data section; and a computer apparatus arranged to (i) command the first control section to establish a first connection between the first voice data section and the third voice data section allowing the bridging circuit and the first peripheral apparatus to communicate, (ii) command the second control section to establish a second connection between the second voice data section and the fourth voice data section, allowing the bridging circuit and the second peripheral apparatus to communicate, thereby allowing the first peripheral apparatus to communicate with the second peripheral apparatus via the first connection, the bridging circuit and the second connection.