Patent ID: 7184430

Claim:
A telecommunication system adapted for use with a cable-based IP network, such system comprising: (a) a central office, comprising: (i) an IP network interface for converting between the central office protocol and the cable-based IP network, TCP/IP protocol; (ii) a database for storing a relationship between each one of a plurality of subscribers served by the cable-based central office and calling features subscribed to by at least one of the served subscribers; (iii) a processor coupled to the cable-based P network through the IP network interface, wherein the processor addresses the database using the central office protocol to provide a calling subscribers with subscribed calling features when the calling subscriber is routed to a called party through the switching network; and (iv) a switching network having at least one port thereof fed by trunk units and the IP network interface for routing calls between the ports selectively in accordance with switching signals provided by the processor in cable-based central office protocol.