Patent ID: 7366198

Claim:
A method for interfacing packet and circuit telephony operations in a distributed telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: communicatively coupling at least one network transmission element within said distributed telecommunications network with at least one digital circuit switch and at least one broadband switch, such that said at least one broadband switch interfaces with said at least one network transmission element and said at least one digital circuit switch to coordinate combined circuit and packet signaling, routing and calling processing services among terminals of said distributed telecommunications network; and configuring said at least one network transmission element to comprise: at least one peripheral circuit and timing card (PCTC) and at least one ethernet card; at least one packet-to-circuit conversion card; and a plurality of cross-connect multiplexers that permit data communications between said at least one PCTC, said at least one ethernet card and said at least one packet-to-circuit conversion card; wherein an interface from the at least one digital circuit switch to the at least one network transmission element is a bearer channel controlled by a Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC) protocol.