Patent ID: 7006490

Claim:
A method of transporting packets from a first voice switch coupled to a communication network, comprising: receiving, at the first voice switch, information bearing packets from at least one of a plurality of transport mediums of a first subscriber intended for routing to a second subscriber; determining if a transport stream exists between the first voice switch and a second voice switch serving said second subscriber; determining if the first voice switch and the second voice switch are compatible; establishing the transport stream responsive to a determination that the first switch and the second switch are compatible, wherein said establishing comprises: establishing an Asynchronous Transfer Mode physical layer; establishing an Asynchronous Transfer Mode logical layer over the Asynchronous Transfer Mode physical layer; and establishing an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2) layer over the Asynchronous Transfer Mode logical layer; and multiplexing said packets onto the transport stream as AAL2 packets adapted for transmission over the Asynchronous Transfer Mode Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2) layer, said AAL2 packets intended for the second voice switch serving the second subscriber.