Patent ID: 7194082

Claim:
A telephone network comprising: a local exchange carrier originating switch; a competitive local exchange carrier ported switch; and a cross-connect switch coupled between said local exchange carrier originating switch and a main distribution frame forming a first communication channel, the cross-connect switch further coupled between the competitive local exchange carrier ported switch and the main distribution frame forming a second communication channel, the cross-connect switch adapted to deactivate the first communication channel and to activate the second communication channel in response to a remote activation signal wherein the cross-connect switch comprises: an originating dial tone (ODT) port for receiving a first line from said local exchange carrier originating switch associated with a subscriber's directory number; a ported dial tone (PDT) port for receiving a second line from said competitive local exchange carrier ported switch associated with said subscriber's directory number; a main distribution frame (MDF) port for connecting said cross-connect switch to a MDF associated with said local exchange carrier originating switch and with said competitive local exchange carrier ported switch; an electronic switch for connecting said ODT port and said PDT port to said MDF port; and a controller in operative communication wit said electronic switch, said ODT port, said PDT port, and said MDF port, said controller receiving a trigger signal and, in response thereto, establishing a communication channel between said PDT port and said MDF port and deactivating a communication channel between said ODT port and said MDF port.