Patent ID: 6898199

Claim:
A switching system comprising: A) a plurality of switching nodes each of which contains: 1. a programmable switch that includes a software protocol application that manages calls in that particular switching node, and that performs call-processing operations defined by a system operator; 2. a plurality of line cards with ports for connections between the system and one or more external networks, said line cards including a line card software protocol application that manages calls in the line card, and that exchanges data between the switching system and one of said external networks; and 3. a supplementary services application for the development and execution of supplementary services for each call processed in the switching system; B) an internodal switching network interconnecting each of the plurality of switching nodes for conveying switched telecommunications data between them; C) a host computer that includes a software protocol application that manages calls in the host, and which host software protocol application exercises supervisory control over the plurality of switching nodes; D) a host network linking the host computer and the switching nodes for supervisory and informational communications; and E) host-switch interface means for communicating and passing information between: 1. the software protocol application that manages calls in a switching node, and the supplementary services application, and 2. the host software protocol application, and the supplementary services application.