Patent ID: 6859447

Claim:
A broadband cellular network device connected to a mobile services switching center and to one or more base transceiver stations with asynchronous transfer mode links, comprising: a base station control unit adapted to control distribution of asynchronous transfer mode cellular traffic consisting of asynchronous transfer mode cells, an asynchronous transfer mode controller, separate from said base station control unit, connected to and being controlled by said base station control unit, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching means connected to and being controlled by said asynchronous transfer mode controller an adapted to switch asynchronous transfer mode cellular traffic, wherein said asynchronous transfer mode controller being arranged to function between the base station control unit and the asynchronous transfer mode switching means and being arranged to provide an interface for converting commands of a first communication protocol issued by the base station control unit into commands of a second communication protocol causing switching actions and being configured to provide an interface for issuing commands for connecting and disconnecting traffic channels passing through the asynchronous transfer mode switching means.