Sbc Technology Resources, Inc.

At&t Labs, Inc.

George C Allen, Jr

Haifeng Bi

Samuel Sigarto

Richard Wayne Stephenson

Steven R Partridge

Tina M Sigarto

Matthew Wayne Stafford

Weijing Chen

Bruce Allen Nance

Barbara Smith

Randy Beamon

Janice Elaine Doerner

Mehran Esfandiari

Gary Jonathan Gibbons

Paul August Kaschube

John Pinch

George Anthony Young

A distributed network switching system includes a data network. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the data network. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and administrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the data network.

ATM-based distributed network switching system

A system and method for reducing and surviving failures in a voice trunking over ATM (VTOA) environment includes an ATM network having a plurality of interconnected ATM switches. The VTOA system also includes a CS-IWF complex having a plurality of interconnected CS-IWF units, each unit having a plurality of processors. An end office building may also be provided for interaction with the VTOA system. The end office building includes multiple T-IWFs, and a switch that distributes calls among the T-IWFs in a load sharing manner. Each T-IWF has a plurality of processors and is part of the VTOA system. A switch management system is also provided in the VTOA system. In order to reduce and survive failures, the switch management system includes a plurality of switch management system units. At least one of the switch management system units is a backup unit for at least one primary switch management system unit. Each switch management system unit provides application redundancy within itself.

Fault tolerant virtual tandem switch

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed virtual tandem switching system is provided in which a network of ATM-based devices is combined to create a distributed virtual tandem switch. The system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes a trunk interworking function (T-IWF) device and a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device. The trunk interworking function device converts end office voice trunks from TDM channels to ATM cells by employing a structured circuit emulation service. The centralized control and signaling interworking function device performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband signaling and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. Consequently, the ATM based distributed virtual tandem switching system replaces a standard tandem switch in the PSTN.

Virtual tandem switch

Distributed virtual tandem switch

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed network switching system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the distributed ATM switching fabric. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and administrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. The CS-IWF device may be a server farm.

ATM-based distributed virtual tandem switching system

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed virtual tandem switching system is provided in which a network of ATM-based devices is combined to create a distributed virtual tandem switch. The system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes a trunk interworking function (T-IWF) device and a centralized control and signaling interworking finction (CS-IWF) device. The trunk interworking function device converts end office voice trunks from TDM channels to ATM cells by employing a structured circuit emulation service. The centralized control and signaling interworking function device performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband signaling and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. Consequently, the ATM based distributed virtual tandem switching system replaces a standard tandem switch in the PSTN.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

George C Allen, Jr