Managing memory within a local telecommunications network

Abstract

A telecommunications network (10) includes a plurality of transport node controllers (18) that interface with a plurality of local communication processors (16) for the transfer of telecommunications information between subscribers (14) associated with the local communication processors (16) and also for subscribers remote from the transport node controller (18). The transport node controller (18) includes a buffer memory (24) with a pool of buffers (26). A local processor controller (22), in conjunction with a remote processor (20), allocate the buffers (26) within the buffer memory (24) among the plurality of local communication processors (16) and remote communication processors communicating to the transport node controller (18) through a message transporting network (12). The local processor controller (22) assigns a buffer (26) to each of the plurality of local communication processors (16). A message processed by one of the local communication processors (16) is temporarily stored within its associated message-in buffer (26). The local processor controller (22) determines the destination for the message and places the address of the message-in buffer (26) into a message-out queue (32) associated with the destination local communication processor (16). The local processor controller (22) assigns a next message-in buffer (36) to the originating local communication processor (16) such that the originating local communication processor (16) can receive a new message.