Network interface subsystem for use in an atm communications system

Abstract

A network interface (NI) system provides for communicating encoded digital data between a connection-based network and a plurality of cellular communications networks. Each of the cellular communications networks is comprised of a plurality of cell sites that communicate with a plurality of mobile units via radio signals. The cell sites provide for converting data received in said radio signals (e.g., embedded data) into electronic digital data signals and converting the electronic data signals into radio signals. The connection-based network has a plurality of delivery points which function to translate from the electronic data into a form used by said connection-based network and from the form used by said connection-based network into the electronic data. The network interface system is comprised of a base transceiver subsystem (BTS), a base station controller (BSC), a Base Station Transceiver Subsystem Interface (BTSI), a transcoder (XC), an operations maintenance and control subsystem (OMC), and an ATM switch providing for communications of the electronic data as packetized ATM cells between the BTSI, NI, XC, and the BSC. The BTSI is coupled to each of the cell sites and to the ATM switch. The BTSI provides for packetizing the electronic data as ATM cells for transmission by the ATM switch, for transmitting and receiving the packetized ATM cells communications with said ATM switch, and for depacketizing the electronic data responsive to the received ATM cells from the ATM switch.