Associating virtual channel identifier to a user phone number at an access node in a VoATM telecommunication system

A method of compiling a database of associations of virtual customer identity (VCID) information from ATM cells to telephony ports in an access system;

• the method comprising:
• receiving an input signal request to store a VCID to telephony port relation in the database;
• blocking the telephony port that uses the VCID to prevent an associated end user from accessing the telephony port;
• initiating a call using the VCID to a virtual identification line (VIL) port in the access system;
• sending ATM cells containing the VCID and VIL information across an ATM network to an access gateway;
• processing the ATM cells with the access gateway;
• establishing the call with a local exchange;
• sending ring and calling line identification presentation (CLIP) information across the ATM network to the VIL port;
• recognizing the calling number associated with a telephony port in the CLIP information;
• and
• storing a VCID to telephony port relation in the database.

An access system device comprising:

• a network port coupled to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network to interface ATM signals from an ATM network;
• a plurality of telephony ports, each telephony port is coupled to subscriber equipment, wherein the each telephony port interfaces time division multiplexing (TDM) signals to the subscriber equipment;
• a translation circuit coupled between the plurality of telephony ports and the network port to provide translation between the ATM and TDM signal formats;
• a virtual identification line (VIL) port coupled to the translation circuit and adapted to receive calling line identification presentation (CLIP) information over the ATM network;
• a database to store VCID to telephony port relations that are determined with the CLIP information;
• and
• an associated function adapted to control VCID to telephony port relation functions.

A communication system comprising:

• a local exchange having a calling line identification presentation (CLIP) function to provide CLIP services;
• an access gateway adapted translate between time division signals (TDM) signals and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signals;
• an ATM network, the access gateway is coupled between the local exchange and the ATM network;
• and
• an access system comprising,
• a network port coupled to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network to interface ATM signals from the ATM network,
• a plurality of telephony ports, each telephony port is coupled to subscriber equipment, wherein each telephony port interfaces time division multiplexing (TDM) signals to the subscriber equipment,
• a translation circuit coupled between the plurality of telephony ports and the network port to provide translation between the ATM and TDM signal formats,
• a virtual identification line (VIL) port coupled to the translation circuit and adapted to receive calling line identification presentation (CLIP) information over the ATM network,
• a database to store VCID to telephony port relations that are determined with the CLIP information, and
• an associated function adapted to control VCID to telephony port relation functions.