Switching system using identical switching nodes

An apparatus in a first and second switching nodes for initiating an virtual link between said switching nodes through a switching system, comprising:

• means for establishing a plurality of physical transport channels between said switching nodes through said switching system utilizing a standard protocol on a physical signaling channel;
• means for establishing a plurality of virtual transport channels via said physical transport channels;
• means for establishing a virtual signaling channel using user communication facilities of said standard protocol on said physical signaling channel;
• and
• means for identifying said virtual signaling channel and said plurality of virtual transport channels allowing calls to be set up on said virtual transport channels by reusing said standard protocol on said virtual signaling channel without said switching system being involved with the call setup of said calls.

An apparatus in a first and second switching nodes for initiating an virtual link between said switching nodes through a switching system, comprising:

• means for establishing a plurality of physical transport channels between said switching nodes through said switching system utilizing a standard protocol on a logical link of physical signaling channels;
• means for establishing a plurality of virtual transport channels via said physical transport channels;
• means for establishing a virtual signaling channel on another logical link of said physical signaling channels;
• and
• means for identifying said virtual signaling channel and said plurality of virtual transport channels allowing calls to be set up on said virtual transport channels using said standard protocol on said virtual signaling channel without said logical link of said physical signaling channels and said switching system being involved with the call setup of said calls.

A switching system comprising:

• a first switching node interconnecting a second switching node and a third switching node;
• means within said first switching node responsive to call setup requests from said second switching node to route calls to said third switching node for processing each of said call setup requests whereby said first switching node routes each of said calls through said first switching node and transmits another call setup request for each of said call setup requests from said second switching node to said third switching node so that said third switching node can respond to each of said calls;
• means within said second switching node from transmitting a call setup request to said first switching node to set up a call to a predetermined endpoint within said third switching node whereby said third switching node processes said call request to said predetermined endpoint;
• means within said second switching node responsive to transmission of said call setup request for said call to said predetermined endpoint and means within said third switching node responsive to receipt of said call to said predetermined endpoint for establishing a communication path through said first switching node from said second switching node to said third switching node for the communication of other calls without said first switching node processing call setup request for said other calls.

A method for initiating a virtual link between a first and second switching nodes through a switching system, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of physical transport channels between said switching nodes through said switching system utilizing a standard protocol on a physical signaling channel;
• establishing a virtual signaling channel and a plurality of virtual transport channels via said physical channels;
• and
• identifyng said virtual signaling channel and said plurality of virtual transport channels to said switching nodes allowing calls to be set up on said virtual transport channels using said standard protocol on said virtual signaling channel without said physical signaling channel and said switching system being involved with the call setup of said calls.

A method for initiating a virtual link between a first and second switching nodes through a switching system, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of physical transport channels between said switching nodes through said switching system utilizing a standard protocol on a physical signaling channel;
• establishing a plurality of virtual transport channels via said physical transport channels;
• establishing a virtual signaling channel using user communication facilities of said standard protocol on said physical signaling channel;
• and
• identifying said virtual signaling channel and said plurality of virtual transport channels allowing calls to be set up on said virtual transport channels by reusing said standard protocol on said virtual signaling channel without said switching system being involved with the call setup of said calls.

A method for initiating a virtual link between a first and second switching nodes through a switching system, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of physical transport channels between said switching nodes through said switching system utilizing a standard protocol on a logical link of a physical signaling channel;
• establishing a plurality of virtual transport channels via said physical transport channels;
• establishing a virtual signaling channel on another logical link of said physical signaling channel;
• and
• identifying said virtual signaling channel and said plurality of virtual transport channels allowing calls to be set up on said virtual transport channels using said standard protocol on said virtual signaling channel without said logical link of said physical signaling channel and said switching system being involved with the call setup of said calls.