Distributed telecommunications switching system and method

A distributed telecommunications switching subsystem, comprising:

• a first switching subsystem operable to receive a data packet, the first switching subsystem comprising a first address storage system, a first processor and a first switch, the first address storage system being operable to store a first plurality of addresses corresponding to a first plurality of customers, the first processor being operable to compare an address portion of the data packet with the first plurality of addresses, the first switch being operable to transmit the data packet to a selected one of the first plurality of customers in response to a positive comparison between the address portion of the data packet and the first plurality of addresses, the first switch being further operable to transmit the data packet on a first communication line in response to a negative comparison between the address portion of the data packet and the first plurality of addresses;
• and
• a second switching subsystem coupled to the first communication line and operable to receive the data packet transmitted thereon, the second switching subsystem comprising a second address storage system, a second processor and a second switch, the second address storage system being operable to store a second plurality of addresses corresponding to a second plurality of customers, the second processor being operable to compare the address portion of the data packet with the second plurality of addresses, the second switch being operable to transmit the data packet to a selected one of the second plurality of customers in response to a positive comparison between the address portion of the data packet and the second plurality of addresses;
• wherein the second switching subsystem further comprises an ingress queue operable to store a return data packet generated by a selected one of the second plurality of customers, and to transmit the return data packet to the first switching subsystem.

A method for routing data in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a first switching unit a data packet having a destination associated therewith;
• determining at the first switching unit whether the destination associated with the data packet corresponds to a destination associated with the first switching unit;
• transmitting the data packet to the destination associated with the first switching unit in response to a correspondence between the destination associated with the data packet and the destination associated with the first switching unit;
• transmitting the data packet to a second switching unit in response to a lack of correspondence between the destination associated with the data packet and the destination associated with the first switching unit;
• determining at the second switching unit whether the destination associated with the data packet corresponds to a destination associated with the second switching unit;
• transmitting the data packet to the destination associated with the second switching unit in response to a correspondence between the destination associated with the data packet and the destination associated with the second switching unit;
• transmitting the data packet to a third switching unit in response to a lack of correspondence between the destination associated with the data packet and the destination associated with the second switching unit;
• receiving at the second switching unit a return data packet;
• and
• transmitting the return data packet by second switching unit to the first switching unit.

A service access multiplexer, comprising:

• a first channel bank operable to receive an asynchronous transfer mode cell, the first channel bank operable to route the asynchronous transfer mode cell to one of a plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the first channel bank in response to a determination that the asynchronous transfer mode cell is destined for one of the plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the first channel bank, the first channel bank operable to pass on the asynchronous transfer mode cell in response to a determination that the asynchronous transfer mode cell is not destined for one of the plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the first channel bank;
• an intermediate channel bank operable to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cell passed on by the first channel bank, the intermediate channel bank operable to route the asynchronous transfer mode cell to one of a plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the intermediate channel bank in response to a determination that the asynchronous transfer mode cell is destined for one of the plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the intermediate channel bank, the intermediate channel bank operable to pass on the asynchronous transfer mode cell in response to a determination that the asynchronous transfer mode cell is not destined for one of the plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the intermediate channel bank;
• a terminating channel bank operable to receive the asynchronous transfer mode cell passed on by the intermediate channel bank, the terminating channel bank operable to route the asynchronous transfer mode cell to one of a plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the terminating channel bank in response to a determination that the asynchronous transfer mode cell is destined for one of the plurality of subscriber interfaces associated with the terminating channel bank.