US 6,160,879 A · Private circuit provision in a telecommunications network

Abstract

A telecommunications network includes local switches, main switches and access lines. A switching unit which takes the form of a computer with switching capability is connected to the local switch on a 30 channel ISDN link. In order to form a private circuit between two access lines, the following operations are performed. At local switches, access line are physically connected to free local switch lines. At each of the local switches, an engineer uses the free local switch line which has just been connected to an access line to make a call to the switching unit. The switching unit captures the CLI of this local switch line. The engineer then enters an identifier for the private circuit which is to be formed and instructs the switching unit to form a private circuit. The switching unit then calls these two free local switch lines and then forms the private circuit by connecting the local switch lines together within itself.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of providing a private circuit in a telecommunications network, said network having at least two local switches and a switching unit, each local switch having a group of local switch lines and being associated with a group of access lines, said method comprising the steps of:

physically connecting a first access line to a first local switch line at a first local switch;
physically connecting a second access line to a second local switch line at a second local switch;
instructing said switching unit to form a connection between said first and second local switch lines;
said switching unit calling said first local switch line;
said switching unit calling said second local switch line;
and
said switching unit forming a connection between said first and second local switch lines with itself so as to form a private circuit between said first and second access lines,
wherein said step of instructing said switching unit to connect said first and second access lines comprises the steps of:
a first user calling said switching unit on said first local switch line;
said switching unit capturing the calling line identity of said first local switch line;
a second user calling said switching unit on said second local switch line;
and
said switching unit capturing the calling line identity of said second local swithc line.

10 more elements

physically connecting a first access line to a first local switch line at a first local switch;
physically connecting a second access line to a second local switch line at a second local switch;
instructing said switching unit to form a connection between said first and second local switch lines;
said switching unit calling said first local switch line;
said switching unit calling said second local switch line;
and
said switching unit forming a connection between said first and second local switch lines with itself so as to form a private circuit between said first and second access lines;
wherein said step of instructing said switching unit to connect said first and second access lines comprises the steps of:
a first user calling said switching unit on said first local switch line;
said switching unit capturing the calling line identity of said first local switch line;
said first user entering an identifier for said private circuit on said first local switch line;
a second user calling said switching unit on said second local switch line;
said switching unit capturing the calling line identity of said second local switch line;
and
said second user entering said identifier for said private circuit on said second local switch line.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Private circuit provision in a telecommunications network

Life of this patent

Private circuit provision in a telecommunications network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9