Method and system for interfacing between circuit network switches and ATM edge switches

A method for configuring a No. 5ESS of a switch network to support a virtual trunk group to an ATM edge switch of an ATM network while avoiding glare, wherein the No. 5ESS switch provides one primary trunk group and has an overflow feature for providing overflow trunk groups, wherein each trunk group has a plurality of trunks for handling calls, the method comprising:

• initiating the overflow feature of the No. 5ESS switch to provide five overflow trunk groups;
• provisioning the primary trunk group of the No. 5ESS switch as an outgoing primary trunk group for outgoing calls;
• provisioning one of the five overflow trunk groups of the No. 5ESS switch as an incoming primary trunk group for incoming calls;
• provisioning the other four of the five overflow trunk groups of the No. 5ESS switch as overflow trunk groups for outgoing and incoming calls;
• hunting through the outgoing primary trunk group to seize trunks for outgoing calls;
• hunting through the incoming primary trunk group to seize trunks for incoming calls;
• hunting through a first overflow trunk group to seize trunks for outgoing calls after all of the trunks of the outgoing primary trunk group have been seized;
• and
• hunting through a fourth overflow trunk group to seize trunks for incoming calls after all of the trunks of the incoming pry trunk group have been seized.

A telecommunications system comprising:

• a circuit switch network having a switch, the switch providing one primary trunk group and having an overflow feature for providing at least three overflow trunk groups, wherein each trunk group has its for handing calls;
• an ATM network having an ATM edge switch connected to the switch for receiving and transmitting calls to the circuit switch network;
• and
• a controller operable for initiating the overflow feature of the switch to provide at least one overflow trunk group, for provisioning the primary trunk group of the switch as an outgoing primary trunk group for outgoing calls, and for provisioning one of the overflow trunk groups of the switch as an incoming primary trunk group for incoming calls, the controller further operable for provisioning the non-primary overflow trunk groups as overflow trunk groups for outgoing and incoming calls, wherein the controller is operable for hunting through the outgoing primary trunk group to seize trunks for outgoing calls, hunting through the incoming primary trunk group to seize trunks for incoming calls, hunting through a first overflow trunk group to seize trunks for outgoing calls after all of the trunks of the outgoing primary trunk group have been seized, and hunting through a second overflow trunk group to seize trunks for incoming calls after all of the trunks of the incoming primary trunk group have been seized.

A method for configuring a No. 5ESS of a switch network to support a virtual trunk group to an ATM edge switch of an ATM network while avoiding glare, wherein the No. 5ESS switch provides one primary trunk group and has an overflow feature for providing overflow trunk groups, wherein each trunk group has a plurality of trunks for handling calls, the method comprising:

• initiating the overflow feature of the No. 5ESS switch to provide five overflow trunk groups;
• provisioning the primary trunk group as an outgoing primary trunk group for outgoing calls;
• provisioning one of the five overflow trunk groups as an incoming primary trunk group for incoming calls;
• provisioning the other four of the five overflow trunk groups switch as overflow trunk groups for outgoing and incoming calls;
• hunting through the outgoing primary trunk group to seize trunks for outgoing calls;
• hunting through the incoming primary trunk group to seize trunks for incoming calls;
• hunting through the other four of the five overflow trunk groups in an descending direction to seize trunks for outgoing calls after all of the trunks of the outgoing primary trunk group have been seized;
• and
• hunting through the other four of the five overflow trunk groups in an ascending direction to seize trunks for incoming calls after all of the trunks of the incoming primary trunk group have been seized.