ATM-based distributed network switching system

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) distributed virtual tandem switching system comprising:

• an originating end office that originates a telephone call and forwards appropriate narrowband signaling, including a single routing address, for call processing and control within an advanced intelligent network;
• a signaling transfer point that receives and forwards narrowband signaling for call processing and control within the advanced intelligent network;
• and
• a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and converts between narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within an ATM switching network, the CS-IWF device providing call processing and control information to trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices via the ATM switching network,
• wherein the CS-IWF device receives narrowband signaling from the signaling transfer point, based on the routing address, and processes and controls the telephone call within the ATM switching network using broadband signaling based upon the received narrowband signaling, the routing address comprising a unique point code of the CS-IWF.

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based distributed virtual tandem switching system for use with an ATM switching network, comprising:

• a trunk interworking function (T-IWF) device that is adapted to receive end office voice trunks from TDM channels and convert the trunks to ATM cells;
• and
• a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network, the CS-IWF device providing call processing and control information to the T-IWF device via the ATM switching network,
• wherein the ATM based distributed virtual tandem switching system comprising functionality of a plurality of tandem switches.

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) distributed virtual tandem switching system comprising:

• an originating end office that originates a telephone call and forwards appropriate common channel signaling within an advanced intelligent network;
• a signaling transfer point that receives the common channel signaling, from the originating end office;
• and
• a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and converts common channel signaling to in-band signaling, the CS-IWF device providing call processing and control information to trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices via an ATM switching network,
• wherein the in-band signaling comprises a plurality of packets.

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) distributed virtual tandem switching system comprising:

• an originating end office that originates a telephone call and forwards appropriate common channel signaling, including at least one ISUP message for setting-up a call, within an advanced intelligent network;
• a signaling transfer point that receives and forwards common channel signaling for call processing and control within the advanced intelligent network;
• and
• a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and converts between common channel signaling and broadband signaling for call processing and control within an ATM switching network, the CS-IWF device providing call processing and control information to trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices via the ATM switching network,
• wherein the CS-IWF device receives common channel signaling from the signaling transfer point and processes and controls the telephone call within the ATM switching network using broadband signaling based upon the received narrowband signaling.