Combining narrowband applications with broadband transport

A system for combining narrowband and broadband transport mechanisms in a communications network, comprising:

• a plurality of call control nodes each including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric;
• a plurality of connection control nodes each including broadband switching fabric;
• at least one intermediate node operatively connectable to said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes, said at least one intermediate node being adapted to interwork between said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes, said at least one intermediate node being controlled by all of said plurality of call control nodes;
• wherein each said call control node of said plurality of call control nodes has an identity associated therewith, each said call control node of said plurality of call control nodes including said respective identity with each message transmitted to said intermediate node;
• and
• wherein said intermediate node has a plurality of resources therein for interworking between said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes, an assigned one of said plurality of resources having said identity of at least one of said call control nodes associated therewith wherein said assigned resource comprises a logical port for supporting connections between two of said plurality of call control nodes, said logical port having said identifier of said two call control nodes associated therewith.

A method for combining narrowband and broadband transport mechanisms in a communications network, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of call control nodes each including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric;
• providing a plurality of connection control nodes each including broadband switching fabric;
• interworking between said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes using at least one intermediate node, said at least one intermediate node being controlled by all of said plurality of call control nodes;
• wherein each said call control node of said plurality of call control nodes has an identity associated therewith, and further comprising the step of transmitting a message from a sending one of said plurality of call control nodes, said message including said identity of said sending call control node and
• wherein said intermediate node has a plurality of resources therein for interworking between said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes and further comprising the step of assigning said identity of at least one of said plurality of call control nodes to an assigned one of said plurality of resources wherein said assigned resource comprises a logical port for supporting connections between two of said plurality of call control nodes, and wherein said step of assigning further comprises the step of:
• assigning said identity of said two call control nodes to said logical port.

A method for supporting control of at least one intermediate node by a plurality of call control nodes in a communications network, said plurality of call control nodes each including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric, said intermediate node interworking between said plurality of call control nodes and a plurality of connection control nodes each having broadband switching fabric, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing each said call control node of said plurality of call control nodes with an identity;
• and
• assigning said identity of at least one of said plurality of call control nodes to an assigned one of a plurality of resources within said intermediate node, said plurality of resources for interworking between said plurality of call control nodes and said plurality of connection control nodes transmitting a message from a sending one of said plurality of call control nodes, said message including said identity of said sending call control node;
• wherein said assigned resource comprises a logical port for supporting connections between two of said plurality of call control nodes, and wherein said step of assigning further comprises the step of:
• assigning said identity of said two call control nodes to said logical port.