Combining narrowband applications with broadband transport

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

• a call control node including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric;
• a plurality of connection control nodes each including broadband switching fabric and each being capable of processing a communication using one of a plurality of formats and relying on said switching intelligence within said call control node for providing call connection control over said broadband switching fabric;
• an intermediate node operatively connectable to said call control node and said plurality of connection control nodes, said intermediate node being adapted to interwork between said call control node and said plurality of connection control nodes, said intermediate node further including a database for linking a particular one of said plurality of connection control nodes with a corresponding one of said plurality of formats and wherein said intermediate node translates messages associated with said call connection control issued by said call control node into said format compatible with a corresponding one of said plurality of connection control nodes;
• wherein said intermediate node is further adapted to receive a communication from or for said particular connection control node and ascertain said corresponding format associated with said particular connection control node by accessing said database, said intermediate node being further adapted to translate said communication responsive to said ascertained corresponding format.

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

• providing a call control node including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric, a plurality of connection control nodes each including broadband switching fabric and each being capable of processing a communication using one of a plurality of formats and an intermediate node for interworking between said call control node and said plurality of connection control nodes;
• linking a particular one of said plurality of connection control nodes with a corresponding one of said plurality of formats at said intermediate node;
• wherein said plurality of connection control nodes rely on said switching intelligence within said call control node for providing call connection control over said broadband switching fabric and wherein said intermediate node forwarding a message associated with said call connection control transmitted by said call control node to a particular one of said connection control nodes translates the format of said message to be compatible with said particular one of said connection control nodes;
• receiving a communication from or for said particular connection control node at said intermediate node;
• ascertaining said corresponding format associated with said particular connection control node;
• and
• translating said communication responsive to said ascertained corresponding format.

A method for processing a communication associated with a particular one of a plurality of connection control nodes at an intermediate node in a communications network combining narrowband and broadband transport mechanisms, said communications network further comprising a call control node including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric, each of said connection control nodes including broadband switching fabric broadband switching fabric each being capable of processing a communication using one of a plurality of formats, said intermediate node interworking between said call control node and said plurality of connection control nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

• linking a particular one of said plurality of connection control nodes with a corresponding one of said plurality of formats at said intermediate node;
• wherein said plurality of connection control nodes rely on said switching intelligence within said call control node for providing call connection control over said broadband switching fabric and wherein said intermediate node forwarding a message associated with said call connection control transmitted by said call control node to a particular one of said connection control nodes translates the format of said message to be compatible with said particular one of said connection control nodes;
• receiving a communication message from said particular connection control node at said intermediate node wherein said communication message provides certain call control instructions to said broadband switching fabric within a particular one of said connection control nodes;
• ascertaining a corresponding format used by said particular connection control node in processing said communication message, said corresponding format being one of a plurality of formats usable by said plurality of connection control nodes;
• and
• translating said communication message responsive to said ascertained corresponding format.

A method for processing a communication associated with a particular one of a plurality of connection control nodes at an intermediate node in a communications network combining narrowband and broadband transport mechanisms, said communications network further comprising a call control node including switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric, each of said connection control nodes including broadband switching fabric, said intermediate node interworking between said call control node and said plurality of connection control nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication message for a particular one of said connection control nodes at said intermediate node wherein said communication message generated by said switching intelligence within said call control node for providing call control instructions to said broadband switching fabric within said particular one of said connection control nodes;
• ascertaining a corresponding format usable by said particular connection control node in processing said communication message, said corresponding format being one of a plurality of formats usable by said plurality of connection control nodes;
• translating said communication message responsive to said ascertained corresponding format;
• and
• transmitting said translated communication from said intermediate node to said particular connection control node.