Broadband telecommunications system

Abstract

A communication method comprises: processing a first message from the user CPE to select a circuit switch from a plurality of circuit switches, and selecting an identifier and a DS0 to route user communications from the user CPE to the circuit switch; transferring a second message indicating the identifier and the DS0 and transferring an SS7 IAM to the circuit switch; receiving the user communications from the user CPE in a packet format having the identifier in headers, and routing the user communications in the packet format based on the identifier in the headers; and receiving the second message and the user communications in the packet format, and in response, converting the user communications from the packet format into a DS0 format and transferring the user communications in the DS0 format over the DS0 to the one circuit switch.

1 . A method of operating a communication system to transfer user communications from user Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to one of a plurality of circuit switches, the method comprising: 
 receiving and processing a first message from the user CPE to select the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches, and selecting an identifier and a DS0 to route user communications from the user CPE to the one circuit switch;    transferring a second message indicating the identifier and the DS0 and transferring a Signaling System Seven (SS7) Initial Address Message (IAM) to the one circuit switch indicating the DS0;    receiving the user communications from the user CPE in a packet format having the identifier in headers, and routing the user communications in the packet format based on the identifier in the headers; and    receiving the second message and the user communications in the packet format, and in response, converting the user communications from the packet format into a DS0 format and transferring the user communications in the DS0 format over the DS0 to the one circuit switch.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based on available access to the one circuit switch.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based on service capabilities of the one circuit switch.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based on an area served by the one circuit switch.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one circuit switch is assigned to an NPA, wherein the first message from the user CPE indicates a called number, and wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based the called number having the NPA.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one circuit switch is assigned to an NPA-NXX, wherein the first message from the user CPE indicates a called number, and wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based the called number having the NPA-NXX.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one circuit switch provides a service that corresponds to a called number, wherein the first message from the user CPE indicates the called number, and wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based the called number corresponding to the service provided by the one circuit switch.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one circuit switch provides a calling card service that corresponds to a called number, wherein the first message from the user CPE indicates the called number, and wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based the called number corresponding to the calling card service provided by the one circuit switch.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based on a caller number.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based on a carrier identification.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the one circuit switch from the plurality of circuit switches comprises selecting the one circuit switch based network maintenance conditions.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first message comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) message.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second message comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) message.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the user communications from the user CPE comprises receiving the user communications over a wireless connection.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the packet format comprises asynchronous transfer mode and the identifier comprises a virtual path identifier.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the packet format comprises asynchronous transfer mode and the identifier comprises a virtual circuit identifier.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising routing the user communications from the circuit switch to a called party.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the user communications to provide a calling card service.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the user communications to provide a voice messaging service.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the user communications to provide a user terminal mobility service.