Universal premises access to voice band and ATM networks using a broadband interworking gateway

Many large enterprises that access high bandwidth data services from their networks are using narrowband voice channels to mimic high bandwidth data lines. Data traffic is being transported by service providers via their narrowband networks, which, in turn, causes congestion and resource problems for the providers. The service providers, desiring a more efficient use of their networks, would like to move this traffic to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network but do not want to force their customers to change their access methods or lose valuable network features such as dialing plans. This paper proposes a network architecture that will preserve customers' present access methods, preserve the features to which they have become accustomed, and aggregate the high bandwidth traffic onto an ATM network. The heart of the solution is a new element known as the broadband interworking gateway (BBIG), which bridges the customer premises access to both the voice band network and the ATM network. An implementation solution that modifies and enhances the present configuration of the 5ESS® switch is also proposed.