摘要 |
<p>The present invention discloses an architecture and method for establishing one or more variable bandwidth communications channels that provides telecommunication customers with immediate setup of an arbitrary bandwidth connection upon demand. A centrally disposed access server (40) controls all of the switches (19) that form the traffic-bearing network (15) and forms a single portal through which all connection requests are made. Requests from users (12) and network applications are interpreted, validated, translated, and seamlessly delivered to the DXCs by the access server (40). The access server (40) comprises a packet switched data network (42), a processor (44), and several workstations (46, 48) for performing a plurality of customer and network related functions. The access server (40) functions as an intermediatory between a traffic-bearing network (15) and one or more network subsystems (20, 25) which are responsible for allocating the connection based on the customer's request.</p> |