CONTROL OF SWITCHING IN A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK

摘要

A telecommunication network comprises a local switch for receiving and switching a telecommunication signal to remote switches in the network. A local control arrangement is provided which includes a memory for storing instructions and data and which uses the stored instructions and data to control the switching operation of the local switch. A remote control arrangement is provided which also includes a memory for storing equivalent instructions and data. The remote control arrangement is also adapted to control the switching operation of the local switch and the local switch can be controlled by either the local or the remote control arrangements. A manager is provided for modifying the instructions and data in the memories of the local and remote control means and modify the instructions and data in either the local or remote control arrangements immediately. A marker is then sent to the other of the local or remote control means to mark the instructions and data as being out of date. The manager can then modify the marked instructions and data at a later date. The switch is arranged to initially request control from the local control arrangement and the marker is checked to determine if the instructions and data in the local control arrangement are up to date. If not, control is passed to the remote control arrangement.