Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for providing IP transport and Internet services using a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and providing equal access. The system provides a wide area communications network serving a plurality of defined geographic areas such as LATAs, served by a switched telephone network having a plurality of central office switching systems in the telephone network in each geographic area connected to a plurality of terminals in premises served by said switching systems in those geographic areas. A switched multimegabit data service (SMDS) network spans the geographic areas and a plurality of Internet service providers (ISPs) are connected to the SMDS network. At least one data hub node is provided in each geographic area and each hub node is connected to the SMDS network. Each data hub node includes a gateway router connected via a packet switch and at least one multi-port access server to one of the central office switching systems for switched connection to selected ones of the premises. The PSTN is controlled by an advanced intelligent network having service switching points, service transfer points, and a service control point having databases associated therewith. The ISPs are provided with virtual numbers and subscribe to multiple ports on the terminal access servers. One of the databases associated with the service control point provides a translation from the virtual number to the identity of an ISP. Another of the databases provides a translation based on the identity of the ISP and the calling station to a port. Connection is made between the calling station and the ISP via the port, router, and SMDS network.

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First Claim