Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for providing IP transport and Internet services using a public switched telephone network and providing equal access. The system provides a wide area communications network serving a plurality of defined geographic areas (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 frame relay network spans the geographic areas. 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 and to the frame relay network. Each data hub node includes a gateway router connected via a packet switch and at least one terminal access server to one of the central office switching systems for switched connection to selected ones of the premises. A central maintenance center is provided for monitoring and maintaining the wide area communications network and is connected to the SMDS network and to the frame relay network and through the SMDS and frame relay networks to the data hub nodes. The central maintenance center monitors and maintains the wide area communications network through the SMDS and frame relay networks and data hub nodes.

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First Claim