Abstract

A Broadband Intelligent Network employs an ATM fast-packet switch to route signaling cells from a calling party to a switch port directly connected to a Service Control Point (SCP). The signaling cells carry a service request that requires the support of a network resource, and, in the specific case described herein, the support of the Line Information Data Base (LIDB) to facilitate the establishment of a switched virtual connection to a called party. The SCP acts on the information in the signaling cells and selects the required resource, i.e., the LIDB, and then sends a query cell(s) to the LIDB through a permanent virtual connection in the ATM switch. The LIDB, in turn, acts on the information in the query cell(s) to assemble a response cell(s) with the requested information. The response cell(s) is sent to the SCP through the permanent virtual connection in the ATM switch, thereby enabling the SCP to complete call processing, establish the requested connection, and generate a billing record.