Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Market Dynamics

2. Typical Programmable-Switching Architecture

3. Switching Features: Openness, Scalability, and Configurability

4. Switching Features: Reliability, Price Performance, and Standards Compliance

5. Benefits

6. Programmable Switching Applications

7. Conclusion: The Future of Programmable Switching

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

ANSI
American National Standards Institute

API
application programming interface

BABT
British Approvals Board for Telecommunications

CE
connection endpoint

CO
central office

CTI
computer telephony integration

DSP
digital-signal processing

DTMF
dual-tone multifrequency

ECTF
Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum

ESP
enhanced service platform

GUI
graphical user interface

IA
interoperability agreement

IP
intelligent peripheral

ISDN
integrated services digital network

ITU
International Telecommunications Union

JATE
Japan Approvals Institute for Telecommunications Equipment

Kbps
thousands of bits per second

MTBF
mean time between failures

MTTR
mean time to repair

MVIP
multivendor integration protocol

NEBS
new equipment building system

OEM
original equipment manufacturer

PBX
private branch exchange

PC
personal computer

PCB
printed circuit board

PEB
PCM expansion bus

POTS
plain old telephone service

SCSA
signal computing system architecture

SS7
signaling system 7

TDM
time-division multiplexed

UL
Underwriter's Laboratories