The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device appears as a digital loop carrier RDT to the class 5 network switch when the path to the destination is only accessible via the circuit switch network.

A method of bypassing a common control and switch matrix of a first class five digital switching system in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of:</claim-text> accessing a first connection providing internal signals used to ol line and trunk interfaces of the first digital switching system and convey data in and out of the line and trunk interfaces; and applying a switching system interface, which is compatible with the first connection providing internal signals, to the first connection, the switching system interface bypassing at least a portion of the common control and switch matrix and being compatible with a digital transmission facility within the telecommunications network. view more

The method of bypassing a common control and switch matrix of claim 19 further comprising the steps of connecting a media gateway within the telecommunications network to the second connection to enable the media gateway to communicate with the internal signals. view more

A switching system interface for bypassing the common control and switch matrix of a first class five digital switching system for telecommunications networks, comprising:</claim-text> a network interface for terminating a digital transmission ity within a network; means for connecting the network interface to at least one line/trunk interface of a digital switching system, the means for connecting the network interface to the line/trunk interface being compatible with a signaling protocol for communicating with the line/trunk interface; and means for connecting the network interface to a digital transmission facility within the telecommunications network, the means for connecting the network interface being compatible with a signaling protocol of the digital transmission facility; whereby the network interface bypasses at least a portion of the common control and switch matrix. view more

A telecommunications apparatus for managing a call, wherein the apparatus is positioned between a broadband network device having a remote digital terminal (RDT) interface and a circuit switched network device having an integrated digital terminal (IDT) interface, the apparatus comprising: a first interface configured to act as an IDT when communicating with the broadband network device; a second interface configured to act as an RDT when communicating with the circuit switched network device; and software executable by the apparatus, wherein the software includes instructions for: intercepting a call request sent by the broadband network device to the circuit switched network device; determining a path by which to route the call; and routing the call via the path, wherein resources associated with the circuit switched network device and circuit switched network are not used unless the path includes the circuit switched network. view more

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the broadband network device is an access device and the circuit switched network device is a class 5 switch.