US Patent 7760714 System and method for controlling a telecom network

A system for controlling a telecommunications network, e.g., a public switched switching network, which has a first switch fabric, for controlling connections or calls in the network. This fabric has first and second ports, and third ports for communicating with, e.g., a second switch fabric and/or peripheral apparatus. A bridging circuit, also located within the network, may be connected between the first and second ports. A computer apparatus, external to the network, is connected to the first and the second ports of the first switch fabric in order to control connections among the first, second and third ports.