The AT&T Switching Evolution Challenge

Abstract

The 1B processor represents one of the largest single investments in new network technology ever made by AT&T. The effort to make the 1B processor a reality encompassed organizations throughout AT&T, requiring, from all involved, the highest levels of commitment and teamwork to meet an aggressive schedule. This paper provides an overview of the scope and complexity of the entire project, from requirements through field deployment. It focuses on the significant role that the 1B processor plays in the long distance network, the stringent reliability requirements imposed on it, and the technical and organizational challenges that were successfully met. Also included are a high-level summary of the 1B processor's capabilities, and a discussion of the business directions that helped to define them. Finally, this paper sets the stage for the detailed papers that follow, providing perspective on how each effort fits into the overall scheme.