Communication system architecture, apparatus and management and signalling method therein

Constrained operation performance of exchanges (50) and switches (16, 216) of wireline communication systems (10) is mitigated and single entry point management of the system maintained through the provision of a distributed multi-service hub (MSH) sub-net (350) architecture in which individual MSHs (302-308) have hidden point codes (1001-1003). A signalling server (352) is able to translate an address of the MSH sub-net into a point code associated with an MSH entry point into the MSH sub-net, while dialled digit information pertaining to a service or party identifies a related MSH exit point from the MSH sub-net (350). A path can therefore be established, with the signalling server (352) further required to ensure that the hidden point code associated with the MSH exit point is translated back to the address of the MSH sub-net in onward routing of signalling messages to the dialled service or party. An intermediate element manager EM (312) isolates a management server OSS (54) from element managers (314-322) associated with the control of individual MSHs (302-310), with the intermediate EM (312) therefore providing a single address point to the OSS (54) while itself appearing as an OSS to the element managers (314-322) of individual MSHs (302-310). Signalling and management functions can therefore be consolidated at the intermediate EM (312) to increase efficiency and reduce overhead.