Procedure and mechanisms for control and bearer redundancy of TDM-based service provider connections

In a media gateway, a single RTM is placed in bi-directional communication with a active TPM and also in bi-directional communication with a backup TPM. This is accomplished in part by implementation of a signaling and control bus interface between the LIU/Framer hardware of the RTM and the control processing unit (CPU) of the TPM. This interface provides for arbitration between multiple control sources, and for snooping of the input connection state and signaling information between the LIU/Framer and any other control entity. The interface also prevents contention by multiple control sources driving signal information to the LIU/Framer device.