The Collin County Community College District Convergence Laboratory

This paper presents and describes the novel next generation convergence lab located in the Engineering Technology (ET) Division at Collin County Community College District’s (CCCCD) Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco, Texas. The laboratory currently features four (4) distinct “offices” integrated into a common environment: 1) Gigabit Ethernet 2) Wireless LANs 3) Private Branch Exchange (PBX) 4) SOHO (Small Office – Home Office). The transport layer has several broadband access technologies including ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), SONET (Synchronous Optical Network), and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). The system architecture for each of the convergent offices is discussed in detail along with emphasis on the enabling technologies at the access level of service. A selection of data and call processing configurations and capabilities is presented, for example, wire and wireless, as well as other voice/data processing techniques utilizing ATM, IP, and DSL telecommunication facilities. The paper also describes how funding through a NSF Advanced Technological Education grant is providing a mechanism to support activities in the convergence lab consisting of projectoriented/case study research for members of the North Texas Regional Technology Consortium. Finally, the paper elaborates on issues associated with interoperability efforts and examples of how the convergence lab could be employed as a model for beta testing and system integration for small and medium-sized industry partners.