Common-network interface ring

{{Short description|Telephony signaling device}}

The common-network interface ring (CNI ring) provides common-channel signaling (CCS) functionality on several Alcatel-Lucent SS7 products. It was introduced by Western Electric in the early 1980s but is still used today in all 1AESS and 4ESS,[http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5592466/description.html US Patent 5592466 – Network interconnect backup] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612192540/http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5592466/description.html |date=2011-06-12 }} offices, and most of the wireline 5ESS offices.{{cite journal|doi=10.1109/5.135384|title=Common channel signaling in the AT&T US 5ESS switch|year=1992|last1=Brown|first1=R.B.|last2=Holmes|first2=C.V.|last3=Lanoux|first3=M.D.|last4=Marciani|first4=T.P.|journal=Proceedings of the IEEE|volume=80|issue=4|pages=618–627}}

It was designed and manufactured at the combined Bell Labs–WECo location in Columbus, Ohio.