System for remote automated installation and configuration of digital subscriber line modems

• US 20020004935A1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infinilink Corp.
• Original Assignee: Infinilink Corp.
• Inventors: Price, James Deloney III, Huotari, Allen Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/755,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An automated installation and configuration system automatically configures Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modems and associated user systems without a user having any knowledge of operating or networking systems. The system eliminates the need for a truck roll and makes it possible for a DSL modem to be installed across an ordinary telephone line using a conventional modem. The automated system eliminates the errors that occur during the DSL installation and configuration process, and thus facilitates efficient and cost-effective access to DSL technology. The automated system provides three methods for installing a DSL modem. In the first method, an analog modem connects the subscriber'"'"'s system to a DSL service provider'"'"'s server and retrieves a configuration file. The automated system then uses the configuration file to configure the subscriber'"'"'s DSL modem. In the second method, the configuration file is located on a disk or CD-ROM. The automated system retrieves the configuration file from the disk or CD-ROM, and then uses the configuration file to configure the subscriber'"'"'s DSL modem. In the third method, the automated system uses the user interface of the subscriber system to prompt the subscriber to enter configuration information. The automated system then uses that entered information to create the configuration file, and then uses the configuration file to configure the subscriber'"'"'s DSL modem.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device installation and configuration system for configuring the operation of a DSL telecommunication device and user system, comprising:

a client computer system, comprising;

a DSL telecommunications device;

a storage device for receiving and storing a file of configuration data for the DSL telecommunication device;

a pre-configured telecommunications device; and

a plurality of program files;

a server system comprising;

a telecommunications device that communicates with the pre-configured telecommunication device of the client computer system;

a configuration database system containing configuration data used to control the operation of DSL telecommunication devices;

an identification database system containing data used to identify the client computer system; and

program files that create a configuration file;

a data input interface that receives user identification data from a user of the client computer system;

a display that displays a data entry screen on the client computer system to prompt the user to input the user identification data; and

a controller coupled to the data input interface, to the display, and to the pre-configured telecommunications device, the controller operating to;

send the identification data to the server system via the pre-configured telecommunications device;

receive configuration data from the server system to be transferred to the pre-configured telecommunications device;

generate a communications device control command by converting the configuration data into a configuration file suitable for use with the second telecommunications device; and

use the information in the configuration file to configure the DSL telecommunications device and the client computer system to enable the DSL telecommunications device.

2. A computer hardware installation and configuration system for installing and configuring a computer hardware device, comprising:

a computer system, comprising;

a user interface system; and

a pre-configured telecommunications device;

an identification data structure;

a configuration data structure;

a server system, comprising;

an identification database system;

a configuration data generation system; and

a server communications system;

a computer program operating with the computer system, the computer program operating to;

retrieve user information using the user interface system;

compose the identification data structure;

transmit the identification data structure to the server system using the pre-configured telecommunications device;

retrieve the configuration data structure from the server system using the pre-configured telecommunications device; and

configure the computer hardware device and the computer system to properly operate the computer device;

a server computer program operating with the server system, the server computer program operating to;

retrieve the identification data structure from the computer system using the server communications system;

generate the configuration data structure using data contained in the identification data structure and the configuration data generation system; and

transmit the configuration data structure to the computer system using the server communications system.

3. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 2, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

4. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 3, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

5. A computer hardware installation and configuration system for installing and configuring a computer hardware device, comprising:

a computer system, comprising a user interface system;

a configuration data structure; and

a computer program operating with the computer system, the computer program operating to;

retrieve installation and configuration information using the user interface system;

generate the configuration data structure using the installation and configuration information; and

configure the computer hardware device and the computer system using the configuration data structure to properly operate the computer device.

6. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 5, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

7. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 6, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

8. A computer hardware installation and configuration system for installing and configuring a computer hardware device, comprising:

a computer system, comprising;

a user interface system; and

a data retrieval device;

an installation and configuration software package residing on a data storage device;

a configuration data structure; and

a computer program operating with the computer system, the computer program operating to;

retrieve user information using the user interface system;

retrieve the installation and configuration software package from the data storage device using the data retrieval device;

generate the configuration data structure using the user information and the installation and configuration software package; and

configure the computer hardware device and the computer system using the configuration data structure to properly operate the computer device.

9. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 8, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

10. A computer hardware installation and configuration system of claim 9, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

11. A software data structure for installing and configuring a computer hardware device, comprising data fields containing information pertinent to the installation and configuration of the computer hardware device.

12. A software data structure of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

13. A software data structure of claim 12, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

14. A software package for installing and configuring a computer hardware device, comprising one or more software programs for installing and configuring various computer hardware devices wherein the software package selects and utilizes an appropriate software program for installing and configuring a particular computer hardware device.

15. A software package of claim 14, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

16. A software package of claim 15, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

17. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system for installing and configuring the operation of a computer hardware device on a computer system, comprising:

a computer hardware configuration data structure, comprising;

a data structure independent of the computer hardware device; and

a data content specific for the computer hardware device and the computer system; and

a computer hardware installation and configuration controller, comprising a plurality of computer hardware device specific installation and configuration programs, that operates to;

read the computer hardware configuration data structure;

select an appropriate computer hardware device specific installation and configuration program for the computer hardware device and the computer system; and

utilize the appropriate computer hardware device specific installation and configuration program to install and configure the computer hardware device for proper operation of the computer hardware device on the computer system.

18. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system of claim 17, wherein the computer hardware device comprises a broadband telecommunications device.

19. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system of claim 18, wherein the broadband telecommunications device comprises a digital subscriber line telecommunications device.

20. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system of claim 17, wherein the computer hardware installation and configuration controller receives the computer hardware configuration data structure from a computer network system.

21. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system of claim 17, wherein the computer hardware installation and configuration controller receives the computer hardware configuration data structure from a data storage device.

22. A computer hardware device installation and configuration system of claim 17, wherein the computer hardware installation and configuration controller generates the computer hardware configuration data structure from data received from a user interface system.