Line connection controller

• US 20030033262A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Yasutaka
• Application Number:
  US10/207,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6478 Digital subscriber line, e.g. DSL, ADSL, HDSL, XDSL, VDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A line connection controller includes a line switching device which switches connection between a subscriber line and a high-speed line, and a switching equipment which controls the line switching device in accordance with a request from a subscriber. The switching equipment includes a connection control section and message rate storage section. The connection control section instructs the line switching device to switch the line on the basis of a line connection/disconnection request from the subscriber. The message rate storage section executes charging corresponding to a high-speed line use time from connection to disconnection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line. The line switching device includes a line switching section. The line switching section switches connection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line in accordance with an instruction from the connection control section. A line connection control method and recording medium are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A line connection controller comprising:

a line switching device which switches connection between a subscriber line and a high-speed line; and

a switching equipment which controls said line switching device in accordance with a request from a subscriber,

wherein

said switching equipment comprises

line switching instruction means for instructing said line switching device to switch the line on the basis of a line connection/disconnection request from the subscriber, and

charging means for executing charging corresponding to a high-speed line use time from connection to disconnection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line, and

said line switching device comprises

line switching means for switching connection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line in accordance with an instruction from said line switching instruction means.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein

said line switching instruction means instructs said line switching device to connect the subscriber line to the high-speed line on the basis of the line connection request from the subscriber and instructs said line switching device to disconnect the subscriber line from the high-speed line on the basis of the line disconnection request from the subscriber, and

said line switching means connects the subscriber line to the high-speed line in accordance with a connection request from said line switching instruction means and disconnects the subscriber line from the high-speed line in accordance with a disconnection request from said line switching instruction means.

3. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said switching equipment comprises line state holding means for grasping a use state of the high-speed line and storing the use state and also reports a free state of the high-speed line to said line switching instruction means.

4. A controller according to claim 3, wherein

said line switching instruction means inquires of said line state holding means about whether a high-speed line is free upon receiving the line connection request from the subscriber, and

when it is reported by said line state holding means that a high-speed line is free, said line switching instruction means sends a dial tone to the subscriber and simultaneously instructs said line switching device to switch the line.

5. A controller according to claim 3, wherein

said line switching instruction means inquires of said line state holding means about whether a high-speed line is free upon receiving the line connection request from the subscriber, and

when it is reported by said line state holding means that no high-speed line is free, said line switching instruction means sends a busy tone to the subscriber.

6. A controller according to claim 1, wherein

the subscriber sends the line connection request to said switching equipment by dialing a special number, and

said line switching means instructs said line switching device to connect the line on the basis of the line connection request from the subscriber.

7. A controller according to claim 1, wherein

the subscriber sends the line disconnection request to said switching equipment by dialing a special number, and

said line switching means instructs said line switching device to disconnect the line on the basis of the line disconnection request from the subscriber.

8. A line connection control method for a switching system comprising a line switching device which switches connection between a subscriber line and a high-speed line and a switching equipment which controls the line switching device in accordance with a request from a subscriber, comprising the steps of:

causing the switching equipment to monitor a line connection request and line disconnection request from the subscriber;

causing the switching equipment to instruct the line switching device to switch the line on the basis of the line connection/disconnection request from the subscriber;

causing the switching equipment to execute charging corresponding to a high-speed line use time from connection to disconnection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line; and

causing the line switching device to switch connection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line in accordance with a line switching instruction from the switching equipment.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein

the line switching instruction step comprises the step of causing the switching equipment to instruct the line switching device to connect the subscriber line to the high-speed line on the basis of the line connection request from the subscriber, and

the connection switching step comprises the step of connecting the subscriber line to the high-speed line in accordance with the connection instruction from the switching equipment.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein

the line switching instruction step comprises the step of causing the switching equipment to instruct the line switching device to disconnect the subscriber line from the high-speed line on the basis of the line disconnection request from the subscriber, and

the connection switching step comprises the step of disconnecting the subscriber line from the high-speed line in accordance with the disconnection instruction from the switching equipment.

11. A computer-readable recording medium which records in advance a line connection control program for a switching system comprising a line switching device which switches connection between a subscriber line and a high-speed line and a switching equipment which controls the line switching device in accordance with a request from a subscriber, the recording medium recording a line connection control program which causes a computer to execute the procedures of:

monitoring a line connection request and line disconnection request from the subscriber;

causing the switching equipment to instruct the line switching device to switch the line on the basis of the line connection/disconnection request from the subscriber;

executing charging corresponding to a high-speed line use time from connection to disconnection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line; and

switching connection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line in accordance with a line switching instruction.

12. A medium according to claim 11, wherein

the line switching instruction procedure comprises the procedure of instructing connection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line on the basis of the line connection request from the subscriber, and

the connection switching procedure comprises the procedure of connecting the subscriber line to the high-speed line in accordance with the connection instruction.

13. A medium according to claim 11, wherein

the line switching instruction procedure comprises the procedure of instructing disconnection between the subscriber line and the high-speed line on the basis of the line disconnection request from the subscriber, and

the connection switching procedure comprises the procedure of disconnecting the subscriber line from the high-speed line in accordance with the disconnection instruction.