Wide area communication networking

• US 20050074021A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley Jr., Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Pickard, Michael Steven, Neumann, Jeffrey, Kagan, Denise Violetta, Gorman, Michael George, Halling, Dale Brian, Goering, Scott Christopher, Tisiker, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/679,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20050074021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13099 Loop multiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 : Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 : Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits

Abstract

A wide area communications network (500) includes a first digital subscriber line (502). A first network interface device (504) connects to the digital subscriber line (502). The first network interface device (504) separates an ISDN channel (508) from a digital subscriber channel (510). An ISDN telephone (508) is connected to the network interface device (504). A protocol translator (512) is connected to the network interface device (504) by the digital subscriber channel (510). A hub (514) is connected to the protocol translator (512). A plurality of devices (516, 518) is connected to the hub (514). A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (506) is connected to the first digital subscriber line (502). The digital subscriber line access multiplexer (506) separates the digital subscriber channel from the ISDN channel (522). A public switched telephone network (523) is connected to the ISDN channel (522). An asynchronous transfer mode network (526) is connected to the DSLAM (506) by a first virtual circuit (524) of the digital subscriber channel. An ISP (528) is connected to the DSLAM (506) by a second virtual circuit (530) of the digital subscriber channel. A LAN 532 is connected to the ATM network (526) by the first virtual circuit (524).

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A wide area communications network, comprising:

a first subscriber location;

a first digital subscriber line in communication with the first subscriber location via a first network interface device;

a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer connected to the first digital subscriber line;

a second subscriber location;

a second digital subscriber line in communication with the second subscriber location via a second network interface device

a second digital subscriber line access multiplexer connected to the second digital subscriber line; and

the first and second subscriber locations in communication via at least one derived digital telephone voice channel carried over the first and second digital subscriber lines and by a public switched telephone network connecting the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer to the second digital subscriber line access multiplexer, wherein a subscriber unit at the first subscriber location is configured to select one of a plurality of derived digital voice channels for a voice communication to the second subscriber location.

13. The system of claim 12, further including a first ISP connected to an ATM network and a second ISP connected to the ATM network, wherein the ATM network is in communication with both the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and the second digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first subscriber location includes a first local area network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first subscriber location includes a first telephone system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network interface device is connected to the first local area network, the first telephone system and the first digital subscriber line.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first local area network includes a telephone attached to the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit converting an analog telephone signal into a digital telephone signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the digital telephone signal is carried by a telephone virtual circuit.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the telephone virtual circuit terminates at the first ISP.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the telephone virtual circuit terminates at an interworking unit.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first local area network includes a facsimile machine.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the facsimile machine connects to the subscriber unit.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the facsimile machine is capable of receiving and sending a digitized facsimile transmission.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the digitized facsimile transmission is carried by a facsimile virtual circuit.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the telephone system receives a POTS signal from the first network interface device.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the telephone system receives an ISDN signal from the first network interface device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the telephone system includes an ISDN compatible facsimile machine.

28. A wide area communications network, comprising:

a first subscriber location having a first local area network and a first telephone system, the first local area network and the first telephone system connected to a first network interface device;

a first DSL line connected to the first network interface device;

a first DSLAM connected to the first DSL line, the first DSLAM separating a first DSL channel from a first telephony channel;

a public switched telephone network connected to the first telephony channel;

an IWU connected to the first DSLAM and to the public switched telephone network;

an ATM network connected to the first DSL channel;

a second DSLAM connected to the ATM network by a second DSL channel and connected to the public switched telephone network by a second telephony channel;

a second DSL line connected to the second DSLAM;

a second subscriber location having a second network interface device connected to the second DSL line and connected to a second local area network and a second telephone system; and

a first hybrid circuit communicating a telephone call from a first telephone in communication with the first local area network to a second telephone in the second telephone system, wherein the first hybrid circuit has a first portion comprising a virtual circuit and a second portion comprising a switched circuit.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein a first virtual circuit is coupled between a first computer connected to the first local area network and a second computer connected to the second local area network.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the first virtual circuit is carried by the first DSL line, the ATM network and the second DSL line.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein a first switched circuit connects a first telephone in the first telephony system to a second telephone of the second telephony system.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first switch circuit connects across the first DSL line, the public switched telephone network and the second DSL line.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein a network telephone is connected to the first local area network by a subscriber unit.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein a first hybrid circuit connects the first network telephone to the second telephone of the second telephony system.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the first hybrid circuit comprises:

a second virtual circuit connecting the first local area network to the first DSLAM and then to an interworking unit,

a second switched circuit connecting the interworking unit to the second DSL line through the public switched telephone network; and

the second telephony channel of the second DSL line connecting to the second telephone.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first hybrid circuit comprises:

a second virtual circuit connecting the first local area network to the first DSLAM and then through the ATM network to an ISP;

an internet telephony circuit connecting the ISP through the internet to an internet POP;

a second switched circuit connecting the internet POP to the second DSL;

the second telephony channel of the second DSL line connecting to the second telephone.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein a digital facsimile machine is connected to the first local area network.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein a second hybrid circuit connects the digital facsimile machine to a facsimile machine connected to the second telephony system.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the second hybrid circuit comprises:

a third virtual circuit connecting the first local area network to the first DSLAM and then to an interworking unit,

a third switched circuit connecting the interworking unit to the second DSL line through the public switched telephone network;

the second telephony channel of the second DSL line connecting to the facsimile machine.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein the first subscriber location is in a first local access and transport area.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the second subscriber location is in a second local access and transport area.

42. A wide area communications network, comprising:

a first subscriber location;

a first digital subscriber line in communication with the first subscriber location via a first network interface device;

a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer connected to the first digital subscriber line;

a second subscriber location;

a second digital subscriber line in communication with the second subscriber location via a second network interface device;

a second digital subscriber line access multiplexer connected to the second digital subscriber line;

a second digital subscriber line in communication with the second subscriber location via a second network interface device; and

the first and second subscriber locations in communication via at least one derived digital telephone voice channel carried over the Internet and by the first and second digital subscriber lines.