Systems and methods for providing pooled access in a telecommunications network

• US 20050243808A1
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/007 Access interface units for simultaneous transmission of speech and data, e.g. digital subscriber line [DSL] access interface units DSL access multiplexers H04Q11/0478, and H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• 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 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13381 Pair-gain system, digital loop carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

A dynamically provisioned telecommunications system and methods for using such. Various of the systems include an automated carrier layer that is operable to direct one of at least two access sources to a subscriber line, and an automated service layer that is operable to direct an access request associated with the subscriber line to one of at least two service pools. In some cases, one or more electromechanical cross-connects are used to switch network signaling.

Claims

1. A dynamically provisioned telecommunications system comprising:

an automated carrier layer configured to direct a selected one of a plurality of access sources to a subscriber line;

an electromechanical cross connect configured to route the selected access source to the subscriber line through an electrically conductive path over the automated carrier layer; and

a control device configured to operate the electromechanical cross connect into a state that provides the electrically conductive path in response to receipt of an identification of the selected access source.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the access sources comprises a high-frequency access source.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the high-frequency access source comprises an xDSL access source.

4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein at least a second of the access sources comprises a plain-old-telephone-system service.

5. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising an automated service layer configured to direct an access request associated with the subscriber line to a selected one of a plurality of service pools.

6. The system recited in claim 5 further comprises a terminal that includes a plurality of xDSL devices comprised by one of the service pools and a plurality of plain-old-telephone-system devices comprised by another of the service pools.

7. A method for provisioning a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving an identification of a selected one of a plurality of access sources;

operating an electromechanical cross connect into a state that provides an electrically conductive path over an automated carrier layer from the selected access source to a subscriber line; and

routing the selected access source to the subscriber line through the electrically conductive path.

8. The method recited in claim 7 wherein at least one of the access sources comprises a high-frequency access source.

9. The method recited in claim 8 wherein the high-frequency access source comprises an xDSL access source.

10. The method recited in claim 9 wherein at least a second of the access sources comprises a plain-old-telephone-system service.

11. The method recited in claim 7 further comprising directing an access request associated with the subscriber line to a selected one of a plurality of service pools.

12. The method recited in claim 11 wherein one of the service pools comprises a plurality of xDSL devices and another of the service pools comprises a plurality of plain-old-telephone-system devices.