Communication server apparatus and method

• US 5,905,781 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sisk, James R., Hall, Clifford L., Locklear, Robert H. Jr., McHale, John F., Brewer, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/828,421
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.07, 379/93.06, 379/93.28, 379/93.14, 379/93.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.08, 379/93.31
• US Class Current: 379/93.14
• 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 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4612 LAN interconnection over narrowband networks, e.g. N-ISDN, PSTN, X.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13036 Serial/parallel conversion, parallel bit transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 : Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13203 : Exchange termination [ET]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 : Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13302 : Magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 : Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A communication server (700) is disclosed and includes a plurality of XDSL transceiver units (710) and a plurality of line interface modules (702). Each line interface module (702) has a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line. Each line interface module (702) also has a plurality of outputs each associated with one of the XDSL transceiver units (710). Each line interface (702) is operable to couple a requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL transceiver unit (710). The communication server (700) also includes a network interface (714) that has a plurality of inputs coupled to associated XDSL transceiver units (710). The communication server (700) further includes a system controller (712) coupled to the XDSL transceiver units (710), to the plurality of line interface modules (702) and to the network interface (714). The system controller (712) is operable to select an available XDSL transceiver unit (710) in response to a detected request for data service and to direct the line interface module (702), to which the twisted pair data line requesting data service is coupled, to connect the requesting twisted pair data line to the selected XDSL transceiver unit (710).

Claims

1. A communication server coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines, the communication server comprising:

a plurality of XDSL transceiver units;

a plurality of line interface modules, each line interface module having a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line, and each line interface module having a plurality of outputs each associated with one of the XDSL transceiver units, wherein each line interface module is operable to couple a requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL transceiver unit;

a network interface having a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to an associated one of the XDSL transceiver units; and

a system controller coupled to the XDSL transceiver units, to the plurality of line interface modules and to the network interface, the system controller operable;

to select an available XDSL transceiver unit in response to a detected request for data service; and

to direct the line interface module, to which the requesting twisted pair data line is coupled, to connect the requesting twisted pair data line to the selected XDSL transceiver unit.

2. The communication server of claim 1, wherein each line interface module comprises a plurality of intra-office protection circuits each receiving a twisted pair data line.

3. The communication server of claim 1, wherein each line interface module comprises an analog switch matrix that operates to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to the output associated with the selected XDSL transceiver unit.

4. The communication server of claim 1, further comprising an expansion unit coupled to the system controller, the network interface and the plurality of XDSL transceiver units.

5. The communication server of claim 4, wherein the expansion unit comprises a subtend host module.

6. The communication server of claim 1, further comprising an LIM control module coupled to the system controller and to the plurality of line interface modules, the LIM control module providing an interface between the system controller and the plurality of line interface modules.

7. The communication server of claim 1, wherein the outputs of the line interface modules and the XDSL transceiver units are coupled by an analog switching bus.

8. The communication server of claim 1, wherein the XDSL transceiver units and the network interface are coupled by a digital serial bus.

9. The communication server of claim 1, wherein the system controller communicates with the line interface modules, the XDSL transceiver units and the network interface across a serial management bus.

10. The communication server of claim 1, further comprising a redundant system controller.

11. The communication server of claim 1, further comprising a redundant network interface.

12. A communication server coupled to a plurality of subscriber lines, the communication server comprising:

a plurality of XDSL transceiver units;

a plurality of POTS filter modules, each POTS filter module receiving a plurality of subscriber lines and operable to split each subscriber line into a twisted pair phone line and a twisted pair data line;

a plurality of line interface modules, each line interface module having a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line from an associated POTS filter module, and each line interface module having a plurality of outputs each associated with one of the XDSL transceiver units, wherein each line interface module is operable to couple a requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL transceiver unit;

a network interface having a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to an associated one of the XDSL transceiver units; and

a system controller coupled to the XDSL transceiver units, to the plurality of line interface modules and to the network interface, the system controller operable;

to select an available XDSL transceiver unit in response to a detected request for data service; and

to direct the line interface module, to which the requesting twisted pair data line is coupled, to connect the requesting twisted pair data line to the selected XDSL transceiver unit.

13. The communication server of claim 12, wherein each line interface module comprises a plurality of intra-office protection circuits each receiving a twisted pair data line.

14. The communication server of claim 12, wherein each line interface module comprises an analog switch matrix that operates to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to the output associated with the selected XDSL transceiver unit.

15. The communication server of claim 12, further comprising an expansion unit coupled to the system controller, the network interface and the plurality of XDSL transceiver units.

16. The communication server of claim 15, wherein the expansion unit comprises a subtend host module.

17. The communication server of claim 12, further comprising an LIM control module coupled to the system controller and to the plurality of line interface modules, the LIM control module providing an interface between the system controller and the plurality of line interface modules.

18. The communication server of claim 12, wherein the outputs of the line interface modules and the XDSL transceiver units are coupled by an analog switching bus.

19. The communication server of claim 12, wherein the XDSL transceiver units and the network interface are coupled by a digital serial bus.

20. The communication server of claim 12, wherein the system controller communicates with the line interface modules, the XDSL transceiver units and the network interface across a serial management bus.