Access network over a dedicated medium

• US 6,295,293 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Tönnby, Ingmar, Hansson, Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US08/868,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/353, 370/354, 370/356, 370/401, 370/463, 370/524, 370/384, 370/389, 348/12, 348/13, 348/15, 348/17, 455/3.1, 455/5.1
• US Class Current: 370/389
• 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 12/2863 Arrangements for combining access network resources elements, e.g. channel bonding modem pooling H04L25/14; routing of packets H04L45/00; multichannel or multilink protocols H04L69/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2865 Logical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A network terminal and an Internet Protocol IP access node in an access network. The network terminal gives instant access to a multitude of communication services such as telephony, video, data, multi media as well as services provided by Internet. In the access network IP is used as an internal multiplexing and transport technique. The speed at which data is transported on the access line is limited by the used modem technique, not by the restrictions posed by the general public switched telephone network. Several terminals may be connected to one and the same access line.

Claims

1. An access network comprising a number of subscriber lines, at least one network terminal, a network node, a high speed modem provided at the subscriber line interface of each network terminal and a corresponding number of corresponding high speed modems provided at access line interfaces of the IP access server, wherein each network terminal has a subscriber line interface and at least one interface connecting a subscriber communication facility, and the network node has a telephony network interface, an IP access server, an IP router that is connected to the IP access server and that has an IP network interface, and a telephony server connected to the IP access server and to the telephony network interface, the at least one network terminal being connected to the IP access server at at least one access line interface provided in the IP access server, and each one of the high speed modems providing high bit rates from about 140 Kbps to about 20 Mbps and above using an xDSL protocol selected from the group comprising a DSL protocol, a HDSL protocol, a VDSL protocol, an ADSL protocol, an SDSL protocol.

2. The access network of claim 1, wherein the IP access server comprises a high speed modem providing high bit rates from about 100 Kbps to about 20 Mbps and above.

3. The access network of claim 1, further comprising an IP multiplexor having several inputs and one output, the network terminals being connected to the inputs over respective subscriber lines and the output being connected to the IP access server.

4. The access network of claim 3, further comprising a high speed modem provided at the subscriber line interface of each network terminal and a corresponding number of corresponding high speed modems provided at the inputs of the IP multiplexor, each of the high speed modems providing high bit rates from about 140 Kbps to about 20 Mbps and above using an xDSL protocol selected from the group comprising a DSL protocol, a HDSL protocol, a VDSL protocol, an ADSL protocol, and any future high speed digital subscriber line protocol.