Network termination

• US 6,320,866 B2
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Brunner, Helmut, Wolf, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US09/045,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 379/413, 379/399, 379/159, 379/93.19, 370/244, 370/349, 370/257, 370/509, 370/373, 370/420, 370/422, 370/426, 370/439, 370/443, 370/444, 370/468, 370/474, 370/476, 370/482, 370/496, 370/449, 370/445, 370/450, 370/352, 370/338, 370/431, 370/241, 370/522, 370/524, 709/244, 709/218, 380/48, 714/738
• US Class Current: 370/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/045 Selection or connection testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits

Abstract

Network terminations are made available to a customer and installed by a network operator of a digital communications network. The customer is responsible for the supply of power to the network terminations. In the event of a power failure, a network termination of the digital communications network sends an error message (FM) to the customer who is responsible for correcting the power failure. The error message (FM) is sent in the payload of the digital message signals. The network termination (NT) includes a power supply (USV) which in the event of the power failure can sustain output for a predetermined period of time, in which the error can be signaled. To signal the error, the payload may be overwritten with a predetermined bit pattern (BM).

Claims

1. A network termination (NT) for a communications network (NET), said network termination (NT) comprising a power supply (USV) connectable to an external power source (POW), and said network termination being capable of sending a message signal (SIG) having a payload and a frame, comprising:

means (SAD) for detecting a power failure of the external power source (POW);

means (USV) for maintaining power for a predetermined period of time in the event of a power failure; and

means (BMG) for sending an error message (FM) in the payload of the message signal (SIG) to at least one subscriber terminal which is separate from the network termination (NT), wherein the error message (FM) overwrites at least a portion of the payload of the message signal (SIG).

2. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means (BMG) for sending the error message is a bit pattern generator for overwriting the payload with a predetermined bit pattern (BM).

3. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 1 which is unambiguously identifiable with the aid of the error message.

4. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 1 which is designed for use with leased lines.

5. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining power can sustain output for at least 200 ms.

6. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining power is an uninterruptible power supply (USV).

7. A method of signaling a power failure at a network termination (NT) of a communications network (NET), wherein the network termination is capable of sending a message signal (SIG) having a payload and a frame, comprising the steps of:

detecting the power failure at the network termination (NT);

maintaining power for a predetermined period of time;

sending an error message (FM) in the payload of the message signal (SIG) to a subscriber'"'"'s terminal which is separate from the network termination (NT); and

detecting the error message (FM).

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the error message is indicated or an alarm is triggered after a loss of signal is detected.

9. A network termination (NT) for a communications network (NET), said network termination (NT) comprising a power supply (USV) connectable to an external power source (POW), and said network termination being capable of sending a message signal (SIG) having a payload and a frame, characterized by:

means (SAD) for detecting an outage type of power failure of the external power source (POW) wherein the power failure is due to power withdrawal only;

means (USV) for maintaining power for a predetermined period of time in the event of a power failure; and

means (BMG) for sending an error message (FM) in the payload of the message signal (SIG) to a subscriber equipment which is separate from the network termination (NT).

10. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means (BMG) for sending the error message is a bit pattern generator for overwriting the payload with a predetermined bit pattern (BM).

11. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 9 which is unambiguously identifiable with the aid of the error message.

12. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 9 which is designed for use with leased lines.

13. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for maintaining power can sustain output for at least 200 ms.

14. The network termination (NT) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for maintaining power is an uninterruptible power supply (USV).

17. The network termination (NT) of claim 9, wherein the subscriber equipment is a subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

19. The network termination (NT) of claim 9, wherein the subscriber equipment is a PCM multiplexer.

20. The network termination (NT) of claim 9, wherein the subscriber equipment is a private telecommunications switching system.

15. A method of signaling an outage type of power failure at a network termination (NT) of a communications network (NET), wherein the network termination is capable of sending a message signal (SIG) having a payload and a frame, comprising the steps of:

detecting the outage type of power failure at the network termination (NT) wherein the power failure is due to power withdrawal only;

maintaining power for a predetermined period of time;

sending an error message (FM) in the payload of the message signal (SIG) to a subscriber equipment which is separate from the network termination (NT); and

detecting the error message (FM).

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the error message is indicated or an alarm is triggered after a loss of signal is detected.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the subscriber equipment is a subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

21. A network termination (NT) located at an interface between a public communications network (NET) and a subscriber, said subscriber being responsible for supply of power to the network termination (NT), said network termination (NT) comprising a power supply (USV) connectable to an external power source (POW), and said network termination being capable of sending a message signal (SIG) having a payload and also having a system overhead, the network termination (NT) comprising:

means (SAD) for detecting a power failure of the external power source (POW);

means (USV) for maintaining power for a predetermined period of time in the event of a power failure; and

means (BMG) for putting a power failure error message (FM) into the payload of the message signal (SIG), as opposed to within the system overhead of the message signal (SIG), and sending the power failure error message (FM) to at least one subscriber terminal which is separate from the network termination (NT), wherein putting the power failure error message (FM) into the payload enables the subscriber to detect and take steps to correct the power failure at the network termination.

22. The network termination (NT) of claim 21, wherein the error message (FM) overwrites at least a portion of the payload of the message signal (SIG).

23. The network termination (NT) of claim 22, wherein message signals sent toward the communications network (NET) are also overwritten with error information.