Wide area communication networking

• US 6,335,936 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neumann, Jeffrey, Gorman, Michael George, Tisiker, Michael, Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley Jr., Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Pickard, Michael Steven, Kagan, Denise Violetta, Halling, Dale Brian, Goering, Scott Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsegaye, Saba
• Application Number:
  US09/296,954
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/397, 370/401, 370/409, 370/419, 370/420, 370/463, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/468, 370/485, 370/522
• 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. A wide area communications network, comprising:

a first digital subscriber line;

a first network interface device connected to the first digital subscriber line, the first network interface device separating an ISDN channel from a digital subscriber channel;

an ISDN telephone connected to the network interface device;

a protocol translator connected to the network interface device by the digital subscriber channel;

a hub connected to the protocol translator;

a plurality of devices connected to the hub;

a digital subscriber line access multiplexer connected to the first digital subscriber line, the digital subscriber line access multiplexer separating the digital subscriber channel from the ISDN channel;

a public switched telephone network connected to the ISDN channel;

an asynchronous transfer mode network connected to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer by a first virtual circuit of the digital subscriber channel;

an ISP connected to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer by a second virtual circuit of the digital subscriber channel; and

a local area network connected to the asynchronous transfer mode network by the first virtual circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices include a computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices include a subscriber unit and a telephone connected to the subscriber unit.

4. The system of claim 3, further including a facsimile machine connected to the subscriber unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a digital facsimile machine connected to the hub.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a second digital subscriber line connecting the local area network to the asynchronous transfer mode network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the local area network includes an ATM switch.

8. The system of claim 7, further including a plurality of computers connected to the ATM switch.

9. The system of claim 8, further including a second subscriber unit connected to the local area network.

10. The system of claim 9, further including a POTS telephone connected to the subscriber unit.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a facsimile machine coupled to the ATM switch.