Asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, and subscriber line connection method therefor

• US 6,349,123 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Heung-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/132,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 370/357, 370/480, 370/485, 370/419, 375/222, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.14, 379/93.18
• US Class Current: 370/480
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 Transistors, semiconductors in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch

Abstract

An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, is provided. The apparatus contains subscriber line connectors which are connected to the telephone subscriber lines, which include activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via the subscriber lines, and which receive output signals from the remote units and output corresponding analog signals. Also, a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular analog signal. The apparatus also contains subscriber modems which are connected to digital lines of the network, which modulate output digital signals transmitted from any the network via the digital lines into output analog signals, and which demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply the input digital signals to the network. Also, a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal. The apparatus also includes a connection circuit which selectively connects the particular subscriber modem to the particular subscriber line connector and which inputs the particular received analog signal and outputs the particular input analog signal.

Claims

1. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said connection circuit comprises;

a subscriber line switching circuit which is operatively coupled between said subscriber line connectors and said subscriber modems and which selectively connects said particular subscriber line connector to said particular subscriber modem; and

a line connection controller which is coupled to said subscriber line connectors, which activates said particular subscriber modem by outputting a connection control signal when a particular activation signal is sensed by a particular activation sensor of said particular subscriber line connector, and which outputs a first switching control signal to said subscriber line switching circuit to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector,

wherein said line connection controller is operatively coupled to said subscriber modems,

wherein said particular subscriber modem outputs a connection release request signal when a communication between said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector has ended, and

wherein said line connection controller outputs a second switching control signal to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to disconnect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector.

2. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said particular subscriber line connector comprises;

a voice signal splitter which is connected to said particular telephone subscriber line, separates a voice signal and an analog signal from said particular output signal, transmits said voice signal to a telephone exchange, and prevents said analog signal from being transmitted to said telephone exchange;

a subscriber line interface which is connected to said voice signal splitter, which outputs said analog signal from said voice signal splitter as said particular received analog signal, and which inputs a particular activation signal output from said particular remote unit via said voice signal splitter; and

a particular activation sensor which senses said particular activation signal output from said subscriber line interface and generates a particular activation sensing signal.

3. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said connection circuit comprises;

a subscriber line switching circuit which is operatively coupled between said subscriber line connectors and said subscriber modems and which selectively connects said particular subscriber line connector to said particular subscriber modem; and

a line connection controller which is coupled to said subscriber line connectors, which activates said particular subscriber modem by outputting a connection control signal when a particular activation signal is sensed by a particular activation sensor of said particular subscriber line connector, and which outputs a first switching control signal to said subscriber line switching circuit to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector,

wherein said particular subscriber modem comprises;

an analog signal circuit which receives said particular input analog signal and which controls and filters a level of said particular input analog signal to produce a filtered analog signal; and

a signal modulation/demodulation and data operation (“

SMDDO”

) circuit which demodulates said filtered analog signal to produce a demodulated digital signal and which modulates an unmodulated digital signal to produce a modulated analog signal,

wherein said analog signal circuit controls and filters a level of said modulated analog signal to produce a particular output analog signal of said output analog signals and wherein said demodulated digital signal corresponds to said particular input digital signal.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said particular subscriber modem further comprises:

a first microprocessor which receives said connection control signal from said line connection controller and activates said particular subscriber modem in response to said connection control signal; and

a first memory for storing a program executed by said first microprocessor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said particular subscriber modem further comprises:

a digital signal connector which inputs said demodulated digital signal and outputs said particular input digital signal on a particular digital line of said digital lines and which inputs a particular output digital signal of said output digital signals and outputs said unmodulated digital signal.

6. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said connection circuit comprises;

a subscriber line switching circuit which is operatively coupled between said subscriber line connectors and said subscriber modems and which selectively connects said particular subscriber line connector to said particular subscriber modem; and

a line connection controller which is coupled to said subscriber line connectors, which activates said particular subscriber modem by outputting a connection control signal when a particular activation signal is sensed by a particular activation sensor of said particular subscriber line connector, and which outputs a first switching control signal to said subscriber line switching circuit to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector,

wherein said subscriber line switching circuit comprises;

a plurality of switches for selectively connecting said subscriber line connectors to said subscriber modems; and

a switch controller for switching said switches according to said first switching control signal output from said line connection controller.

7. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said connection circuit comprises;

a subscriber line switching circuit which is operatively coupled between said subscriber line connectors and said subscriber modems and which selectively connects said particular subscriber line connector to said particular subscriber modem; and

a line connection controller which is coupled to said subscriber line connectors, which activates said particular subscriber modem by outputting a connection control signal when a particular activation signal is sensed by a particular activation sensor of said particular subscriber line connector, and which outputs a first switching control signal to said subscriber line switching circuit to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector,

wherein said line connection controller comprises;

an interrupt manager which inputs a particular activation sensing signal and generates an interrupt signal when said particular activation sensing signal is received, wherein said particular subscriber line connector outputs said particular activation sensing signal when said particular activation signal is sensed by said particular activation sensor;

a first microprocessor which inputs said interrupt signal and outputs a microprocessor control signal based on said interrupt signal;

a switch control signal connector which generates said connection control signal for activating said particular subscriber modem and which generates said first switching control signal for instructing said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector in response to said microprocessor control signal; and

a first memory for storing a program executed by said first 20 microprocessor,

wherein said particular subscriber modem outputs a connection release request signal when a communication between said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector has ended, and

wherein said switch control signal connector inputs said connection release request signal and outputs a corresponding second switching control signal to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to disconnect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector.

8. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus using asymmetric digital subscriber lines, which connects a high-speed data network to telephone subscriber lines in response to a demand of a subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of subscriber line connectors which are respectively connected to said telephone subscriber lines, which respectively comprise activation sensors that receive activation signals from remote units via said telephone subscriber lines, and which respectively receive output signals from said remote units and output corresponding received analog signals, wherein said activation signals are requested from said remote units to be respectively connected to said high-speed data network, and wherein a particular subscriber line connector inputs a particular output signal from a particular remote unit via a particular telephone subscriber line and outputs a particular received analog signal;

a plurality of subscriber modems which are respectively connected to digital lines of said high-speed data network, which respectively modulate output digital signals transmitted from said high-speed data network via said digital lines into output analog signals, and which respectively demodulate input analog signals into input digital signals and supply said input digital signals to said high speed network, wherein a particular subscriber modem inputs a particular input analog signal and outputs a particular input digital signal; and

a connection circuit which selectively connects said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector and which inputs said particular received analog signal and outputs said particular input analog signal,

wherein said connection circuit comprises;

a subscriber line switching circuit which is operatively coupled between said subscriber line connectors and said subscriber modems and which selectively connects said particular subscriber line connector to said particular subscriber modem; and

a line connection controller which is coupled to said subscriber line connectors, which activates said particular subscriber modem by outputting a connection control signal when a particular activation signal is sensed by a particular activation sensor of said particular subscriber line connector, and which outputs a first switching control signal to said subscriber line switching circuit to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem to said particular subscriber line connector,

wherein a number of said subscriber modems is less than a number of said subscriber line connectors,

wherein said line connection controller is operatively coupled to said subscriber modems,

wherein said particular subscriber modem outputs a connection release request signal when a communication between said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector has ended, and

wherein said line connection controller outputs a second switching control signal to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to disconnect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector.

9. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said particular subscriber line connector comprises:

a voice signal splitter which is connected to said particular telephone subscriber line, separates a voice signal and an analog signal from said particular output signal, transmits said voice signal to a telephone exchange, and prevents said analog signal from being transmitted to said telephone exchange;

a subscriber line interface which is connected to said voice signal splitter, which outputs said analog signal from said voice signal splitter as said particular received analog signal, and which inputs said particular activation signal output from said particular remote unit via said voice signal splitter; and

said particular activation sensor which senses said particular activation signal output from said subscriber line interface and generates a particular activation sensing signal.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said particular subscriber modem comprises:

an analog signal circuit which receives said particular input analog signal and which controls and filters a level of said particular input analog signal to produce a filtered analog signal; and

a signal modulation/demodulation and data operation (“

SMDDO”

) circuit which demodulates said filtered analog signal to produce a demodulated digital signal and which modulates an unmodulated digital signal to produce a modulated analog signal, wherein said analog signal circuit controls and filters a level of said modulated analog signal to produce a particular output analog signal of said output analog signals and wherein said demodulated digital signal corresponds to said particular input digital signal;

a first microprocessor which receives said connection control signal from said line connection controller and activates said particular subscriber modem in response to said connection control signal;

a first memory for storing a program executed by said first microprocessor; and

a digital signal connector which inputs said demodulated digital signal and outputs said particular input digital signal on a particular digital line of said digital lines and which inputs a particular output digital signal of said output digital signals and outputs said unmodulated digital signal.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said subscriber line switching circuit comprises:

a plurality of switches for selectively connecting said subscriber line connectors to said subscriber modems; and

a switch controller for switching said switches according to said first switching control signal output from said line connection controller.

12. An asymmetric data transmission apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said line connection controller comprises:

an interrupt manager which inputs said particular activation sensing signal and generates an interrupt signal when said particular activation sensing signal is received;

a first microprocessor which inputs said interrupt signal and outputs a microprocessor control signal based on said interrupt signal;

a switch control signal connector which generates said connection control signal for activating said particular subscriber modem and which generates said first switching control signal for instructing said subscriber line switching circuit to connect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector in response to said microprocessor control signal; and

a first memory for storing a program executed by said first microprocessor,

wherein said switch control signal connector inputs said connection release request signal and outputs said second switching control signal to instruct said subscriber line switching circuit to disconnect said particular subscriber modem and said particular subscriber line connector.