High-speed communications system for providing voice and data services

• US 6,356,562 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Bamba, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/216,497
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 370/463, 370/465, 370/468, 370/477, 370/488, 370/494, 370/495, 370/295, 370/281, 370/282, 370/540, 370/543, 379/90.01, 379/93.08, 379/399, 379/398
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL

Abstract

A high-speed communications system which permits high-speed communication services to be implemented with minimum modification to the existing communications facilities. A multiplexer/demultiplexer unit multiplexes outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexes incoming signals from the network separately for voice and data signals. A first voice processing unit, being linked to a voice service subscriber who only uses voice communication services, processes voice signals for bidirectional communications over a subscriber line. A second voice processing unit, being linked to a voice/data service subscriber who uses both voice and data communication services, processes voice signals for bidirectional communication. An office-side modem unit has modulator/demodulator functions to support high-speed bidirectional data communication for the voice/data service subscriber. An office-side splitter splits incoming signals from the voice/data service subscriber into separate voice and data signals. A subscriber-side splitter, coupled to the office-side splitter through the subscriber line, separates the voice signals and the data signals. A subscriber-side modem unit processes data signals to support high-speed bidirectional data communication.

Claims

1. A high-speed communications system which provides high-speed communication services over subscriber lines, comprising:

(a) a subscriber line transmission unit located in a central office, comprising;

(a1) multiplexer/demultiplexer means for multiplexing outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexing incoming signals from the network, separately for voice signals and data signals,

(a2) first voice processing means, linked to a voice service subscriber who only uses voice communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communications over the subscriber line,

(a3) second voice processing means, linked to a voice/data service subscriber who uses both voice and data communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communication, and

(a4) high-speed communications control means comprising;

(a4-1) office-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services, and

(a4-2) office-side splitter means for separating the voice signals and the data signals when providing the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services;

(b) a subscriber station disposed at a site of the voice/data service subscriber, comprising;

(b1) subscriber-side splitter means, coupled to said office-side splitter means through the subscriber line, for separating the voice signals and the data signals, and

(b2) subscriber-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services,

wherein said first voice processing means, said second voice processing means, and said high-speed communication control means operate independently of each other in said subscriber line transmission unit.

2. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein said multiplexer/demultiplexer means comprises:

a voice signal multiplexer/demultiplexer which multiplexes and demultiplexes the voice signals; and

a data multiplexer/demultiplexer, being implemented in a single unit together with said voice signal multiplexer/demultiplexer, which multiplexes and demultiplexes the data signals.

3. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein said processing of the voice and data signals performed by said subscriber line transmission unit includes analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion of the voice and data signals.

4. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein said subscriber line transmission unit further comprises routing control means for routing the voice signals and data signals transmitted to and from the voice service subscriber and the voice/data service subscriber.

5. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein said processing of the data signals performed by said subscriber-side modem means includes analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion of the data signals.

6. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein:

said subscriber line transmission unit supports xDSL services, and

said subscriber line transmission unit and said subscriber station communicate with each other at variable data transmission rates.

9. The high-speed communications system according to claim 1, wherein said first voice processing means is omitted when said subscriber line transmission unit is dedicated to said voice/data service subscriber.

7. A high-speed communications system which provides high-speed communication services over subscriber lines, comprising:

(a) a subscriber line transmission unit located in a central office, comprising;

(a1) multiplexer/demultiplexer means for multiplexing outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexing incoming signals from the network, separately for voice signals and data signals,

(a2) first voice processing means, linked to a voice service subscriber who only uses voice communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communications over the subscriber line,

(a3) second voice processing means, linked to a voice/data service subscriber who uses both voice and data communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communication, and

(a4) high-speed communications control means comprising;

(a4-1) office-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services, and

(a4-2) office-side splitter means for separating the voice signals and the data signals when providing the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services;

(b) a subscriber station disposed at a site of the voice/data service subscriber, comprising;

(b1) subscriber-side splitter means, coupled to said office-side splitter means through the subscriber line, for separating the voice signals and the data signals, and

(b2) subscriber-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services,

said subscriber line transmission unit is configured in a shelf having a plurality of slots,

said multiplexer/demultiplexer means is implemented as modules installed in the slots with a redundant configuration, and

said first voice processing means, said high-speed communication control means, and said second voice processing means are each implemented as modules installed in the slots.

8. A high-speed communications system which provides high-speed communication services over subscriber lines, comprising:

(a) a subscriber line transmission unit located in a central office, comprising;

(a1) multiplexer/demultiplexer means for multiplexing outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexing incoming signals from the network, separately for voice signals and data signals,

(a2) first voice processing means, linked to a voice service subscriber who only uses voice communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communications over the subscriber line,

(a3) second voice processing means, linked to a voice/data service subscriber who uses both voice and data communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communication, and

(a4) high-speed communications control means comprising;

(a4-1) office-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services, and

(a4-2) office-side splitter means for separating the voice signals and the data signals when providing the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services;

(b) a subscriber station disposed at a site of the voice/data service subscriber, comprising;

(b1) subscriber-side splitter means, coupled to said office-side splitter means through the subscriber line, for separating the voice signals and the data signals, and

(b2) subscriber-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services,

wherein said subscriber line transmission unit comprises a plurality of said high-speed communication control means being installed in a single shelf, which have different data transmission rates to provide multiple concurrent sessions of high-speed communication services.

10. A subscriber line transmission unit being located in a central office for providing a subscriber with high-speed communication services over a subscriber line, comprising:

(a1) multiplexer/demultiplexer means for multiplexing outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexing incoming signals from the network, separately for voice signals and data signals;

(a2) first voice processing means, linked to a voice service subscriber who only uses voice communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communications over the subscriber line;

(a3) second voice processing means, linked to a voice/data service subscriber who uses both voice and data communication services, for processing the voice signals for bidirectional communication; and

(a4) high-speed communications control means comprising;

(a4-1) office-side modem means for processing the data signals to provide the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services, and

(a4-2) office-side splitter means for separating the voice signals and the data signals when providing the voice/data service subscriber with bidirectional communication services,

wherein said first voice processing means, said second voice processing means, and said high-speed communication control means operate independently of each other in said subscriber line transmission unit.

11. A method of configuring a subscriber line transmission unit in order to add a voice/data communication service capability for a requesting subscriber, said subscriber line transmission unit having slots to install two voice multiplexer/demultiplexer units, one for active use and the other for backup, to provide dual redundancy functions for multiplexing and demultiplexing voice signals, as well as to install a plurality of voice processing units which process the voice signals to provide voice communication services, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a high-speed communication control unit having an office-side modem unit which provides modulator/demodulator/functions to support high-speed bidirectional data communication for the requesting subscriber and an office-side splitter which splits incoming signals received from the subscriber into separate voice and data signals;

(b) providing a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit which multiplexes outgoing signals to a network and demultiplexer incoming signals from the network separately for voice signals and data signals;

(c) installing the high-speed communication control unit into a vacant slot of the subscriber line transmission unit;

(d) installing the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit into a slot that is reserved for the backup voice multiplexer/demultiplexer unit;

(e) switching the multiplexing and demultiplexing functions from the active voice multiplexer/demultiplexer unit to the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit newly installed at said step (d); and

(f) connecting a subscriber line from the requesting subscriber'"'"'s voice processing unit to the office side splitter of the high-speed communication control unit installed at said step (c), thereby establishing a voice signal link.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said steps (a) to (c) are executed while the voice processing unit is in operation.