Multifunction interface facility connecting wideband multiple access subscriber loops with various networks

• US 6,363,079 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/001,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/259, 370/260, 370/261, 370/266, 370/285, 370/299, 370/327, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/357, 370/359, 370/405, 370/419, 370/420, 370/421, 370/424, 370/485, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 370/254
• US Class Current: 370/465
• 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 12/2896 Distributed processing, e.g. on line cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

An device, called a facilities management platform (FMP) connects current digital and analog carrier networks and packet switched networks of interexchange carriers with high speed multiple access subscriber links implemented over twisted pair lines. The subscriber line is terminated by an access module containing one or more modems. In preferred embodiments, the modems are high-speed digital tethered virtual radio channel or xDSL modems. The FMP interface applies and receives signaling and voice through a digital loop carrier (DLC) via a multiplexer connected directly to the DLC backplane. The multiplexer is controlled by a controller of an access module. It translates data from the subscriber link to the form compatible with the digital backplane to create the appearance of one or more line cards. The FMP also may contain a sound generator to allow it to handle calls through an analog carrier network. The FMP, through the same access module transmits data to and from the modems directly through connected digital networks, such as ATM or SONET, of an interexchange carrier. Through this interface, different network companies can offer competing products through different networks all seamlessly connected through a high speed subscriber line.

Claims

1. A telecommunications interface for communicating subscriber data including voice, signaling, and user data between (1) a digital network, (2) a digital loop carrier (DLC) having an analog interface to connect telephones and a digital circuit connecting a telephone switch to other telephone switches, and (3) a subscriber link to equipment at a subscriber'"'"'s premise, said interface comprising:

a modem configured to modulate and demodulate said subscriber data to and from said subscriber link to generate a digital stream containing said voice, signaling, and user data;

a digital filter configured to separate said voice data from said digital stream;

a controller programmed to apply said voice data to said digital circuit when said signaling data indicates said voice data is to be transmitted by said digital circuit and further programmed to apply said voice data to said digital network when said signaling data indicates said voice data is to be transmitted over said digital network;

wherein said digital loop carrier has, connected to said digital circuit, a terminating multiplexer to which said subscriber link may be connected, said terminating multiplexer converting analog telephone signals from said subscriber link to a DLC digital format and applying the converted telephone signals to said digital circuit; and

a multiplexer, controlled by said controller and connectable to said digital circuit, configured to generate data in said DLC format providing substantially an appearance to said backplane of another terminating multiplexer, whereby said voice data may be applied to said digital circuit when said signaling data indicates said voice data is to be transmitted by said digital circuit.

2. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to communicate with a network controller of said digital network and to generate a message to said network controller requesting an allocation of resources of said digital network responsively to said signaling data.

3. An interface as in claim 2, wherein said message is a request for bandwidth for a voice call.

4. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said subscriber link includes a metallic medium that provides multiplexed digital communication.

5. An interface as in claim 4, further comprising:

a termination device connectable to said metallic medium, said termination device including an over-voltage protector.

6. An interface as in claim 5, wherein said termination device includes a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of said subscriber link when there is substantially no subscriber data traffic on said subscriber link.

7. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said subscriber data is a time-domain multiplexed signal which is generated to provide priority to said voice data.

8. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said subscriber data includes multiple simultaneous voice channels, each associated with one of a separate carrier frequency and a separate time domain channel.

9. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said signaling data includes a called number.

10. An interface as in claim 1, further comprising:

a DTMF generator,

wherein said interface is connected to a switched network requiring the transmission of DTMF tones for calls to be routed through said switched network, and

wherein further said DTMF generator generates DTMF tones in response to said signaling data indicating said call is to be transmitted through said switched network.

11. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to communicate with a network controller of said digital network and to generate a message to said network controller requesting a reallocation of resources of said digital network responsively to an end of transmission of said voice data.

12. An interface as in claim 11, wherein said message is a request for increased bandwidth at a priority lower than a priority assigned for a voice circuit of said digital network.

13. An interface as in claim 11, wherein said message is a request for increased bandwidth at a priority lower than a priority assigned for a voice circuit of said digital network.

14. An interface as in claim 1, wherein said subscriber data is a time-domain multiplexed signal which is generated to provide priority to said voice data.

15. A telecommunications interface for communicating subscriber data including voice, signaling, and user data between (1) a digital network, (2) a digital loop carrier (DLC) having an analog interface to connect telephones and a digital circuit connecting a telephone switch to other telephone switches, and (3) a subscriber link to equipment at a subscriber'"'"'s premise, said interface comprising:

a modem configured to modulate and demodulate said subscriber data to and from said subscriber link to generate a digital stream containing said voice, signaling, and user data;

a digital filter configured to separate said voice data from said digital stream;

a data storage unit connected to said controller, said data storage unit having subscriber data relating to specific services for a subscriber; and

a controller programmed to apply said voice data to said digital circuit when said signaling data indicates said voice data is to be transmitted by said digital circuit, to apply said voice data to said digital network when said signaling data indicates said voice data is to be transmitted over said digital network and to apply said voice data to said digital circuit when said signaling data and said subscriber data indicate said voice data is to be transmitted by said digital circuit;

said controller being programmed to apply said voice data to said digital network when said signaling data and said subscriber data indicate said voice data is to be transmitted over said digital network.

16. An interface as in claim 15, wherein said controller is further programmed to communicate with a network controller of said digital network and to generate a message to said network controller requesting an allocation of resources of said digital network responsively to said signaling data.

17. An interface as in claim 16, wherein said message is a request for bandwidth for a voice call.

18. An interface as in claim 15, wherein said subscriber link includes a metallic medium that provides multiplexed digital communication.

19. An interface as in claim 18, further comprising:

a termination device connectable to said metallic medium, said termination device including an over-voltage protector.

20. An interface as in claim 19, wherein said termination device includes a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of said subscriber link when there is substantially no subscriber data traffic on said subscriber link.

21. An interface as in claim 15, wherein said subscriber data includes multiple simultaneous voice channels, each associated with one of a separate carrier frequency and a separate time domain channel.

22. An interface as in claim 15, wherein said signaling data includes a called number.

23. An interface as in claim 15, further comprising:

a DTMF generator,

wherein said interface is connected to a switched network requiring the transmission of DTMF tones for calls to be routed through said switched network, and

wherein further said DTMF generator generates DTMF tones in response to said signaling data indicating said call is to be transmitted through said switched network.

24. An interface as in claim 15, wherein said controller is further programmed to communicate with a network controller of said digital network and to generate a message to said network controller requesting a reallocation of resources of said digital network responsively to an end of transmission of said voice data.