Telecommunication system, method and subscriber unit for use therein

• US 6,370,149 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Orwick, David, Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley Jr., Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Pickard, Michael Steven, Neumann, Jeffrey, Kagan, Denise Violetta, Gorman, Michael George, Goering, Scott Christopher, Tisiker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/119,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.28, 379/93.37, 379/142, 379/93.23, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/428, 379/440, 379/93.01, 379/93.08, 379/93.09, 376/352, 376/486, 376/487, 376/490, 376/421, 376/522, 376/463, 375/260, 370/419, 370/420, 370/271, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

A telecommunication system includes a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of data packets capable of carrying a plurality of derived digital telephone lines. The telecommunication system further includes a subscriber unit coupled to the asymmetrical digital subscriber line. The subscriber unit monitors the content of at least one of the plurality of data packets, receives an off-hook signal in response to an action of a user, and initiates a first derived digital telephone line of the plurality of derived digital telephone lines in response to the off-hook signal.

Claims

1. A subscriber interface unit for use in a telecommunication system including a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of derived digital telephone channels, the subscriber interface unit for coupling the asymmetrical digital subscriber line to an analog land-line telephone, the subscriber interface unit comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially coplanar to the top surface;

an electrical coupler, coupled to the housing for connection to a cable carrying the asymmetrical digital subscriber line;

an RJ-11 jack, coupled to the housing, for connection to a cable of the analog telephone;

a converter, coupled to the electrical coupler and to the RJ-11 jack, for converting the first analog signals generated by the analog telephone into a first plurality of data packets for transmission to a selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and for converting a second plurality of data packets received from the selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a second analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone; and

wherein the analog telephone in combination with the subscriber interface unit is capable of accessing and monitoring the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and is further capable of selecting one of the plurality of telephone channels for conducting a voice call, and wherein the converter further is capable of converting a third plurality of data packets received from an additional one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a third analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone.

2. The subscriber interface unit of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the housing includes a first indented portion for accepting the analog telephone on top thereof.

3. The subscriber unit of claim 2 wherein the housing has a height and a width and wherein the width of the housing is greater than the height.

4. The subscriber unit of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of non-skid feet coupled to the bottom surface of the housing.

5. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical digital subscriber line further includes at least one data channel for carrying data signals not related to the plurality of derived digital telephone channels.

6. A subscriber interface unit for use in a telecommunication system including a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of derived digital telephone channels, the subscriber interface unit for coupling the asymmetrical digital subscriber line to an analog land-line telephone, the subscriber interface unit comprising:

a housing;

an electrical coupler, coupled to the housing for connection to a cable carrying the asymmetrical digital subscriber line;

an RJ-11 jack, coupled to the housing, for connection to a cable of the analog telephone;

a converter, coupled to the electrical coupler and to the RJ-11 jack, for converting the first analog signals generated by the analog telephone into a first plurality of data packets for transmission to a selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and for converting a second plurality of data packets received from the selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a second analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone; and

wherein the analog telephone in combination with the subscriber interface unit is capable of accessing and monitoring the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and is further capable of selecting one of the plurality of telephone channels for conducting a voice call, and wherein the converter further is capable of converting a third plurality of data packets received from an additional one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a third analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone.

7. The subscriber interface unit of claim 6 wherein the housing comprises a top having a first indented portion for accepting the analog telephone on top thereof.

8. The subscriber interface unit of claim 6 wherein the housing has a height and a width and wherein the width of the housing is greater than the height.

9. The subscriber interface unit of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of non-skid feet coupled to a bottom surface of the housing.

10. The subscriber interface unit of claim 6 wherein the asymmetrical digital subscriber line further comprises at least one data channel for carrying data signals not related to the plurality of derived digital telephone channels.

11. A subscriber interface unit for use in a telecommunication system including a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of derived digital telephone channels, the subscriber interface unit for coupling the asymmetrical digital subscriber line to an analog land-line telephone, the subscriber interface unit comprising:

a housing;

an electrical coupler, coupled to the housing for connection to a cable carrying the asymmetrical digital subscriber line;

a telephone line coupler, coupled to the housing, for connection to a cable of the analog telephone;

a converter, coupled to the electrical coupler and to the telephone line coupler, for converting the first analog signals generated by the analog telephone into a first plurality of data packets for transmission to a selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and for converting a second plurality of data packets received from the selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a second analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone; and

wherein the analog telephone in combination with the subscriber interface unit is capable of accessing and monitoring the plurality of derived digital telephone channels and is further capable of selecting one of the plurality of telephone channels for conducting a voice call, and wherein the converter further is capable of converting a third plurality of data packets received from an additional one of the plurality of derived digital telephone channels into a third analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone.

12. The subscriber interface unit of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a top having a first indented portion for accepting the analog telephone on top thereof.

13. The subscriber interface unit of claim 11 wherein the housing has a height and a width and wherein the width of the housing is greater than the height.

14. The subscriber interface unit of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of non-skid feet coupled to a bottom surface of the housing.

15. The subscriber interface unit of claim 11 wherein the asymmetrical digital subscriber line further comprises at least one data channel for carrying data signals not related to the plurality of derived digital telephone channels.