DSL modem with management capability

• US 6,404,861 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anova Broadband, LLC
• Original Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ramanathan, Murali, Cohen, Michael S., Balasubramanyam, R., Babu, K. C., Kumar, P.K. Nanda
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/547,911
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.1, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.08, 379/93.28, 379/93.29, 379/93.31, 379/93.32, 370/352, 370/445, 370/484, 370/487
• US Class Current: 379/93.01
• 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 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5635 Backpressure, e.g. for ABR
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5651 Priority, marking, classes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13162 : Fault indication and localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13164 : Traffic (registration, measurement,...)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 : Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 : Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 : Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 : Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A modem using digital subscriber line (DSL) provides high speed access over a copper plant. The DSL modem exchanges management information to a terminating multiplexer using a proprietary protocol, thus enabling reliable, fast access to networking resources.

Claims

1. An access device for providing high speed network connectivity, comprising:

a main processor for executing code to send and receive proprietary protocol packets for communicating management information with a multiplexer using a digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, the management information indicating presence of an Ethernet-type port, current line speed, and media access control (MAC) address;

a modem interface bus coupled to the main processor for providing read/write control signs;

a multi-function controller coupled to the main processor for performing Ethernet media access control (MAC);

an Ethernet interface coupled to the multifunction controller for communicating with an external Ethernet device;

a DSL port coupled to the modem interface bus for receiving and transmitting a DSL signals;

a DSL bit pump coupled to the modem interface for performing digital signal processing functions; and

a digital/analog converter (DAC) coupled to the DSL bit pump for outputting signals to the DSL bit pump for transport over the DSL port and over the Ethernet interface.

2. The access device as in claim 1, wherein the proprietary protocol packets comprises:

a line identification field that identifies a subscriber line associated with one of the subscriber DSL modems;

a sequence identification field that is used for synchronization between the data frames;

a data length field that specifies the length of a data payload within the data frames; and

a checksum field for error detection.

3. The access device as in claim 1, further wherein the DSL technology is a rate adaptive DSL (RADSL).

4. The access device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a DSL data interface for receiving and transmitting the DSL signals to and from the DSL port;

a plain old telephone service (POTS) line interface coupled to the DSL data interface port for communicating with a public switched telephone network via a POTS signal having a voice band and a data band; and

a low pass filter coupled to the POTS line interface for separating the voice band and the data band.

5. The access device as in claim 2, wherein the DSL port comprises a RJ-45 connector.

6. The access device as in claim 1, wherein the management information comprises lower and upper Service Access Point (SAP) information.

7. The access device as in claim 1, wherein the management information comprises a file download module for retrieving a runtime file from the multiplexer.

8. An access device for providing high speed network connectivity, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) card comprising;

(a) a main processor configured for supplying management information with a multiplexer over a digital subscriber line (DSL), the management information indicating presence of an Ethernet-type port, current line speed, and media access control (MAC) address;

(b) a multi-function controller coupled to the main processor for configured for performing Ethernet media access control (MAC);

(c) a modem interface bus coupled to the main processor configured for providing read/write control signs;

(d) a DSL port coupled to the modem interface bus for receiving and transmitting a DSL signals; and

a modem card coupled to the CPU card for interfacing a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising;

(a) a DSL bit pump coupled to the modem interface of the CPU card configured for performing digital signal processing functions;

(b) a digital/analog converter (DAC) coupled to the DSL bit pump for outputting signals to the DSL bit pump for transport over the DSL port and over the Ethernet interface.

9. The access device as in claim 8, further comprising a POTS splitter configured for combining and separating a voice band and a data band associated with signals received from the PSTN.

10. The access device as in claim 8, wherein the management information comprises lower and upper Service Access Point (SAP) information.

11. The access device as in claim 8, wherein the management information comprises a file download module for retrieving a runtime file from the multiplexer.

12. The access device as in claim 8, further comprising:

a DSL data interface for receiving and transmitting the DSL signals to and from the DSL port;

a plain old telephone service (POTS) line interface coupled to the DSL data interface port for communicating with a public switched telephone network via a POTS signal having a voice band and a data band; and

a low pass filter coupled to the POTS line interface for separating the voice band and the data band.

13. The access device as in claim 12, wherein the DSL port comprises a RJ-45 connector.