Securing local loops for providing high bandwidth connections

• US 6,459,702 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LGc Pivotal LLC
• Original Assignee: Covad Communications Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Or, Yan, Gopinathan, Madhu, Saaverda, Ralph Gordon, Walsh, Michael Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/347,055
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/480, 370/493, 370/490, 370/489, 370/535, 370/422, 370/423, 370/424, 370/252, 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370/250, 379/242, 379/243, 379/244, 379/258, 379/306, 379/307, 379/308
• US Class Current: 370/422
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An operational support system (OSS) securing a local loop to be used for providing digital subscriber loop (DSL) based services to a user location (e.g., home). Upon determination of the services (including bandwidth) to be provided, the OSS may automatically determine a port on a DSL access multiplexor (DSLAM) which is capable of providing the determined services. In turn, the DSLAM port may determine a port on a distribution frame. An order for a local loop specifying the port on the frame may be sent to an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). The ILEC may provide a firm order commit (FOC) date for providing the local loop. The OSS may automatically test the local loop around the FOC date prior to determine whether the local loop has been accurately provided by the ILEC.

Claims

1. A method of securing a local loop from an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), said local loop for providing a service based on digital subscriber loop (DSL) to a user location, wherein said user location is connected to a central office by said local loop, said method comprising:

allocating using a computer system a port on a digital subscriber loop access multiplexor (DSLAM) having the capability to provide said service;

determining in said computer system a port on a distribution frame which connects to said port on said DSLAM, wherein each port on said distribution frame is connected to a corresponding port on said DSLAM; and

sending from said computer system a request to said ILEC for a connection to said local loop, wherein said request specifies that said local loop is to be connected to said port on said distribution frame.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in said computer system a firm order commit (FOC) date from said ILEC in response to said sending of said request,

wherein said ILEC provides said local loop on said port on said distribution frame.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

initiating a test from said computer system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said computer system initiates said test around said FOC date, and wherein said computer system causes a tester to perform said test.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said DSLAM supports a plurality of digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies, wherein each of said DSL technologies may support a different range of bandwidth, said DSLAM containing a plurality of ports with each port having the capability of supporting only some of said DSL technologies, wherein said allocating comprises:

maintaining in said computer system a table indicating the DSL technologies supported by each of said plurality of ports, and determining said port according to the DSL technologies supported by said port.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said DSL technologies comprise IDSL technology, wherein only some of said ports can support said IDSL technology.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said DSL technologies comprise ADSL technology, wherein only some of said ports can support said ADSL technology.

8. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to secure a local loop from an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), said local loop for providing high bandwidth connections to a user location, said computer program logic comprising:

means for allocating a port on a digital subscriber loop access multiplexor (DSLAM) having the capability to provide said service;

means for determining a port on a distribution frame which connects to said port on said DSLAM, wherein each port on said distribution frame is connected to a corresponding port on said DSLAM; and

means for sending a request to said ILEC for a connection to said local loop, wherein said request specifies that said local loop is to be connected to said port on said distribution frame.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving a firm order commit (FOC) date from said ILEC in response to sending said request,

wherein said ILEC provides said local loop on said port on said distribution frame.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

means for initiating a test from said computer system.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein said means for initiating initiates said test around said FOC date, and wherein said means for initiating causes a tester to perform said test.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said DSLAM supports a plurality of digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies, wherein each of said DSL technologies may support a different range of bandwidth, said DSLAM containing a plurality of ports with each port having the capability of supporting only some of said DSL technologies, wherein said means for allocating comprises:

means for maintaining a table indicating the DSL technologies supported by each of said plurality of ports; and

means for determining said port of said DSLAM according to the DSL technologies supported by said port.

13. An operational support system (OSS) for securing a local loop from an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), said local loop for providing high bandwidth connections to a user location, said operational support system comprising:

a computer system for allocating a port on a digital subscriber loop access multiplexor (DSLAM) having the capability to provide said service, said computer system further determining a port on a distribution frame which connects to said port on said DSLAM, wherein each port on said distribution frame is connected to a corresponding port on said DSLAM,

said computer system sending a request to said ILEC for a connection to said local loop, wherein said request specifies that said local loop is to be connected to said port on said distribution frame.

14. The operational support system of claim 13, wherein said computer system receives a firm order commit (FOC) date from said ILEC in response to sending said request,

wherein said ILEC provides said local loop on said port on said distribution frame.

15. The operational support system of claim 14, further comprising a tester for testing said local loop, wherein said computer system causes said tester to perform said test.

16. The operational support system of claim 13, wherein said DSLAM supports a plurality of digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies, wherein each of said DSL technologies may support a different range of bandwidth, said DSLAM containing a plurality of ports with each port having the capability of supporting only some of said DSL technologies, wherein said computer system maintains a table indicating the DSL technologies supported by each of said plurality of ports, determines said port of said DSLAM according to the DSL technologies supported by said port.