ATM based VDSL communication system having meta signaling for switching a subscriber between different data service providers

• US 6,473,427 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications Company (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications Company (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brodigan, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/664,665
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/354, 370/355, 370/358, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/397, 370/399, 370/395.2, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370/409
• US Class Current: 370/395.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/289 Single service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5606 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers includes an ATM network connected to data service providers. A host digital terminal (HDT) is connected to the ATM network by an ATM permanent virtual circuit (PVC). Each of the ATM PVCs is associated with a corresponding one of the data service providers. The ATM PVCs connect the HDT to the data service providers. The HDT and the data service providers communicate data signals on the ATM PVCs through the ATM network. A customer provided equipment (CPE) data device is connected to the HDT by a VDSL PVC. The CPE device and the HDT communicate data signals on the VDSL PVC. A subscriber personal computer is connected to the CPE device for communicating data signals with the CPE device. The personal computer is operable to generate a channel signal corresponding to a selected one of the data service providers. The HDT, in response to the channel signal, connects the ATM PVC associated with the selected data service provider with the VDSL PVC to establish a system PVC connecting the selected data service provider with the personal computer. The selected data service provider and the personal computer communicate the data signals on the system PVC.

Claims

1. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers, the ATM based VDSL communication system comprising:

an ATM network connected to a plurality of data service providers;

a host digital terminal connected to the ATM network by one of a plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits, each of the ATM permanent virtual circuits associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of data service providers, wherein the plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits connect the host digital terminal to the plurality of data service providers; and

a data device connected to the host digital terminal by a VDSL permanent virtual circuit, the VDSL permanent virtual circuit being supported on at least a twisted pair drop between the host digital terminal and the data device, wherein the data device is operable to generate a channel change signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of data service providers;

wherein the host digital terminal, in response to the channel change signal, connects the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the selected one of the data service providers with the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to establish a system permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connecting the selected one of the data service providers with the data device, wherein the selected one of the data service providers and the data device communicate data signals on the system PVC;

wherein the host digital terminal, upon receiving another channel change signal corresponding to a second data service provider, disconnects the VDSL permanent virtual circuit from the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the current one of the plurality of data service providers and connects the VDSL permanent virtual circuit with the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the second data service provider to establish a second system PVC.

2. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 1 wherein:

the host digital terminal includes a database of the data service providers in which the data device has access, wherein the host digital terminal, in response to the channel change signal, processes the database to determine if the data device has access to the selected one of the plurality of data service providers and, if the data device has access, connects the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the selected one of the data service providers with the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to establish a new system PVC.

3. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 1 wherein:

the data device transmits a digital storage media - command and control (DSMCC) signal on the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to the host digital terminal, the DSM-CC signal containing a designation indicative of the selected one of the plurality of data service providers.

4. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 3 wherein:

the data device transmits the DSM-CC signal to the host digital terminal over a meta signaling channel on the VDSL permanent virtual circuit.

5. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 1 wherein:

each of the ATM permanent virtual circuits have associated ATM parameters.

6. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers, the ATM based VDSL communication system comprising:

an ATM network connected to a plurality of data service providers;

a host digital terminal connected to the ATM network by one of a plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits, each of the ATM permanent virtual circuits associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of data service providers, wherein the plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits connect the host digital terminal to the plurality of data service providers; and

a data device connected to the host digital terminal by a VDSL permanent virtual circuit, the VDSL permanent virtual circuit being supported on at least a twisted pair drop between the host digital terminal and the data device, wherein the data device is operable to generate a channel change signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of data service providers;

wherein the host digital terminal, in response to the channel change signal, connects the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the selected one of the data service providers with the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to establish a system permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connecting the selected one of the data service providers with the data device, wherein the selected one of the data service providers and the data device communicate data signals on the system PVC;

wherein the data device has an Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the channel change signal includes the IP address of the data device, wherein the data device intercepts the channel change signal based on identifying its IP address and then transmits a digital storage media - command and control (DSM-CC) signal on the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to the host digital terminal, the DSM-CC signal containing a designation indicative of the selected one of the plurality of data service providers.

7. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers, the ATM based VDSL communication system comprising:

an ATM network having first and second ATM edge switches, the first ATM edge switch connected to a plurality of data service providers;

a host digital terminal connected to the second ATM edge switch of the ATM network by one of a plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits, each of the ATM permanent virtual circuits associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of data service providers, wherein the plurality of ATM permanent virtual circuits connect the host digital terminal to the plurality of data service providers; and

a subscriber data device connected to the host digital terminal by a VDSL permanent virtual circuit, the VDSL permanent virtual circuit being supported on at least a twisted pair drop between the host digital terminal and the subscriber data device, wherein the subscriber data device is operable to generate a channel change signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of data service providers;

wherein the host digital terminal, in response to the channel change signal, connects the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the selected one of the data service providers with the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to establish a system permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connecting the selected one of the data service providers with the subscriber data device, wherein the selected one of the data service providers and the subscriber data device communicate data signals on the system PVC;

wherein the host digital terminal includes a database of the data service providers in which the subscriber data device has access, wherein the host digital terminal, in response to the channel change signal, processes the database to determine if the subscriber data device has access to the selected one of the plurality of data service providers and, if the subscriber data device has access, connects the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the selected one of the data service providers with the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to establish a new system PVC.

8. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 7 wherein:

the host digital terminal, upon receiving another channel change signal corresponding to a second data service provider, disconnects the VDSL permanent virtual circuit from the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the current one of the plurality of data service providers and connects the VDSL permanent virtual circuit with the ATM permanent virtual circuit associated with the second data service provider to establish a second system PVC.

9. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 7 wherein:

the subscriber data device transmits a digital storage media- command and control (DSM-CC) signal on the VDSL permanent virtual circuit to the host digital terminal, the DSM-CC signal containing a designation indicative of the selected one of the plurality of data service providers.

10. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 9 wherein:

the subscriber data device transmits DSM-CC signal to the host digital terminal over a meta signaling channel on the VDSL permanent virtual circuit.

11. The ATM based VDSL communication system of claim 7 wherein:

each of the ATM permanent virtual circuits have associated ATM parameters.