Scalable DSL access multiplexer with high reliability

• US 6,477,595 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anova Broadband, LLC
• Original Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kumar, P. K. Nanda, Ramanathan, Murali, Cohen, Michael S., Balasubramanyam, R., Babu, K. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Application Number:
  US09/547,921
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.14, 379/93.28, 710/104, 710/105
• US Class Current: 710/105
• 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 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• 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 digital subscriber line (DSL) multiplexer is used in conjunction with a DSL modem to provide a reliable high speed connection for an end-user. The scaleable DSL multiplexer supports multiple DSL modems to a number of subscriber desiring increased bandwidth. The connection is reliably maintained by the multiplexer which utilizes a proprietary protocol to exchange management information to monitor the connection.

Claims

1. A multiplexing device for providing high speed network connectivity for the transport of data frames to at least one subscriber, comprising:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) transceiver interface coupled to a plurality of subscriber DSL modems;

a packet buffer coupled to the DSL transceiver interface for storing the data frames, the packet buffer transferring the data frames over a packet buffer bus;

an Ethernet-type port coupled to the packet buffer for uplinking to an external switch; and

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the packet buffer for executing code to send and receive proprietary protocol packets for communicating management information associated with the plurality of subscriber DSL modems, the management information indicating presence of an Ethernet-type port, current line speed, and media access control (MAC) address;

wherein the proprietary protocol packets comprise;

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.

2. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, further wherein an external POTS splitter supplies DSL signals to the DSL transceiver interface.

3. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, further wherein the subscriber DSL modem and the DSL transceiver interface utilize a rate adaptive DSL scheme.

4. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, wherein the Ethernet-type port is a 100Baset-T port, wherein the Ethernet-type port supports full duplex operation.

5. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, further comprising a cross-point switch coupled to the DSL transceiver interface for modem pooling, wherein the DSL transceiver interface comprises six DSL modems to support at least twenty-four subscribers.

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

7. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, wherein the management information comprises a file download module for retrieving a runtime file from the multiplexer, wherein the runtime file, when executing, is configured to forward data from the DSL transceiver interface to the Ethernet-type port, forward data from the Ethernet-type port to the DSL transceiver interface, control operation of the DSL transceiver interface, and share the DSL transceiver interface among the plurality of subscriber DSL modems.

8. The multiplexing device as in claim 1, wherein the DSL transceiver, the packet buffer, the Ethernet-type port, and the CPU are housed in a stackable chassis.

9. A multiplexing device for providing high speed network connectivity for the transport of data frames to at least one subscriber, comprising:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) transceiver interface coupled to a plurality of subscriber DSL modems;

a packet buffer coupled to the DSL transceiver interface for storing the data frames, the packet buffer transferring the data frames over a packet buffer bus;

an Ethernet-type port coupled to the packet buffer for uplinking to an external switch; and

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the packet buffer for executing code to send and receive proprietary protocol packets for communicating management information associated with the plurality of subscriber DSL modems, the management information indicating presence of an Ethernet-type port, current line speed, and media access control (MAC) address;

wherein the management information comprises a file download module for retrieving a runtime file from the multiplexer, wherein the runtime file, when executing, is configured to forward data from the DSL transceiver interface to the Ethernet-type port, forward data from the Ethernet-type port to the DSL transceiver interface, control operation of the DSL transceiver interface, and share the DSL transceiver interface among the plurality of subscriber DSL modems.