Method and apparatus for providing an all digital loop with power-optimised mode

• US 6,510,204 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ploumen, Franciscus Maria, Van Bladel, Marc Maria Marcel, Verbiest, Willem Jules Antoine, Verpooten, Luc Maria Marcel, Reusens, Peter Paul Frans, De Clercq, Luc Josephine Theoduul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/910,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20020009133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/1.03, 379/9.05, 379/27.01, 379/27.06, 379/28, 379/29.01, 379/93.01, 379/322, 379/323, 379/324, 379/413, 379/1.04, 379/9, 379/9.06, 379/15.01, 379/16, 379/17, 379/22, 379/22.04, 379/24, 379/93.06, 370/216
• US Class Current: 379/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13082 Power supply via phantom line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus for use in an all digital loop contains a first network node (30), a second network node (31), and a data transmission line (32) there between. Each one of the first and second network nodes (30, 31) is operable to transmit to the other at least one digitised telephone signal with other digital data via a set of carriers. One of the first and second network nodes (30, 31) thereto includes or is associated with means which in the event of power failure at the first network node (30), is operable selectively to provide power to the first node (30) such that the first node (30) operates only via a limited subset of said carriers. This limited subset is such as to minimise the power required for the transmission of a telephone lifeline signal between the first and second nodes (30, 31).

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network, the apparatus including:

a first network node (30);

a second network node (31); and

a data transmission line (32) connecting the first network node (30) to the second network node (31);

wherein each one of said first and second network nodes (30, 31) is operable to transmit to the other of said first and second network nodes (30, 31), at least one digitized telephone signal with other digital data via a set of carriers, the apparatus being;

CHARACTERISED IN THAT;

one of said first and second said network nodes (30, 31) includes or is associated with means which in the event of power failure at the first said network node (30), is operable selectively to provide power to the first node (30) such that the first node (30) operates only via a limited subset of said carriers which limited subset is to minimize the power required for the transmission thereof so as to provide transmission of at least a telephone lifeline signal between the first and second nodes (30, 31).

2. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 1,

wherein the limited subset of carriers provides transmission of only one telephone voice channel in the telephone lifeline.

3. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 1,

wherein the means operable to selectively provide power to the first node includes a power source located substantially at the second node (31) and power is selectively provided to the first node (30) remotely from the second node (31).

4. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 1,

wherein the means operable to selectively provide power to the first node (30) includes a power source located substantially locally with first node (30) and power is selectively provided to the first node (30) locally.

5. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 4,

wherein the local power source includes a UPS (Uninteruptable Power Supply) system.

6. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 4,

wherein the local power source includes a battery power supply.

7. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 4,

wherein the local power source includes a super-capacitor power supply.

8. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 1,

wherein said at least one digitized telephone signal is in-band transmitted with said other digital data using digital subscriber line (XDSL) transmission techniques.

9. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 8,

wherein ADSL transmission is used.

10. Apparatus for use in a telecommunications network according to claim 1,

wherein the first node (30) is located at an xDSL subscriber premises and the second node (31) is located at an XDSL central office.

11. Apparatus according to any claim 1,

wherein the digital data is transmitted via an all digital loop.

12. A central office of a telecommunications network, having an all digital loop including:

a first network node (30);

a second network node (31) located at the central office; and

a data transmission line (32) connecting the first network node (30) to the second network node (31);

wherein each one of said first and second network nodes (30, 31) is operable to transmit to the other of said first and second network nodes (30, 31), at least one digitized telephone signal with other digital data via a set of carriers, the all digital loop being;

CHARACTERISED IN THAT;

one of said first and second said network nodes (30, 31) includes or is associated with means which in the event of power failure at the first said network node (30), is operable selectively to provide power to the first node (30) such that the first node (30) operates only via a limited subset of said carriers which limited subset is to minimize the power required for the transmission thereof so as to provide transmission of at least a telephone lifeline signal between the first and second nodes (30, 31).

13. A customer premises for use in an all digital loop of a telecommunications network, the all digital loop including:

a first network node (30) located at the customer premises;

a second network node (31); and

a data transmission line (32) connecting the first network node (30) to the second network node (31);

wherein each one of said first and second network nodes (30, 31) is operable to transmit to the other of said first and second network nodes (30, 31), at least one digitized telephone signal with other digital data via a set of carriers, the all digital loop being;

CHARACTERISED IN THAT;

one of said first and second said network nodes (30, 31) includes or is associated with means which in the event of power failure at the first said network node (30), is operable selectively to provide power to the first node (30) such that the first node (30) operates only via a limited subset of said carriers which limited subset is to minimize the power required for the transmission thereof so as to provide transmission of at least a telephone lifeline signal between the first and second nodes (30, 31).

14. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network, the method including the steps of:

providing a first network node (30);

providing a second network node (31);

providing a data transmission line (32) and connecting the first network node (30) to the second network node (31) therewith; and

transmitting from any one of said first and second network node (30, 31) to the other of said first and second network nodes (30, 31), at least one digitized telephone signal with other digital data via a set of carriers;

the method being;

CHARACTERISED IN THAT;

in the event of power failure at the first said network node (30), the method includes the further steps of;

selectively providing power to the first node (30) such that the first node (30) operates only via a limited subset of said carriers which limited subset is such as to minimize the power required for the transmission thereof so as to provide transmission of at least a telephone lifeline signal between the first and second nodes (30, 31).

15. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein the limited subset of carriers provides transmission of only one telephone voice channel in the telephone lifeline.

16. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein power is selectively provided to the first node (30) via a power source located substantially at the second node (31) and power is selectively provided to the first node (30) remotely from the second node (31).

17. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein power is selectively provided to the first node (30) via a power source located substantially locally with the first node (30) and power is selectively provided to the first node (30) locally.

18. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 17,

wherein the local power source includes a UPS (Uninteruptable Power Supply) system.

19. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 17,

wherein the local power source includes a battery power supply.

20. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 17,

wherein the local power source includes a super-capacitor power supply.

21. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein said at least one digitized telephone signal is in-band transmitted with said other digital data using digital subscriber line (xDSL) transmission techniques.

22. A method of transmitting digital data via of a telecommunications network according to claim 21,

wherein ADSL transmission is used.

23. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein the first node (30) is located at an xDSL subscriber premises and the second node (31) is located at an XDSL central office.

24. A method of transmitting digital data via a telecommunications network according to claim 14,

wherein the digital data is transmitted via an all digital loop.