SVC accessing method for use in ATM-DSLAM

• US 6,529,479 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/175,201
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/230.1, 370/231, 370/235, 370/236, 370/236.1, 370/236.2, 370/241.1, 370/352, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/397, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370/400, 370/401, 370/409, 370/410
• US Class Current: 370/236.1
• 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 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5614 User Network Interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6478 Digital subscriber line, e.g. DSL, ADSL, HDSL, XDSL, VDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

An access server and a DSLAM are continuously connected by a PVC. The access server and the DSLAM manage an unused ATM VC within the PVC while making a communication with an idle VC indication cell which is an OAM cell. The DSLAM allocates the unused ATM VC by communicating with the access server based on a call originating request issued from a modem.

Claims

1. An SVC accessing method for use in an ATM-DSLAM, with which a subscriber side terminating device accesses an access server connected to a cell switch network by using a fixed-length cell via an accommodation station side terminating device accommodating a subscriber line to which the subscriber side terminating device is connected, comprising:

continuously connecting the access server and the accommodation station terminating device with a permanent virtual connection;

managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection in the access server and the accommodation station side terminating device;

allocating an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side terminating device by communicating with the access server based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side terminating device, in the accommodation station side terminating device;

managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection while exchanging information about the unused virtual connection by using a management and maintenance broadcast cell at predetermined time intervals, in the access server and the accommodation station side terminating device; and

allocating an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side terminating device by communicating with the access server by using a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on the call originating request issued from the subscriber side terminating device, in the accommodation station side terminating device.

2. The SVC accessing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing identification information of the access server along with information about the unused virtual connection in the management and maintenance broadcast cell.

3. The SVC accessing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

releasing a virtual connection under a communication by communicating with the access server with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call terminating request issued from the subscriber side terminating device, in the accommodation station side terminating device.

4. An SVC accessing method for use in an ATM-DSLAM, with which a subscriber side modem which performs modulation/demodulation with a digital subscriber line method accesses an access server connected to an ATM switch network by using an ATM cell transferred with an asynchronous transfer mode method via an accommodation station side modem accommodating a digital subscriber line to which the subscriber side modem is connected, comprising:

continuously connecting the access server and the accommodation station side modem with a permanent virtual connection;

managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection in the access server and the accommodation station side modem;

allocating an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side modem by communicating with the access server based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem, in the accommodation station side modem;

managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection while exchanging information about the unused virtual connection by using a management and maintenance broadcast cell, in the access server and the accommodation station side modem; and

allocating an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side modem by communicating with the access server with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on the call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem, in the accommodation station modem.

5. The SVC accessing method according to claim 4, further comprising:

selectively running a capability for terminating the management and maintenance broadcast cell input from a network side in an accommodation station side network interface.

6. The SVC accessing method according to claim 4, further comprising:

storing identification information of the access server along with information about the unused virtual connection in the management and maintenance broadcast cell.

7. The SVC accessing method according to claim 6, further comprising:

selectively running a capability for terminating the management and maintenance broadcast cell input from a network side in an accommodation station side network interface.

8. The SVC accessing method according to claim 4, further comprising:

releasing a virtual connection under a communication by communicating with the access server with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call terminating request issued from the subscriber side modem, in the accommodation station side modem.

9. An ATM-DSLAM device, which is an accommodation station side modem, for use in a system where a subscriber side modem performing modulation/demodulation with a digital subscriber line method accesses an access server connected to an ATM switch network by using an ATM cell transferred with an asynchronous transfer mode method via the accommodation station side modem accommodating a digital subscriber line to which the subscriber side modem is connected, comprising:

a connecting device for making a continuous connection with the access server by using a permanent virtual connection;

a connection managing device for managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection; and

a connection allocating device for allocating an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side modem by communicating with the access server based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem;

wherein

said connection managing device manages an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection while exchanging with the access server information about the unused virtual connection by using a management and maintenance broadcast cell; and

said connection allocating device allocates an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side modem by communicating with the access server with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem.

10. The ATM-DSLAM device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a network interface for selectively performing a capability for terminating the management and maintenance broadcast cell input from a network side.

11. The ATM-DSLAM device according to claim 9, wherein identification information of the access server is stored in the management and maintenance broadcast cell along with information about the unused virtual connection.

12. The ATM-DSLAM device according to claim 9, wherein said connection allocating device releases a virtual connection under a communication by communicating with the access server with the management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call terminating request issued from the subscriber side modem.

13. An ATM access server module which is an access server for use in a system where a subscriber side modem performing modulation/demodulation with a digital subscriber line method accesses the access server connected to an ATM switch network by using an ATM cell transferred with an asynchronous transfer mode method via an accommodation station side modem accommodating a digital subscriber line to which the subscriber side modem is connected, comprising:

a connecting device for making a continuous connection with the accommodation station side modem by using a permanent virtual connection; and

a connection managing device for managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection;

wherein

said connection managing device manages the unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection while exchanging with the accommodation station side modem information about the unused virtual connection by using a management and maintenance broadcast cell, and wherein

an unused virtual connection is allocated to the subscriber side modem through communication with the accommodation station side modem with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem.

14. An ATM modem which is a subscriber side modem for use in a system where the subscriber side modem performing modulation/demodulation with a digital subscriber line method accesses an access server connected to an ATM switch network by using an ATM cell transferred with an asynchronous transfer mode method via an accommodation station side modem accommodating a digital subscriber line to which the subscriber side modem is connected, and the accommodation station side modem continuously connected with the access server by using a permanent virtual connection and managing an unused virtual connection within the permanent virtual connection, comprising:

a connection allocation receiving device for receiving an allocation of an unused virtual connection, within the permanent virtual connection, from the accommodation station side modem by issuing a call originating request to the accommodation station side modem;

wherein

said connection allocating receiving device allocates an unused virtual connection to the subscriber side modem by communicating with the access server with a management and maintenance broadcast cell based on a call originating request issued from the subscriber side modem.