Flexible tributary unit protection method for a trunk-multiplexed metallic interface

• US 6,529,599 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Summit Technology Systems LP
• Original Assignee: NEC America Inc (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Gorshe, Steven S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAROLD, JEFFEREY F
• Application Number:
  US09/111,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 379/369, 379/399, 379/451, 379/283, 379/284, 370/359, 370/384, 370/216, 370/221, 370/225, 370/228, 370/226, 370/419, 370/420, 370/463, 335/174
• US Class Current: 379/399.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725

Abstract

In a telephone system having multiple working metallic interface units, a method and a structure provide protection by assigning to each metallic interface unit a partner unit, which is another metallic interface unit. Under this arrangement, when a failure occurs in a working metallic interface unit, its partner unit switches the ring/tip input signals of the failed metallic interface unit to a protection bus. A standby or protective unit then takes over by receiving the rerouted tip/ring signals from the protection bus. The failed working unit can then be removed from the shelf without disrupting service.

Claims

1. A telephone or data communication system with metallic interfaces, comprising:

a bus;

one or more metallic interface units each having (a) first input terminals for receiving a first set of tip/ring signals, (b) second input terminals for receiving a second set of tip/ring signals, (c) a processing circuit providing a metallic interface for said first set of tip/ring signals, (d) a switch circuit coupled to said first input and second input terminals for coupling said first set of tip/ring signals to said processing circuit and for coupling, upon receiving an asserted control signal, said second set of tip/ring signals to said bus; and

a protection metallic interface unit coupled to receive from said bus a set of tip/ring signals, said protection metallic interface unit implementing a metallic interface for said set of tip/ring signals from said bus;

wherein said metallic interface units support various classes of services, each metallic interface unit being adapted to support one of said classes of services, said telephone system further comprising additional protection units each one of which is capable of supporting two or more of said classes of services.

2. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 1, wherein a selected one of said metallic interface units is assigned another one of the metallic interface units as a partner unit, said partner unit being coupled to receive said first set of tip/ring signals of said selected metallic interface unit at its second input terminals.

3. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 2, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit occupy non-adjacent slots in an equipment shelf.

4. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 2, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit provide different service levels.

5. A telephone system or data communication as in claim 2, wherein said selected metallic interface unit and said partner unit are located at adjacent slots on the same shelf.

6. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 2, wherein said partner unit includes a control circuit providing a second control signal, and wherein said switch circuit of said selected metallic interface unit, upon receiving said second control signal in an asserted state, disconnects said processing circuit from said first set of ring/tip signals.

7. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 2, wherein said protection unit receives said set of tip/ring signals from said bus via protection relays in said protection unit.

8. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 2, wherein said protection metallic interface unit serves as a partner unit for one of said metallic interface units.

9. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 1, wherein a selected one of said plurality of metallic interface unit includes output terminals, said switch circuit of said selected metallic interface unit coupling a set of tip/ring signals from said bus to said output terminals, said protection metallic interface unit receiving from said output terminals said tip/ring signals for which it provides said metallic interface.

10. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 1, wherein said switch circuit includes protection relays.

11. A telephone or data communication system as in claim 1, wherein said metallic interface units include first and second metallic interface units of first and second service levels, respectively, and wherein said bus includes first and second segments corresponding to said first and second service levels, respectively.

12. A method for providing protection in a telephone or data communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a bus;

providing one or more metallic interface units each having (a) first input terminals for receiving a first set of tip/ring signals, (b) second input terminals for receiving a second set of tip/ring signals, (c) a processing circuit providing a metallic interface for said first set of tip/ring signals, (d) a switch circuit coupled to said first input and second input terminals for coupling said first set of tip/ring signals to said processing circuit and for coupling, upon receiving an asserted control signal, said second set of tip/ring signals to said bus; and

providing a protection metallic interface unit coupled to receive from said bus a set of tip/ring signals, said protection metallic interface unit implementing a metallic interface for said set of tip/ring signals from said bus;

wherein said metallic interface units support various classes of services, each metallic interface unit being adapted to support one of said classes of services, said method further comprising the step of providing additional protection units each one of which is capable of supporting two or more of said classes of services.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein a selected one of said metallic interface units is assigned another one of said metallic interface units as a partner unit, said partner unit being coupled to receive said first set of tip/ring signals of said selected metallic interface unit at its second input terminals.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit occupy non-adjacent slots in an equipment shelf.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit provide different service levels.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein said selected metallic interface unit and said partner unit are located at adjacent slots on an equipment shelf.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said partner unit includes a control circuit providing a second control signal, and wherein said switch circuit of said selected metallic interface unit, upon receiving said second control signal in an asserted state, disconnects said processing circuit from said first set of ring/tip signals.

18. A method as in claim 13, wherein said protection unit receives said set of tip/ring signals from said bus via protection relays in said protection unit.

19. A method as in claim 13, wherein said protection metallic interface unit is also provided as a partner unit for one of said metallic interface units.

20. A method as in claim 12, wherein a selected one of said plurality of metallic interface unit includes output terminals, said switch circuit of said selected metallic interface unit coupling a set of tip/ring signals from said bus to said output terminals, said protection metallic interface unit receiving from said output terminals said tip/ring signals for which it provides said metallic interface.

21. A method as in claim 12, wherein said switch circuit are provided protection relays.

22. A method as in claim 12, wherein said metallic interface units include metallic interface units of first and second service levels, respectively, and wherein said bus includes first and second segments corresponding to said first and second service levels, respectively.

23. A telephone or data communication system with metallic interfaces, comprising:

a bus;

one or more metallic interface units each having (a) first input terminals for receiving a first set of tip/ring signals, (b) second input terminals for receiving a second set of tip/ring signals, (c) a processing circuit providing a metallic interface for said first set of tip/ring signals, (d) a switch circuit coupled to said first input and second input terminals for coupling said first set of tip/ring signals to said processing circuit and for coupling, upon receiving an asserted control signal, said second set of tip/ring signals to said bus; and

a protection metallic interface unit coupled to receive from said bus a set of tip/ring signals, said protection metallic interface unit implementing a metallic interface for said set of tip/ring signals from said bus;

wherein a selected one of said metallic interface units is assigned another one of the metallic interface units as a partner unit, said partner unit being coupled to receive said first set of tip/ring signals of said selected metallic interface unit at its second input terminals, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit provide different service levels.

24. A method for providing protection in a telephone or data communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a bus;

providing one or more metallic interface units each having (a) first input terminals for receiving a first set of tip/ring signals, (b) second input terminals for receiving a second set of tip/ring signals, (c) a processing circuit providing a metallic interface for said first set of tip/ring signals, (d) a switch circuit coupled to said first input and second input terminals for coupling said first set of tip/ring signals to said processing circuit and for coupling, upon receiving an asserted control signal, said second set of tip/ring signals to said bus; and

providing a protection metallic interface unit coupled to receive from said bus a set of tip/ring signals, said protection metallic interface unit implementing a metallic interface for said set of tip/ring signals from said bus;

wherein a selected one of said metallic interface units is assigned another one of said metallic interface units as a partner unit, said partner unit being coupled to receive said first set of tip/ring signals of said selected metallic interface unit at its second input terminals, wherein said partner unit and said selected metallic interface unit provide different service levels.