Voice over DSL method and system for supporting a lifeline

• US 6,574,313 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Turnstone Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Turnstone Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Chea, Ramon C. W. Jr., Duffie, P. Kingston
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINGH, RAMNANDAN P
• Application Number:
  US09/569,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/399.01, 379/379, 379/304, 379/27.01, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/27.08, 379/9.05
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13082 Power supply via phantom line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a “lifeline” service to a VoDSL customer despite an electrical power outage or integrated access device failure at the customer premise. A bypass function is implemented in an integrated access device at the customer premise to provide the lifeline service. The bypass function is preferably a relay, which can be automatically activated to provide the lifeline service under various conditions. The bypass relay, working in conjunction with systems in the central office and the regional switching center allows the customer to obtain an active telephone line during power outages or integrated access device failures. Electrical power is also supplied to the customer'"'"'s premise from the central office, thereby allowing the customer to use a telephone line in the traditional manner. The present invention can further be implemented for any number of customers and telephone lines.

Claims

1. A method for providing a lifeline service to a customer using a VoDSL service, the method comprising:

actuating a first relay in a first integrated access device at a customer premise, the actuating of the first relay allowing a lifeline terminal to connect directly to tip and ring wires while bypassing certain components in the first integrated access device, wherein the first relay is actuated by a DC voltage signal from a test head in a central office;

applying a voltage to the lifeline terminal from the central office; and

providing the lifeline service to the customer through the lifeline terminal and a central office terminal module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first relay is actuated when the first integrated access device at the customer premise has failed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first relay is actuated before testing or maintenance of the VoDSL service.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lifeline terminal comprises a telephone and the terminal module comprises a telephone module.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising de-energizing the first relay to bypass certain components in the first integrated access device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein resetting the first relay provides a bypass mode.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first relay comprises a non-latching relay.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising inserting a second integrated access device from the central office in the tip and ring wires using a second relay, wherein the second integrated access device includes an ATU coupled to a service interface block and the terminal module.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ATU is connected to a DSLAM using a first bypass bus and the terminal module is connected to the lifeline terminal using a second bypass bus.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the test head is coupled to the first relay using a test bus.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the certain components comprise an ATU, a service interface block, and a customer premise terminal module.

12. A VoDSL system for providing a lifeline service to a customer at a customer premise through a lifeline terminal, the lifeline terminal connected to a switching center through tip and ring wires and a central office, the system comprising:

means for actuating a first relay in a first integrated access device at the customer premise, wherein the first relay allows the lifeline terminal to bypass certain components in the integrated access device and connect directly to the tip and ring wires and wherein the first relay is actuated by a DC voltage signal from a test head in the central office;

means for applying a voltage to the lifeline terminal from the central office; and

means for providing the lifeline service to the customer through the lifeline terminal and a central office terminal module (PMC).

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first relay is actuated when the integrated access device at the customer premise has failed.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first relay is actuated before testing or maintenance of the VoDSL service.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the lifeline terminal comprises a telephone and the terminal module comprises a telephone module.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein means for actuating the first relay comprises de-energizing the first relay.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein means for actuating the first relay comprises resetting the first relay.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the central office includes a cross connect and a second integrated access device connected thereto, wherein the second integrated access device includes an ATU coupled to an service interface block and the central office terminal module.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the cross connect includes:

a control bus connected to a cross connect control;

a test bus connected to a test head;

a test access relay for connecting the test head to the tip and ring wires through the test bus;

a first bypass bus connected to the ATU;

a second bypass bus connected to the central office terminal module;

a second relay for connecting the second integrated access device to a DSLAM and the tip and ring wires; and

a battery injection and loop supervision block connected to the cross connect control and the tip and ring wires.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first relay comprises a non-latching relay.

21. The system according to claim 12, further comprising means for inserting a second integrated access device from the central office in the tip and ring wires using a second relay, wherein the second integrated access device includes an ATU coupled to a service interface block and the central office terminal module.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the means for inserting the second integrated access device includes connecting the ATU and the central office terminal module to the tip and ring wires.

23. The system according to claim 12, wherein the test head is coupled to the first relay using a test bus.

24. The system according to claim 12, wherein the certain components comprise an ATU, a service interface block, and a customer premise terminal module.

25. An integrated access device used for providing a lifeline service to a VoDSL customer, comprising:

an xDSL termination unit;

a service interface coupled to the xDSL termination unit for distributing signals to a data module and to a plurality of telephone modules;

a relay control coupled to the service interface and tip and ring wires;

a power supply for providing electrical power to the integrated access device; and

a bypass relay for connecting a telephone directly to the tip and ring rings while bypassing the xDSL termination unit, the service interface, and a telephone module, wherein the bypass relay is actuated by a DC voltage signal from a test head in a central office.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the relay control block comprises:

a signaling conditioner for conditioning voltage signals;

a first OR gate coupled to the signaling conditioner for receiving a first voltage signal and outputting a set command;

a second OR gate coupled to the signaling conditioner for receiving a second, voltage signal and outputting a reset command;

a latch coupled to the first and second OR gates for receiving the set or reset command; and

a relay driver coupled to the latch for setting or resetting the relay.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the signaling conditioner comprises a capacitor,a plurality of resistors, and a plurality of amplifiers.

28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the bypass relay connects the telephone directly to the tip and ring wires when the integrated access device has failed.

29. The device according to claim 25, wherein the bypass relay connects the telephone directly to the tip and ring wires before testing or maintenance of the VoDSL service.

30. The device according to claim 25, wherein the bypass relay connects the telephone directly to the tip and ring wires when the bypass relay is de-energized.

31. The device according to claim 25, wherein the bypass relay connects the telephone directly to the tip and ring wires when the bypass relay is reset.

32. The device according to claim 25, wherein the bypass relay comprises a non-latching relay.

33. A method of simultaneously providing lifeline services to a plurality of lifeline terminals using VoDSL service, comprising:

actuating a plurality of relays in a plurality of first integrated access devices at the plurality of customer premises, the actuating of the relays allowing a plurality of lifeline terminals to bypass certain components in the plurality of the first integrated access devices and connect directly to a plurality of tip and ring wires, wherein one or more of the plurality of relays is actuated by one or more DC voltage signal from a test head in a central office;

applying voltages to the lifeline terminals from the central office; and

providing the lifeline services to the plurality of customers through the lifeline terminals and central office terminal modules.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the certain components comprise ATUs, service interface blocks and customer premise terminal modules.

35. A method for making a telephone call from a telephone using VoDSL service by bypassing certain components in a first integrated access device by actuating a first relay contained therein using a DC voltage signal from a test head in a central office, the method comprising:

taking the telephone off-hook;

detecting the off-hook condition from the central office;

processing a call request using a voice gateway at a switching center;

actuating a second relay at the central office;

inserting a second integrated access device in the tip and ring wires upon actuating the second relay; and

providing a dial tone to the telephone through a phone module in the second integrated access device.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the certain components comprise an ATU, a service interface block, and a customer premise terminal module.

37. A method for receiving a telephone call on a telephone using VoDSL service after bypassing certain elements in a first integrated access device by actuating a first relay contained therein using a DC voltage signal from.a test head in a central office, the method comprising:

receiving a call request by a processing software in a voice gateway at a switching center;

identifying the call request with the telephone;

actuating a second relay at the central office;

inserting a second integrated access device in the tip and ring wires upon actuating the second relay; and

providing a ringing voltage to the telephone through a phone module in the second integrated access device.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the certain components comprise an ATU, a service interface block, and a customer premise terminal module.