Method and system for providing voice and data service

• US 6,584,122 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integral Access, Inc. (BATM Advanced Communications Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Integral Access, Inc. (BATM Advanced Communications Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matthews, John, Kankkunen, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/460,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 370/493, 370/494, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/468, 370/252, 370/286, 370/271, 370/229, 379/93.09, 379/93.34, 379/93.14, 379/93.08, 379/90.01, 379/399, 379/398
• US Class Current: 370/493
• 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 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• 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 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for providing voice and data service includes receiving voice telephone signals and data signals, and transmitting packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber line in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals. The method also includes receiving packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line, and transmitting data signals and voice telephone signals in response to the packets received from the subscriber line. In one embodiment, a network node and a network terminal unit communicate voice telephone signals and data signals by communicating packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber line. In another embodiment a first network node communicates voice telephone signals and data signals with a second network node by communicating packets in a single protocol link layer.

Claims

1. A method for providing voice and data service, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving telephone signals;

(b) receiving data signals;

(c) transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber line in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals, the packets each associated with one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections, wherein each packet comprises a header comprising a connection identifier that identifies the connection-protocol connection with which a packet is associated, and each packet is one of a signaling packet, a voice packet, and a computer data packet;

(d) receiving the connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line;

(e) transmitting data signals in response to the packets received from the subscriber line having a connection identifier associated with a first connection-protocol connection; and

(f) transmitting telephone signals in response to the packets received from the subscriber line having a connection identifier associated with a second connection-protocol connection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a)-(f) are performed simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

step (c) comprises transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber loop in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals; and

step (d) comprises receiving connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber loop.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

step (c) comprises transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber loop using xDSL protocol in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals; and

step (d) comprises receiving connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber loop using xDSL protocol.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

step (c) comprises transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber loop using xDSL protocol to a network node in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals; and

step (d) comprises receiving connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber loop using xDSL protocol from a network node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) comprises receiving telephone signals via a telephone connection;

step (b) comprises receiving data signals via a data connection;

step (e) further comprises transmitting data signals via the data connection; and

step (f) further comprises transmitting telephone signals via the telephone connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) comprises receiving telephone signals from a telephone trunk;

step (b) comprises receiving data signals from a data network;

step (e) further comprises transmitting data signals to the data network; and

step (f) further comprises transmitting telephone signals to the telephone trunk.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone signals comprise voice telephone signals.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone signals comprise telephone control signals.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the header of each packet comprises a quality-of-service indicator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the quality-of-service indicator identifies a packet priority.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (c) comprises transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber line to a backplane switch in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals; and

step (d) comprises receiving connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line from a backplane switch.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

(a-1) receiving telephone signals at an interface port and channel;

(a-2) parsing received telephone signals into packets;

(a-3) determining a connection identifier in response to the interface port and channel receiving the telephone signals; and

(a-4) including the connection identifier in the packets.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein step (a-3) comprises:

(a-3a) assigning to a packet an intermediate header indicating a source port and channel of the telephone signals;

(a-3b) reading the source port and channel information from the intermediate header;

(a-3c) determining a connection responsive to the read source port and channel information; and

(a-3d) assigning to each packet a connection protocol header.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises, for at least one packet:

(b-1) receiving data signals at an interface port and channel;

(b-2) parsing received data signals into packets;

(b-3) determining a connection identifier in response to the interface port and channel receiving the data signals; and

(b-4) including the connection identifier into the at least one packet.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein step (a-3) comprises:

(a-3a) assigning to the at least one packet an intermediate header indicating a source port and channel of the data signals;

(a-3b) reading the source port and channel information from the intermediate header;

(a-3c) determining a connection responsive to the read source port and channel information; and

(a-3d) assigning to the at least one packet a connection protocol header.

8. A method for providing voice and data service, comprising the steps of simultaneously:

(a) communicating telephone signals with a first network node;

(b) communicating data signals with the first network node; and

(c) communicating connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer between the first network node and a second network node over a subscriber line in response to the telephone signals and the data signals, the packets each associated with one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections, wherein each packet is one of a signaling packet, a voice packet, and a computer data packet and wherein each packet comprises a label indicative of a connection according to the connection protocol, the telephone signals and data signals being communicated using different connection protocol connections.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step (a) comprises communicating between a telephone network and the first network node and step (b) comprises communicating between a data network and the first network node.

28. The method of claim 8, wherein the telephone signals comprise voice telephone signals.

29. The method of claim 8, wherein the telephone signals comprise telephone control signals.

30. The method of claim 8, wherein each packet header further comprises a quality-of-service indicator.

31. The method of claim 8, wherein step (c) comprises:

(c-1) encapsulating the connection protocol packets in another communication protocol in response to the telephone signals and the data signals, wherein each packet carries only one of telephone signals and data;

(c-2) communicating the encapsulated connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer between the first network node and a second network node in response to encapsulating the connection protocol packets.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the another communications protocol comprises point-to-point protocol (PPP).

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the point-to-point protocol (PPP) comprises multilink point-to-point protocol (MLPPP).

10. A subscriber line connected to a network node and a subscriber device, the subscriber line comprising a xDSL signal, the xDSL signal comprising connection protocol packets, the connection protocol packets comprising telephone signals and data signals, each packet associated with one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections, wherein said telephone signals and data signals are communicated on the same protocol link layer over the subscriber line using different connection protocol connections.

34. The method of claim 10, wherein the telephone signals comprise voice telephone signals.

35. The method of claim 10, wherein the telephone signals comprise telephone control signals.

11. A network terminal unit, comprising:

a telephone interface in communication with a telephone connection;

a data interface in communication with a data connection; and

a transceiver in communication with the telephone interface, the data interface, and a subscriber line connection, the transceiver communicating packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line connection in response to telephone signals received by the telephone interface and data signals received by the data interface, the packets each being associated with one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections and each comprising a connection identifier that identifies the connection-protocol connection with which a packet is associated, and wherein the packets communicated in response to telephone signals are associated with a first connection-protocol connection and the packets communicated in response to data signals are associated with a second connection-protocol connection.

12. The network terminal unit of claim 11, wherein the data interface comprises an ethernet protocol interface.

13. The network terminal unit of claim 11, wherein the telephone interface comprises a POTS interface.

14. The network terminal unit of claim 11 wherein the transceiver comprises:

an interworking function for receiving packets from the telephone interface and the data interface and converting the packets into connection protocol packets;

a connection protocol switch for identifying the destination of the connection protocol packets; and

a switch interface for transmitting the connection protocol packets over the subscriber line connection.

15. The network terminal unit of claim 14, wherein the transceiver receives connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer from the subscriber loop connection, and communicates voice telephone signals to the telephone interface and data signals to the data interface in response to the connection protocol packets.

16. The network terminal unit of claim 11, wherein the transceiver comprises:

a connection protocol switch for identifying the destination of the connection protocol packets; and

an interworking function for converting the connection protocol packets into data appropriate for the voice interface and the data interface.

17. A network node comprising a first plurality of function modules, each of said first plurality of function modules comprising:

a protocol interface for receiving telephone signals and voice signals and converting the signals into intermediate packets, and for transmitting signals in response to intermediate packets;

an interworking function for receiving the intermediate packets from the protocol interface and converting the packets into connection protocol format, each packet comprising a header comprising a connection identifier that identifies one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections with which a packet is associated, and for converting connection protocol packets into intermediate packets and providing the intermediate packets to the protocol interface;

a connection protocol switch for identifying the destination of the connection protocol packets; and

a switch interface for communicating connection protocol packets with a backplane switch;

wherein the telephone signals and data signals are communicated using different connection protocol connections.

36. The network node of claim 17, further comprising:

a first backplane in electrical communication with the switch interface of each of the first plurality of function modules; and

a first backplane switch in electrical communication with the first backplane, wherein the first backplane switch exchanges packets between the first plurality of function modules.

37. The network node of claim 36, further comprising:

a second plurality of function modules, each function module having a switch interface;

a second backplane in electrical communication with the switch interface of each of the second plurality of function modules; and

a second backplane switch in electrical communication with the second backplane and with the first backplane switch, wherein the second backplane switch exchanges packets between the first plurality of function modules and the second plurality of function modules.

38. The network node of claim 17, wherein the connection protocol switch comprises a memory element for queuing the connection protocol packets.

18. A system for providing voice and data service, comprising:

a network node comprising a function module, said function module comprising;

a protocol interface for receiving telephone signals and data signals and converting the signals into intermediate packets, and for transmitting signals in response to intermediate packets;

an interworking function for receiving the intermediate packets from the protocol interface and converting the packets into connection protocol formats each packet comprising a header comprising a connection identifier that identifies one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections with which a packet is associated, and for converting connection protocol packets into intermediate packets and providing the intermediate packets to the protocol interface;

a connection protocol switch for identifying the destination of the connection protocol packets; and

a switch interface for communicating connection protocol packets with a backplane switch;

a subscriber line in electrical communication with the protocol interface on the network node;

a network terminal unit, comprising;

a subscriber line interface in communication with the subscriber line for communicating connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line with the network node;

wherein the telephone signals and data signals are communicated using different connection protocol connections.

39. A system for providing voice and data service, comprising:

means for receiving telephone signals;

means for receiving data signals;

means for transmitting connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over a subscriber line in response to the received telephone signals and the received data signals, the packets each associated with one of a plurality of connection-protocol connections, wherein each packet comprises a header comprising a connection identifier that identifies the connection-protocol connection with which a packet is associated;

means for receiving the connection protocol packets in a single protocol link layer over the subscriber line;

means for transmitting data signals in response to the packets received from the subscriber line having a connection identifier associated with a first connection-protocol connection; and

means for transmitting telephone signals in response to the packets received from the subscriber line having a connection identifier associated with a second connection-protocol connection.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the telephone signals comprise voice telephone signals.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the telephone signals comprise telephone control signals.