System and method for communicating voice and data over a local packet network

• US 6,639,913 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paradyne Corporation (Dasan Networks Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Paradyne Corporation (Dasan Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kolderup, Kenneth M., Frankel, David P., Boucher, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US09/314,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/466, 370/467, 370/357, 370/386-388, 455/3--, 455/4--, 455/5--, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A system and method of communicating voice and data via a local packet network (LPN) to and from a customer site. A remote digital terminal (RDT) is provided at a customer site to interface a plurality of telephone devices and/or data devices (computers or a local area network of computers) with the LPN via a local loop link, such as a Digital Subscriber Line or a wireless local loop. A host digital terminal (HDT) is provided at a control site within or connected to the LPN that coordinates the communication of voice calls between the RDT and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch via the LPN and that coordinates the communication of data between the RDT and a data network within or without the LPN. Multiple telephone calls with the customer site can be supported by the remote digital terminal over a single local loop link connected to the LPN. A wire center remote digital terminal (WC-RDT) connects to or is incorporated in a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) that is connected to or part of the LPN. The WC-RDT provides standard analog telephone service between a plurality of standard telephone ports suitable for connection to local loop links of a plurality of customer sites and the PSTN switch through the host digital terminal. The WC-RDT is used to provide POTS service to customer sites having an RDT as well as to customer sites that do not have an RDT.

Claims

1. A system for communicating voice over a local packet network (LPN) to and from a customer site connected to the LPN via a local loop link, comprising:

a remote digital terminal at the customer site, the remote digital terminal interfacing a plurality of telephone devices at the customer site to the local loop link to transmit and receive voice via the LPN;

a host digital terminal at a control site within or connected to the LPN that interfaces at least one voice call between the remote digital terminal and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch via the LPN; and

a wire center remote digital terminal that connects to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), the wire center remote digital terminal in communication with the LPN, the wire center remote digital terminal providing a standard analog telephone service between each of a plurality of standard telephone ports and the PSTN switch through the host digital terminal, where each of the plurality of standard telephone ports is suitable for connection to a subscriber loop link, where the subscriber loop link is communicatively coupled with a subscriber site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wire center remote digital terminal comprises:

a plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, each of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits suitable for connection to the subscriber loop link via one of the plurality of standard telephone ports;

a plurality of coder/decoders, each for connection to one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, each of the plurality of coder/decoders capable of converting a first analog telephone signal received from the corresponding one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits to a first digital bit stream and converting a second digital bit stream to a second analog telephone signal to be supplied to one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits;

a controller coupled to the plurality of coder/decoders and to the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, the controller managing the interfacing of a first and a second plurality of voice-band packets between the DSLAM and the plurality of standard telephone ports by;

converting the first digital bit stream received from one or more of the plurality of coders/decoders to a first plurality of voice-band packets and coupling the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the host digital terminal; and

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets received by the DSLAM to the second digital bit stream and coupling the second digital bit stream to one of the plurality of coders/decoders.

3. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at the wire center having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to the DSLAM, and a third port coupled to one of the plurality of standard telephone ports of the wire center remote digital terminal.

4. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at a subscriber site having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to the remote digital terminal, and a third port suitable for connection to a telephone device.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at a subscriber site having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to a DSL modem, and a third port suitable for connection to a telephone device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wire center remote digital terminal comprises:

a plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, each of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits suitable for connection to a telephone device;

a plurality of coder/decoders, each for connection to one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, each of the plurality of coder/decoders capable of converting a first analog telephone signal received from the corresponding one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits to a first digital bit stream and converting a second digital bit stream to a second analog telephone signal to be supplied to one of the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of coder/decoders and to the plurality of subscriber line interface circuits, the controller managing the interfacing of a first and a second plurality of voice-band packets between the DSLAM and the plurality of standard telephone ports by;

converting the first digital bit stream received from one or more of the plurality of coders/decoders to a first plurality of voice-band packets and coupling the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the host digital terminal; and

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets received by the DSLAM to the second digital bit stream and coupling the second digital bit stream to the corresponding one of the plurality of coders/decoders.

7. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at the wire center having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to the DSLAM, and a third port coupled to one of the plurality of standard telephone ports of the wire center remote digital terminal.

8. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at a subscriber site having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to the remote digital terminal, and a third port suitable for connection to a telephone device.

9. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a splitter/combiner at a subscriber site having a first port coupled to the subscriber loop link, a second port coupled to a modem at the customer site, and a third port suitable for connection to a telephone device.

10. The system of claim 1, where the host digital terminal is within the LPN.

11. The system of claim 1, where the host digital terminal is connected to the LPN.

12. A system for communicating voice over a local packet network (LPN) to and from at least one customer site connected to the LPN via a local loop link, comprising:

a host digital terminal at a control site in communication with the LPN that interfaces a plurality of voice calls between the LPN and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch via the LPN; and

a wire center remote digital terminal that connects to or is incorporated in a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) that is in communication with the LPN, the wire center remote digital terminal providing a standard analog telephone service between each of a plurality of standard telephone ports and the PSTN switch through the host digital terminal, where each of the plurality of standard telephone ports is suitable for connection to a subscriber loop link, where the subscriber loop link is communicatively coupled with a subscriber site.

13. A method for communicating voice and data to and from a customer site over a local packet network (LPN) supporting a packet-based transport protocol, the customer site comprising a plurality of telephone devices, the method comprising steps of at the customer site:

converting a plurality of first analog telephone signals received from the plurality of telephone devices to a first plurality of voice-band packets and modulating the first plurality of voice-band packets for transmission over the LPN via a local loop link between the customer site and the LPN;

demodulating a second plurality of voice-band packets received from the LPN on the local loop link;

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets to a plurality of second analog telephone signals for connection to the corresponding one of the plurality of telephone devices;

at a control site within or connected to the LPN;

receiving the first plurality of voice-band packets from the customer site via the LPN;

converting the first plurality of voice-band packets received from the customer site to a first timedivision multiplexed signal and coupling the first time-division multiplexed signal to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch; and

converting a second time-division multiplexed signal received from the PSTN switch destined for the customer site to a second plurality of voice-band packets and coupling the second plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the customer site;

at a wire center;

providing a standard telephone port for connection to a subscriber loop link, where the subscriber loop link is communicatively coupled with a subscriber site, where the standard telephone port is capable of providing a standard analog service to the subscriber site;

demodulating a third plurality of voice-band packets transmitted from the control site via the LPN and received at a subscriber line port of a multiplexer, the multiplexer located at the wire center;

converting the third plurality of voice-band packets to a third analog telephone signal for connection to the subscriber loop link;

converting a fourth analog telephone signal received on the subscriber loop link to a fourth plurality of voice-band packets and modulating the fourth plurality of voice-band packets; and

coupling the fourth plurality of voice-band packets to the subscriber line port of the multiplexer for transmission over the LPN to the control site.

14. A method for communicating voice over a local packet network (LPN) to and from a customer site connected to the LPN via a local loop link, the customer site comprising a plurality of telephone devices, comprising steps of at a wire center:

connecting to a subscriber line port of a multiplexer located at the wire center;

providing a standard telephone port for connection to a subscriber loop link, where the subscriber loop link is communicatively coupled with a subscriber site, where the standard telephone port is capable of providing a standard analog telephone service to the subscriber site;

demodulating a first plurality of voice-band packets received at a subscriber line port of a multiplexer located at the wire center;

converting the first plurality of voice-band packets to a first analog telephone signal for connection to the subscriber loop link;

converting a second analog telephone signal received on the subscriber loop link to a second plurality of voice-band packets and modulating the second plurality of voice-band packets; and

coupling the second plurality of voice-band packets to the subscriber line port of the multiplexer for transmission over the LPN to a control site;

at the control site within or connected to the LPN;

receiving the second plurality of voice-band packets from the wire center via the LPN;

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets received from the wire center to a first time-division multiplexed signal and coupling the first time-division multiplexed signal to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch; and

converting a second time-division multiplexed signal received from the PSTN switch destined for the wire center to the first plurality of voice-band packets and coupling the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the wire center.

15. An apparatus configured to transport a voice signal between at least one subscriber site and a host digital terminal via a local packet network (LPN), comprising:

an access network interface configured to communicate a plurality of voice packets to and from the host digital terminal via the LPN;

at least one telephone port configured to communicate an analog voice signal to and from a subscriber loop, where the subscriber loop is communicatively coupled with the at least one subscriber site; and

a converter configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the analog voice signal, where the remote digital terminal is communicatively coupled to the LPN by a local loop.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, where the local loop supports digital subscriber loop (DSL).

17. The apparatus of claim 15, where the remote digital terminal is located at a wire center.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) communicatively coupled to the local loop and to the LPN.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the SLIC configured to communicate a first analog voice signal to a telephone device at the subscriber site, the SLIC further configured to communicate a second analog voice signal from the telephone device at the subscriber site;

a codec coupled to the SLIC, the codec configured to convert a first digital bit stream into the first analog voice signal, the codec further configured to convert the second analog voice signal into a second digital bit stream;

a controller coupled to the SLIC and to the codec, the controller configured to convert a first plurality of voice packets into the first digital bit stream, the controller further configured to convert the second digital bit stream into a second plurality of voice packets; and

a modem coupled to the controller and to the local loop link, the modem configured to modulate the first plurality of voice packets, the modem further configured to communicate the first plurality of voice packets to the LPN for transmission to the host digital terminal, the modem further configured to receive the second plurality of voice packets from the host digital terminal via the LPN, the modem further configured to demodulate the second plurality of voice packets.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of telephone ports, each of the plurality of telephone ports configured to communicate one of a plurality of analog voice signals over a corresponding one of a plurality of subscriber loops, wherein the converter is further configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the plurality of analog voice signals, and wherein the remote digital terminal is communicatively coupled to each of a plurality of subscriber sites by one of the plurality of subscriber loops.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of SLICs configured to communicate one of the plurality of first analog voice signals to a telephone device at the subscriber site, each of the plurality of SLICs further configured to communicate one of the plurality of second analog voice signals from the telephone device at the subscriber site; and

a plurality of codecs, each of the plurality of codecs coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of a plurality of first digital bit streams into one of the plurality of first analog voice signals, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of the plurality of second analog voice signals into a corresponding one of a plurality of second digital bit streams, wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of SLICs and to the plurality of codecs, the controller configured to convert the first plurality of voice packets into a corresponding one of the first digital bit streams, the controller further configured to convert one of the plurality of second digital bit streams into the second plurality of voice packets.

22. A system to transport a voice signal between at least one subscriber site and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) over a local packet network (LPN) comprising:

a remote digital terminal, communicatively coupled to the LPN by a local loop and to the subscriber site by a subscriber loop; and

a host digital terminal, communicatively coupled to the PSTN and to the LPN, the remote digital terminal further comprising;

an access network interface configured to communicate a plurality of voice packets to and from the host digital terminal via the LPN;

at least one telephone port configured to communicate an analog voice signal to and from a subscriber loop, where the subscriber loop is communicatively coupled with the at least one subscriber site; and

a converter configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the analog voice signal;

the host digital terminal further comprising;

a LPN interface coupled to the LPN, configured to communicate the plurality of voice-band packets to and from the remote digital terminal via the LPN;

a PSTN interface coupled to the PSTN, configured to communicate a voice signal to and from the PSTN; and

a packet converter coupled to the LPN interface and to the PSTN interface, the packet converter configured to convert the plurality of voice-band packets between a first format and a second format, where the first format is suitable for transport over the LPN and the second format is suitable for coupling to the PSTN.

23. The system of claim 22, where the host digital terminal is located in a central office.

24. The system of claim 22, where the first format is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

25. The system of claim 22, where the second format is time-division multiplex (TDM).

26. The system of claim 22, the remote digital terminal further comprising:

a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the SLIC configured to communicate a first analog voice signal to a telephone device at the subscriber site, the SLIC further configured to communicate a second analog voice signal from the telephone device at the subscriber site;

a codec coupled to the SLIC, the codec configured to convert a first digital bit stream into the first analog voice signal, the codec further configured to convert the second analog voice signal into a second digital bit stream;

a controller coupled to the SLIC and to the codec, the controller configured to convert a first plurality of voice packets into the first digital bit stream, the controller further configured to convert the second digital bit stream into a second plurality of voice packets; and

a modem coupled to the controller and to the local loop link, the modem configured to modulate the first plurality of voice packets, the modem further configured to communicate the first plurality of voice packets to the LPN for transmission to the host digital terminal, the modem further configured to receive the second plurality of voice packets from the host digital terminal via the LPN, the modem further configured to demodulate the second plurality of voice packets.

27. The system of claim 22, the remote digital terminal further comprising a plurality of telephone ports, each of the plurality of telephone ports configured to communicate one of a plurality of analog voice signals over a corresponding one of a plurality of subscriber loops, wherein the converter is further configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the plurality of analog voice signals, and wherein the remote digital terminal is communicatively coupled to each of a plurality of subscriber sites by one of the plurality of subscriber loops.

28. The system of claim 27, the remote digital terminal further comprising:

a plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of SLICs configured to communicate one of the plurality of first analog voice signals to a telephone device at the subscriber site, each of the plurality of SLICs further configured to communicate one of the plurality of second analog voice signals from the telephone device at the subscriber site; and

a plurality of codecs, each of the plurality of codecs coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of a plurality of first digital bit streams into one of the plurality of first analog voice signals, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of the plurality of second analog voice signals into a corresponding one of a plurality of second digital bit streams,

wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of SLICs and to the plurality of codecs, the controller configured to convert the first plurality of voice packets into a corresponding one of the first digital bit streams, the controller further configured to convert one of the plurality of second digital bit streams into the second plurality of voice packets.

29. A system to transport a voice signal between at least one subscriber site and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) over a local packet network (LPN), and to transport a data signal between at least one subscriber site and a data network, comprising:

a remote digital terminal, communicatively coupled to the LPN by a local loop and to the subscriber site by a subscriber loop; and

a host digital terminal, communicatively coupled to the PSTN and to the LPN; and

an access multiplexer, communicatively coupled to the remote digital terminal, the remote digital terminal further comprising;

a network interface, configured to communicate a plurality of data packets between a local area network at the subscriber site and the data network via the LPN;

an access network interface configured to communicate a plurality of voice packets to and from the host digital terminal via the LPN;

at least one telephone port configured to communicate an analog voice signal to and from a subscriber loop, where the subscriber loop is communicatively coupled with the at least one subscriber site; and

a converter configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the analog voice signal;

the host digital terminal further comprising;

a LPN interface coupled to the LPN, configured to communicate the plurality of voice-band packets to and from the remote digital terminal via the LPN;

a PSTN interface coupled to the PSTN, configured to communicate a voice signal to and from the PSTN; and

a packet converter coupled to the LPN interface and to the PSTN interface, the packet converter configured to convert the plurality of voice-band packets between a first format and a second format, where the first format is suitable for transport over the LPN and the second format is suitable for coupling to the PSTN.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a first splitter, having a first port coupled to the local loop, a second port coupled to the access multiplexer, and a third port coupled to the at least one telephone port; and

a second splitter, having a fourth port coupled to the local loop, a fifth port coupled to a telephone device, and a sixth port coupled to the remote digital terminal.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a first splitter, having a first port coupled to the local loop, a second port coupled to the access multiplexer, and a third port coupled to the at least one telephone port; and

a second splitter, having a fourth port coupled to the local loop, a fifth port coupled to a telephone device, and a sixth port coupled to a digital subscriber loop (DSL) modem, the DSL modem located at the customer site.

32. The system of claim 29, the remote digital terminal further comprising:

a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the SLIC configured to communicate a first analog voice signal to a telephone device at the subscriber site, the SLIC further configured to communicate a second analog voice signal from the telephone device at the subscriber site;

a codec coupled to the SLIC, the codec configured to convert a first digital bit stream into the first analog voice signal, the codec further configured to convert the second analog voice signal into a second digital bit stream;

a controller coupled to the SLIC and to the codec, the controller configured to convert a first plurality of voice packets into the first digital bit stream, the controller further configured to convert the second digital bit stream into a second plurality of voice packets; and

a modem coupled to the controller and to the local loop link, the modem configured to modulate the first plurality of voice packets, the modem further configured to communicate the first plurality of voice packets to the LPN for transmission to the host digital terminal, the modem further configured to receive the second plurality of voice packets from the host digital terminal via the LPN, the modem further configured to demodulate the second plurality of voice packets.

33. The system of claim 29, the remote digital terminal further comprising:

a plurality of telephone ports, each of the plurality of telephone ports configured to communicate one of a plurality of analog voice signals over a corresponding one of a plurality of subscriber loops, wherein the converter is further configured to convert between the plurality of voice packets and the plurality of analog voice signals, and wherein the remote digital terminal is communicatively coupled to each of a plurality of subscriber sites by one of the plurality of subscriber loops.

34. The system of claim 29, the remote digital terminal further comprising:

a plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of SLICs configured to communicate one of the plurality of first analog voice signals to a telephone device at the subscriber site, each of the plurality of SLICs further configured to communicate one of the plurality of second analog voice signals from the telephone device at the subscriber site; and

a plurality of codecs, each of the plurality of codecs coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of SLICs, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of a plurality of first digital bit streams into one of the plurality of first analog voice signals, each of the plurality of codecs further configured to convert one of the plurality of second analog voice signals into a corresponding one of a plurality of second digital bit streams,

wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of SLICs and to the plurality of codecs, the controller configured to convert the first plurality of voice packets into a corresponding one of the first digital bit streams, the controller further configured to convert one of the plurality of second digital bit streams into the second plurality of voice packets.

35. A method for communicating voice over a local packet network (LPN) to and from at least one subscriber site, comprising:

at a wire center;

receiving at least one first analog telephone signal from at least one subscriber site over at least one subscriber loop;

converting the at least first analog telephone signal to a first plurality of voice-band packets;

communicating the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to a control site;

receiving a second plurality of voice-band packets from the control site via the LPN;

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets to at least one second analog telephone signal; and

communicating the at least one second analog telephone signal to the at least one subscriber site via the at least one subscriber loop;

at a control site;

receiving the first plurality of voice-band packets from the wire center via the LPN;

converting the first plurality of voice-band packets to a first TDM signal;

communicating the first TDM signal to a PSTN switch;

receiving a second TDM signal from the PSTN switch;

converting the second TDM signal into the second plurality of voice-band packets; and

communicating the second plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the wire center.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

modulating the first plurality of voice-band packets; and

demodulating the second plurality of voice-band packets.

37. The method of claim 35 where communicatively coupling the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN further comprises communicating the first plurality of voice-band packets to a subscriber line port of an access multiplexer, where the access multiplexer is in communication with the LPN.

38. A method for transporting voice signals over a local packet network (LPN) to and from a subscriber site, the subscriber site comprising a plurality of first telephone devices and a second telephone device, the method comprising:

at a customer site;

receiving a first plurality of analog telephone signals from the plurality of first telephone devices over a subscriber loop;

converting the first plurality of analog telephone signals to a first plurality of voice-band packets;

coupling the first plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to a control site;

receiving a second plurality of voice-band packets from the control site via the LPN;

converting the second plurality of voice-band packets to a second plurality of analog telephone signals; and

communicating the second plurality of analog telephone signals to the plurality of first telephone devices via the subscriber loop;

at a wire center;

receiving a first analog telephone signal from the second telephone device over the subscriber loop;

converting the first analog telephone signal to a third plurality of voice-band packets;

communicating the third plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the control site;

receiving a fourth plurality of voice-band packets from the control site via the LPN;

converting the fourth plurality of voice-band packets to a second analog telephone signal; and

communicating the second analog telephone signal to the second telephone device via the subscriber loop;

at a control site;

receiving the first plurality of voice-band packets from the customer site via the LPN;

receiving the third plurality of voice-band packets from the wire center via the LPN;

converting the first plurality of voice-band packets to a first TDM signal;

converting the third plurality of voice-band packets to a second TDM signal;

communicating the first TDM signal and the second TDM signal to a PSTN switch;

receiving a third TDM signal and a fourth TDM signal from a PSTN switch;

converting the third TDM signal into the second plurality of voice-band packets;

converting the fourth TDM signal into the fourth plurality of voice-band packets;

communicating the second plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the customer site; and

communicating the fourth plurality of voice-band packets to the LPN for transmission to the wire center.