Method and apparatus for providing service to VODSL derived telephone lines during power interruptions

• US 6,683,951 B1
• Filed: 09/13/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Getchell, Wayne Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/394,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/2, 379/9.05, 379/32.01, 379/33, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.09, 379/322, 379/377, 379/395.01, 379/399.01, 379/413, 379/413.02, 379/413.04, 379/9.06, 379/413.03
• US Class Current: 379/413.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/71 Substation extension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

An apparatus and method for maintaining access to lifeline services through telephone sets provided with telephone service from a voice over digital subscriber loop (VoDSL) transceiver during power interruptions are described. All telephone sets associated with the transceiver are connected to a wire loop which supports the VoDSL service in the event of a power interruption to the transceiver. The advantage is the economical provision of lifeline service access to all telephone sets when power is interrupted to the transceiver. Thus, confusion is reduced, safety is enhanced, and access to lifeline services is ensured during emergency situations.

Claims

1. A transceiver adapted to maintain access to lifeline services in the event of operating power interruption, the transceiver having at least one telephone interface adapted for the connection of a telephone set to a wire loop to provide telephone service and at least one telephone interface adapted for the connection of a telephone set to a telephone service derived from a wideband service channel supported by the wire loop, comprising:

switchover circuitry for disconnecting the at least one telephone interface associated with the wideband service channel from wideband service channel related circuitry in the transceiver in the event of power interruption, and connecting the at least one telephone interface associated with the wideband service channel with the telephone interface connected to the wire loop to enable calls to be completed from any telephone connected to the transceiver during the power interruption; and

a control device for controlling the switchover circuitry so that the switchover circuitry connects the at least one telephone interface associated with the wideband service channel with the telephone interface connected to the wire loop whenever telephone service on the wideband service channel is not operational, and further controlling the switchover circuitry so that connection of the telephone sets associated with the service channel to circuits associated with the service channel is only restored when telephone service over the wideband service channel is operational, regardless of when power is restored to the transceiver.

2. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control device is under control of a wideband service transceiver which enables telephone service on lines derived from the wideband service channel.

3. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switchover circuitry comprises:

a biased electrical device, which operates with power from the subscriber'"'"'s premises, the device being adapted to change from a first state to a second state when powered on and to return to the first state when operating power is interrupted.

4. A transceiver as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biased electrical device comprises a relay.

5. A transceiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein the relay comprises a electromechanical relay.

6. A transceiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein the relay comprises a solid state relay.

7. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transceiver provides a digital subscriber loop (DSL) service.

8. A transceiver as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transceiver is a voice over digital subscriber loop (VoDSL) transceiver.

9. A method of maintaining access to lifeline services during a power interruption to a transceiver having a plurality of telephone set interfaces associated with a service channel that shares a wire loop with a voice channel to provide telephone service, comprising the steps of:

detecting a power interruption condition at the transceiver;

connecting all telephone interfaces associated with the transceiver to the wire loop when the power interruption is detected; and

connection of the telephone set interfaces associated with the service channel to circuits associated with the service channel is only restored when telephone service over the wideband service channel is operational, regardless of when power is restored to the transceiver.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a step of:

automatically restoring a connection of the telephone set interfaces associated with the service channel to circuits associated with the service channel when power is restored to the transceiver.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of detecting comprises changing a state in a switchover circuit when the operating power is interrupted.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the change of state is directly induced by the interruption in operating power.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the change of state is controlled by a process that monitors the operation of the telephone service on the wideband service channel and the change of state is induced by the process, which controls operating power to the switchover circuit.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the transceiver provides a digital subscriber loop (DSL) service.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the transceiver is a voice over digital subscriber loop (VoDSL) transceiver.

16. A transceiver adapted to maintain access to lifeline services in the event of operating power interruption, the transceiver having at least one telephone interface adapted for the connection of a telephone set to a wire loop to provide telephone service and at least one telephone interface adapted for the connection of a telephone set to a telephone service derived from a wideband service channel supported by the wire loop, comprising:

means for switching the at least one telephone interface adapted for the connection of a telephone set to a telephone service derived from the wideband service channel to a connection with the wire loop when a supply of operating power to the transceiver is interrupted, so that the at least one telephone interface is supplied with operating power from the wire loop to permit calls to be made from any telephone connected to the at least one interface; and

control means for controlling the means for switching to ensure that the means for switching maintains the connection of the telephone set to the telephone service derived from the wideband service channel to a connection with the wire loop whenever the telephone service derived from the wideband service channel is not operational, regardless of when power is restored to the transceiver.

17. A transceiver as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for switching switches each of the at least one telephone interfaces to the wire loop in parallel when the operating power to the transceiver is interrupted.

18. A transceiver as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one telephone interface is automatically switched back to circuits associated with the telephone service derived from the service channel when operating power is restored to the transceiver.

19. A transceiver as claimed in claim 18 wherein the at least one telephone interface is automatically switched back to circuits associated with the telephone service derived from the service channel only after a process operating on the transceiver has established that telephone service on telephone lines derived from the telephone service channel is operational.

20. A transceiver as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for switching comprises at least one electromechanical relay.

21. A transceiver as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for switching comprises at least one solid state relay.

22. A transceiver as claimed in claim 16 wherein the transceiver is adapted to provide a digital subscriber loop (DSL) service.

23. A transceiver as claimed in claim 22 wherein the DSL service is a voice over digital subscriber loop (VoDSL).