Method and apparatus for spectral containment over telephone service lines

• US 6,711,260 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weinert, Stephen, Russell, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/376,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.03, 379/1.04, 379/32.04, 379/201.01, 379/201.03, 379/201.05, 379/201.12, 379/331, 379/332, 379/406.08, 379/406.12, 379/390.02, 379/399.01, 379/412, 379/413.02, 379/413.03, 379/413.04, 379/377, 379/437
• US Class Current: 379/399.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/007 Access interface units for simultaneous transmission of speech and data, e.g. digital subscriber line [DSL] access interface units DSL access multiplexers H04Q11/0478, and H04L12/2856

Abstract

A filter passing only desired frequencies is selected according to a desired level of service for copper lines. At a point of access between a loop plant and Central Office, the filter is interposed in series over a telephone service line to provide spectral containment by restricting the frequencies of transmission passing along the line. The filter is preferably mounted within a 6-pin module used in a protector block at the Central Office or remote terminal facility, interfaces with a 5-pin module, or is placed upstream or downstream of a protector block such that it does not interfere with the operation thereof. Service is activated, and the spectral containment apparatus prevents the transmission of unexpected or unintended services over the line.

Claims

1. A method for providing spectral containment over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

selecting a filter having desired spectral characteristics, that passes only frequencies of the desired characteristics;

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the loop; and

activating service over said at least one loop, said filter thereby preventing unexpected transmissions outside of the desired spectral characteristics over said at least one loop.

2. The method according to claim 1, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop in a 5-pin module, one pin of said 5-pin module being a ground pin, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the module; and

inserting said 5-pin module in a protector block socket in a protector block intervening between said loop-plant side and said Central Office side of said loop.

3. The method according to claim 1, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop at a loop plant, said filter intervening between a remote terminal facility and copper pair side of the loop.

4. The method according to claim 1, said selecting further comprising:

determining a service to be excluded on said at least one loop from the group consisting of DDS, ISDN, and xDSL;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding operating frequencies of the determined service.

5. The method according to claim 1, said selecting further comprising:

determining a frequency range to be excluded on said at least one loop from the group consisting of lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding said frequency range but permitting frequencies outside of said frequency range.

6. A method for manufacturing a spectral containment unit for preventing unintended or unexpected transmissions, outside of the desired spectral characteristics, over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

selecting a filter having desired spectral characteristics, that passes only frequencies of the desired characteristics;

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop in a 5-pin module, one pin of said 5-pin module being a ground pin, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the module; and

packaging said 5-pin module to match a protector block socket in a protector block intervening between a loop-plant side and Central Office side of said at least one loop in a Central Office.

7. The method according to claim 6, said selecting further comprising:

determining a service to be excluded by said filter from the group consisting of DDS, ISDN, and xDSL;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding operating frequencies of the determined service.

8. The method according to claim 6, said selecting further comprising

determining a frequency range to be excluded by said filter from the group consisting of lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding said frequency range but permitting frequencies outside of said frequency range.

9. The method according to claim 6, said connecting further comprising:

connecting a surge protector in series to said at least one loop in said 5-pin module, said surge protector and said filter each intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the module.

10. The method according to claim 6, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series between two pins of a loop of a 5-pin plug of said 5-pin module and a remaining two pins of a loop of said 5-pin plug of said 5-pin module; and

said 5-pin plug being capable of plugging into a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block.

11. The method according to claim 6, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series between a 5-pin plug and a 5-pin socket in said 5-pin module, said 5-pin socket being capable of receiving a same 5-pin plug as a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block.

12. An apparatus for providing spectral containment for preventing unintended transmissions, outside of desired spectral characteristics, over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

a filter having the desired spectral characteristics, that passes only desired frequencies and blocks the unintended transmissions;

at least one loop-plant side pair of wires connected to said filter;

at least one Central Office-side pair of wires connected to said filter;

a five pin package having two terminals connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires, two terminals connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires, and one terminal connectable to a ground line, said five pin package fitting a socket of a protector block intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, said filter excluding transmissions selected from the group of services consisting of:

DDS, ISDN, and xDSL.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, said filter excluding frequency ranges selected from the group consisting of:

lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a surge protector connected in series to one of (i) said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires and (ii) said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires, said surge protector and said filter each intervening between said loop-plant side and said Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said two terminals connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires comprise two pins of a 5-pin plug, said 5-pin plug being capable of plugging into a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block, and

said two terminals connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires comprise another two pins of said 5-pin plug.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said two terminals connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires comprise two terminals of a 5-pin plug, said 5-pin plug being capable of plugging into a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block, and

said two terminals connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires comprise two terminals of a 5-pin socket, said 5-pin socket being capable of receiving a same 5-pin plug as a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 5-pin plug and said 5-pin socket are formed in said five pin package, said 5-pin plug fitting a socket of the protector block intervening between the loop-plant side and the Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines, and said 5-pin socket receiving a protector coil configured to fit a socket of the protector block intervening between the loop-plant side and the Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines.

19. A system for providing spectral containment and preventing unintended transmissions, outside of desired spectral characteristics, over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

a filter having the desired spectral characteristics, that passes only desired frequencies and blocks the unintended transmissions;

at least one loop-plant side pair of wires connected to said filter;

at least one Central Office-side pair of wires connected to said filter;

a five pin package having two pins connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires, two pins connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires, and one pin connectable to a ground line; and

a protector block intervening between said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires and said at least one Central Office side pair of wires at a first point of access of a Central Office, said five pin package fitting a socket of said protector block.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, said filter excluding transmissions selected from the group of services consisting of:

DDS, ISDN, and xDSL.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, said filter excluding frequency ranges selected from the group consisting of:

lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a surge protector connected in series to one of (i) said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires and (ii) said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires, said surge protector and said filter each intervening between said loop-plant side and said Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said two terminals connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires comprise two pins of a 5-pin plug, said 5-pin plug being capable of plugging into a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block, and

said two terminals connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires comprise another two pins of said 5-pin plug.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said two terminals connected to said at least one loop-plant side pair of wires comprise two terminals of a 5-pin plug, said 5-pin plug being capable of plugging into a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block, and

said two terminals connected to said at least one Central Office-side pair of wires comprise two terminals of a 5-pin socket, said 5-pin socket being capable of receiving a same 5-pin plug as a 5-pin protector block socket in said protector block.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said 5-pin plug and said 5-pin socket are formed in said five pin package, said 5-pin plug fitting a socket of the protector block intervening between the loop-plant side and the Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines, and said 5-pin socket receiving a protector coil configured to fit a socket of the protector block intervening between the loop-plant side and the Central Office side of the telephone-type service lines.

26. A method for providing spectral containment over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

selecting a filter having desired spectral characteristics, that passes only frequencies of the desired characteristics;

connecting the filter in series to at least one branchless loop, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the branchless loop; and

activating service over said at least one branchless loop, said filter thereby preventing unexpected transmissions outside of the desired spectral characteristics over said at least one branchless loop.

27. The method according to claim 26, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one branchless loop in a 5-pin module, one pin of said 5-pin module being a ground pin, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the module; and

inserting said 5-pin module in a protector block socket in a protector block intervening between said loop-plant side and said Central Office side of said branchless loop.

28. The method according to claim 26, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one branchless loop at a loop plant, said filter intervening between a remote terminal facility and copper pair side of the at least one branchless loop.

29. The method according to claim 26, said selecting further comprising:

determining a service to be excluded on said at least one branchless loop from the group consisting of DDS, ISDN, and xDSL;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding operating frequencies of the determined service.

30. The method according to claim 26, said selecting further comprising:

determining a frequency range to be excluded on said at least one branchless loop from the group consisting of lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding said frequency range but permitting frequencies outside of said frequency range.

31. A method for providing spectral containment over telephone-type service lines, comprising:

selecting a filter having desired spectral characteristics, that passes only frequencies of the desired characteristics;

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the loop in a position where the filter'"'"'s spectral characteristics affect the entirety of said at least one loop; and

activating service over said at least one loop, said filter thereby preventing unexpected transmissions outside of the desired spectral characteristics over said at least one loop.

32. The method according to claim 31, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop in a 5-pin module, one pin of said 5-pin module being a ground pin, said filter intervening between a loop-plant side and a Central Office side of the module; and

inserting said 5-pin module in a protector block socket in a protector block intervening between said loop-plant side and said Central Office side of said loop.

33. The method according to claim 31, said connecting further comprising:

connecting the filter in series to at least one loop at a loop plant, said filter intervening between a remote terminal facility and copper pair side of the loop.

34. The method according to claim 31, said selecting further comprising:

determining a service to be excluded on said at least one loop from the group consisting of DDS, ISDN, and xDSL;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding operating frequencies of the determined service.

35. The method according to claim 31, said selecting further comprising:

determining a frequency range to be excluded on said at least one loop from the group consisting of lower than substantially 40 kHz;

lower than substantially 80 KHz; and

higher than substantially 100 kHz;

then

selecting a filter having spectral characteristics excluding said frequency range but permitting frequencies outside of said frequency range.