Dynamic allocation of voice and data channels in a time division multiplexed telecommunications system

• US 6,728,238 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Remote Switch Systems
• Original Assignee: Remote Switch Systems
• Inventors: DeLangis, Eric M., Long, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Molinari, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US09/465,899
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 370/431, 370/437, 370/442, 370/443, 370/458, 370/459, 370/463, 370/464, 370/468, 370/498, 370/536, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428

Abstract

A system for dynamic allocation of voice and data channels in a time division multiplexed telecommunication system is disclosed. Multiple time division multiplexed lines are provided between a Teleco central office and a number of remote terminals. The time division multiplexing provides multiple channels on each of the multiple DSL lines so that multiple POTS devices can be connected to a single remote terminal. In addition, the remote terminal provides a high speed data port for connection to a data device such as a computer, a router, a bridge, a switch or other similar devices. The multiple TDM channels on each DSL line are allocated so that all of the channels are available for transmission of voice signals and all of the remaining open channels are available for the transmission of data signals. Open available channels are allocated for the transmission of data packets only during the duration of the transmission time of the data packet to minimize the delay in allocation of channels for the transmission of voice signals. The Teleco central office includes a central office terminal controller that is under the control of a CPU that routes voice signals to the central office switch and data signals to an Ethernet interface. The CPU of the central office terminal controller also routes data from external sources to the appropriate line card for transmission on the correct DSL line to the destination remote terminal. Voice signals from the central office switch are also routed by the CPU to the correct line card for transmission on the proper DSL line to the remote terminal connected to the destination POTS device. The POTS devices can comprise telephones, fax machines, or modems. Data devices transmit and receive data packets such as Ethernet data packets. High data transfer rates are possible since the data packets that are sent and received by the data devices are distributed over all of the open, available channels that are not being used by the POTS devices. Subscribers can subscribe to a preset number of channels to meet the subscriber'"'"'s voice and data transmission needs. The number of available channels can be programmed by central office personnel through an administrative and maintenance terminal.

Claims

1. A system that is capable of routing POTS data from POTS devices and device data from data devices through the Internet, the public switched telephone network, and second remote terminals coupled to a terminal controller as selected by a user, comprising:

first remote terminals connected to said POTS devices and said data devices that read POTS routing information generated by said POTS devices in response to a user generated POTS routing input code entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said POTS devices, said POTS routing input code indicating a POTS routing path, in addition to a POTS destination address, and data device routing information generated by said data devices in response to a user generated data device address containing routing data entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said data devices, and that generate routing control signals in response to said POTS routing information and data device routing information to route said POTS data through said public switched telephone network, said Internet and said second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated POTS routing input code, and to route said device data through said public switched telephone network, said Internet and said second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated data device address;

a processor located in said terminal controller that receives said routing control signals and generates switch control signals in response to said routing control signals;

a switch matrix in said terminal controller that receives said switch control signals, said switch matrix being configured in response to said switch control signals to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed through the Internet, to an Internet interface, to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed through said public switched telephone network, to a public switched telephone network interface and to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed through said second remote terminals, directly to said second remote terminals without going through the public switched telephone network and the Internet.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

special codes that can be entered in said POTS devices to function as said POTS routing information.

3. A switching system that is capable of delivering both device data and POTS data to users that are locally connected to said switching system comprising:

first remote terminals connected to said POTS devices and said data devices that read POTS routing information generated by said POTS devices in response to a user generated POTS routing input code entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said POTS devices, said POTS routing input code indicating a POTS routing path, in addition to a POTS destination address, and data device routing information generated by said data devices in response to a user generated data device address containing routing data entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said data devices, and that generate routing control signals in response to said POTS routing information and data device routing information to route said POTS data through the public switched telephone network, the Internet and second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated POTS routing input code, and to route said device data through said public switched telephone network, said Internet and said second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated data device address;

a terminal controller comprising;

a processor that receives said routing control signals and generates switch control signals in response to said routing control signals;

a switch matrix that receives said switch control signals, said switch matrix being configured in response to said switch control signals to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed through the Internet, to an Internet interface, to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed through the public switched telephone network, to a public switched telephone network interface, and to provide data paths that route said device data and said POTS data, to be routed from said terminal controller to other data devices and other POTS devices connected to said second remote terminals, to said second remote terminals connected to said other data devices and said other POTS devices without going through said Internet and without going through said public switched telephone network.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

special codes that can be entered in said POTS devices to function as said POTS routing information.

5. A system for transmitting POTS signals and data signals over a multiple channel communication line and routing said POTS signals and said data signals between a network data port and said multiple channel communication line, routing said POTS signals and said data signals between a central office switch and said multiple channel communication line and routing said POTS signals and said data signals between said multiple channel communication line and second remote terminals comprising:

first remote terminals connected to POTS devices and data devices that read POTS routing information generated by said POTS devices in response to a user generated POTS routing input code entered by a user, said POTS routing input code indicating a POTS routing path, in addition to a POTS destination address, and data device routing information generated by said data devices in response to a user generated data device address containing routing data entered by said user, and that generate routing control signals in response to said POTS routing information and data device routing information to route said POTS signals between said network data port and said multiple channel communication line, between said central office switch and said multiple channel communication line and between said second remote terminals and said multiple channel communication line in response to said user generated POTS routing input code, and to route said data device signals between said network data port and said multiple channel communication line, between said central office switch and said multiple channel communication line and between said second remote terminals and said multiple channel communication line in response to said user generated data device address without connecting to said network data port and without connecting to said central office switch.

6. A method of using a terminal controller as a PBX controller that is capable of delivering both device data from data devices and POTS data from POTS devices to users that are both locally and remotely connected to said terminal controller comprising:

generating a data device destination address in response to a user input, said data device destination address including a subnet address indicating a data device routing path;

transmitting said data device destination address to a first remote terminal;

generating a POTS device destination address, that includes a POTS device routing code, in response to a user input, said POTS device routing code indicating a POTS device routing path;

transmitting said POTS device routing code to said first remote terminal;

reading said data device destination address at said first remote terminal to generate a data device routing message indicating said data device routing path;

reading said POTS device routing code at said first remote terminal to generate a POTS device routing message indicating said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said data device routing message and said POTS device routing message to said terminal controller;

configuring a switch matrix in said terminal controller in response to said data device routing message to create said data device routing path and said POTS device routing message to create said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said device data through said data device routing path to said data device destination address through a network, whenever said data device destination address indicates network routing, through the public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to a second remote terminal that is connected directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates local routing to said second remote terminal;

transmitting said POTS data through said POTS device routing path to said POTS device destination address through said network, whenever said POTS device routing code indicates network routing, through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device routing code indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to said second remote terminal that is connected directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device routing code indicates local routing to said second remote terminal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing special codes that can be entered in POTS devices to function as said POTS device routing code.

8. A system for transmitting POTS signals and data signals over a multiple channel communication line and routing said POTS signals and said data signals between a network data port and said multiple channel communication line, routing said POTS signals and said data signals between a central office switch and said multiple channel communication line and routing said POTS signals and said data signals between said multiple channel communication line and second remote terminals comprising:

first remote terminals connected to said POTS devices and said data devices that read POTS routing information generated by said POTS devices in response to a user generated POTS routing input code entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said POTS devices, said POTS routing input code indicating a POTS routing path, in addition to a POTS destination address, and data device routing information generated by said data devices in response to a user generated data device address containing routing data entered by said user proximate to a time of use of said data devices, and that generate routing control signals in response to said POTS routing information and data device routing information to route said POTS data through said public switched telephone network, said Internet and said second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated POTS routing input code, and to route said device data through said public switched telephone network, said Internet and said second remote terminals in accordance with said user generated data device address without going through said network data port and without going through said central office switch.

9. A method of routing data to a destination address through a terminal controller comprising:

generating a data device destination address in response to a user input entered in said user data devices, said data device destination address including a subnet address indicating a data device routing path;

transmitting said data device destination address to a remote terminal;

generating a POTS device destination address in response to a POTS user input entered in said POTS devices, said POTS device destination address including said POTS user input indicating a POTS device routing path;

transmitting said POTS device destination address to said first remote terminal;

reading said data device destination address at said remote terminal to generate a data device routing message indicating said data device routing path;

reading said POTS device destination address at said first remote terminal to generate a POTS device routing message indicating said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said data device routing message and said POTS device routing message to said terminal controller;

configuring a switch matrix in said terminal controller in response to said data device routing message to create said data device routing path and said POTS device routing message to create said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said device data through said data device routing path to said data device destination address through a network, whenever said data device destination address indicates network routing, through the public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to a second remote terminal that is connected directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates local routing to said second remote terminal;

transmitting said POTS data through said POTS data routing path to said POTS data destination address through said network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates network routing, through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to said second remote terminal that is connected directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates local routing to said second remote terminal;

controlling the provisioning of services to users by testing a multiple channel communication line coupled between said central office terminal controller and a remote terminal to determine the number of channels that are available to each user on said multiple channel communication line;

programming the number of channels paid for by said user on said multiple channel communication line.

10. A method of routing data to a destination address through a terminal controller comprising:

generating a data device destination address in response to a user input entered in said user data devices, said data device destination address including a subnet address indicating a data device routing path;

transmitting said data device destination address to a remote terminal;

generating a POTS device destination address in response to a POTS user input entered in said POTS devices, said POTS device destination address including said POTS user input indicating a POTS device routing path;

transmitting said POTS device destination address to said first remote terminal;

reading said data device destination address at said remote terminal to generate a data device routing message indicating said data device routing path;

reading said POTS device destination address at said first remote terminal to generate a POTS device routing message indicating said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said data device routing message and said POTS device routing message to said terminal controller;

configuring a switch matrix in said terminal controller in response to said data device routing message to create said data device routing path and said POTS device routing message to create said POTS device routing path;

transmitting said device data through said data device routing path to said data device destination. address through a network, whenever said data device destination address indicates network routing, through the public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to a second remote terminal that is connected-directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said data device destination address indicates local routing to said second remote terminal;

transmitting said POTS data through said POTS data routing path to said POTS data destination address through said network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates network routing,.through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates public switched telephone network routing, and to said second remote terminal that is connected directly to said terminal controller without going through said network and without going through said public switched telephone network, whenever said POTS device destination address indicates local routing to said second remote terminal.