Switching system and method for communicating information at a customer premises

• US 6,775,271 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Harris, K. Arlan, Geiger, Gregory E., Johnson, Brian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, CHRISTINE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/662,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/466, 370/395.1, 370/395.6, 370/395.61, 370/395.63, 370/395.64, 370/395.65, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 switching system (14) at a customer premises communicates information associated with one or more subscribers. The switching system (14) includes multiple subscriber line ports (17) for communicating xDSL signals with subscribers, the xDSL signals containing both data signals and POTS voice signals. A logical port (20) communicates data signals and packetized voice signals from the subscribers with a central office, the switching system (14) converting between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber lines (16) and the packetized voice signals of the logical port (20). A LAN port (21) communicates data signals with a server complex (23) using a LAN (22) to provide data services to the subscribers. The switching system (14) may include a switch (32) that receives voice signals on a first virtual circuit (VC), switches the voice signals out of the switching system (14) on the first VC, and also communicates received data signals for routing. A router (32) within the switching system (14) may receive the data signals from the switch (32) on a second VC, determine a third VC for the data signals, and route the data signals to the switch (32) on the third VC for communication out of the switching system (14) on the third VC.

Claims

1. A switching system at a customer premises to communicate voice and data information associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

a local area network (LAN) port to communicate data signals with a server complex using a LAN to provide one or more data services accessible to some or all subscribers;

a logical port to communicate data signals and packetized voice signals with a central office (CO);

a plurality of subscriber line ports to communicate digital subscriber line (xDSL) signals with the subscribers; and

a switch/router operable to process voice signals differently from the data signals, the voice signals being directed out of the switch/router on the same virtual circuit (VC) on which they are received at the switch/router, the data signals being directed out of the switch/router on a different VC than the VC on which they are received at the switch/router;

the switching system operable to;

communicate data signals and plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between subscribers using the subscriber line ports;

communicate data signals and POTS voice signals between subscribers and the CO using the subscriber line ports and the logical port, the switching system operable to convert between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber lines and the packetized voice signals of the logical port; and

communicate data signals between subscribers and the server complex using the LAN port.

2. The switching system of claim 1, wherein the server complex comprises one or more servers selected from the group consisting of:

a subscriber request server;

a game server;

a video on demand (VOD) server; and

a webcam server.

3. The switching system of claim 1, wherein the logical port comprises one or more physical ports each coupled to a corresponding physical communications link between the switching system and the CO.

4. The switching system of claim 3, wherein each link comprises a wide area network (WAN) link supporting a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM);

Internet Protocol (IP); and

Frame Relay (FR).

5. The switching system of claim 1, wherein the xDSL signals comprise at least asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) signals.

6. The switching system of claim 1, further comprising:

a splitter operable to separate voice signals received at the subscriber line ports from data signals received at the subscriber line ports, the splitter being further operable to communicate the separated voice and data signals;

a voice processor operable to receive the separated voice signals from the splitter, process the voice signals, and communicate the processed voice signals for routing within the switching system; and

an xDSL processor operable to receive the separated data signals from the splitter process the data signals, and communicate the processed data for routing within the switching system.

7. The switching system of claim 1, wherein the switching system is further operable to provide connectivity to an Internet service provider (ISP) for each subscriber line port.

8. The switching system of claim 1, further comprising a manager operable to communicate one or more routing rules to the router for routing the data signals.

9. The switching system of claim 8, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more considerations selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

10. A switching system at a customer premises to communicate voice and data information associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

a local area network (LAN) port to communicate data signals with a server complex using a LAN to provide one or more data services accessible to some or all subscribers;

a logical port to communicate data signals and packetized voice signals with a central office (CO);

a plurality of subscriber line ports to communicate digital subscriber line (xDSL) signals with the subscribers; and

a switch/router operable to provide;

a switch operable to receive voice signals on a first virtual circuit (VC) and to switch the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC, the switch further operable to communicate received data signals for routing; and

a router operable to receive the data signals from the switch on a second VC, to determine a third VC for the data signals, and to route the data signals to the switch on the third VC for the data signals, and to route the data signals to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC;

the switching system operable to;

communicate data signals and plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between subscribers using the subscriber line ports;

communicate data signals and POTS voice signals between subscribers and the CO using the subscriber line ports and the logical port, the switching system operable to convert between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber lines and the packetized voice signals of the logical port; and

communicate data signals between subscribers and the server complex using the LAN port.

11. The switching system of claim 10, further comprising a manager operable to communicate one or more routing rules to the router for determination of the third VC, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more consideration selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

12. The switching system of claim 10, wherein:

the voice signals and the data signals are handed within the switch/router as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) frames;

the switch is operable to use either ATM adaptation layer type-2 (AAL-2) or ATM adaptation layer type-1 (AAL-1) functionality to ensure that the voice signals are switched to the first VC on which they are received; and

the router is operable to use ATM adaptation layer type-5 (AAL-5) functionality to route the data signals from the second VC to the third VC.

13. The switching system of claim 10, wherein the switch/router comprises a single switch matrix operable to implement the switching and routing.

14. The switching system of claim 10, further comprising an interface for coupling to one or more other switching systems at the customer premises using one or more stack links, such that the switching systems are operable to function as a single logical unit communicate information between the subscribers, the CO, and the server complex.

15. A switching system at a customer premises for communicating voice and data information associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

a switch operable to receive voice signals on a first virtual circuit (VC) and to switch the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC, the switch further operable to communicate received data signals for routing, wherein the voice signals and the data signals are routed as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) frames and the switch is operable to use either ATM adaptation layer type-2 (AAL-2) or ATM adaptation layer type-1 (AAL-1) functionality to ensure that the voice signals are switched to the first VC on which they were received; and

a router operable to receive the data signals from the switch on a second VC, to determine a third VC for the data signals, and to route the data signals to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC, wherein the router is operable to use ATM adaptation layer type-5 (AAL-5) functionality to route the data signals from the second VC to third VC.

16. The switching system of claim 15, wherein a single switch matrix of the switching system is operable to implement the switching and routing.

17. A switching system of claim 15, further comprising a manager operable to communicate one or more routing rules to the router for routing of the data signals.

18. The switching system of claim 17, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more consideration selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

19. The switching system of claim 15, further comprising:

a splitter operable to separate voice signals received from subscribers from data signals received from subscribers, the splitter being further operable to communicate the separated voice and data signals;

a voice processor operable to receive the separated voice signals from the splitter, process the voice signals, and communicate the processed voice signals for routing within the switching system; and

a digital subscriber line (xDSL) processor operable to receive the separated data signals from the splitter, process the data signals, and communicate the processed data signals for routing within the switching system.

20. The switching system of claim 15, wherein the switching system is further operable to selectively communicate available voice signals before available data signals, according to their relative priorities.

21. The switching system of claim 15, wherein:

the switching system further comprises an interface;

the interface is operable to receive remote voice signals and remote data signals from second switching system at the customer premises;

the interface is operable to receive local voice signals and local data signals from the switch;

the interface is further operable to selectively communicate the available signal having the highest priority;

remote voice signals have the highest priority;

local voice signals have the second highest priority; and

data signals have the third highest priority.

22. The switching system of claim 21, wherein remote data signals have the third highest priority and local data signals have the fourth highest priority.

23. The switching system of claim 15, further comprising an interface for coupling to one or more other switching systems at the customer premises in a stackable configuration using one or more stack links, such that the switching systems are operable to function as a single logical unit in communicating information associated with the subscribers.

24. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

communicating digital subscriber line (xDSL) signals between a switching system and subscribers using a plurality of subscriber line ports of the switching system, the xDSL signals comprising data signals and plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals;

communicating data signals and packetized voice signals between the switching system and a central office (CO) using a logical port of the switching system;

converting between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber line ports and the packetized voice signals of the logical port for communication of voice signals between subscribers and the CO;

communicating data signals between the switching system and a server complex using a local area network (LAN) port of the switching system to provide one or more data service accessible to some or all subscribers;

processing voice signals at a switch/router of the switching system such that the voice signals are communicated out of the switch/router on the same virtual circuit (VC) on which they are received at the switch/router; and

processing data signals at the switch/router differently from the voice signals such that the data signals are communicated out of the switch/router on a different VC than the VC on which they are received at the switch/router.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the server complex comprises one or more servers selected from the group consisting of:

a subscriber request server;

a game server;

a video on demand (VOD) server; and

a webcam server.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the logical port comprises one or more physical ports each coupled to a corresponding physical communications link between the switching system and the CO.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each link comprises a wide area network (WAN) link supporting a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM);

Internet Protocol (IP); and

Frame Relay (FR).

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the xDSL signals comprise at least asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) signals.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

separating voice signals received at the subscriber line ports from data signals received at the subscriber line ports using a splitter of the switching system;

communicating the separated voice and data signals from the splitter;

receiving the separated voice signals from the splitter at a voice processor;

using the voice processor to process the voice signals;

communicating the processed voice signals for routing within the switching system;

receiving the separated data signals from the splitter at an xDSL processor;

using the xDSL processor to process the data signals; and

communicating the processed data signals for routing within the switching system.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising using the switching system to provide connectivity to an Internet service provider (ISP) for each subscriber line port.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising communicating one or more routing rules from a manager to the router for routing the data signals.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more consideration selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising using an interface of the switching system and one or more stack links to couple the switching system to one or more other switching systems at the customer premises, such that the switching systems function as a single logical unit to communicate information between the subscribers, the CO, and the server complex.

34. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

communicating digital subscriber line (xDSL) signals between a switching system and subscribers using a plurality of subscriber line ports of the switching system, the xDSL signals comprising data signals and plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals;

communicating data signals and packetized voice signals between the switching system and a central office (CO) using a logical port of the switching system;

converting between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber line ports and the packetized voice signals of the logical port for communication of voice signals between subscribers and the CO;

communicating data signals between the switching system and a server complex using a local area network (LAN) port of the switching system to provide one or more data service accessible to some or all subscribers;

receiving voice signals at a switch/router of the switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switch/router to communicate the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switch/router;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switch/router;

determining a third VC for the data signals; and

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising communicate routing rules from a manager to the router for determination of the third VC, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more consideration selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

handling the voice signals and the data signals within the switch/router as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) frames;

using either ATM adaptation layer type-2 (AAL-2) or ATM adaptation layer type-1(AAL-1) functionality at the switch to ensure that the voice signals are switched to the first VC on which they were received; and

using ATM adaptation layer type-5(AAL-5) functionality at the router to route the data signals from the second VC to the third VC.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising implementing switching and routing within the switch/router using a single switch matrix.

38. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals; and

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC;

wherein;

handling the voice signals and the data signals within the switching system as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) frames;

using either ATM adaptation layer type-2 (AAL-2) or ATM adaptation layer type 1 (AAL-1) functionality at the switch to ensure that the voice signals are switched to the first VC on which they were received; and

using ATM adaptation layer type-5 (AAL-5) functionality at the router to route the data signals from the second VC to the third VC.

39. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC; and

implementing the switching and routing using a single switch matrix of the switching system.

40. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC; and

communicating one or more routing rules from a manager to the router for routing of the data signals.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the routing rules reflect one or more consideration selected from the group consisting of:

traffic considerations;

security considerations; and

revenue considerations.

42. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC;

separating voice signals received from subscribers from data signals received from subscribers using a splitter of the switching system;

communicating the separated voice and data signals from the splitter;

receiving the separated voice signals from the splitter at a voice processor;

using the voice processor to process the voice signals;

communicating the processed voice signals for routing within the switching system;

receiving the separated data signals from the splitter at an xDSL processor;

using the xDSL processor to process the data signals; and

communicating the processed data signals for routing within the switching system.

43. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC; and

selectively communicating available voice signals from the switching system before available data signals, according to their relative priorities.

44. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC;

receiving, using an interface of the switching system, remote voice signals and remote data signals from a second switching system at the customer premises;

receiving local voice signals and local data signals at the interface from the switch;

selectively communicating from the interface the available signal having the highest priority, wherein;

remote voice signals have the highest priority;

local voice signals have the second highest priority; and

data signals have the third highest priority.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein remote data signals have the third highest priority and local data signals have the fourth highest priority.

46. A method of communicating voice and data information at a customer premises associated with one or more subscribers, comprising:

receiving voice signals at a switching system on a first virtual circuit (VC);

using a switch of the switching system to route the voice signals out of the switching system on the first VC;

receiving data signals at the switching system;

communicating the data signals from the switch on a second VC for routing;

receiving the data signals from the switch at a router of the switching system;

determining a third VC for the data signals;

communicating the data signals from the router to the switch on the third VC for communication out of the switching system on the third VC; and

using an interface of the switching system and one or more stack links to couple the switching system to one or more other switching systems at the customer premises in a stackable configuration, such that the switching systems function as a single logical unit in communicating information associated with the subscribers.