Replacing telecommunications carrier equipment

• US 6,804,347 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nicholas, David A., Ridgeway, William S., Davison, Jon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/876,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 379/307, 379/310, 379/312, 379/320, 379/322, 379/323, 379/324, 379/102.04, 379/106.04, 379/318, 379/413
• US Class Current: 379/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/00 Current supply arrangements for telephone systems for selecting-equipment H04Q1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network

Abstract

Telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet can be replaced so as to allow existing carrier multiplexers to be powered by newer, smaller power supply equipment. Each carrier multiplexer has a plurality of power connections for each of a plurality of power types. The existing set of power supply equipment has a supply connection corresponding to each power connection at each power types. The power inputs of each power type for each carrier multiplexer are bridged together. A replacement set of power supply equipment has a single supply connection corresponding to each power type for each carrier. Each of the bridged power inputs for each carrier multiplexer is connected with the corresponding supply connection on the replacement set of power supply equipment for each power type.

Claims

1. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet comprising:

removing a first set of power supply equipment supporting at least one carrier multiplexer, each carrier multiplexer having a plurality of power connections for each of a plurality of power types, the first set of power supply equipment having a supply connection for each of the plurality of power connections at each of the plurality of power types;

bridging together all of the plurality of power connections of each power type for each of the at least one carrier multiplexer;

installing a second set of power supply equipment having a single supply connection corresponding to each power type for each carrier multiplexer; and

connecting each of the bridged plurality of power inputs for each of the at least one carrier multiplexer with the corresponding supply connection for each power type.

2. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 further comprising notifying a central office of possible power related alarms prior to disconnecting and removing the first set of power supply equipment.

3. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 further comprising:

installing at least one new carrier multiplexer, each new carrier multiplexer having at least one power input corresponding to each of the plurality of power types; and

for each new carrier multiplexer, connecting the at least one power input for each power type on the new carrier multiplexer with a corresponding power supply connection on the second set of power supply equipment.

4. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 3 further comprising:

connecting at least one high-bandwidth cable to a central office side of each new carrier multiplexer; and

connecting a plurality of carrier loops to a customer premises side of each new carrier multiplexer.

5. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 3 wherein the new carrier multiplexer is a digital carrier system.

6. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 5 wherein the new carrier multiplexer is an NEC-ISC-303.

7. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 wherein the second set of power supply equipment comprises a Lucent CPS-4000.

8. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 wherein at least one carrier multiplexer is an SLC-96.

9. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of power types comprises −

48VDC and ground return.

10. A method of replacing telecommunications carrier equipment in a field cabinet as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of power types comprises positive ringing AC and negative ringing AC.

11. A remote terminal cabinet comprising:

a housing located outside of a telecommunications central office, equipment housed within the housing connected to the central office through a plurality of high-bandwidth cables, equipment housed within the housing connected to a plurality of customer premises through a plurality of carrier loops;

a plurality of carrier multiplexers disposed within the housing, each carrier multiplexer multiplexing at least one of the high bandwidth cables to a plurality of the customer premises carrier loops, at least one of the carrier multiplexers having a plurality of power connections for each of a plurality of power types;

a power supply disposed within the housing, the power supply having a power supply connection for each power type on each carrier multiplexer; and

a plurality of bridging connections disposed within the housing, each bridging connection connecting a plurality of power connections for one power type on one of the at least one carrier multiplexers with a corresponding power supply connection on the power supply.

12. A remote terminal cabinet as in claim 11 wherein at least one of the carrier multiplexers comprises an SLC-96.

13. A remote terminal cabinet as in claim 11 wherein at least one of the carrier multiplexers comprises an NEC-ISC-303.

14. A remote terminal cabinet as in claim 11 wherein the power supply comprises a Lucent CPS-4000.

15. A remote terminal cabinet as in claim 11 wherein the plurality of power types comprises −

48VDC and ground return.

16. A remote terminal cabinet as in claim 11 wherein the plurality of power types comprises positive ringing AC and negative ringing AC.