Systems and methods for enhanced reliability in a communication system

• US 6,847,702 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing Limited Partnership, Trade Associates Inc
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Simmering, Marlin Vaughn, Wonterghem, Geert Van, Czerwiec, Richard Marion
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/476,799
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 379/9.06, 379/399.01, 379/399.02, 379/27.06, 379/413.02, 379/16, 379/22.04, 379/26.01, 379/27.01, 379/27.02, 379/27.03, 379/28, 379 2903- 2904, 379/29.11
• US Class Current: 379/29.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for transferring data between servers and subscribers. A central office employs DSL circuit cards. Each DSL circuit card encodes a digital signal using a discreet multitone technology (DMT) scheme, and sends an encoded signal on a subscriber line. A disclosed architecture allows the functions of a faulty DSL circuit card to be assumed by another card, without substantial disruption of subscriber service. Further, the architecture allows the faulty DSL to be physically replaced, with minimal disruption of subscriber service. Another aspect of the architecture allows for the testing of subscriber lines.

Claims

1. A method for a system including a plurality of encoders each for receiving a digital signal to generate a respective encoded signal, a generator for generating a test signal, a plurality of cards each coupled to a respective conductor for sending signals to a respective subscriber, the method comprising the step, performed in each card, of

maintaining a first current path between a respective encoder and the respective conductor, to transfer the encoded signal from the encoder to a respective subscriber, and the following subsequent steps, performed in one of the cards, of

breaking the first current path;

making a second current path between the generator and the respective conductor, to transfer the test signal from the generator to the conductor, and the following step, performed currently with the two previous steps, in remaining ones of the cards, of

maintaining the first current path between the respective encoder and the respective conductor, to transfer the respective encoded signal from the encoder to the respective subscriber; and

connecting another encoder to the second current path.

2. A processing system for a first system having a plurality of conductors and a plurality of subscribers, the processing system comprising:

a plurality of encoders each for receiving a digital signal to generate a respective encoded signal;

a generator for generating a test signal;

a plurality of cards each coupled to a respective conductor for sending signals to a respective subscriber, each card including

a current switch for maintaining a first current path between a respective encoder and the respective conductor, to transfer the encoded signal from the encoder to a respective subscriber, and for making a second current path between the generator and the respective conductor, to transfer the test signal from the generator to the conductor;

each current switch including a first current switch and a second current switch, said first current switch for maintaining the first current path and said second current switch for maintaining the second current path.

3. The processing system of claim 2 further including a current switch for connecting another encoder to the second current path.

4. The processing system of claim 2 wherein each current switch includes a mettalic relay.

5. A processing system for a first system having a plurality of conductors and a plurality of subscribers, the processing system comprising:

a plurality of encoders each for receiving a digital signal to generate a respective encoded signal;

a generator for generating a test signal;

a plurality of cards each coupled to a respective conductor for sending signals to a respective subscriber;

means, activatable for each card, for maintaining a first current path between a respective encoder and the respective conductor, to transfer the encoded signal from the encoder to a respective subscriber;

means for making, activated in one of the card, a second current path between the generator and the respective conductor, to transfer the test signal from the generator to the conductor;

means for connecting another encoder to the second current path; and

means for maintaining, activated in remaining ones of the cards, the first current path between the respective encoder and the respective conductor, to transfer the respective encoded signal from the encoder to the respective subscriber.