Facility management platform for a hybrid coaxial/twisted pair local loop network service architecture

• US 7,184,428 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Treventi, Philip Andrew, Walker, Hopeton S., Martin, Jeffrey S., Oplinger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTS, BRIAN S
• Application Number:
  US10/092,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 370/405, 370/421, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 379/413.02
• 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 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6424 Access arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6215 Individual queue per QOS, rate or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/76 using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation requested by the user or requested by the network in response to changing network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/30 Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The present invention provides a facility management platform to monitor and view the status of a plurality of individually addressable downstream devices including, but not limited to, addressable terminals, IRG'"'"'s, settops, cable modems, taps, nodes, and/or hubs at a network control center. The FMP may display problems at these downstream devices, for example, power loss, and/or may automatically notify the appropriate companies and/or personnel to correct the problem.

Claims

1. A telecommunications interface for communicating subscriber data including voice data, signaling data, and user data between a digital network, a digital loop carrier having an analog interface to connect telephones and a digital circuit connecting a telephone switch to other telephone switches, and a subscriber link to subscriber premises equipment (SPE), said interface comprising:

a controller;

a modem that modulates and demodulates the subscriber data to and from the subscriber link to generate a digital stream including the voice data, signaling data and user data;

a digital filter that separates the voice data from the digital stream,

said controller applying the voice data to the digital circuit when the signaling data indicates the voice data is to be transmitted by the digital circuit, and

said controller applying the voice data to the digital network when the signaling data indicates the voice data is to be transmitted over the digital network; and

a DTMF generator;

said interface being connected to a switched network requiring the transmission of DTMF tones for calls to be routed through the switched network, and

said DTMF generator generating DTMF tones in response to said signaling data indicated that the call is to be transmitted through the switched network.

2. A telecommunications interface for communicating subscriber data including voice data, signaling data, and user data between a digital network, a digital loop carrier having an analog interface to connect telephones and a digital circuit connecting a telephone switch to other telephone switches, and a subscriber link to subscriber premises equipment (SPE), said interface comprising:

a controller; and

a modem that modulates and demodulates the subscriber data to and from the subscriber link to generate a digital stream including the voice data, signaling data and user data;

a digital filter that separates the voice data from the digital stream,

wherein said controller applying the voice data to the digital circuit when the signaling data indicates the voice data is to be transmitted by the digital circuit,

wherein said controller applying the voice data to the digital network when the signaling data indicates the voice data is to be transmitted over the digital network, and

wherein said controller communicates with a network controller of the digital network and generates a message to the network controller requesting reallocation of resources of the digital network in response to an end of transmission of the voice data.

3. An interface as in claim 2, wherein the message is a request for increased bandwidth at a priority lower than a priority assigned for a voice circuit of the digital network.

4. A central office interface between a multiple access link to a subscriber premises and a local exchange carrier network:

digital loop carrier circuitry with a digital interface to permit access to a digital backplane of the digital loop carrier circuitry; and

a controller with at least one modulator/demodulator applies data corresponding to multiple voice call sessions from said link to the digital interface, and applies data corresponding to the multiple voice call sessions from said digital interface to the link;

the multiple access link being established over a single twisted pair metallic interface,

wherein said controller is configured to add a new call session to the multiple voice call sessions in response to signaling data received through the digital interface; and

wherein the new call session corresponds to the same called number as at least another call of the multiple voice call sessions, whereby multiple call sessions to a same called number are enabled.