Circuit to provide backup telephone service for a multiple service access system using a twisted pair

• US 7,394,757 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• 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, Barzegar, Farhad, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHAU BA
• Application Number:
  US11/044,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

A subscriber link to a central office which employs data compression, forward error correction, and advanced modulation techniques and to connect subscribers to multiple communications networks to provide an array of services. A device provides normal telephone service in the event of an equipment failure. At the subscriber end, a server called an intelligent services director (ISD) provides multiple independent connections for telephones which ordinarily connect to multiple access virtual circuits generated on the subscriber link over a twisted pair. A device called a facilities management platform (FMP) at the central office end of the link, among other things, provides interfacing of the subscriber link to various networks including a digital subscriber loop (DLC) and packet switched networks. Ordinarily telephones connected to the ISD require power and correctly functioning modems and controllers in the ISD and the FMP to have access to the outside world. A fail-safe mechanism, however allows at least one chosen phone to function in the event of a failure. The chosen phone must be capable of pulse or DTMF dialing. The connection through which it operate can be switched directly to the twisted pair media connecting to the FMP. At the FMP, the twisted pair is switched to tie the connection directly to a line card of the DLC. Alternatively, the ISD contains an interface to a specialize phone designed for the ISD environment. The interface provides the appearance to the DLC of a regular POT.

Claims

1. A method for use with a telecommunication facilities management platform, said platform connected to a subscriber telecommunications device via a subscriber line associated with a subscriber, said method comprising:

receiving at a modem in an access module a communication from said telecommunications device said communication comprising at least one of a digital communication and an analog communication;

transmitting said communication over at least one data network connected to said access module;

detecting at said telecommunication facilities management platform a power failure associated with said subscriber by determining that a status signal has not been received from a subscriber server in a predetermined period of time; and

in response to the detection of said power failure, transmitting said analog communication to a line card in a digital loop carrier associated with a telephony network by bypassing said modem.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said subscriber server comprises an intelligent services director located at a subscriber premises.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of detecting a power failure comprises detecting a loss of power to said intelligent services director.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one data network comprises a packet switched network.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the detection of said power failure, providing battery power to said telecommunications device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the detection of said power failure, providing ringing service to said telecommunications device.

7. A facilities management platform for use in maintaining telecommunications service for a subscriber in the event of a power failure, said subscriber associated with a telecommunications device, said facilities management platform comprising:

a modem for receiving a communication from said telecommunications device, said communication comprising at least one of a digital communication and an analog communication;

a controller adapted to transmit said communication over at least one data network connected to said access module;

means for detecting at said telecommunication facilities management platform a power failure associated with said subscriber by determining that a status signal has not been received from a subscriber server in a predetermined period of time; and

means for routing, in response to the detection of said power failure associated with said subscriber, said analog communication to a line card in a digital loop carrier associated with a telephony network by bypassing said modem.

8. The facilities management platform of claim 7 wherein said subscriber server comprises an intelligent services director located at a subscriber premises.

9. The facilities management platform of claim 8 wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting a loss of power to said intelligent services director.

10. The facilities management platform of claim 7 wherein said at least one data network comprises a packet switched network.

11. The facilities management platform of claim 7 further comprising:

means for providing, in response to the detection of said power failure, battery power to said telecommunications device.

12. The facilities management platform of claim 7 further comprising:

means for providing, in response to the detection of said power failure, ringing service to said telecommunications device.