Hybrid fiber twisted pair local loop network service architecture

• US 7,457,284 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• 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, Miller, II, Robert Raymond, Romain, Dennis Matthew, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aga, Sori A
• Application Number:
  US10/964,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5606 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5639 Tariffs or charging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13012 Hybrid fiber coax, HFC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13031 Pulse code modulation, PCM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 : Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 : Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13367 : Hierarchical multiplexing, add-drop multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting. The architecture provides for fault-tolerant, transparent interaction of components and services and supports a variety of standards for each level of the open systems interconnection layers and layers of TCP/IP. The FMP connects electronically or optically to the public switched telephone network, Internet backbone, a private Intranet as well as other possible network connections.

Claims

1. A communications architecture for providing enhanced services between customer premises equipment and a plurality of communication networks, comprising:

customer premises equipment coupled to an intelligent services director, capable of multiplexing signals from said customer services equipment for transmission on at least one twisted pair coupled to a facilities management platform;

said facilities management platform, filtering and separating voice signals from data packets and transmitting said data packets to a router that is coupled to at least one communication network of said communication networks; and

a network server platform functionally coupled to a plurality of facilities management platforms, the network server platform providing system management to said communications architecture;

said facilities management platform further comprising at least one line card, the facilities management platform being adapted to directly route analog voice signals to the at least one line card.

2. The communications architecture of claim 1, wherein the at least one line card is configured to convert the analog voice signals to digital format for transmission over a network.

3. The communications architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the facilities management platform transmits the data packets via at least one modem, at least one digital filter and a controller multiplexer; and

the analog voice signals are directly routed to the at least one line card by bypassing the at least one modem, the at least one digital filter and the controller multiplexer in case of a digital link failure.

4. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one analog telephone connected to said intelligent services director.

5. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one digital telephone connected to said intelligent services director.

6. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one video telephone connected to said intelligent services director.

7. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one facsimile machine connected to said intelligent services director.

8. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one personal computer connected to said intelligent services director.

9. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one network computer connected to said intelligent services director.

10. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one personal assistant connected to said intelligent services director.

11. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one set top device connected to said intelligent services director.

12. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one multimedia center connected to said intelligent services director.

13. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said customer services equipment comprises at least one utility meter connected to said intelligent services director.

14. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said intelligent services director is comprised of an intelligent services director that provides voice coding, data interface control, and multiplexing of voice and data.

15. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said intelligent services director and said facilities management platform are functionally coupled together by a first and second modem.

16. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said facilities management platform connects to a plurality of intelligent services directors and provides at least one of multiplexing, demultiplexing, routing, signaling, packet/circuit conversion, line monitoring functions of signals transmitted between said intelligent services director and said communications network.

17. The communications architecture of claim 1 where said network server platform provides at least one of:

connection management, application launching, operations, maintenance, and provisioning functions for services relating to registered facilities management platforms.

18. A communications architecture for providing enhances services between customer premises equipment and a plurality of communication networks having trunk lines, comprising:

a customer premises equipment with an intelligent services director where said intelligent services director multiplexes signals from said customer services equipment for transmission on at least one twisted pair coupled to a facilities management platform;

said facilities management platform, filtering and separating voice signals from data signals and transmitting data packets to a router that is coupled to said communication network, said facilities management platform further transmitting said voice signals to a modified digital subscriber loop for multiplexing said voice signal for transmission over said communication network trunk lines; and

a network server platform coupled to a plurality of facilities management platforms providing system management to said communications architecture;

said facilities management platform further comprising at least one line card, the facilities management platform being adapted to directly route analog voice signals to the at least one line card.

19. The communications architecture of claim 18, wherein the at least one line card is configured to convert the analog voice signals to digital format for transmission over a network.

20. The communications architecture of claim 18, wherein:

the facilities management platform transmits the data packets via at least one modem, at least one digital filter and a controller multiplexer; and

the analog voice signals are directly routed to the at least one line card by bypassing the at least one modem, the at least one digital filter and the controller multiplexer in case of a digital link failure.

21. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said signals transmitted and received by said customer premises equipment include analog and digital signals.

22. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said system management to said communications architecture includes at least one of connection management services, application launching capabilities, operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning.

23. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said connection between said intelligent services director and said facilities management platform contains a protector block.

24. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said connection between said intelligent services director and said facilities management platform is comprised of an xDSL communications link.

25. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said connection between said facilities management platform and said communication network is an optical fiber.

26. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said connection between said facilities management platform and said communication network is an electronic link.

27. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said communication network is comprised of a connection to a signaling network for handling call set up and routing of said voice signals.

28. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said communication network is comprised of a connection to a public switched telephone network.

29. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said communication network is comprised of a connection to a private Intranet network.

30. The communications architecture of claim 18 where said communication network is comprised of a connection to the Internet.