Multifunction interface facility connecting wideband multiple access subscriber loops with various networks

• US 7,590,105 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho; Hong
• Application Number:
  US11/188,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/465, 370/401, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 370/351, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/346, 370/400, 370/404, 370/405, 370/419, 370/420
• 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 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2896 Distributed processing, e.g. on line cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

An device, called a facilities management platform (FMP) connects current digital and analog carrier networks and packet switched networks of interexchange carriers with high speed multiple access subscriber links implemented over twisted pair lines. The subscriber line is terminated by an access module containing one or more modems. In preferred embodiments, the modems are high-speed digital tethered virtual radio channel or xDSL modems. The FMP interface applies and receives signaling and voice through a digital loop carrier (DLC) via a multiplexer connected directly to the DLC backplane. The multiplexer is controlled by a controller of an access module. It translates data from the subscriber link to the form compatible with the digital backplane to create the appearance of one or more line cards. The FMP also may contain a sound generator to allow it to handle calls through an analog carrier network. The FMP, through the same access module transmits data to and from the modems directly through connected digital networks, such as ATM or SONET, of an interexchange carrier. Through this interface, different network companies can offer competing products through different networks all seamlessly connected through a high speed subscriber line.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of modems configured to demodulate subscriber data from a subscriber link to generate a digital steam comprising the subscriber data, the subscriber data comprising voice data, signaling data, and user data, the subscriber data routable via a plurality of networks;

a plurality of digital filters configured to separate the voice data from the digital stream absent a digital data link failure, each of said plurality of digital filters communicatively coupled to a corresponding modem of said plurality of modems;

a time division multiplexer adapted to receive a plurality of voice signals from said plurality of digital filters absent the digital data link failure, said time division multiplexer communicatively coupled to a bus adapted to receive time division multiplexed signals;

a plurality of line cards, each of said plurality of line cards communicatively coupled to the corresponding modem of said plurality of modems, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to receive the voice data routed to said plurality of line cards responsive to the detected digital data link failure, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to convert the voice data into a digital format, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to transmit the voice data in digital format via the bus adapted to receive the time division multiplexed signals; and

a termination subsystem communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems, said termination subsystem comprising a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of the subscriber link.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted multiplex said voice data and said user data received from said plurality of digital filters.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted multiplex said voice data and said user data received from said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted to transmit multiplexed voice signals via said time division multiplexer.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted multiplex said user data received from said plurality of digital filters and create a multiplexed user data, said controller multiplexer adapted to send said multiplexed user data to a router and facilities interface for transmission to one or more external networks.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to set up a call responsive to DTMF tones comprised in the voice data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to perform a conversion of the time division multiplexed signals to packets.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to perform a conversion of the time division multiplexed signals from packets.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to connect a second call to a called party without disconnecting a first call, wherein the first call was already in progress.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to request bandwidth from a network service provider.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus, said controller adapted to, upon detection of a failure of a type that would prevent the subscriber from communicating over a telephone, throw a switch to bypass said plurality of modems and tie a subscriber medium directly to one of said plurality of line cards.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus; and

a facilities interface communicatively coupled to said controller, said facilities interface adapted to send the voice signals to at least one external network.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus; and

a facilities interface communicatively coupled to said controller and to a fiber optic link, said facilities interface adapted to convert between electrical signals and optical signals.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to said bus; and

a facilities interface communicatively coupled to said controller, said facilities interface adapted to convert the time division multiplexed signals to/from packets.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a line protector adapted to receive signals from computer premises equipment, said line protector comprising lightning blocks for grounding power surges due to lightning or other stray voltage surges, said line protector communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cross connector communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems, said cross connector adapted to switch a communication of the subscriber from a first modem of said plurality of modems to a second modem of said plurality of modems, the first modem suspected to be bad.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a termination subsystem communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems, said termination subsystem including an over-voltage protector.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a termination subsystem communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems, said termination subsystem comprising a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of the subscriber link at a time when there is substantially no said subscriber data traffic on the subscriber link.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-local exchange carrier telecommunications interface is adapted to signal a network service provider with a request for a virtual circuit for a high priority voice call.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of modems configured to demodulate subscriber data from a subscriber link to generate a digital stream comprising the subscriber data, the subscriber data comprising voice data, signaling data, and user data, the subscriber data routable via a plurality of networks;

a plurality of digital filters configured to separate the voice data from the digital stream absent a digital data link failure, each of said plurality of digital filters communicatively coupled to a corresponding modem of said plurality of modems;

a controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted multiplex the voice data and the user data received from the plurality of digital filters absent the detected digital data link failure, said controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to a bus adapted to receive time division multiplexed signals;

a plurality of line cards, each of said plurality of line cards communicatively coupled to a corresponding modem of said plurality of modems, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to receive the voice data routed to said plurality of line cards responsive to the detected digital data link failure, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to convert the voice data into a digital format, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to transmit the voice data in digital format via the bus adapted to receive said time division multiplexed signals; and

a termination subsystem communicatively coupled to said plurality of modems, said termination subsystem comprising a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of the subscriber link.

20. A system comprising:

a plurality of modems configured to demodulate subscriber data from a subscriber link to generate a digital stream comprising the subscriber data, the subscriber data comprising voice data, signaling data, and user data, the subscriber data routable via a plurality of networks;

a plurality of digital filters configured to separate the voice data from the digital stream absent a digital data link failure, each of said plurality of digital filters communicatively coupled to a corresponding modem of said plurality of modems;

a controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to said plurality of digital filters, said controller multiplexer adapted multiplex the voice data and user data received from the plurality of digital filters absent the detected digital data link failure, said controller multiplexer adapted to send the user data to a router and facilities interface for transmission to one or more external networks, said controller multiplexer communicatively coupled to a bus adapted to receive time division multiplexed voice data;

a plurality of line cards, each of said plurality of line cards communicatively coupled to a corresponding modem of said plurality of modems, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to receive the voice data routed to said plurality of line cards responsive to the detected digital data link failure, each of said plurality of line cards adapted to convert the voice data into a digital format, each of said plurality of fine cards adapted to transmit the voice data in digital format via the bus adapted to receive said time division multiplexed signals; and

a termination subsystem communicatively coupled modems, said termination subsystem comprising a line monitor programmed to monitor a condition of the subscriber link.