Method and system for operating a field programmable line card using a country coded template

• US 7,804,824 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andrews, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/334,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 4554321-4353, 455/552.1, 455/456.1, 37939901-413, 379/221.14, 370/463, 370/359, 370/352, 370/401, 709203-206
• US Class Current: 370/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0002 analog front ends; means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line duplex arrangements H04L5/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A database correlating a specific set of linecard criteria, out of a plurality of sets of linecard criteria, to a template code is loaded into a linecard during manufacturing. A template code based on country-specific criteria is sent to the linecard at startup, whenever otherwise desired. The template code may also be periodically refreshed from a central authority that recognizes the address of a particular linecard.

Claims

1. A system for programming a linecard configured with a plurality of sets of line interface specification values in a communications network providing telephony services comprising:

a database including, and indexed on, a plurality of template codes, and a plurality of sets of linecard register values, each of the plurality of template codes being associated with one of the plurality of sets of line interface specification values;

a messaging means for requesting a template code from a central controller, the central controller being operable to send the requested template code to a requesting device;

a means for determining the template code based on the address of the device requesting the template code; and

a means for determining a desired set of line interface specification values from the database based on the template code sent from the central controller.

2. A system for programming line interface equipment with one of a plurality of sets of line interface specification values, comprising:

a central controller;

means for storing a county code/address cross-reference database that associates a unique address of a network interface device with a country code, wherein said cross reference database is accessible by the central controller;

means for storing a template code cross-reference database that associates a country code with a template code, wherein said template code cross reference database is accessible by the central controller;

line interface equipment coupled to a plurality of subscriber devices, the line interface equipment capable of communicating with the central controller via a network; and

means for storing a specification database that associates each of a plurality of template codes with a set of line interface register values, wherein said specification database is accessible by the central controller.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the central controller is a host digital terminal.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the central controller is a Packet Cable provisioning server.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the line interface equipment includes a hub.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the line interface equipment includes a node.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the line interface equipment includes a node.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the line interface equipment includes a line interface device corresponding to a subscriber.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the county code/address cross-reference database is stored in a computer memory device.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the template code cross reference database is stored in a computer memory device.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the specification database is stored in a computer memory device.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the address is an internet protocol address.

13. The system of claim 2 wherein the address is a Media Access Control address.

14. A method for programming line interface equipment with one of a plurality of sets of line interface specification values, comprising:

receiving a request message from one of a plurality of network interface devices, each of which is associated with a unique address;

determining from a country code/address cross reference database a country code that corresponds to the unique address;

determining from a template code cross-reference database one of a plurality of template codes that corresponds to the determined country code;

returning the template code that was determined to correspond to the determined country code to the requesting device;

determining from a specification database a set of line interface register values to load into the line interface equipment based on the returned template code; and

loading into the line interface device the desired set of line interface register values that corresponds to the returned template code.

15. A method for programming line interface equipment with one of a plurality of sets of line interface specification values, comprising:

sending a request message from one of a plurality of network interface devices, each of which is associated with a unique address;

receiving a template code that was determined to correspond to the country code of the requesting device;

determining from a specification database a set of line interface register values to load into the line interface equipment based on the received template code; and

loading into the line interface device the desired set of line interface register values that corresponds to the returned template code.