Detection of cross-connection between a wireless loop network and another loop network at a subscriber's premises

• US 8,285,292 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vdolek, Alex D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Salman
• Application Number:
  US09/502,655
• Time in Patent Office: 4,624 Days
• Field of Search: 370/201, 370/242, 370/241, 370/243, 370/244, 370/245, 370/247, 370/248, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/356, 370/401, 379/14.01, 379/22.03, 379/22.06, 379/22.07, 379/22.08, 379/23
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/028 Subscriber network interface devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote unit for use in conjunction with a communications network. The remote unit includes a network interface which provides an interface between a premises communication system and a first network. The interface permits the premises communication system to receive at least one service over the first network. The remote unit also includes a detector for detecting a cross-connection to a second network which is also connected to the premises communication system.

Claims

1. A remote unit for use in conjunction with a network, comprising:

a network interface configured to provide an interface between a premises communication system and a first network, the first network being configured to provide at least one service to the premises communication system; and

a detector configured to detect a cross-connection to a second network, the second network being separately coupled to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from the remote unit, the second network being configured to provide the service to the premises communication system.

2. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to withhold the service from the premises communication system in response to the detection of the cross-connection.

3. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to provide the service to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.

4. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect the presence of a current on the premises communication system, the current being caused by the cross-connection to the second network.

5. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the premises communication system includes a tip line and a ring line and the detector is coupled to the tip line and the ring line.

6. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the detector includes an electronics activation mechanism in series with a current presence indicator.

7. The remote unit of claim 6, wherein the electronics activation mechanism is a switch and the current presence indicator is an optocoupler.

8. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is configured to notify a subscriber that the cross-connection is detected.

9. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is a set top box.

10. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the network interface is adapted to communicate with a base station included in the first network.

11. The remote unit of claim 10, wherein the network interface is adapted to communicate with the base station over a wireless link between the network interface and the base station.

12. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is adapted to receive a plurality of services over the first network.

13. The remote unit of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of services is television service and another of the plurality of services is telephone service.

14. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the first network corresponds to a first service provider and the second network corresponds to a second service provider.

15. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit and the second network interface are located at premises associated with the premises communication system.

16. A method of operating a network, comprising:

providing an interface between a first network and a premises communication system such that the premises communication system can receive at least one service over the first network; and

detecting a cross-connection to a second network separately coupled to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from a remote unit including the interface, the second network being configured to provide the service to the premises communication system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing services to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

withholding services from the premises communication system when the cross-connection is detected.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting a cross-connection includes detecting the presence of a potential on the premises communication system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting a cross-connection is performed when a subscriber operates an item of subscriber premises equipment in communication with the premises communication system.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

notifying a subscriber that the cross-connection is detected.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the first network corresponds to a first service provider and the second network corresponds to a second service provider.

23. A network comprising:

a first network base station configured to provide services from a first provider to a premises communication system; and

a remote unit configured to provide an interface between the base station and the premises communication system, the remote unit including a detector for detecting a cross-connection to a second network, the second network being configured to separately provide the services to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from the remote unit.

24. The network of claim 23, wherein the remote unit is configured to withhold the services from the premises communication system when the cross-connection is detected.

25. The network of claim 23, wherein the remote unit is configured to provide the service to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.

26. The network of claim 23, wherein the detector detects the presence of a current on the premises communication system, the current being caused by the second network.

27. The network of claim 23, wherein the network interface includes a subscriber line interface circuit connected in parallel with the detector.

28. The network of claim 23, wherein the remote unit includes a subscriber notification mechanism for notifying a subscriber when the cross-connection is detected.

29. The network of claim 23, wherein the second network corresponds to a second provider to the premises communication system.

30. The network of claim 23, wherein the detector includes an electronics activation mechanism in series with a current presence indicator.