Hybrid fiber twisted pair local loop network service architecture

• US 8,355,365 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Miller, Robert Raymond II, Romain, Dennis Matthew, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US12/653,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20100098000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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 comprising:

at least one customer premises equipment interface device connected to one end of a wireless connection;

a facilities management platform capable of separating voice signals from data packet signals and connected to another end of said wireless connection, the facilities management platform for interfacing with a plurality of different networks including a packet data network via a digital optical ring network;

a router within the facilities management platform for transmitting data packet signals received from customer premises equipment to a packet data communications network simultaneously with transmitting voice signals received from customer premises equipment;

a facilities interface within the facilities management platform capable of transmitting the voice signals to one or more external networks and receiving voice signals from the one or more external networks; and

a network server platform coupled to said facilities management platform via said digital optical ring network for providing system management to the facilities management platform.

2. The communications architecture of claim 1 wherein said at least one customer premises equipment interface device comprises a multiplexer for multiplexing voice and data signals for simultaneous transmission over said wireless connection to said facilities management platform.

3. The communications architecture of claim 2, wherein the multiplexed voice and data signals are transmitted and received by the customer premises equipment interface device by a spread spectrum multiplexing scheme.

4. The communications architecture of claim 2, wherein the multiplexed voice and data signals are transmitted and received by the customer premises equipment interface device by a time division multiplexing scheme.

5. The communications architecture of claim 2, wherein the multiplexed voice and data signals are transmitted and received by the customer premises equipment interface device by a frequency division multiplexing scheme.

6. The communications architecture of claim 2, wherein the multiplexed voice and data signals are transmitted and received by the customer premises equipment interface device by an asynchronous multiplexing scheme.

7. The communications architecture of claim 2, wherein the multiplexed voice and data signals are transmitted and received by the customer premises equipment interface device by a synchronous multiplexing scheme.

8. The communications architecture of claim 1 wherein said digital optical ring network comprises a synchronous optical ring network.

9. The communications architecture of claim 1 wherein the voice signals are packetized voice signals.

10. The communications architecture of claim 1 further comprising at least one digital telephone connected to the customer premises interface device.

11. A communications architecture comprising:

at least one customer premises equipment interface device connected to one end of a customer connection;

a facilities management platform capable of separating packetized voice signals from data packet signals and connected to another end of said customer connection, the facilities management platform for interfacing with a plurality of different networks including a packet data network via a digital optical ring network;

a router within the facilities management platform for transmitting data packet signals received from customer premises equipment to a packet data communications network simultaneously with transmitting packetized voice signals received from customer premises equipment;

a facilities interface within the facilities management platform capable of transmitting the packetized voice signals to one or more external networks and receiving packetized voice signals from the one or more external networks; and

a network server platform coupled to said facilities management platform via said digital optical ring network for providing system management to the facilities management platform.

12. The communications architecture of claim 11 wherein said at least one customer premises equipment interface device comprises a multiplexer for multiplexing voice and data signals for simultaneous transmission over said customer connection to said facilities management platform.

13. The communications architecture of claim 11 wherein said digital optical ring network comprises a synchronous optical ring network.

14. The communications architecture of claim 11 further comprising at least one digital telephone connected to the customer premises interface device.

15. The communications architecture of claim 11 further comprising at least one video telephone connected to the customer premises interface device.

16. The communications architecture of claim 11 further comprising at least one facsimile machine connected to the customer premises interface device.

17. The communications architecture of claim 11 further comprising at least one personal computer telephone connected to the customer premises interface device.