System and method for transmission of frame relay communications over a digital subscriber line equipped with asynchronous transfer mode components

• US 8,295,303 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Demaria, Robert L., Green, Colleen M., Roberts, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Warner
• Application Number:
  US10/109,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20020159462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,858 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5606 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/567 Frame Relay over ATM

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting Frame Relay based communication over an ATM based network that includes a DSL link are disclosed. The Frame Relay based communication is mapped into ATM cells at a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). The mapping of the Frame Relay frames into ATM cells is carried in accordance with transparent mode or translation mode functionality provided in the DSLAM. The Frame Relay data may be mapped into the ATM cells pursuant to FRF.5, FRF.8, FRF.8.1, or other similar standards. The system and method may enable transparent propagation of the Frame Relay data across the DSL/ATM network, for receipt on the other end of the network by a Frame Relay compatible switch, or an ATM compatible switch.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting a Frame Relay based communication over an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based network that includes a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) link, comprising:

a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) operatively connected to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device, the DSLAM operatively connecting to an ATM network; and

a Frame Relay capable switch connected to the ATM network,

wherein the DSLAM is adapted to map Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells for transmission over the ATM network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the Frame Relay capable switch is adapted to convert the Frame Relay based communication mapped into ATM cells back into Frame Relay based communication frames.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the CPE device comprises an xDSL router.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the CPE device comprises an xDSL compatible Data Service Unit (DSU).

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the DSLAM is adapted to map Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.5 standard.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the DSLAM is adapted to map Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.8 standard.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a Frame Relay based communication from a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) compatible Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device at a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM);

mapping the Frame Relay based communication into Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells at the DSLAM; and

transmitting, via the DSLAM, the ATM cells across an ATM network to a Frame Relay capable switch.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

recovering the Frame Relay based communication from the ATM cells at the Frame Relay capable switch.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.5 standard.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.8 standard.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.8.1 standard.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the mapping is transparent to the DSL compatible CPE device.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a Frame Relay based communication from a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) compatible Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device at a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM);

mapping the Frame Relay based communication into Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells at the DSLAM;

transmitting, via the DSLAM, the ATM cells across an ATM network to an ATM capable switch.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

recovering the Frame Relay based communication from the ATM cells at the ATM capable switch.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.5 standard.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.8 standard.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the Frame Relay based communication frames into ATM cells in accordance with an FRF.8.1 standard.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the mapping is transparent to the DSL compatible CPE device.