Error detection and reporting

A method for indicating an error condition in the communications between an access device and one or more customer premise equipment, the access device being communicatively coupled to a switch, the method comprising:

• configuring the access device to communicate to the one or more customer premise equipment;
• monitoring communications between the access device and the customer premise equipment;
• determining whether an error condition exists in the communications between at least one of the customer premise equipment and the access device;
• and
• upon determining that an error condition exists in the communications between at least one of the customer premise equipment and the access device, transmitting an error signal to the switch indicating a problem with a communications link between the access device and the customer premise equipment.

A method for indicating the loss of connectivity on an incoming port, the method comprising:

• receiving from a customer premise equipment a first communication on a first communications link, the first communications link being an Ethernet link;
• transmitting the first communication to a service edge over a second communication link;
• receiving from the service edge a second communication on the second communications link, the second communications link being an optical link;
• transmitting the second communication to the customer premise equipment over the first communication link;
• determining that an error has occurred on the first communications link;
• and
• generating an alarm signal on the second communications link.

An access device comprising:

• a first port configured for communicatively coupling to a customer premise equipment;
• a second port configured for communicatively coupling to a network device via a DS-3 communications link;
• and
• a processing unit configured for performing the steps:
• monitoring communications to the customer premise equipment on the first port;
• determining whether an error condition exists in the communications with the customer premise equipment on the first port;
• and
• upon determining that an error condition exists on the first port, transmitting an alarm signal on the second port.

An access device comprising:

• means for communicatively coupling to a customer premise equipment;
• means for communicatively coupling to a network device via a DS-3 communications link;
• means for monitoring communications to the customer premise equipment on the first port;
• means for determining whether an error condition exists in the communications between the customer premise equipment on the first port;
• and
• upon determining that an error condition exists on the first port, means for transmitting an alarm signal to the switch on the second port.