Method and apparatus for translating signaling information

An information distribution system, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• a subscriber interface unit;
• and
• an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising:
• a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.

An information distribution system, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• a subscriber interface unit;
• and
• an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising:
• a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble;
• and
• a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit.

A method for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising the steps of:

• providing an office interface unit including:
• a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, the first internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble, and
• a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit;
• sizing the internal signaling channels so that their bit size exceeds the bit size of their associated local exchange signaling nibbles;
• and
• translating the local exchange signaling nibbles into the respective internal signaling channels, wherein each of the latter has at least twice as many signaling states as each of the former.