US 5,898,761 AGranted

Communication server apparatus using digital signal switching and method

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorsJohn F. McHale, James R. Sisk, Robert H. Locklear, Jr., Jason McCullough, Clifford L. Hall, Ronald E. Ham

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A communication server (58) using digital signal switching is provided. A plurality of twisted pair subscriber lines are split into twisted pair data lines (54) and twisted pair phone lines (52). Analog signals received on the twisted pair data lines (54) are converted into incoming parallel digital words and outgoing parallel digital words are converted into analog signals for transmission on the twisted pair data lines (54) using first converters (614) coupled to each twisted pair data line (54). The incoming parallel digital words are converted into incoming serial bit streams and outgoing serial bit streams are converted into the outgoing parallel digital words using second converters (616) coupled to the first converters (614). A need for data service is detected on a selected twisted pair data line (54), and one of the XDSL modems (620) is selected in response to detecting the need for data service. The selected XDSL modem (620) is then coupled to a second converter (616) associated with the selected twisted pair data line (54) where the selected XDSL modem (620) receives the incoming serial bit stream from and provides the outgoing serial bit stream to the associated second converter (616).

Claims7

Dependent claims

A communication server coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines, each twisted pair data line coupled to an associated twisted pair subscriber line by a splitter, the communication server comprising:

a plurality of line interface components and detectors, each line interface components and detector coupled to an associated twisted pair data line, the line interface components and detectors operable to detect a need for data service on the twisted pair data line and provide a signal indicating a request for service;
a plurality of analog/digital and digital/analog converters, each analog/digital and digital/analog converter coupled to an associated line interface components and detector;
a plurality of parallel/serial and serial/parallel converters, each parallel/serial and serial/parallel converter coupled to an associated analog/digital and digital/analog converter;
a plurality of XDSL modems;
a digital multiplexer coupled to the parallel/serial and serial/parallel converters and coupled to the XDSL modems, the digital multiplexer operable to couple a selected subset of the parallel/serial and serial/parallel converters to the XDSL modems;
and
a controller coupled to the detector and to the digital multiplexer, the controller operable to select one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, the controller further operable to direct the digital multiplexer to couple the selected XDSL modem to the parallel/serial and serial/parallel converter associated with the detected need for data service.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/781,450Filed 10 Jan 1997 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 Mar 1996
Granted: 27 Apr 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification35 codes

H04L 12/2856
Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks: access arrangements, e.g. Internet access
H04L 12/2889
Characterised by the offered subscriber services: multiservice, e.g. MSAN
H04L 12/4612
LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay: lAN interconnection over narrowband networks, e.g. N-ISDN, PSTN, X.25
H04L 12/5692
Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection: selection among different networks