US 5,954,799 A · Access to telecommunications networks in a multi-service environment by mapping and exchanging control message between CPE adaptors and access server

Abstract

In current voice telephony, CATV, and wireless networks, traffic is channelized for both access and transport, requiring a dedication of a fixed bandwidth end-to-end for the duration of a service connection. This channelization is wasteful of resources where multiple services have varying demands for bandwidth and holding times, or a service generates traffic that is bursty in nature. The invention addresses these problems by providing flexible and adaptable multiservice access to the networks. Customer requirements are checked by monitoring traffic on a local access at a connection request and/or during the established connection, and local access is configured according to transmission requirements. Customer traffic is segregated and routed to the appropriate network. One of the embodiments uses 2B1Q line coding and implements a novel protocol to perform the functions of the invention.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A method of directly interfacing one or more CPEs with either PSTN or data networks by way of an access network which comprises a CPE adapter connecting one or more CPEs, an access server connecting the PSTN through a telephone interface and data networks through a data network interface and an access medium connecting the CPE adapter and the access server, comprising steps of:

exchanging control messages between the CPE adapter and the access server to determine a type of service request;
mapping the control messages onto the access medium;
transiting to either a default state or an alternate state in response to the control messages, the default state being a state in which the access network is in condition for data transfer in the non-channelized format and the alternate state being a state in which the access network is in condition for data transfer in the either or both of the channelized and non channelized formats;
and
selecting between a telephone interface connected to the PSTN or a data network interface connected to the data networks in response to the type of service request.

2 more elements

An access server for interfacing CPEs with PSTN or a data network by way of a CPE adapter and an access medium comprising:

a telephone interface unit to be connected to the PSTN;
a data network interface unit to be connected to the data network;
a transceiver to be connected to the CPE adapter via the access medium for exchanging end user's traffic and control messages therebetween, the control messages specifying a type of service request and
a controller unit for transiting the access server into either a default state or an alternate state in response to the control message, the default state being a state in which the access server is in condition for data transfer in the non-channelized format and the alternate state being a state in which the access server is in condition for data transfer in the either or both of the channelized and non channelized formats;
and
the controller unit further for selecting a connection of the transceiver either with the telephone interface unit or with the data network interface unit in response to the type of service request.

3 more elements

A CPE adapter for interfacing CPEs with PSTN or a data network by way of an access server comprising:

a telephone interface unit to be connected to one or more analog CPEs;
a data network unit to be connected to one or more data CPEs;
a transceiver to be connected to the access server for exchanging control messages therebetween, the control messages specifying a type of service request;
and
a controller unit for transiting the CPE adapter into either a default state or an alternate state in response to control messages, the default state being a state in which the CPE adapter is in condition for data transfer in the non-channelized format and the alternate state being a state in which the CPE adapter is in condition for data transfer in the either or both of the channelized and non channelized formats;
and
the controller unit further for selecting a connection of the transceiver either with the telephone interface unit or with the data network interface unit in response to the the type of service request.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Access to telecommunications networks in a multi-service environment by mapping and exchanging control message between CPE adaptors and access server

Life of this patent

Access to telecommunications networks in a multi-service environment by mapping and exchanging control message between CPE adaptors and access server

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38