Multiple mode xDSL interface
AssigneeEfficient Networks, Inc.
InventorsKlaus S. Fosmark, Kevin S. Dibble, William A. Perry, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple mode xDSL interface (60) is disclosed. The multiple mode xDSL interface (60) includes an xDSL termination unit (62) operable to couple to an XDSL link (64) and to manage communication of data across an xDSL physical layer. The mulitple mode xDSL interface (60) also includes a customer premises equipment (CPE) termination unit (65) coupled to the xDSL termination unit (62) and operable to couple to customer premises equipment. The CPE termination unit (65) has an operating mode selected from a plurality of operating modes where each operating mode is associated with a data protocol and supports communication of data across the xDSL physical layer using the associated data protocol.
Claims26
A multiple mode digital subscriber line (xDSL) interface, comprising:
- an xDSL termination unit operable to couple to an xDSL link and to manage communication of data across an xDSL physical layer;
- and
- a customer premises equipment (CPE) termination unit comprising:
- a packet communication path operable to manage communication of framed data packets of a data link protocol layer;
- an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication path operable to manage a transmission convergence (TC) physical sublayer and communication of cells of an ATM protocol layer;
- a switch coupled to the xDSL termination unit, to the packet communication path, and to the ATM communication path, the switch operable to connect the xDSL termination unit to the packet communication path or to the ATM communication path;
- and
- a customer premises equipment (CPE) interface coupled to the packet communication path and to the ATM communication path and operable to couple to customer premises equipment, the CPE interface operable to communicate data at higher protocol layers;
- such that the multiple mode xDSL interface provides a packet operating mode and an ATM operating mode for interconnecting to the xDSL link, each operating mode associated with a data protocol and supporting communication of data across the xDSL physical layer using the associated data protocol.
A method for providing a multiple mode interface to a digital subscriber line (xDSL) link, comprising:
- managing communication of data across an xDSL physical layer of the xDSL link;
- providing a physical packet communication path for managing communication of framed data packets of a data link protocol layer and a physical asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication path for managing a transmission convergence (TC) physical sublayer and communication of cells of an ATM protocol layer in a customer premises equipment (CPE) termination unit, such that multiple operating modes are supported, each operating mode supporting communication of data across the xDSL physical layer using the associated data protocol;
- selecting between the packet communication path and the ATM communication path using a switch thereby changing the operating modes;
- and
- communicating data with customer premises equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.