Apparatus for statistical multiplexing and flow control of digital subscriber loop modems
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorDonald M. Bellenger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for connecting a plurality of subscriber loops to a pool of modem resources in a way that limits the amount of modem resources that are required. The present invention uses statistical multiplexing, such as is used in Ethernet (instead of a fixed time slot TDM as is used in a telephone system) to connect the plurality of subscriber loops to the modem resources. In order to implement the statistical multiplexing, communications between a plurality of remote modems coupled to a plurality of subscriber loops and modem resources within a central site modem must be flow controlled at the carrier layer, as is done in an Ethernet.
Claims8
A method for controlling data flow between a remote computer system and a plurality of networks, comprising:
- detecting that a request for a connection between the remote computer and the plurality of networks is being made;
- in response, signaling to a processor that the request is being made, wherein the processor is coupled to a data network of the plurality of networks;
- assigning a voice-grade time slot to an analog front end;
- if the request is for a voice call, assigning a fixed time slot on a time division multiplex bus coupled between the remote computer and the plurality of networks;
- if the request is for a standard modem call, assigning a fixed time slot on a time division multiplex (TDM) bus coupled between the remote computer and the plurality of networks;
- and
- if the request is for a digital subscriber loop connection,
- increasing a signal sampling rate to a maximum rate;
- shifting to a higher accuracy companding mode;
- assigning some bandwidth of the TDM bus to the requested connection;
- and
- assigning a portion of a digital signal processing (DSP) resources to the requested connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.