Method and system for expanding services in a digital loop carrier system

In an expandable system for delivering to subscribers ATM-compatible services via a master unit, the master unit comprising:

• a predetermined number of local ATM-compatible interfaces, each operable to communicate the ATM-compatible services comprising ATM cells with a corresponding subscriber;
• an expansion function, coupled to the local ATM-compatible interfaces and to an expansion port, for communicating the ATM cells via the expansion port and for communicating the AIM cells with the local ATM-compatible interfaces;
• ad
• an ATM controller, coupled to an ATM-compatible network, to the local ATM-compatible interfaces, and to the expansion function, operable to process the ATM cells for distribution via the ATM-compatible network, the local ATM-compatible interfaces and the expansion port;
• and
• a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) interface, coupled to a Digital Line Carrier (DLC) system and to the local ATM-compatible interfaces, for communicating POTS signals between the DLC system and the subscribers serviced by the local ATM-compatible interfaces.

An expandable system for delivering ATM-compatible services to an additional set of subscribers other than subscribers serviced by a predetermined number of local ATM-compatible interfaces available at a Digital Line Carrier (DLC) system, an expansion unit, comprising:

• a plurality of remote ATM-compatible interface for communicating ATM cells associated with the ATM-compatible services with the additional set of subscribers;
• an input expansion port for coupling to an expansion link to establish a communication link with the DLC system;
• an expansion function, coupled to the input expansion port, for communicating the ATM cells in the upstream and downstream directions via the input expansion port and for communicating the ATM cells with the remote ATM-compatible interfaces;
• a master unit located at the DLC system, coupled to the input expansion port, the master unit comprising:
• a predetermined number of the local ATM-compatible interfaces, each operable to communicate the ATM-compatible services comprising ATM cells with a corresponding subscriber;
• an expansion function, coupled to the local ATM-compatible interfaces and to an expansion port, for communicating the ATM cells via the expansion port and for communicating the ATM cells with the local ATM-compatible interfaces;
• and
• an ATM controller, coupled to an ATM-compatible network, to the local ATM-compatible interfaces, and to the expansion function, operable to process the ATM cells for distribution via the ATM-compatible network, the local ATM-compatible interfaces and the expansion port;
• and
• a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) interface, coupled to the DLC system and to the local ATM-compatible interfaces, for communicating POTS signals between the DLC system and the subscribers serviced by the local ATM-compatible interfaces.

An expandable system for delivering ATM-compatible services to an additional set of subscribers other than subscribers serviced by a predetermined number of local ATM-compatible interfaces available at a Digital Line Carrier (DLC) system, an expansion unit, comprising:

• a plurality of remote ATM-compatible interface for communicating ATM cells associated with the ATM-compatible services with the additional set of subscribers;
• an input expansion port for coupling to an expansion link to establish a communication link with the DLC system;
• an expansion function, coupled to the input expansion port, for communicating the ATM cells in the upstream and downstream directions via the input expansion port and for communicating the ATM cells with the remote ATM-compatible interfaces;
• and
• a master unit located at the DLC system, coupled to the input expansion port, the master unit comprising:
• a predetermined number of the local ATM-compatible interfaces, each operable to communicate the ATM-compatible services comprising ATM cells with a corresponding subscriber;
• an expansion function, coupled to the local ATM-compatible interfaces and to an expansion port, for communicating the ATM cells via the expansion port and for communicating the ATM cells with the local ATM-compatible interfaces;
• and
• an ATM controller, coupled to an ATM-compatible network, to the local ATM-compatible interfaces, and to the expansion function, operable to process the ATM cells for distribution via the ATM-compatible network, the local ATM-compatible interfaces and the expansion port, wherein the ATM controller comprises:
• an ATM network interface, coupled to the ATM-compatible network, for communicating the ATM cells with the ATM-compatible network;
• an ATM layer processor, responsive to the ATM cells received from the ATM-compatible network to allocate selected ones of the ATM cells for delivery by the local ATM-compatible interfaces or via the expansion port, the ATM layer processor further operable to combine selected ones of the ATM cells received from the local ATM-compatible interfaces or the expansion port for delivery to the ATM-compatible network;
• and
• a controller, coupled to the ATM network interface, the ATM layer processor, and the expansion function of the master unit, for managing operations of the ATM controller and the expansion function.