Telecommunication system, method and subscriber unit for use therein

A subscriber interface unit for use in a telecommunication system including a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of derived digital telephone lines, the subscriber interface unit for coupling the asymmetrical digital subscriber line to an analog land-line telephone, the subscriber interface unit comprising:

• a housing containing a processor;
• an electrical coupler, coupled to the housing for connection to a cable carrying the asymmetrical digital subscriber line;
• a telephone jack, coupled to the housing, for connection to a cable of the analog telephone;
• and
• software code stored in a computer readable medium in the subscriber interface unit, the software code comprising instructions for execution by the processor of the following steps:
• converting the first analog signals generated by the analog telephone into a first plurality of data packets for transmission to a selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone lines;
• converting a second plurality of data packets received from the selected one of the plurality of derived digital telephone lines into a second analog signal for transmission to the analog telephone;
• and
• downloading a plurality of smart card data via a smart card interface unit positioned in the housing and reconfiguring an address of the subscriber interface unit based on the plurality of smart card data.