System and method for enhancing the activation of DSL service

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#An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical DSL data connection system (prior art);

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a DSL data connection system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

#For convenience, like numerals in the description refer to like structures in the drawings. Referring to FIG. 2, a DSL data service connection to the Internet in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated generally by numeral 200. A plurality of ATU-Rs 102 are coupled to associated ATU-Cs 104 via twisted pairs 106. The ATU-Cs 104 are located in a remote terminal 110 and coupled to an access network 108. The access network 108 selectively couples the ATU-Cs 104 to the Internet 112. An element management system (EMS) 202 is coupled between an operations support system (OSS) 204 and the access network 108. The OSS 204 further comprises a service portal 206. The EMS 202 enables network managers to provision, manage, and monitor nodes within the access network 108.

#In the present embodiment, most customer loops are able to run Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) without manual intervention on the physical loop, or twisted pair 106. This can be achieved by pre-installing DSL for every line by adding a POTS-splitter and a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) for every line. Optionally, an integrated ATU-C POTS/DSL line card may be used that provides POTS and DSL on every line. Such a line card eliminates the need for rewiring between POTS splitters, DSLAMs, and digital loop carriers (DLCs), which are typically required for ensuring that DSL is available at every ATU-C line. If the loop can be proven to work without intervention from the OSS 204, or if the failure rate is low enough, the need for loop qualification can be reduced or eliminated. This is true because loops are assumed to be operational until a failure is reported, as will be described in detail below.

#A network operator installs the remote terminal 110 and pre-configures ADSL service data for each ATU-C 104. However, each ATU-C 104 is disabled, which provides lower power consumption than if each ATU-C 104 is enabled. An ATM PVC 208 is provided from each ATU-C 104 to a service portal 206 in the OSS 204 via the access network 108. The PVCs 208 are illustrated in FIG. 2 by dotted lines.