Selective bandwidth connectivity through network line cards

A method comprising:

• receiving, from a customer premises terminal via a local link to a line unit in a switched telephone network, a request for a communication path to a destination;
• establishing a communication path from said local link through a concentrator network in said line unit;
• controlling a scanning device to selectively connect a detector to said local link, wherein the scanning device and detector are associated with said line unit;
• using said detector to identify a data sequence generated by said terminal;
• detecting, based on said data sequence, that said request seeks bandwidth in excess of that available through said line unit;
• and
• responsive to said detection connecting said communication path from said concentrator network through a portion of said line unit around a converter in said line unit to a wide band data switch connected to a data network.

A line unit for a switched telecommunications network comprising trunked together program controlled switches connected to subscriber premises by local links connected to the line unit, said line unit comprising:

• a line concentrator network for connection to a plurality of local links, said concentrator network including switches, and a high bandwidth port;
• customer interface hardware;
• a converter for converting signals on the plurality of local links to digital signals at a predetermined narrowband bit-rate;
• a scanning device that is configured to sequentially connect to at least one of said plurality of local links;
• and
• a monitor in communication with said scanning device, wherein the monitor is configured to, upon detecting a pre-designated signal on a local link connected within said sequence, generate an output signal to said concentrator network to cause said concentrator network to provide a connection to said port for signals on said link.

A method comprising:

• receiving, from a customer premises terminal via a local link to a line unit and telephone network switch in a switched telephone network, a request for a communication path to a destination;
• establishing a communication path from said local link through a concentrator network in said line unit;
• controlling a scanning device to selectively connect a detector to said local link, wherein the scanning device and detector are associated with said line unit;
• using said detector to identify a data sequence generated by said terminal;
• determining based on said data sequence that said request does not seek conversion in said line unit;
• responsive to said determination, connecting said communication path from said concentrator network through a portion of said line unit around a converter in said line unit to a wide band data switch connected to a data network;
• and
• signaling a central processing unit (CPU) controlling said telephone network switch to effect an entry in a journal of said telephone network switch, and using said entry for billing for the communications path set up in response to said requesting step.