Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An office interface unit for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An office interface unit for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The office interface unit of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second internal signaling channels are capable of storing a greater mount of information than are each of the first and second local exchange signaling nibbles, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The office interface unit of claim 2, wherein each internal signaling channel has a greater number of bits than its associated local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The office interface unit of claim 3, wherein each internal signaling channel has at least twice as many possible signaling states as its associated local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The office interface unit of claim 3, wherein the greater number of bits are used for fault detection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The office interface unit of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second internal signaling channels in normal operation will have a state consisting of only one of an odd or even number of binary 1's and when the state of either of the internal signaling channels is not either an odd or even number of binary 1's, respectively, a fault condition is indicated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The office interface unit of claim 4, wherein the greater number of bits are used for fault detection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The office interface unit of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second internal signaling channels in normal operation will have a state consisting of only one of an odd or even number of binary 1's and when the state of either of the internal signaling channels is not either an odd or even number of binary 1's, respectively, a fault condition is indicated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The office interface unit of claim 5, wherein prior contents of each internal signaling channel are maintained in memory when updated contents of that internal signaling channel are determined to contain a coding error.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The office interface unit of claim 1, wherein each local exchange signaling nibble consists of 4 bits, each internal signaling channel consists of 8 bits, and each data channel consists of 8 bits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The office interface unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second internal signaling channels and the first and second groups of data channels are grouped into repetitive office interface unit frames for transmission between the office interface unit and the distribution lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
An information distribution system, comprising: an optical fiber; a subscriber interface unit; and an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
An information distribution system, comprising: an optical fiber; a subscriber interface unit; and an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12, the office interface unit further comprising a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13, wherein each internal signaling channel has a greater bit size than its associated local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising the step of: providing an office interface unit including a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, the first internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising the step of: providing an office interface unit including a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, the first internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: sizing the internal signaling channels so that the bit size of each exceeds the bit size of its associated local exchange signaling nibble; and translating the local exchange signaling nibble into the respective internal signaling channels, each of the later having at least twice as many signaling states as each of the former.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: utilizing the greater bit size of each internal signaling channel for coding checking means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
178 words
An office interface unit for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble, and wherein each of the first and second internal signaling channels are capable of storing a greater amount of information than are each of the first and second local exchange signaling nibbles, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
178 words
An office interface unit for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble, and wherein each of the first and second internal signaling channels are capable of storing a greater amount of information than are each of the first and second local exchange signaling nibbles, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
193 words
An information distribution system, comprising: an optical fiber; a subscriber interface unit; and an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble; and a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
193 words
An information distribution system, comprising: an optical fiber; a subscriber interface unit; and an office interface unit, the optical fiber interconnecting the subscriber interface unit and the office interface unit, wherein the office interface unit is connected to a local exchange, the local exchange transmitting and receiving data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, the office interface unit comprising: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, wherein the first internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receives the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble; and a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising the steps of: providing an office interface unit including: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, the first internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble, and a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit; sizing the internal signaling channels so that their bit size exceeds the bit size of their associated local exchange signaling nibbles; and translating the local exchange signaling nibbles into the respective internal signaling channels, wherein each of the latter has at least twice as many signaling states as each of the former.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for transferring data and signaling information between a telephone local exchange and distribution lines, the local exchange transmitting and receiving the data and signaling information in a protocol which includes a plurality of channels contained in repetitive local exchange frames, each frame containing first and second groups of data channels and a local exchange signaling channel, the local exchange signaling channel containing at least first and second local exchange signaling nibbles associated with the first and second groups of data channels, respectively, comprising the steps of: providing an office interface unit including: a translation module capable of translating the information contained in the local exchange signaling channel into at least first and second internal signaling channels, the first internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the first local exchange signaling nibble, and the second internal signaling channel receiving the information contained in the second local exchange signaling nibble, and a cross connect module capable of cross connecting individual data channels and their associated signaling information within the office interface unit; sizing the internal signaling channels so that their bit size exceeds the bit size of their associated local exchange signaling nibbles; and translating the local exchange signaling nibbles into the respective internal signaling channels, wherein each of the latter has at least twice as many signaling states as each of the former.