US5521977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High density telephone network interface unit
Assignee: Westell Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-29
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2013-10-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved network interface unit having a substantially smaller width than many prior art network interface units. The network interface unit comprises a single, planar circuit board assembly interconnected between incoming and outgoing telephone lines and incoming and outgoing customer premises lines. Two relays and a controller are mounted on the board. The controller monitors the transmission of data along the lines and, by activating the relays, provides communication and maintenance functions, such as loopback. The network interface unit utilizes a controller made up of (1) a processor-based software control system and (2) an integrally cooperating application specific integrated circuit. The controller may, for example, provide and monitor framing, detect and monitor signals, and convert bipolar data to unipolar data.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric P. Bergstrom
- 👤 Richard A. Yndestad
- 👤 John A. Washburn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board assembly, interconnected to said telephone lines and customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer lines and mounted on said board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines and mounted on said board; and a controller, mounted on said board and having both an application specific integrated circuit and a processor, for monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal, and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further providing a data signal along said lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board assembly, interconnected to said telephone lines and customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer lines and mounted on said board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines and mounted on said board; and a controller, mounted on said board and having both an application specific integrated circuit and a processor, for monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal, and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further providing a data signal along said lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A network interface unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller further detects a loss of signal along said lines and responsively issues said data signal along said lines and wherein said data signal comprises an alarm indication signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A network interface unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller further provides said data signal along said lines by providing said data to one of said relays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network interface unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein said controller further includes a signal generator for providing said data signal to said one of said relays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A network interface unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller further includes recognition circuitry for detecting a pattern within data on said lines and responsively providing said data signal along said lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A network interface unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller further includes frame circuitry for recognizing frames of data on said incoming telephone line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board assembly, interconnected to said telephone lines and customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer lines and mounted on said board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines and mounted on said board; and a controller, mounted on said board and having both an application-specific integrated circuit and a processor, for monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further including a convertor for converting bipolar signals on said incoming telephone line to unipolar signals and providing a data signal along said lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board assembly, interconnected to said telephone lines and customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer lines and mounted on said board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines and mounted on said board; and a controller, mounted on said board and having both an application-specific integrated circuit and a processor, for monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further including a convertor for converting bipolar signals on said incoming telephone line to unipolar signals and providing a data signal along said lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board, interconnected to said telephone lines and to said customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer premises lines, said first relay mounted on said planar circuit board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines, said second relay mounted on said planar circuit board; and a controller mounted on said planar circuit board, said controller including both an application specific integrated circuit and a processor, said controller monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal, and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further providing a data signal along said lines, and said application specific integrated circuit including (i) bipolar to unipolar data conversion circuitry, (ii) framer circuitry, (iii) pattern recognition circuitry and (iv) data signal generation circuitry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
A network interface unit for interconnecting incoming and outgoing telephone lines with incoming and outgoing customer premises lines comprising, in combination: a single, planar circuit board, interconnected to said telephone lines and to said customer premises lines; a first relay interconnected to both said incoming telephone and customer premises lines, said first relay mounted on said planar circuit board; a second relay interconnected to said outgoing customer and telephone lines, said second relay mounted on said planar circuit board; and a controller mounted on said planar circuit board, said controller including both an application specific integrated circuit and a processor, said controller monitoring data along said lines, recognizing a loopback signal, and responsively activating said relays to interconnect said incoming and outgoing telephone lines, said controller further providing a data signal along said lines, and said application specific integrated circuit including (i) bipolar to unipolar data conversion circuitry, (ii) framer circuitry, (iii) pattern recognition circuitry and (iv) data signal generation circuitry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-28 | 1999-11-27 | 2000-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-28 | 2003-11-27 | 2004-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-28 | 2007-11-27 | 2008-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |