Method and apparatus of a communications system having a DMT infrastructure

Claim 2

A communication system comprising: a primary site that includes: a controller, a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the controller, and a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch; a plurality of secondary sites, wherein each of the plurality of secondary sites includes: a site controller, a subscriber interface operably coupled to the site controller, and a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface; and a single low pass transmission path, coupling the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites, that conveys a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream from the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter of the primary site to the secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver of each of the plurality of secondary sites.

Claim 3

The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary sites further comprises: a secondary data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface; and a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the site controller and the secondary data multiplexing switch; and wherein the primary site further includes a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch.

Claim 4

The communication system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber interface of at least one of the plurality of secondary sites comprises a radio frequency transceiver such that the at least one of the plurality of secondary sites supports radio frequency communications for subscribers affiliated with the at least one of the plurality of secondary sites.

Claim 5

The communication system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber interface of at least one of the plurality of secondary sites comprises a radio frequency transmitter such that the at least one of the plurality of secondary sites supports radio frequency paging operations for subscribers proximately located to the at least one of the plurality of secondary sites.

Claim 6

The communication system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber interface of at least one of the plurality of secondary sites comprises a wireline data interface such that the at least one of the plurality of secondary sites provides at least one of video data, audio data, telephone communications, facsimile data, and data files to affiliated subscribers.

Claim 7

The communication system of claim 1, wherein the single low pass transmission path comprises a twisted pair telephone wire.

Claim 8

The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a repeater serially spliced in the single low pass transmission path when a distance between two of the plurality of secondary sites exceeds a predetermined distance.

Claim 9

A communication system infrastructure comprising: a primary site that includes: a controller, a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the controller, a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch, and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch; a plurality of secondary sites, wherein each of the plurality of secondary sites includes: a site controller, a subscriber interface operably coupled to the site controller, a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, a secondary data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, and a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the site controller and the secondary data multiplexing switch; a single outbound low pass transmission path, coupling the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites, that conveys a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream from the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter of the primary site to the secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver of each of the plurality of secondary sites; and a single inbound low pass transmission path, coupling the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites, that conveys at least one Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream from the secondary Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter of at least one of the plurality of secondary sites to the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver of the primary site.

Claim 10

A communication system infrastructure comprising: a primary site that includes: a controller, a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the controller, a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch, and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the controller and the data multiplexing switch; a plurality of secondary sites, wherein each of the plurality of secondary sites includes: a site controller, a subscriber interface operably coupled to the site controller, a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, a secondary data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, and a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter operably coupled to the site controller and the secondary data multiplexing switch; a single outbound low pass transmission path, coupling the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites, that conveys a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream from the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter of the primary site to the secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver of each of the plurality of secondary sites; and a single inbound low pass transmission path, coupling the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites, that conveys at least one Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream from the secondary Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter of at least one of the plurality of secondary sites to the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver of the primary site.

Claim 11

A primary site for use in a communication system, the primary site comprising: a controller; a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the controller; a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, operably coupled to the controller and data multiplexing switch, for transmitting a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream simultaneously to a plurality of secondary sites via a single outbound low pass transmission path; a memory operably coupled to the controller; and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver, operably coupled to the controller, for receiving at least one Discrete Multi-Tone Symbol stream from at least one of the plurality of secondary sites via a single inbound low pass transmission path.

Claim 12

A primary site for use in a communication system, the primary site comprising: a controller; a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the controller; a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, operably coupled to the controller and data multiplexing switch, for transmitting a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream simultaneously to a plurality of secondary sites via a single outbound low pass transmission path; a memory operably coupled to the controller; and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver, operably coupled to the controller, for receiving at least one Discrete Multi-Tone Symbol stream from at least one of the plurality of secondary sites via a single inbound low pass transmission path.

Claim 13

The primary site of claim 9, further comprising a data bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the controller, the data multiplexing switch, the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 14

The primary site of claim 9, further comprising a control bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the controller, the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, the data multiplexing switch, and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 15

The primary site of claim 9, further comprising an address bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the controller, the memory and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 16

The primary site of claim 9, further comprising an output port and an input port operably coupled to the controller, wherein the input port and the output port provide access to an external database.

Claim 17

The primary site of claim 9, further comprising an input port and an output port operably coupled to the controller, wherein the input port and the output port provide interfacing with a system manager.

Claim 18

The primary site of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a processor operably coupled to the memory.

Claim 19

The primary site of claim 9, wherein the data multiplexing switch comprises a Time Division Multiplexing switch.

Claim 20

The primary site of claim 9, wherein the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter comprises an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Link transmitter.

Claim 21

The primary site of claim 9, wherein the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver comprises an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Link receiver.

Claim 22

A secondary site for use in a communication system, the secondary site comprising: a site controller, a subscriber interface operably coupled to the site controller, a memory operably coupled to the site controller; and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver, operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, for receiving a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream transmitted by a primary site via a single outbound low pass transmission path that is shared by the secondary site and at least one other secondary site.

Claim 23

A secondary site for use in a communication system, the secondary site comprising: a site controller, a subscriber interface operably coupled to the site controller, a memory operably coupled to the site controller; and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver, operably coupled to the site controller and the subscriber interface, for receiving a Discrete Multi-Tone symbol stream transmitted by a primary site via a single outbound low pass transmission path that is shared by the secondary site and at least one other secondary site.

Claim 24

The secondary site of claim 19, further comprising: a data multiplexing switch operably coupled to the site controller; and a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, operably coupled to the site controller and the data multiplexing switch, for transmitting a Discrete Multi-Tone Symbol stream to the primary site via a single inbound low pass transmission path that is shared by the secondary site and the at least one other secondary site.

Claim 25

The secondary site of claim 20, further comprising a data bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the site controller, the data multiplexing switch, the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, the subscriber interface, and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 26

The secondary site of claim 20, further comprising a control bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the site controller, the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, the data multiplexing switch, the subscriber interface, and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 27

The secondary site of claim 19, further comprising an address bus that provides at least part of the operable coupling between the controller, the memory and the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Claim 28

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the site controller comprises a processor operably coupled to memory.

Claim 29

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the data multiplexing switch comprises a Time Division Multiplexing switch.

Claim 30

The secondary site of claim 20, wherein the Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter comprises an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Link transmitter.

Claim 31

The secondary site of claim 26, wherein the Discrete Multi-Tone receiver comprises an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Link receiver.

Claim 32

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the subscriber interface comprises a base interface module such that the secondary site supports two way wireless communications.

Claim 33

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the subscriber interface comprises a paging interface module such that the secondary site supports paging communications.

Claim 34

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the subscriber interface comprises an audio/video interface module such that the secondary site supports at least audio or visual communications.

Claim 35

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the subscriber interface comprises a data interface module such that the secondary site supports at least one of facsimile, data file, or data communications.

Claim 36

The secondary site of claim 19, wherein the subscriber interface comprises a plain old telephone interface module such that the secondary site supports plain old telephone communications.