US6014431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication server apparatus having four-wire switching interface and method
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1997-01-10
•
Granted: 2000-01-11
•
Expires: 2017-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A communication server (58) is provided that includes a plurality of line interface units (500) each coupled to an associated twisted pair data line (54) and to an associated receive data pair (506) and transmit data pair (504). A plurality of XDSL modems (510) are coupled to associated modem receive data pairs (514) and transmit data pairs (512). A switch (502) operates to couple a selected subset of the receive data pairs (506) and transmit data pairs (504) of the line interface units (500) to the modem receive data pairs (514) and transmit data pairs (512) of the XDSL modems (510). A detector (508) operates to detect a need for data service on a receive data pair (506) of a selected line interface unit (500). A controller (80) operates to select one of the XDSL modems (510) in response to detecting the need for data service and to direct the switch (502) to couple the receive data pair (506) and transmit data pair (504) of the selected line interface unit (500) to the modem receive data pair (514) and transmit data pair (512) of the selected XDSL modem (510).
Inventors
- 👤 John F. McHale
- 👤 James R. Sisk
- 👤 Robert H. Locklear, Jr.
- 👤 Jason McCullough
- 👤 Clifford L. Hall
- 👤 Ronald E. Ham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/2878; H04L12/2887; H04L12/2889; H04L12/46; H04L12/4604; H04L12/4612; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5691; H04L12/5692; H04L27/00; H04L27/0008; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04M11/062; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0421; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13003; H04Q2213/1302; H04Q2213/13036; H04Q2213/13039; H04Q2213/1304; H04Q2213/13093; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13109; H04Q2213/1319; H04Q2213/13196; H04Q2213/13199; H04Q2213/13203; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13213; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13292; H04Q2213/13299; H04Q2213/13302; H04Q2213/1332; H04Q2213/13322; H04Q2213/1334; H04Q2213/13349; H04Q2213/13389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A communication server coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines, each twisted pair data line coupled to an associated twisted pair subscriber line by a splitter, the communication server comprising: a plurality of line interface units, each line interface unit coupled to an associated twisted pair data line and coupled to an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; a plurality of XDSL modems, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; a switch coupled to the receive data pair and transmit data pair of each line interface unit, the switch also coupled to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of each XDSL modem, the switch operable to couple a selected subset of the receive data pairs and transmit data pairs of the line interface units to the modem receive data pairs and transmit data pairs of the XDSL modems; a detector operable to detect a need for data service on a receive data pair of a selected line interface unit; and a controller coupled to the detector and to the switch, the controller operable to select one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, the controller further operable to direct the switch to couple the receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected line interface unit to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A communication server coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines, each twisted pair data line coupled to an associated twisted pair subscriber line by a splitter, the communication server comprising: a plurality of line interface units, each line interface unit coupled to an associated twisted pair data line and coupled to an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; a plurality of XDSL modems, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; a switch coupled to the receive data pair and transmit data pair of each line interface unit, the switch also coupled to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of each XDSL modem, the switch operable to couple a selected subset of the receive data pairs and transmit data pairs of the line interface units to the modem receive data pairs and transmit data pairs of the XDSL modems; a detector operable to detect a need for data service on a receive data pair of a selected line interface unit; and a controller coupled to the detector and to the switch, the controller operable to select one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, the controller further operable to direct the switch to couple the receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected line interface unit to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The communication server of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional detectors, each detector coupled to one of the receive data pairs of the line interface units and operable to detect a need for data service on the receive data pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a processor interrupt circuit coupled to a processor, the processor interrupt circuit coupled to the plurality of detectors and operable to sample outputs of the detectors and to provide a signal indicating a detected request for service to the processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The communication server of claim 1, further comprising polling circuitry having a plurality of inputs coupled to the receive data pairs of a plurality of the line interface units and a single output coupled to the detector, the polling circuitry operable to couple in succession the inputs to the output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises: a differential receiver coupled to the receive data pair of the selected line interface unit; a band pass filter coupled to an output of the differential receiver; a gain device coupled to an output of the band pass filter; a signal processing circuit coupled to receive an output of the gain device; a rectifier circuit coupled to an output of the signal processing device; a low pass filter coupled to an output of the rectifier circuit; and a voltage comparator coupled to receive as inputs an output of the low pass filter and a reference voltage; the voltage comparator operable to compare the output of the low pass filter to the reference voltage and to provide a signal indicating a detected need for data service.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises: a differential receiver coupled to the receive data pair of the selected line interface unit; a band pass filter coupled to an output of the differential receiver; a gain device coupled to an output of the band pass filter; a signal processing circuit coupled to receive an output of the gain device; and a tone decoder circuit coupled to the signal processing circuit, the tone decoder circuit operable to provide a signal indicating a detected need for data service.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communication server of claim 6, wherein the tone decoder circuit comprises a tone decoder integrated circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises: polling circuitry having a plurality of inputs coupled to the receive data pairs of selected line interface units and having a single output, the polling circuitry operable to couple in succession the inputs to the output; a line receiver coupled to the output of the polling circuitry; a filter coupled to the line receiver; an analog/digital converter coupled to receive an output of the filter and operable to convert the output from an analog to a digital signal; and a digital signal processor coupled to receive the digital signal from the analog/digital converter, the digital signal processor operable to provide a signal indicating a detected need for data service.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein each line interface unit comprises: a line protection circuit coupled to the associated twist pair data line; a magnetics/hybrid unit coupled to the line protection circuit; a line receiver coupled to receive an internal receive data pair from the magnetics/hybrid unit; a receive filter coupled to receive an output of the line receiver and operable to provide the associated receive data pair of the line interface unit; a transmit filter coupled to receive the associated transmit data pair of the line interface unit; a cable driver coupled to receive an output of the transmit filter and operable to provide an internal transmit data pair to the magnetics/hybrid unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the XDSL modems perform data modulation using asymmetric digital subscriber line technology.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the XDSL modems are operable to receive information at a first rate and to transmit information at a second rate greater than the first rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a cross-point matrix switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a digital switching matrix.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication server of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a frequency multiplexing switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communication server of claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer coupled to the XDSL modems, the multiplexer operable to combine information received from the XDSL modems into a single multiplexed signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for coupling a selected subset of a plurality of twisted pair subscriber lines to a plurality of XDSL modems, the method comprising: splitting each twisted pair subscriber line into a twisted pair data line and a twisted pair phone line; separating each twisted pair data line into an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; detecting a need for data service on a selected receive data pair; selecting one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; and coupling the selected receive data pair and associated transmit data pair to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for coupling a selected subset of a plurality of twisted pair subscriber lines to a plurality of XDSL modems, the method comprising: splitting each twisted pair subscriber line into a twisted pair data line and a twisted pair phone line; separating each twisted pair data line into an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; detecting a need for data service on a selected receive data pair; selecting one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; and coupling the selected receive data pair and associated transmit data pair to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, wherein detecting comprises coupling, in succession, a detector to the receive data pairs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16, wherein detecting comprises coupling one of a plurality of detectors to each of the receive data pairs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein coupling is accomplished using a cross-point matrix switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16, wherein coupling is accomplished using digital switching.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16, wherein coupling is accomplished using frequency multiplexing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for coupling a selected subset of a plurality of twisted pair data lines to a plurality of XDSL modems, the method comprising: separating each twisted pair data line into an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; detecting a need for data service on a selected receive data pair; selecting one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; and coupling the selected receive data pair and associated transmit data pair to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for coupling a selected subset of a plurality of twisted pair data lines to a plurality of XDSL modems, the method comprising: separating each twisted pair data line into an associated receive data pair and transmit data pair; detecting a need for data service on a selected receive data pair; selecting one of the XDSL modems in response to detecting the need for data service, each XDSL modem coupled to an associated modem receive data pair and transmit data pair; and coupling the selected receive data pair and associated transmit data pair to the modem receive data pair and transmit data pair of the selected XDSL modem.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |