Patent US3550614A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6160843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Communication server apparatus providing XDSL services and method
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1997-07-14
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Granted: 2000-12-12
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Expires: 2017-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A communication system (500) includes a plurality of subscriber systems (510) coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines (520). Each subscriber system (510) has an availability guarantee value, which may specify a level of service for the subscriber system (510). A communication server (502) is coupled to the plurality of subscriber systems (510). The communication server (502) selectively couples a subscriber system (510), responsive to a request for service, to either a first modem pool (530) or a second modem pool (540) based on the availability guarantee value associated with the subscriber system (510). Communication server (502) can also provide a soft-termination state and dynamic network address allocation for subscriber systems (510).
Inventors
- 👤 John F. McHale
- 👤 Robert H. Locklear, Jr.
- 👤 II Robert M. Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0421; 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; 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: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for performing an inactivity time-out in an XDSL communication system, comprising: receiving a request for service from a subscriber; coupling the subscriber to a first modem in a modem pool to create a subscriber session, wherein the subscriber session establishes a subscriber link between the subscriber and a network device; detecting a time period of inactivity by the subscriber; when the time period of inactivity exceeds a first inactivity threshold, generating a time-out condition; placing the subscriber session in a soft-termination state based on the time-out condition, wherein placing the subscriber in a soft-termination state releases the modem but maintains the subscriber link; detecting activity on the subscriber link; coupling the subscriber to a second modem in the modem pool; and canceling the time-out condition such that the subscriber is removed from the soft-termination state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for performing an inactivity time-out in an XDSL communication system, comprising: receiving a request for service from a subscriber; coupling the subscriber to a first modem in a modem pool to create a subscriber session, wherein the subscriber session establishes a subscriber link between the subscriber and a network device; detecting a time period of inactivity by the subscriber; when the time period of inactivity exceeds a first inactivity threshold, generating a time-out condition; placing the subscriber session in a soft-termination state based on the time-out condition, wherein placing the subscriber in a soft-termination state releases the modem but maintains the subscriber link; detecting activity on the subscriber link; coupling the subscriber to a second modem in the modem pool; and canceling the time-out condition such that the subscriber is removed from the soft-termination state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first inactivity threshold is based on a level of service of the subscriber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request from the subscriber to modify the first inactivity threshold; and modifying the first inactivity threshold based on the request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, wherein modifying the first inactivity threshold comprises modifying the first inactivity threshold for a predetermined time period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, wherein modifying the first inactivity threshold comprises modifying the first inactivity threshold until the subscriber session is terminated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein placing the subscriber session in a soft-termination state comprises disconnecting an internal physical layer with respect to the subscriber session while maintaining the subscriber session from perspectives of the subscriber and the network device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein placing the subscriber session in a soft-termination state further comprises: detecting a continued time period of inactivity by the subscriber; when the continued time period of inactivity exceeds a second inactivity threshold, generating a disconnect condition; and terminating the subscriber session based on the disconnect condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving a request from the subscriber to modify the second inactivity threshold; and modifying the second inactivity threshold based on the request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the second inactivity threshold comprises modifying the second inactivity threshold for a predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the second inactivity threshold comprises modifying the second inactivity threshold until the subscriber session is terminated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A communication server, comprising: a plurality of XDSL modems, a data line; and a controller operable: to couple the data line to a selected one of the XDSL modems; to detect a period of inactivity on the data line coupled to the selected modem; to decouple the data line from the selected modem when the period of inactivity exceeds an inactivity threshold; to detect activity on the data line while the data line is not coupled; and to couple the data line to a selected one of the XDSL modems when activity is detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A communication server, comprising: a plurality of XDSL modems, a data line; and a controller operable: to couple the data line to a selected one of the XDSL modems; to detect a period of inactivity on the data line coupled to the selected modem; to decouple the data line from the selected modem when the period of inactivity exceeds an inactivity threshold; to detect activity on the data line while the data line is not coupled; and to couple the data line to a selected one of the XDSL modems when activity is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communication server of claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable to modify the inactivity threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication server of claim 11, wherein the data line comprises at least a portion of a local loop subscriber line coupled to a subscriber system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication server of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to modify the inactivity threshold in response to a request from the subscriber system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication server of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to set the inactivity threshold based on a level of service assigned to the subscriber system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication server of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to decouple the data line in a manner undetectable by the subscriber system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication server of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to decouple the data line without terminating a communication session with the subscriber system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The communication server of claim 17, wherein the controller is further operable to detect a second period of inactivity while the data line is not coupled and to terminate the communication session when the second period of inactivity exceeds a second inactivity threshold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication server of claim 18, wherein the controller is further operable to modify the second inactivity threshold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication server of claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable to couple the data line to a selected one of the XDSL modems in response to a request for service.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
46 words
A method for connecting to an XDSL communication server, comprising: establishing a communication session with an XDSL communication server; engaging in a period of inactivity; detecting an inactive status resulting from the period of inactivity; and engaging in activity in order to terminate the inactive status.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
46 words
A method for connecting to an XDSL communication server, comprising: establishing a communication session with an XDSL communication server; engaging in a period of inactivity; detecting an inactive status resulting from the period of inactivity; and engaging in activity in order to terminate the inactive status.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the inactive status results from the period of inactivity exceeding an inactivity threshold.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating a request to modify the inactivity threshold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising: engaging in a continued period of inactivity after detecting an inactive status; and receiving a disconnect signal when the continued period of inactivity exceeds an inactivity termination threshold.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising transmitting a request to modify the inactivity termination threshold.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
109 words
An XDSL communication system, comprising: a subscriber system operable to generate a request for service; and a communication server operable: to receive the request for service; to couple the subscriber system to a selected one of a plurality of modems; to monitor a communication session between the subscriber system and a remote location; to detect a period of inactivity in the communication session; to disconnect the subscriber system from the selected one of the plurality of modems; to detect activity in the communication session while the subscriber system is disconnected; and to couple the subscriber system to a selected one of the plurality of modems when activity is detected.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
109 words
An XDSL communication system, comprising: a subscriber system operable to generate a request for service; and a communication server operable: to receive the request for service; to couple the subscriber system to a selected one of a plurality of modems; to monitor a communication session between the subscriber system and a remote location; to detect a period of inactivity in the communication session; to disconnect the subscriber system from the selected one of the plurality of modems; to detect activity in the communication session while the subscriber system is disconnected; and to couple the subscriber system to a selected one of the plurality of modems when activity is detected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication server is further operable to disconnect the subscriber system without disrupting the communication session.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication server is further operable to disconnect the subscriber system in a manner undetectable by the subscriber system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication server is further operable to disconnect the subscriber system when the period of inactivity exceeds an inactivity threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system of claim 29, wherein the communication server is further operable to modify the inactivity threshold.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication server is further operable: to detect a second period of inactivity while the subscriber system is disconnected; and to terminate the communication session when the second period of inactivity exceeds a second inactivity threshold.
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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) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |