US6407997B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Asynchronous transfer mode system for providing telephony service
Assignee: Sprint Communications Co LP
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Filing: 1998-08-05
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2018-08-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention is an ATM communications system that provides the option of advanced communications services or conventional telephone service to the customer. Advantageously, the ATM communications system does not require the widespread deployment of class 5 telephone switches to provide telephone service. A residential communications hub is located at a residence and communicates with the telephones at the residence using the analog telephony format. The residential communications hub converts between the analog telephony format and the ATM format. The residential communications hub is connected to a DSL mux by telephone wiring that carries the ATM/DSL format. The residential communications hub and the DSL mux communicate using the ATM/DSL format. The DSL mux converts between the ATM/DSL format and the ATM/SONET format. The DSL mux is connected to the an ATM switch by a broadband connection that carries the ATM/SONET format. The DSL mux and the ATM switch communicate using the ATM/SONET format. The ATM switch establishes ATM communications paths for the telephone service. A telephony hub is connected to telephones by telephone wiring that carries the analog telephony format. The telephony hub communicates with the telephones using the analog telephony format. The telephony hub is connected to the ATM switch by a broadband connection that carries the ATM/SONET format. The telephony hub and the ATM switch communicate using the ATM/SONET format.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Anthony DeNap
- 👤 Harold Wayne Johnson
- 👤 Bryan Lee Gorman
- 👤 William Lee Edwards
- 👤 Michael Thomas Swink
- 👤 Timothy Gene Kelley
- 👤 James William Baumgart
- 👤 Martin Joseph Kaplan
- 👤 Abdullah Murat Bog
- 👤 John Arndt Strand, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/0066; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communications system for providing telephony service, wherein the ATM communications system comprises; a residential communications hub located at a residence and operational to communicate using an analog telephony format with a plurality of first telephones located in the residce, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and an ATM format, and operational to communicate using an ATM/DSL format; a DSL mux operational to communicate using an ATM/DSL format, operational to convert between the ATM/DSL format and an ATM/broadband format, and operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format; a telephony hub operational to communicate using the analog telephony format with a plurality of second telephones, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and the ATM/broadband format, and operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format; an ATM switch operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format and operational to establish ATM communications paths for the telephone service; first telephone wiring operational to carry the ATM/DSL format and connecting the residential communications hub to the DSL mux; second telephone wiring operational to carry the analog telephony format and connecting the second telephones to the telephony hub; a first broadband connection operational to carry the ATM/broadband format and connecting the DSL mux to the ATM switch; and a second broadband connection operational to carry the ATM/broadband format and connecting the telephony hub to the ATM switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communications system for providing telephony service, wherein the ATM communications system comprises; a residential communications hub located at a residence and operational to communicate using an analog telephony format with a plurality of first telephones located in the residce, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and an ATM format, and operational to communicate using an ATM/DSL format; a DSL mux operational to communicate using an ATM/DSL format, operational to convert between the ATM/DSL format and an ATM/broadband format, and operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format; a telephony hub operational to communicate using the analog telephony format with a plurality of second telephones, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and the ATM/broadband format, and operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format; an ATM switch operational to communicate using the ATM/broadband format and operational to establish ATM communications paths for the telephone service; first telephone wiring operational to carry the ATM/DSL format and connecting the residential communications hub to the DSL mux; second telephone wiring operational to carry the analog telephony format and connecting the second telephones to the telephony hub; a first broadband connection operational to carry the ATM/broadband format and connecting the DSL mux to the ATM switch; and a second broadband connection operational to carry the ATM/broadband format and connecting the telephony hub to the ATM switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The ATM communications system of claim 1 further comprising: a digital loop carrier operational to communicate using the analog telephony format with a plurality of third telephones, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and a Time Division Multiplex (TDM) format; operational to communicate using the TDM format; third telephone wiring operational carry the analog telephony format and connecting the third telephones to the digital loop carrier; a TDM connection operational to carry the TDM format and connecting the digital loop carrier to the telephony hub; and wherein the telephony hub is operational to communicate using the TDM format and operational to convert between the TDM format and the ATM/broadband format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
The ATM communications system of claim 1 further comprising: a digital loop carrier operational to communicate using the analog telephony format with a plurality of third telephones, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and a Time Division Multiplex (TDM) format; operational to communicate using the TDM format; a class 5 telephone switch; third telephone wiring operational carry the analog telephony format and connecting a plurality of third telephones to the digital loop carrier; a first TDM connection operational to carry the TDM format and connecting the digital loop carrier to the class 5 telephone switch; a second TDM connection operational to carry the TDM format and connecting the class 5 telephone switch to the telephony hub; and wherein the telephony hub is operational to communicate using the TDM format and operational to convert between the TDM format and the ATM/broadband format.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ATM communications system of claim 3 wherein the telephony hub is operational to route telephone calls to the class 5 telephone switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
The ATM communications system of claim 1 further comprising: a digital loop carrier operational to communicate using the analog telephony format with a plurality of third telephones, operational to convert between the analog telephony format and a Time Division Multiplex (TDM) format; operational to communicate using the TDM format; a DS 0 cross-connect; third telephone wiring operational carry the analog telephony format and connecting a plurality of third telephones to the digital loop carrier; a first TDM connection operational to carry the TDM format and connecting the digital loop carrier to the DS 0 cross-connect; a second TDM connection operational to carry the TDM format and connecting the DS 0 cross-connect switch to the telephony hub; and wherein the telephony hub is operational to communicate using the TDM format and operational to convert between the TDM format and the ATM/broadband format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the ATM/broadband format is an ATM/Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The communications system of claim 1 further comprising: third telephone wiring operational carry the analog telephony format and connecting the DSL mux to the telephony hub; and wherein the residential hub is operational to connect the first telephones to the first telephone wiring; the DSL mux is operational to connect the first telephone wiring to the third telephone wiring; and the telephony hub is operational provide the analog telephone service to the first telephones over the first and third telephone wiring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
The communications system of claim 7 wherein: the residential hub is operational to automatically connect the first telephones to the first telephone wiring when the residential hub is unable to provide analog telephone service to the first telephones; the DSL mux is operational to automatically connect the first telephone wiring to the third telephone wiring when the residential hub is unable to provide the analog telephone service to the first telephones; and the telephony hub is operational automatically provide the analog telephone service to the first telephones over the first and third telephone wiring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the telephony hub is operational to convert facsimile calls into a variable bit rate ATM signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the telephony hub is operational to convert modem calls into a variable bit rate ATM signal.
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) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |