EA005826B1 - Transport of voice information over digital subscriber line with an embedded voice gateway module - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunication system is provided. The telecommunications system includes an access transport network having an interface coupleable to the public switched telephone network. The telecommunications system further includes at least one digital loop carrier coupled to the access transport network that provides digital subscriber line (xDSL) services to a plurality of subscribers. The at least one digital loop carrier includes an embedded gateway module that converts between packet format and a time division multiplex format to facilitate transmission of voice between the digital subscriber line and the public switched telephone network.

Description

The present invention relates, in general, to communication networks, and, more precisely, to the transmission of voice information via a digital subscriber line (Όί ^ ίΐοίΐ CallSpot - OZB) with an integrated voice gateway module.

The level of technology

Modern telephone systems were originally designed to transmit voice signals between remote terminals. Conventionally, such a telephone system communicates and routes calls over the network using switches and other electronic equipment. Until the 1960s, the telephone system used mainly analog switches and other analog equipment. With the growth of computer systems and other digital electronic equipment, telephone systems began to include digital switches and other digital equipment. For example, digital hubs for telephone lines (Όίφίαΐ Loor Saglega - OOSK) were designed for communication, in which communication signals from a number of subscribers were sent to a place away from the central office and then connected to the central office via a high-speed digital line. But again, this digital equipment was originally intended for processing voice signals.

After some time, telecommunication systems also began to be used for transmitting data between remote terminals, other than voice signals. Data transfer has created many problems for ordinary telephone systems. For example, as mentioned, the telephone system was designed to transmit low bandwidth voice traffic. Unfortunately, these low-bandwidth channels can cause significant interference in the provision of communication services with higher bandwidth data transmission, such as communications on the now popular Internet and other data networks.

To cover a part of this information market, the telephone industry has developed a number of technologies known collectively as digital subscriber line (Όί ^ ίΐοΐ Spinning - I8b), for example, asymmetrical digital subscriber line (AE), subscriber line with transmission rate adaptation (ELOS), symmetrical digital subscriber line (Sb8), etc. These communication services provided high-speed connection over existing copper wires used for ordinary telephone traffic. These types of communication use different modulation schemes and other techniques to allow data to be transmitted over existing copper wires at higher speeds. In addition to data transmission, some of these EZb technologies allow multiple telephone lines to share a single physical channel, thus increasing system capacity without the need for additional copper connections between the customer and the network.

Unfortunately, the E8b voice traffic is not directly compatible with conventional public switched telephone network equipment (“3”). For example, E8b voice traffic is usually included in packets or cells of the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). This is different from the time division multiplex (ΤΌΜ) format associated with Ρ3ΤΝ. In addition, ATM packs are not directly compatible with the alarm system and other requirements of "3". Consequently, a specialized voice gateway is placed at some point in the network in order for the E8b voice traffic. for example, from a number of ELS'5 connected to "3". This voice gateway provides conversion between ATM and T-formats, as well as signaling processing and other functions required by network standards, such as the CE-303 in North America, U5 internationally, to prepare voice traffic for “3” transmission.

One of the problems of such a structure is that the voice gateway is usually an expensive piece of equipment and therefore hinders the ability of service providers to connect new subscribers to voice information services through E8b. Therefore, in this area there is a need to create a technology for transmitting voice information through E8b without using an expensive voice gateway located at any point in the network in order for E8b voice traffic to be delivered to "3".

Summary of Invention

The aforementioned problems of ensuring the transmission of voice information through E8b and other problems are the object of the present invention and will be more understandable after reading and studying the following description. Examples of the implementation of the present invention include the voice data transmission gateway module via E8b in network equipment associated with the provision of Eb service for converting voice information from ATM format to ΤΌΜ format. Advantageously, in some examples of the implementation of the present invention, the network equipment uses the existing scheme in addition to the gateway voice information transmission module through SA to prepare data of ATM cells for operating equipment in "3", for example, for the CE-303 processor and the (decoder) matrix "3", or for the scheme corresponding to another standard.

In particular, an illustrative example of the implementation of the present invention is a telecommunications system. The telecommunication system contains an access transport network having

-1005826 interface compatible with the public switched telephone network. Additionally, the telecommunications system contains at least one digital telephone line hub connected to an access transport network that provides digital subscriber line services (XE8B) to a plurality of subscribers. This at least one digital telephone line hub contains an integrated gateway module that converts between the packet format and the time division multiplexed transmission format to facilitate the transmission of speech between the digital subscriber line and the public switched telephone network.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one example of a telecommunications network including circuitry of digital telephone line hubs having gateway modules for transmitting voice information via EBL, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one example of a digital telephone line hub circuit including a gateway voice information transmission module through the ESB, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another example of a telecommunications network that includes a digital telephone line hub with an embedded voice information gateway module through the ESB. in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying figures, which are part of the entire description. The figures depict, and in the detailed description, specific illustrative examples in which the invention can be implemented are described by way of illustration. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement the invention. Other examples of implementation can be used, with changes relating to logic, mechanics and electrics, can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be construed as limiting with respect to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one example of a telecommunications network, generally designated 100, in accordance with the present invention. Network 100 contains diagrams of digital telephone line hubs (EBS schemes) 102-1, ..., 102-Ν. Each of the remote nodes 102-1, ..., 102-Ν contains a built-in gateway module for transmitting voice information through the OS. These gateway modules convert voice signals received when communicating through the E8B, for example, communication via an Asymmetric digital subscriber line (AE8B), into formats compatible with existing voice systems. Preferably, network 100 does not require an expensive, separate voice gateway at the point of connection to the public switched telephone network (“8”).

The ABS circuits 102-1, ..., 102-Ν are linked together by an access transport network 104. In one embodiment, the transport access network 104 comprises an asynchronous transfer mode network (ATM) network. In another embodiment, the access transport network 104 comprises a synchronous optical network (for example, 8ΘΝΕΤ, 8ΌΗ) with at least one virtual connection, for example, 8Τ8-1, supporting data transmission through the E8B, and at least one virtual connection that supports multiplexed data sharing with time sharing (TOM). In other embodiments, the access transport network 104 includes ATM functions on at least one level for returning voice data to a public switched telephone network.

Each EBS-circuit 102-1, ..., 102-Ν is connected to a set of subscriber lines 106-1, ...., 106-Ν. Subscriber lines 106-1, ..., 106-Ν may contain digital subscriber communication lines (E8B) according to one implementation example or according to another implementation example — a combination of communication lines of a conventional telephone network (ΡΘΤ8) and digital subscriber communication lines (E8B). In other examples of implementation, other than the above examples, subscriber lines 106-1, ... 106-Ν also contain an interface of the basic level (ΒΚΙ) of a digital communication network with complex services (Ι8Ι) in combination with E8B communication lines. It is obvious that subscriber lines 106-1, ... 106-Ν include, at a minimum, EBB lines of communication in some form, although other types of communication may be provided in combination with E8B communication, for example, ΡΘΤδ, 8ΌΝ. For simplicity, the examples of implementation in this application are described in terms of use of the E8B and ΡΘΤ8 lines. It is clear that in practice some E8B combinations with ΡΘΤδ, Ι8ΌΝ or other types of communication can be implemented. Thus, the described implementation examples are illustrative, but not restrictive.

Subscriber lines 108 and 110 in the row of subscriber lines 106-2 illustrate communication through a digital subscriber line provided over a network of 100 to subscribers 112 and 114, respectively. Subscriber 112 has a computer 116 connected to subscriber line 108 via an AE8B modem 118 and a splitter 120. Subscriber 112 also has a telephone 122 connected to subscriber line 108 via a splitter 120. Telephone 122 is an ordinary telephone of an ordinary telephone network (действует8), which operates in the usual way. By the example of the subscriber 112, it is shown that a single subscriber line can support both regular communication and E8B communication. Subscriber 114 is configured to transmit voice information using both a conventional telephone network (ΡΘΤ8) and a digital subscriber line,

-2005826 supporting the transmission of voice information using the phones 124 and 126 respectively. Subscriber 114 has a splitter 128. Splitter 128 is connected to the phone 124 and a ΌδΕ-modem 130. The ΌδΕmodem 130 connects to the telephone 126 via an integrated access device () 132. In another implementation example, the ΌδΕ-modem 130 is combined with an integrated access device () 132 To transmit voice information via a digital subscriber line, the integrated access device samples the voice signals received from the telephone 126, compresses the data if necessary, and converts the data into ATM packets. In one embodiment, the transmission of voice information via ΌδΕ is performed using asynchronous mode of voice information transmission. In another example, voice information is transmitted via the E8B using voice data transmission using an Internet protocol (using T-telephony). Subscriber 114 also includes computer 134 associated with No. 132. Computer 134 is configured to transmit and receive data via a digital subscriber line.

It should be noted that subscribers 112 and 114 are presented as an illustration and not for the purpose of limitation. In addition, it should be understood that the network 100 is designed to support access to a wide selection of end users or subscribers with different numbers by connecting to remote devices 102-1, ..., 102-Ν.

Network 100 includes an interface with a public switched telephone network. Namely, the transport access network 104 comprises a transport gateway 136. The transport gateway 136 selectively transmits data either to the public switched telephone network 138 via the local automatic telephone exchange 140, or to the data transmission network 142.

During operation, network 100 is configured to provide voice information over a digital subscriber line (ΌδΕ). In the upstream data flow (in the direction from the modem), voice traffic is generated, for example, on one of the telephones 126. The integrated access device 132 (ΙΑΌ) samples the voice data, compresses it if necessary, and converts the voice data into ATM packets. ΙΑΌ 132 delivers these packets to the ΌδΕ-modem 130. The modem 130 transmits these packets through the digital subscriber line 110 to the OBS 102-2. The BBS 102-2 converts ATM packets to a format compatible with a public switched telephone network, for example, into a time division multiplexed transmission (TOM) format, as required by СР-303 standards. Y5 or other relevant standards. The OBS 102-2 delivers the ΤΌΜ-data to the local automatic telephone station 140 using the access transport network 104 and the transport gateway 136. Primarily, voice data is transmitted via the B8B, thus without using separate voice gateways connected to the local automatic telephone station 140. Similarly, the network 100 operates in a downstream data flow (in the direction of the modem).

Another advantage of network 100 is that the vital conventional telephone network (ΡΘΤ8) uses the same basic platform as digital subscriber lines that transmit voice information. In addition, both the ΌδΕ-connection with voice data transmission, and ΡΘΤδ-communication can be routed using the same CK.-303 or V5 interface with ΡδΤΝ.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an implementation of the OBSCHEM, generally designated 200, including a voice data transmission gateway module 208 over a digital subscriber line in accordance with the present invention. The BBS circuit 200 is used, for example, as a remote node 102-1, ...., 102-Ν in FIG. one.

The BBS circuit contains line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν. Line cards provide an interface between the OBS scheme and multiple subscriber lines. Line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν include at least one line card that communicates via a digital subscriber line, for example, ΑΌδΕ. Each of the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν can also support data transmission over the ordinary telephone network (ΡΘΤδ). In one embodiment, at least one of the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν is a line card that supports both the ΌδΕ bond and the ΡΟΤδ bond. In another embodiment, at least one of the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν supports only the “δ” connection. In addition, one or more line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν may also support other forms of communication, such as “ΙδΌΝ” with a base-level interface or any other appropriate form.

PBS-circuit 200 also includes three modules connected to line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν. First of all, the PBS scheme contains the transport module 204. The transport module 204 is connected to the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν. If the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν support the “δ” connection, they deliver the packet data via the digital subscriber link to the transport module 204. The transport module also contains an interface with the network, for example with the transport access network 104 shown in FIG. 1. With the support of transport module 204, line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν get access to the public switched telephone network, as well as to other data networks.

The CBM circuit 200 also includes a network interface module 206. The network interface module 206 is connected to line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν. Line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν provide data to the network interface module 206 in multiplexed transmission formats with a time ratio

-3005826 division (ΤΌΜ). In one embodiment, the implementation of the network interface module 206 contains the processor SK-303 and the matrix Όδ-0. The network interface module 206 performs the functions necessary to process the voice graphics intended for the public switched telephone network. Thus, the connection between the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν and the network interface module 206 provides an ΡΟΤδ connection for subscriber lines. Network interface module 206 is connected to transport module 204.

The OLC scheme 200 also contains a gateway module 208 for transmitting voice information via ΌδΌ (VoO8b). Module 208 is connected to line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν. Line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν deliver voice data packets, such as ATM packets or 1n1cgps1-protocol packets. transported by ATM packets. Module 208 converts packets received from one of the line cards 202-1, ..., 202-Ν from a packet format, such as ATM, to a time division multiplexed data format compatible with a public switched telephone network. Module 208 is connected to network interface module 206.

In the course of operation, the circuit of the digital concentrator 200 telephone lines supports the transmission of voice information through ΌδΌ for a number of subscriber lines. For example, line card 202-1 receives voice data transmitted via ΌδΌ from its subscriber line. This data contains ATM packages that are supplied to module 208 as voice data packets. Module 208 converts ATM packages to a time division multiplexed (ΤΌΜ) format compatible with a public switched telephone network. Module 208 delivers ΤΌΜ-data to network interface module 206. Network interface module 206 prepares this data for transmission to the public switched telephone network. Then the network interface module 206 transmits the ATM packet data to the access transport network through the transport module 204.

In the downstream data flow (towards the modem), the данные-data is received by the transport module 204 and then delivered to the network interface module 206, after being processed by the network interface module 206 ΤΌΜ-data is delivered to the module 208 for conversion to packet data. Packet data from module 208 is delivered to line card 202-1 for transmission to the subscriber as voice information via ΌδΌ.

The OLS scheme 200 can advantageously provide both vital ΡΘΤδ-communication and Ό8Ό communication with voice data transmission based on the same platform. In addition, both ΌδΌ-connection with voice data transmission, and ΡΘΤδ-communication can be routed by the same CK-303 or U5 interfaces with ΡδΤΝ.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another example implementation of a telecommunications network, generally designated 300, in accordance with the present invention. The network 300 includes a digital telephone line concentrator (OBS), including a central node 301 and remote nodes 302-1, ..., 302-Ν. The central node 301 includes an integrated voice data transmission gateway module via a digital subscriber line. This gateway module converts voice signals delivered via a digital subscriber line, such as an asymmetric digital subscriber line, to formats compatible with voice systems existing in the public switched telephone network. Advantageously, network 300 does not require expensive, separate voice gateways located at the point of connection to the public switched telephone network (ΡδΤΝ).

Remote nodes 302-1, ..., 302-Ν and the central node are connected together by an access transport network 304. In one embodiment, the transport access network 304 comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. In another example, the transport access network 304 contains a synchronous optical network (for example, δΟΝΕΤ, δΌΗ) with one at least virtual connection, for example, δΤδ-1, supporting the transfer of ΌδΕ-data, and at least one virtual connection that supports -Data. In other examples, the access transport network 304 includes ATM functions on at least one level for the return transmission of voice data to a public switched telephone network.

Each remote node 302-1, ..., 302-Ν is connected to a set of subscriber lines 306-1, ..., 306-Ν. Subscriber lines 306-1, ..., 306-Ν contain a combination of communication lines of a usual telephone network and communication lines through ΌδΌ. In other examples, the subscriber lines 306-1, ..., 306-Ν also contain the service lines of the basic level interface (BK1) of the digital integrated services network (ΙδΌΝ) in combination with the ΌδΌ-connection lines. It is clear that, at a minimum, subscriber lines 306-1, ..., 306-Ν contain some kind of ΌδΕ-connection lines, although other types of communication can be represented in combination with the ΙδΌ-connection, for example, ΡΟΤδ, ΙδΌΝ. For simplicity, the implementation examples in this application are described for the ΌδΌ and ΡΟΤδ lines. It is clear that in practice some combination of ΌδΌ with ΡΟΤδ, ΙδΌΝ or other types of communication can be used. Thus, the described example is illustrative, but not restrictive.

Subscriber lines 308 and 310 in the row of subscriber lines 306-Ν illustrate communication through a digital subscriber line through a network 300 with subscribers 312 and 314, respectively. Subscriber 312 has a computer 316 connected to subscriber line 308 via a ΑΌδΌ-modem 318, and a branch

-4005826 phone 320. Subscriber 312 also has a telephone 322 connected to subscriber line 308 via a splitter 320. Telephone 322 is an ordinary telephone of an ordinary telephone network that operates in the traditional way. Using the example of subscriber 312, it is shown that a single subscriber line can support both regular communication and ΌδΕ-communication.

Subscriber 314 is configured to implement voice communication using both normal ΡΟΤδ-communication and ΌδΕ-communication with voice data transmission using telephones 324 and 326, respectively. Subscriber 314 has a splitter 328. Splitter 328 is connected to the telephone 324 and the ΌδΕ modem 330. The ΌδΕ-modem 330 is connected to the telephone 326 via an integrated access device () 332. In another example, the ΌδΕ-modem 330 is combined with ΙΑΌ 332. For the ΌδΕ-communication with By transmitting voice information, ΙΑΌ samples the voice signals from the telephone 326, compresses the data, if necessary, and converts the data into ATM packets. In one example implementation, the ΌδΕ-connection with voice data transmission is performed by voice data transmission via ATM. In other examples, the ΌδΕ-connection with the transmission of voice information is carried out by transmitting voice information using an Internet protocol (телефон-telephony). Subscriber 314 also includes computer 334 connected to ΙΑΌ 332. Computer 334 is configured to transmit and receive data via a digital subscriber communication line.

It should be noted that subscribers 312 and 314 are given as an illustration, and not as a limitation. Moreover, it is obvious that the network 300 is designed to support access for a large number of diverse end users or subscribers through communication with remote nodes 302-1, ..., 302-Ν.

The network 300 includes an interface with a public switched telephone network. Namely, the remote nodes 302-1, ..., 302-Ν are connected to the central node 301 via the access transport network 304, the central node 301 selectively passes the data either to the public switched telephone network 338 through the local telephone exchange 340, or data network 342. The central node 301 also contains an embedded voice gateway that converts between packet data and ΤΌΜ-formats compatible with a public switched telephone network.

The network 300 is configured in such a way that, during operation, it provides the transmission of voice information via a digital subscriber line (ΌδΕ). In the upstream data flow (from the modem), voice traffic is generated, for example, by one of the telephones 326. The integrated access device (ΙΑΌ) 332 samples the voice data, if necessary, compresses them and converts the voice data into ATM packets. ΙΑΌ 332 delivers these ATM packets to the ΌδΕ-modem 330. The modem 330 transmits the ATM packets through the digital subscriber line 310 to the remote node 302-2. Remote node 302-2 sends packets to the central node 301, which converts ATM packets to a format compatible with the format of a public switched telephone network, such as ΤΌΜ-formats, as required by the standards CK-303, U5 or other relevant standard. The central site delivers the data to the local telephone exchange 340 using the transport access network 304 and the transport gateway 336. Preferably, the ΌδΕ-connection with voice data transmission is thus provided without using a separate voice gateway connected to the local telephone exchange 340. The network 300 operates like in the same way and with a downstream data flow (in the direction of the modem).

Another advantage of network 300 is that the vital conventional telephone network (ΡΘΤ8) can operate on the same platform as the ΌδΤ-connection. In addition, both the ΌδΤ-connection with voice data transmission and ΡΟΤδ-communication can be routed using the same interfaces of SK-303 or U5 with ΡδΤΝ.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described in this description, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any scheme that is designed to achieve the same goal can be a substitute for the particular example shown. The application is intended to cover any changes or modifications of the present invention. For example, various transport networks can be used to connect an OBS with ΡδΤΝ. In addition, other types of χΌδΤ-communications can be used to provide ΌδΤ-communications with voice data transmission. The described examples can also be used with any suitable telephone network based on ΤΌΜ.

Claims (31)

CLAIM 1. A telecommunication system comprising a transport access network having an interface compatible with a public switched telephone network; at least one digital telephone line concentrator connected to a transport access network and providing communication over a digital subscriber network (χΌδΕ) with a plurality of subscribers; wherein said at least one digital telephone line concentrator comprises an integrated gateway module converting between the packet format and the form -5005826 time division multiplexed volume to facilitate voice communication between the digital subscriber line and the public switched telephone network. 2. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one digital telephone line hub and transport access network comprise a plurality of integrated telephone line hub units associated with a synchronous optical network trunk. 3. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, in which the transport access network comprises a synchronous optical network trunk; and said at least one digital telephone line concentrator comprises a universal digital telephone line concentrator with a plurality of remote terminals and a central terminal, wherein the central terminal comprises an integrated gateway module. 4. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, in which the transport access network comprises an asynchronous data transmission network (ATM) network. 5. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, in which the access transport network comprises a hybrid transport network with a synchronous optical network infrastructure having at least one virtual path for ATM packets and at least one virtual path for TEM data (ΤΌΜ - T1sche Όίνίδίοη Mts1Ir1ekhshd - time division multiplex). 6. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one digital telephone line concentrator provides communication over an asymmetric digital subscriber line (AO8b). 7. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one digital telephone line concentrator uses voice information transmission using asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) to transmit voice information through O8b. 8. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, in which at least one digital concentrator of telephone lines uses the transmission of voice information using the Internet Protocol (ΙΡ) to transmit voice information through ΌδΕ 9. A digital telephone line concentrator comprising at least one line card having an input connected to a subscriber line and communicating with at least one digital subscriber line (xE8b); a transport module associated with at least one line card and providing communication with the transport access network; a digital network interface module associated with said at least one line card and with the transport module and preparing incoming signals for transmission by the transport module to the transport access network; and a gateway digital subscriber line module with voice transmission associated with the at least one line card and the digital network interface module and converting signals between the packet format and the time division multiplex format to facilitate communication between the at least one line card and public switched telephone network. 10. The digital telephone line concentrator according to claim 9, wherein said at least one line card comprises a line card that supports communication via an asymmetric digital subscriber line (Α8ΌΤ). 11. The digital concentrator of telephone lines according to claim 9, in which the specified transport module is configured to communicate with the trunk of a synchronous optical network. 12. The digital telephone line concentrator according to claim 9, wherein said digital network interface module contains an SV-303 processor (SV-303 is a standard developed by Te1sog <Ва) and a matrix Ό80 (Ό80 - Ωίβίΐαΐ δφηαΐ 1еуе1 0 - line Ό8- 0). 13. The digital telephone line concentrator according to claim 9, wherein said digital network interface module comprises a U5 processor. 14. The digital telephone line concentrator according to claim 9, wherein said at least one line card supports transmitting voice information through O8B by transmitting voice information using an ATM. 15. The digital telephone line concentrator according to claim 9, wherein said at least one line card supports transmitting voice information via O8B by transmitting voice information using the Internet Protocol (ΙΡ). 16. A method of transmitting voice information through a digital subscriber line, comprising receiving voice signals through a digital subscriber line; converting speech signals from a packet format into a time division multiplexed transmission format in a digital telephone line concentrator; and transporting voice signals in a time division multiplexed transmission format to a public switched telephone network interface. 17. The method according to clause 16, in which the reception of speech signals includes receiving speech signals by communication on an asymmetric digital subscriber line (AO8b). -6005826 18. The method according to clause 16, in which the conversion of speech signals includes converting signals from the format of the asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) in the format of a multiplex transmission with time sharing. 19. The method according to clause 16, in which the reception of speech signals includes receiving signals in a format for transmitting voice information using the Internet Protocol (Uo1R). 20. The method according to clause 16, in which the reception of speech signals includes receiving speech signals in the format of transmitting voice information using asynchronous transmission mode (ATM). 21. The method according to clause 16, in which the transportation of speech signals includes the transportation of speech signals over the ATM network. 22. The method according to clause 16, in which the transportation of speech signals includes the transportation of speech signals over a synchronous optical network. 23. The method according to clause 16, in which the conversion of speech signals includes the conversion of speech signals in the Central terminal of a digital concentrator of telephone lines. 24. A communication system comprising a transport access network; a central node connected to the transport access network and having an interface compatible with the public switched telephone network; at least one remote node communicatively connected with a central node by a transport access network and including a plurality of ports, wherein at least one port is configured to provide communication via a digital subscriber line (xE8b) to a plurality of subscribers; however, the central node contains an integrated gateway module that converts between the packet format and the time division multiplex format to facilitate the transfer of voice information between digital subscriber lines and a public switched telephone network. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the access transport network comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. 26. The system according to paragraph 24, in which the transport access network contains a synchronous optical network. 27. The system of claim 24, wherein the integrated gateway converts between an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) format and a time division multiplex transmission format compatible with a public switched telephone network (Ρ8ΤΝ). 28. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one port of the at least one remote node is configured to communicate through an asymmetric digital subscriber line (AO8b). 29. The system according to paragraph 24, in which at least one port of the at least one remote node is configured to provide communication via a digital subscriber line using voice information via ATM. 30. The system according to paragraph 24, in which at least one port of the at least one remote node is configured to communicate through a digital subscriber line using voice information using the Internet Protocol (ΙΡ). 31. A telecommunication system comprising a transport access network having an interface compatible with a public switched telephone network; at least one digital telephone line concentrator connected to the transport access network and providing communication via a digital subscriber line (xE8b) and communication over a vital public switched telephone network (ΡΘΤ8) with a plurality of subscribers; moreover, at least one digital telephone line concentrator contains an integrated gateway module that converts between a packet format and a time division multiplex format to facilitate the transmission of voice information between a digital subscriber line and a public switched telephone network.