Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/64—Hybrid switching systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
  • H04M7/006—Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer
  • H04M7/0066—Details of access arrangements to the networks
  • H04M7/0069—Details of access arrangements to the networks comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more particularly to network communications over public telephone switching systems
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the existing infrastructure 10 of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Va ⁇ ous devices may communicate via the existing infrastructure 10, and users today often have and use multiple such devices.
• a telephone 12a, facsimile 12b, modem 12c, computer 12d, and special service device 12e are shown connected to a PSTN 14 and another telephone 12a, facsimile 12b, modem 12c. computer 12d, and special service device 12e are shown also connected to the PSTN 14.
• the telephones 12a and facsimiles 12b are analog type devices which may communicate with respective like devices.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the existing infrastructure 10 of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Va ⁇ ous devices may communicate via the existing infrastructure 10, and users today often have and use multiple such devices.
• a telephone 12a, facsimile 12b, modem 12c, computer 12d, and special service device 12e are shown connected to a PSTN 14 and another telephone 12a, facsimile 12b, modem 12c. computer
• the modems 12c stylistically depict the still common situation of digital devices (not shown) producing digital signals that are converted to and from analog type signals, but otherwise communicating using analog techniques.
• the computers 12d and special service devices 12e shown here stylistically depict true digital type devices.
• the analog "traffic" may be entirely via the PSTN 14.
• the digital traffic for the computers 12d may start on the PSTN 14 and then proceed via an Internet protocol network (IP network 18).
• IP network 18 Internet protocol network
• the digital traffic for the special service device 12e may start on the PSTN 14 and then proceed via a signal switching network, like the SS7 network 20 shown.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the most common digital, or "Internet call,” connection methodology.
• Digital devices (not shown here) produce digital signals which the modems 12c convert to analog type signals.
• the modems 12c connect to ingress switches 22 via conventional voice circuits or (commonly) plain old telephone service lines (POTS lines 24).
• POTS lines 24 plain old telephone service lines
• the ingress switches 22 may connect directly to an egress switch 26, via POTS lines 24, or to a tandem switch 28 that further connects to the egress switch 26 via an interoffice trunk 30.
• the egress switch 26 is connected to an Internet service provider pomt-of-presence (ISP POP 32) via POTS lines 24 Often the ISPs will have multiple POTS lines 24 or ISDN pnmary rate interface configured into hunt groups, and this is the case depicted m FIG. 2. Finally, the ISP POP 32 connects to the IP network 18. Of course, digital communications going the other direction travel essentially the reverse path
• FIG 3 is a block diagram depicting the presently popular network evolution model, wherein the IP network 18 evolves to become a single common packet backbone.
• Analog devices like telephones 12a and facsimiles 12b (FIG 1) have their signals converted to digital data packets. The same can be done for the analog output of modems 12c (FIG. 1), but would generally be pointless Existing digital devices like the computers 12d would continue to connect to the IP network 18, and the special service devices 12e would evolve into types that could also connect to the IP network 18.
• New digital audio-video devices like digital voice phones 12f and video units 12g (e.g., cameras, or "CAMs" as they are often termed in the industry) can similarly connect directly to the IP network 18.
• Unfortunately there are problems with this evolution model. In particular, and as discussed more extensively elsewhere herein, it obsoletes the current investment in PSTN technology and it introduces a number of transitional technical problems.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a more suitable network evolution model.
• the vanous communications devices (12a-g) connect to an access network 34, and the access network 34 connects to the PSTN 14 (essentially the major central element already in the existing infrastructure 10), the IP network 18, the SS7 network 20 and also a broadband network 36
• the IP network 18 can handle most existing bandwidth digital communications, and the broadband network 36 can handle high bandwidth communications such as digital video. Under this alternate network evolution model the broadband network 36 would initially be optional, and only added as needed.
• FIG. 5 background art is a block diagram of a conventional current digital loop earner communications architecture (DLC architecture 40).
• a LAN 44 includes network devices 46 and what will here be termed customer premises equipment (CPE 48; such as a channel service unit/data service unit, analog/ISDN/xDSL type modems etc.).
• CPE 48 customer premises equipment
• the customer premises 42 may also include plain old telephone service (POTS) devices, such as the telephone 12a which is shown.
• POTS plain old telephone service
• the next segment in the communications architecture is the local loop 50. It pnmanly includes a remote terminal 52. Connecting digital traffic from the CPE 48 to the remote terminal 52 is one or more Tl/El/DSx lines 54 (which here may genencally include all digital "copper wire” protocols as well, e.g., xDSL and ISDN). Carrying analog (e.g., voice, facsimile, and modem) POTS traffic to the remote terminal 52 are one or more POTS lines 24. A plurality of such customer premises 42 is typically serviced by each remote terminal 52.
• Tl/El/DSx lines 54 which here may genencally include all digital "copper wire" protocols as well, e.g., xDSL and ISDN).
• Carrying analog (e.g., voice, facsimile, and modem) POTS traffic to the remote terminal 52 are one or more POTS lines 24.
• a plurality of such customer premises 42 is typically serviced by each remote terminal 52.
• the communications architecture is the central office 56, which includes a central office terminal 58 that connects to a central office switch 60 (larger central offices typically include multiple central office terminals 58 and multiple central office switches 60, and central offices may even have remote terminals 52 directly connected into the central office switches 60).
• Internet routers 62 from Internet service providers (ISP's) may also be connected to the central office switch 60
• WAN 64 wide area networks
• a plurality of local loops 50 are typically serviced by each central office terminal 58, and a plurality of specialized networks devices (e.g., Internet routers 62) may be serviced by each central office switch 60.
• a plurality of specialized networks devices e.g., Internet routers 62
• the remote terminal 52 to central office terminal 58, the central office terminal 58 to central office switch 60, and the central office switch 60 to Internet router 62 connections are typically all also Tl/El/DSx lines 54.
• Fig. 5 includes the specialized network example of an ISP's Internet routers 62 in turn connected to other devices (not shown) by a 10/100/1000 base-T line in the WAN 64. This example presumes the modern practice of directly connecting specialized network devices directly to the central office switch 60 with Tl/El/DSx lines 54. Older installations, smaller ISP's, and other specialized networks may still employ modem banks.
• FIG. 6a-b are block diagrams of a current digital subscnber line (xDSL) architecture, wherein FIG. 6a depicts the hardware architecture and FIG 6b depicts the software architecture.
• a computer 12d employs an ATM transmission unit - remote (ATU-R 66) to connect via an xDSL interface 68 to an ATU - central (ATU-C 70) m a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM 72) at the telco central office 56. Further connection is then made via an asynchronous transfer mode network (ATM 74) to a broadband access server (BAS 76) at a network service provider 78.
• ATM - remote ATU- remote
• ATU-C 70 ATU - central
• DSL access multiplexer DSL access multiplexer
• ATM 74 asynchronous transfer mode network
• BAS 76 broadband access server
• a network protocol 80 at the customer premises 42 a network protocol 80, pomt-to- pomt protocol 82, an ATM adaptation layer (AAL5 84), ATM protocol 86, and asynchronous DSL protocol (ADSL protocol 88) are employed.
• AAL5 84 ATM adaptation layer
• ADSL protocol 88 asynchronous DSL protocol
• the ATM protocol 86 and the ADSL protocol 88 are employed along with a physical protocol 90.
• another (layer) physical protocol 90, ATM protocol 86, AAL5 84, point-to-point protocol 82, and a network protocol 80 are employed. Some of these layers may be the same and some may be different.
• the physical protocols 90 usually must be the same on adjacent nodes, and the network protocols 80 usually are the same correspondent nodes
• the communications architecture used today is quite complex, and getting more so.
• a myriad of different networks and protocols is already in use, with some being gradually grand- fathered out and emerging new ones growing in importance. It is simply not realistic to expect that old systems will be instantaneously replaced with new ones, and it follows that what is needed are systems for graceful upgrade.
• Such systems should permit incorporation of both the existing systems and those which are emerging and even yet to be developed.
• PSTN public switched telephone network
• Another object of the invention is to provide a system for reducing or eliminating local loop bottlenecks m existing PSTN systems without resorting to parallel packet switching networks.
• Another object of the invention is to provide efficient high-bandwidth packet transfer public networks leveraging much of the existing PSTN infrastructure and investment.
• one preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improved communications system of the type m which a public switched telephone network (PSTN) has both circuit switched and packet transfer communications device types at vanous customer premises connected through at least one telco central office.
• PSTN public switched telephone network
• the improvement includes an access network having an access concentrator located at a customer premises, a remote concentrator located between the customer premises and the telco central office, and a transfer switch located at the telco central office.
• the access concentrator accepts both the switched signals packet signals from the communications devices and communicates them as a terminating node signal over a internal interface to a remote concentrator.
• the remote concentrator accepts the terminating node signal from the access concentrator and communicates it as a distnbutor node signal over another internal interface to the transfer switch.
• the transfer switch accepts the distnbutor node signal from the remote concentrator and separates the switched signals and the packet signals from the distnbutor node signal. The transfer switch then transmits the switched signals onward to their ultimate intended circuit switched type communications devices. And the transfer switch also routes the packet signals onward to their ultimate intended packet transfer type communications devices.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it permits efficient, and therefore highly economical, integration of both circuit switched and packet transferred network traffic onto a network backbone based around the existing PSTN system
• Another advantage of the invention is that it permits packet transferred network traffic to be particularly efficiently sent by employing spoofing of network control packages, e.g., media access control (MAC) addresses, across the local loop of the communications network and thus reduce or eliminate the need to transfer this information.
• Another advantage of the invention is that it integrates existing and emerging analog and digital systems for computer and other data, voice, and video.
• Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces penpheral communications problems like the current IP address shortage, network secu ⁇ ty, unifying directory services, and providing additional number services in our finite numbering schemes.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the existing infrastructure of the public switched telephone network (PSTN);
• PSTN public switched telephone network
• FIG. 2 (background art) is a block diagram depicting the most common digital, or "Internet call,” connection methodology used today;
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting the presently popular network evolution model, wherein the Internet protocol network evolves to become a single common packet backbone for all communications;
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a proposed more suitable network evolution model
• FIG. 5 background art is a block diagram of a conventional current digital loop earner communications architecture
• FIG. 6a-b are block diagrams of a current digital subscnber line (xDSL) architecture, wherein FIG. 6a depicts the hardware architecture and FIG. 6b depicts the software architecture;
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a transfer switch access architecture according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting a general implementation of transfer node protocol layers for use within the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting a more specific implementation of transfer node protocol layers for use within the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting the circuit sub-layer and packet sub-layer bandwidth allocation within the physical layer of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting the external interfaces of transfer nodes within the present invention.
• FIG 12a-b are block diagrams depicting a metropolitan area implementation suitable for use within the present invention, wherein FIG 12a depicts equipment connections and FIG. 12b conceptually depicts transfer node connection with protocol layenng;
• FIG 13a-b are block diagrams depicting a suburban area implementation suitable for use withm the present invention, wherein FIG 13a depicts equipment connections and FIG. 13b conceptually depicts transfer node connection with protocol layenng;
• FIG 14a-b are block diagrams depicting a rural area implementation suitable for use within the present invention, wherein FIG 14a depicts equipment connections and FIG. 15b conceptually depicts transfer node connection with protocol layenng; and
• FIG. 15a-d are block diagrams illustrating how invention permits enhancing and upgrading public switched telephone networks m stages, wherein FIG. 15a shows the existing network, FIG. 15b shows adding centralized transfer nodes, FIG. 15c shows adding customer site transfer nodes and replacing copper interfaces with fiber optic ones, and FIG. 15d shows adding further centralized transfer nodes, particularly to provide high bandwidth capabilities.
• a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improved architecture for communications via largely conventional telecommunications systems. As illustrated in the vanous drawings herein, and particularly in the view of FIG. 7, a form of this preferred embodiment of the inventive device is depicted by the general reference character 100.
• the fundamental pnnciple behind the bandwidth transfer switching system is integrating packet switching capabilities onto the efficient bit- framing techniques implemented in conventional Tl/El circuit switching technology.
• This approach utilizes the transmission efficiencies of Tl/El for circuit switching and adds on packet switching capabilities.
• This basic pnnciple is then adapted to the local loop, where dynamic routing capabilities are not required.
• This results in a simplified switching system, the BTSS 100 which provides both circuit switching and packet switching capabilities in the local loop while maintaining compatibility with the external interfaces outside the local loop.
• the BTSS 100 provides an architecture which may include older types of conventional communications as well as high bandwidth network communications It permits implementation of efficient heterogeneous networks consisting of both circuit and packet switched technologies public telephone switching systems.
• the BTSS 100 uses time-proven Tl/El/DSx lines 54 (or xDSL, with little modification) from —7— the customer premises 42 into the local loop 50 and then uses SONET 102 (SONET is an optical circuit standard employing fiber-optic cables) to carry the data to the central office 56. Even though the SONET 102 connection is shown as a single link, it will be implemented generally as a fiber optic nng.
• the BTSS 100 employs two communication channels, one for control and management functions and the other for transfernng application packets under HDLC framing, wherein the application packets being framed may include Ethernet, TCP/IP, video streams, voice over IP, alarm signaling, meter polling, etc.
• the BTSS 100 bifurcates packet switch traffic and circuit switch traffic at the earliest access point outside of the customer premises 42.
• BTSS 100 A key benefit of the BTSS 100 is enhancement of established network architectures and technologies, such as existing public telephone switching systems, for both circuit switching and packet switching.
• the BTSS 100 handles circuit switched traffic in substantially the same manner as is currently used (discussed further below), but packet data is handled differently.
• the originating LAN 44 may be a customer premises 42 that is accessing an ISP's network (essentially a simple LAN 44 to WAN 64 and back again situation, which is the example portrayed in FIG. 7), or the packet data may be intended to travel from a first LAN 44 at one customer premises 42 via the WAN 64 onward to a second LAN 44 at a second customer premises 42
• the BTSS 100 accomplishes essentially the same result as the prior art, LAN/WAN or local- LAN/WAN/remote-LAN communications, but it does so differently. Except for spoofing, only physical layer and/or link layer devices (layers 1 and 2 of the ISO Network model) are implemented in the BTSS 100.
• a synchronous control channel (based on HDLC) is established between the access concentrator 104, the remote concentrator 106, and the transfer switch 108.
• Two types of packet channels are implemented in these special Tl/El/xDSL lines 110, in addition to dedicated circuit channels for voice. One for system control and management functions, and the other for carrying payload.
• This control channel thus carries provisioning, control, and management information
• this control channel will be used to transparently present the MAC (Ethernet address) of network devices 46 on the LAN 44 via an interface 112 to a WAN 64 dunng provisioning (e g., to an Internet router 62).
• the transfer switch 108 monitors the Ethernet traffic on the interface 112 and filters it based on media access control addresses (MAC addresses, i.e., Ethernet addresses), transferring traffic to appropriate remote concentrators 106 for transfer onward to appropnate access concentrators 104, which in turn deliver it onto the LAN 44 having the ultimate target network device 46.
• MAC addresses media access control addresses
• the access concentrator 104 monitors the LAN 44 traffic and filters it based on MAC addresses, then transfers appropnate traffic onward to the remote concentrator 106 for transfer still onward to the transfer switch 108.
• the transfer switch 108 then removes the framing and presents the traffic onto the interface 112, or appropnate other application networks, or to the central office switch 60. For traffic destined for the WAN 64, this can be done via either a direct transfer switch 108 to
• the "payload frames" m this strigno are application packets encapsulated inside an HDLC frame. This will require an access concentrator 104 at the terminating site. Only a single payload HDLC stream between a respective access concentrator 104 and transfer switch 108 is necessary, but redundancy can be provided as desired.
• the channels available in the Tl/El/DSx line 54 are assigned at provisioning time to specific voice service connections assigned to a subscnber at a customer premises 42.
• every available channel in the Tl/El/DSx line 54 need not be dedicated for service to a particular customer premises 42. Concentration techniques, wherein larger number of subscnbers than available channels in Tl/El/DSx lines 54, may also be employed.
• the data transfer between a LAN 44 and a WAN 64 only needs to be performed for actual data packets.
• the control packets can be filtered out by both the access concentrators 104 and transfer switches 108, with appropnate responses being generated as needed, and some traffic through the entire system thereby eliminated.
• the access concentrators 104 are able to communicate with the transfer switches 108 so that the correct status of each network node can be maintained and so that control messages can be spoofed, with this spoofing done by both the access concentrators 104 and the transfer switches 108
• a key point of the BTSS 100 is that "routing" m the traditional sense is not employed at stages between access concentrators 104 and transfer switches 108.
• the Internet router 62 on the WAN 64 and the network devices 46 on the LAN 44 effectively "see” each other as if they where connected on a simple network.
• the BTSS 100 implements a sub-network that has its own intelligence and traffic routing capability between applications and transferring networks.
• the BTSS 100 handles analog traffic in essentially the same manner as is currently used.
• the access concentrators 104 may include the ability to connect POTS lines 24 (and thus POTS devices).
• the analog traffic e.g., voice, facsimile, and true modem
• the analog traffic can then be either packetized and sent as voice over IP, or transferred using standard DS0 channels using fractional Tl/El, and sent into the local loop 50 on the special Tl/El/xDSL lines 110.
• the access concentrators 104 can also provide other types of network connections (not shown), like secunty alarm and utility meter connections and similar appliance networking which requires only slow speed network access (not shown). These additional network services can also be earned over the local loop 50 and bifurcated at the transfer switch 108, onto appropnate networks providing these services. Services which require higher speeds (e.g., into broadband networks 36 (FIG. 4)), like video services such as Broadcast TV and Video On Demand, can also be similarly provided for in this architecture.
• the approach using the BTSS 100 facilitates using widespread and large scale deployment of time-proven components of Tl/El/DSx technology, while also leveraging the efficiency and high bandwidth of the SONET 102 hierarchy to provide high bandwidth communications and to reduce costs on a per unit basis, compared to other methods m use today.
• FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting a general implementation of transfer node protocol layers for use within the BTSS 100.
• the link layers 122 in turn connect to network layers 124 which each include a POTS sub-layer 126 and packet sub-layer 128.
• the access concentrator 104, the remote concentrator 106, and the transfer switch 108 all include a management layer 130.
• the BTSS 100 maintains compatibility with the existing infrastructure 10 (FIG. 1) of the PSTN completely. With reference again to FIG. 5, m addition to taking into account the requirements of the local loop 50 and eliminating network protocol components which are not required there, the BTSS 100 provides inherent economic advantages over competing high-speed WAN 64 access solutions. Viewed from this perspective, the BTSS 100 needs to provide bndge functionality between three major device categones, namely: the customer premises equipment (CPE 48), the central office switches 60 (e.g . class 5 switches), and earner class IP routers (e.g., Internet router 62).
• the external interface for the customer premises equipment (CPE 48) typically includes POTS, RJ-1 1, RJ-45, and ethernet protocols.
• the external interface for the central office switches 60 typically includes POTS, Tl/El, DSx, SLC-96, GR-303, and SONET protocols.
• the external interface for the Internet router 62 is some version of ethernet
• FIG 9 is a block diagram depicting a more specific implementation of protocol layers in a transfer node 140 for use withm the BTSS 100, one which particularly takes into account compatibility functionalities required for interfacing at appropriate external interfaces 142.
• the transfer node 140 connects to other transfer nodes 140 within the BTSS 100 via one or more internal interfaces 144.
• a physical layer 146 handles traffic into and out of the internal interfaces 144.
• the physical layer 146 includes a dedicated circuit sub-layer 148 and a shared packet sub-layer 150
• a system management layer 152 or a transfer function layer 154 as appropnate for the respective tasks of management and data transfer, controls the physical layer 146.
• the "genenc" transfer node 140 of FIG. 9 may be any one of five different more specific types.
• One is a customer premises equipment type terminating node, such as an access concentrator 104, which connects to the user's various communications devices (12a-g) (FIG 1 and 3-4).
• a second is a central office type central node, such as the transfer switch 108, which connects to the central office switches 60 (e.g., class 5 switches).
• a third is an ISP type central node, again such as the transfer switch 108, but which connects to earner class IP routers (e.g., Internet router 62).
• a fourth is a distnbuter type node, such as the remote concentrator 106, which connects only to other nodes of other types.
• a fifth is a relay type node which also connects only to other nodes, but not necessanly nodes of other types.
• the second and third of these, the central office and ISP types may be implemented in one transfer switch 108 if both communication categones are needed, but this is not a requirement.
• the distnbutor and relay type notes do not not have any external interfaces 142 or any layers above the packet sub-layer 150. The relay type notes are included here for completeness, and are discussed in detail presently.
• a key pnnciple behind the BTSS 100 is combining circuit switching and packet switching m ways which enhance network capabilities in the local loop 50 (FIG. 7), but with reduced complexity.
• the functionality is independent of the physical layer connection, and may use the various xDSL technologies, coax, or even wireless to provide physical connectivity.
• a logical DSl (Tl/El) scheme may be implemented on the physical layer 146. This DSl scheme may provide compatibility with existing OSS (Operations Support Systems).
• OSS Operating Support Systems
• a high-speed Internet service offered with the BTSS 100 can then be managed as a "Consumer DSl" with existing support systems.
• Some key functions where the DS 1 features will be used are service provisioning, alarm detection, monitonng, and propagation
• the data rate on the consumer DSl will vary depending on the particular physical layer 146 which is used
• FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting the bandwidth allocation within the circuit sub-layer 148 and the packet sub-layer 150 of the physical layer 146
• the bandwidth of the physical layer 146 is split into dedicated DS0 channels 158 (e.g., 64 kbps each) for voice and other analog data connections
• Each subscnber connection may consist of one or more dedicated DSO channels 158, and optionally a common channel for the packet sub-layer 150 if data services are enabled.
• all remaining bandwidth may be used in a single packet sub-layer 150 which may implement a HDLC framed link layer. This may use 16-bit address field and HDLC framing wherein the address field is used to implement multiple logical links, including a control link for implementing management functions.
• the BTSS 100 may increase efficiency and simplicity by eliminating all dynamic routing requirements between the vanous transfer nodes 140.
• Voice calls are earned over the dedicated DSO channels 158 using standard schemes for implementing voice connections.
• the assignment of the DSO channels 158 is done at service provisioning, and for data services (e.g., Internet connection) a logical link is provisioned across all connecting transfer nodes 140, with a unique link layer address for each connecting segment.
• the available bandwidth in the packet sublayer 150 is then shared among all the data connections serviced by the segment.
• Pnonty schemes may be implemented to provide varying levels of service.
• the control link used for system management typically will be implemented as a pnonty link between the transfer nodes 140.
• FIG. 11 is a block diagram summanzmg typical interfaces in the BTSS 100, and particularly possible ones between the vanous transfer nodes 140.
• the transfer nodes 140 include the access concentrator 104 (a terminating node or TN), the remote concentrator 106 (a distributing note or DN), and the transfer switch 108 (a central node or CN). Also included, but not previously descnbed m detail, is a relay node 160 (RN).
• RN relay node 160
• An analog user device specifically the telephone 12a shown, is connected to an access concentrator 104 via an external interface 142a (such as the POTS connection shown).
• a digital user device specifically the computer 12d, i.e., a network device 46, is connected to the access concentrator 104 via another external interface 142b (such as the Ethernet connection shown).
• the access concentrator 104 is connected to the relay node 160 via an internal interface 144a, and the relay node 160 is connected to the remote concentrator 106 via another internal interface 144a (both shown here as possibly being any of Tl, El, xDSL, or POTS).
• the remote concentrator 106 connects to the transfer switch 108 via another internal interface 144b (shown here as possibly being any of Tl, El, xDSL, POTS, or SONET; i.e., adding SONET, which is preferred).
• the remote concentrator 106 is connected to the central office switch 60 via an external interface 142c (shown here as being either POTS or DSl), and the remote concentrator 106 is also connected to an Internet router 62 via another external interface 142d (shown here as being Ethernet, but with higher speed versions preferred).
• the relay node 160 is optional, but may be used when signals are transmitted long distances or need to be enhanced due to electronically "noisy" environments. For example, almost all protocols have some usable distance limitation, with xDSL being particularly notable m this respect.
• FIG. 12a-b show deployment in a typical metropolitan area, where the distance between a central office 56 and a customer premises 42 is short;
• FIG. 13a-b show deployment in a typical suburban area;
• FIG 14a-b show deployment m a typical rural area, where the distance between the central office 56 and the customer premises 42 is considerable and signal regeneration is required.
• FIG 12a is a schematic block diagram showing equipment location for deployment in a typical metropolitan area.
• the distance between the access concentrator 104 at the customer premises 42 and the transfer switch 108 in the central office 56 is short. This permits elimination of the remote concentrator 106 and any relay nodes 160 (see e.g., FIG. 11, 13a and 14a).
• FIG. 12b is a schematic block diagram showing layer arrangement in the vanous transfer nodes 140 used m FIG. 12a. As can be seen, both the access concentrator 104 and the transfer switch 108 may have essentially the same layers (122, 124, 126, 128 and 130).
• FIG. 13a is a schematic block diagram showing equipment location for deployment in a typical suburban area.
• the distance between the access concentrators 104 at customer premises 42, which may be numerous and more distnubbed, and the transfer switch 108 m the central office 56 is greater than in the metropolitan area of FIG. 13a.
• a remote concentrator 106 is therefore provided in this implementation.
• FIG. 13b is a schematic block diagram showing layer arrangement in the vanous transfer nodes 140 used m FIG. 13a.
• both the access concentrator 104 and the transfer switch 108 may have essentially the same layers (146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156), but the remote concentrator 106 does not have a compatibility functions layer 156 or any external interfaces 142.
• FIG. 14a is a schematic block diagram showing equipment location for deployment in a typical rural area.
• the distance between a first access concentrator 104a at a first customer premises 42 and the remote concentrator 106 is considerable.
• Two relay nodes 160 are therefore added between the first access concentrators 104 and the remote concentrator 106. This is particularly useful for protocols like xDSL, which are severely distance limited.
• a closer second (third etc.) access concentrator 104b may directly connect to the remote concentrator 106, as shown
• FIG. 14b is a schematic block diagram showing layer arrangement in the vanous transfer nodes 140 used in FIG. 14a.
• the access concentrators (104a, 104b) and the transfer switch 108 may have essentially the same layers (146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156), the remote concentrator 106 lacks a compatibility functions layer 156 and external interfaces 142; and the relay nodes 160 have only physical layers 146 and circuit sub-layers 148.
• the relay nodes 160 may implement the physical layers 146 and circuit sub-layers 148 using the bit frames and embedded control channels implemented as m regular Tl/El interfaces.
• the embedded control channel may support alarm momtonng, detection, and propagation from the access concentrators (104a, 104b) to the transfer switch 108
• the relay nodes 160 thus allow extending the distances over which service can be provided, potentially without any limit
• the BTSS 100 can be particularly useful in reducing the current IP address shortage, in enhancing network secunty, providing unified directory services, and handling additional number services.
• the access concentrator 104 provides connectivity to a LAN 44 at the customer premises 42.
• This LAN 44 can be implemented either as a "closed network” or "open network.” If it is desirable to provide open access to all of the systems at the customer premises 42 from the outside, then a way to provide addressing is to use globally unique IP addresses (RFC 1918, BCP 5) which are routable across the WAN 64, e.g., the Internet.
• RRC 1918, BCP 5 globally unique IP addresses
• a way to provide addressing is to use the non-routable pnvate IP addresses.
• the remote concentrator 106 and the transfer switch 108 form logical network access control points to and from the outside service area covered by each remote concentrator 106 or transfer switch 108.
• the BTSS 100 technology By providing private IP addresses as the default addressing scheme for networks crossing the local loop 50, the BTSS 100 technology, if widely deployed, can drastically reduce the need for unique IP addresses. Since all the transfer nodes 140 (FIG. 11) are non-routing with respect to customer data, this implementation is independent of user devices addressing schemes. Implementing Network Address Translation (NAT) along with pnvate IP address thus allows for significantly reducing the current IP address shortage.
• NAT Network Address Translation
• the BTSS 100 also facilitates providing heightened network secunty and pnvacy.
• a NAT Network Address Translation
• each subscnber may be provided an isolated LAN 44 with built-in secunty.
• Enhanced secunty features such as proxy servers can be implemented on the transfer switch 108 for added secunty needs.
• the remote concentrator 106 and the transfer switch 108 becomes a natural network access point for implementing the vanous protection and access control techniques available for implementing network secunty and pnvacy features.
• the access concentrator 104, remote concentrator 106, and transfer switch 108 form network access control points. This allows implementation of uniform network access control methods for varying levels of secunty needs.
• the transfer nodes 140 are capable of implementing network isolation, intrusion detection, and firewall schemes as fundamental functions.
• Appropnate embodiments of the access concentrator 104 can enable the customers to configure the selected identification information to be associated with their telephone number. Appropnate embodiments of the transfer switch 108 can then make this information available to the telephone operations systems, making it available as additional information available about the customer. The information thus provided can either be manually retrieved, e.g., via conventional operator assistance techniques, or the transfer nodes 140 can use the telephone number as a key identifier to provide directory lookup services.
• the terminal transfer nodes 140 can provide more than one POTS connection on each customer line. This permits providing additional telephone lines, such as dedicated ones for fax and pager services, but without the need for dedicated telephone numbers. While having dedicated circuits assigned for each specific type of service (fax, pager, second line, etc.), under the BTSS 100 there is no need to provide separate numbers for each.
• the service type can be identified either at the access concentrator 104 or at the transfer switch 108.
• the PSTN 14 can route the call to the customer telephone number like any other call.
• FIG. 15a-d illustrate how the BTSS 100 permits enhancing and upgrading the local loop 50 m stages.
• the technology implemented in the local loop 50 addresses only voice service needs.
• Providing the next generations of services requires enhancing and upgrading the local loop to offe ⁇ ng voice, data, and video services. This is a huge effort in terms of time and resources, and the only practical way to achieve such enhanced capabilities is by implementing them in stages.
• FIG. 15a-d show how this upgrade and enhancement can be implemented in five steps.
• FIG. 15a shows step 0 (the existing situation), wherein local loop 50 consists of customer equipment 162 at the customer premises 42, an end office unit 164 in the telco central office 56, and copper wire lines 166 connecting these
• FIG. 15b shows a step 1 , wherein the transfer nodes 140 are deployed in the local loop 50, but offering only POTS type services.
• FIG 15c shows a step 2, wherein data (e g., Internet) services are additionally offered by adding access concentrators 104.
• FIG 15c also shows a step 3, wherein the bandwidth limitations in the local loop 50 are eliminated by deploying fiber optic lines 168 (e.g., SONET) between the central transfer nodes 140 (e.g., the remote concentrator 106 and transfer switch 108).
• fiber optic lines 168 e.g., SONET
• 15d shows a step 4, wherein additional remote concentrators 106 are deployed to provide high bandwidth services (e.g., HDTV, video) and for additional service selections which employ flexible and reconfigurable sub-networks in the local loop 50 using the network of transfer nodes 140.
• high bandwidth services e.g., HDTV, video
• additional service selections which employ flexible and reconfigurable sub-networks in the local loop 50 using the network of transfer nodes 140.
• the following is a simplified outline of the functions of the access concentrator 104- connection to POTS telephones; TCP/IP interface over Ethernet; Tl/El/xDSL interface to the remote concentrator 106; establish and manage the control channel to the transfer switch 108; optional dynamic channel allocation of the available bandwidth between packet and voice time division multiplexing (TDM) traffic, or voice over IP; conversion and transmission of Ethernet packets from the LAN 44 into HDLC framed packets to the transfer switch; conversion and transmission of remote HDLC packets from the transfer switch 108 to Ethernet packets in the LAN 44; managing and maintaining Ethernet MAC address conversion to and from HDLC addresses; spoofing network control packages addressed to all remote devices which are currently active (this requires partial IP level filtenng and processing); compression and decompression of different data types; encryption of secure data and management and processing of digital certificates for authentication; and combination of different traffic types, e.g., analog, voice, video, data, etc., into data streams
• the following is a simplified outline of the functions of the remote concentrator 106: multiple Tl/El/xDSL interfaces to multiple access concentrators 104; DSx/xDSL/SONET interfaces to transfer switches 108 at the central offices 56; maintaining the control channel between the transfer switch 108 and the remote concentrators 106; and dropping and inserting Tl/El/xDSL interfaces from the access concentrators 104 into the SONET interfaces.
• Tl/El/DSx interfaces to central office switches 60 (for voice data); establishing and managing the control channels (through HDLC framed links) to access concentrators 104; accepting Ethernet MAC addresses from the access concentrators 104, and presenting them on the 10/100/1000 base-T interface to Internet routers 62; controlling and managing TDM voice calls to the access concentrators 104, alternatively providing voice over IP; spoofing network control packages addressed to all remote devices which are currently active (this requires partial IP level filtenng and processing); compressing and decompressing different data types, encryption of secure data and management and processing of digital certificates for authentication; separating the data streams back into the original different traffic types, e.g., analog, voice, video, data, etc., for transfer to different application networks, e.g , central office switch 60, Internet router 62, alarm system, utility company meter polling, etc While vanous embodiments have been descnbed above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation Thus, the breadth
• BTSS 100 The present bandwidth transfer switching system (BTSS 100) is well suited for application in upgrading the existing PSTN 14.
• BTSS 100 bandwidth transfer switching system
• IP network 18 An Internet protocol network
• the BTSS 100 permits an incremental approach to the problems of upgrading our communications infrastructure by providing access networks 34 to the customer premises 42 and then separating the traffic types early m the telco central office 56 or even m the remote concentrators 106 (i.e., the distnbutor nodes). It permits continued usage of the considerable existing investment in copper wire lines 166, and their gradual replacement with fiber optic lines 168 m key, high traffic volume, segments of the communications system.
• the BTSS 100 is able to effectively and economically integrate communications between telephones 12a, facsimiles 12b, modems 12c, computers 12d, special services devices 12e (e.g., alarm and utility metenng systems), digital voice phones 12f, video units 12g, LANs 44, and WANs 64 (including the Internet). Furthermore, while doing this the BTSS 100 is also able to help in reducing penpheral communications problems like the current IP address shortage, network secunty and pnvacy, unifying directory services, and providing additional number services in our finite numbenng schemes.
• the BTSS 100 of the present invention will have widespread industnal applicability. Therefore, it is expected that the commercial utility of the present invention will be extensive and long lasting.

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• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-01-14 WO PCT/US2000/001039 patent/WO2000042750A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-01-14 JP JP2000594236A patent/JP2002535886A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-01-14 CA CA002360384A patent/CA2360384A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-01-14 EP EP00904374A patent/EP1147639A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-01-14 AU AU26143/00A patent/AU770481B2/en not_active Ceased

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