British Telecommunications Public Limited Company

British Telecommunications Corporation

Philip Anthony Everett

Ashley Pickering

Trevor Philip Linney

Christopher Marcus Croot

Gary John Dalby

Norwin Simms

John Wolsey Cook

A management device is used in an access network including a plurality of data connections between end user devices and an aggregation transceiver device where the connections are aggregated for onward connection through the access network. The access network stores a plurality of different profiles, each of which specifies a set of values for a plurality of parameters associated with each data connection. The device applies one of the stored profiles to each connection, and receives a notification in the event of one of a predetermined set of notifiable events occurring on the connection. It is determined if more than a predetermined number of notifications are received within a predetermined period for a respective connection and, in the event of such a determination being made, a different one of the profiles is caused to be applied to the connection.

Data communication

A management device () for use in an access network () including a plurality of data connections () between end user devices () and an aggregation transceiver device () where the connections () are aggregated for onward connection through the access network (), the access network storing in association with each data connection a Dynamic Line Management, DLM, profile which specifies a set of values for a plurality of parameters associated with the respective data connection. The device includes initial profile selection means for, when a line is to be caused to operate in a rate adaptive mode, selecting an initial profile for the line from among the plurality of stored different profiles in dependence upon one or more measurements, or a parameter or parameters derived from one or more measurements, made in respect of the connection while operating in another mode.

A method of operating an access network including a plurality of data connections () between end-user devices () and an aggregation transceiver device () at which the connections () are aggregated for onward connection through the access network, the method comprising storing a plurality of different profiles, each profile specifying values for parameters associated with each connection (); and, for each connection, obtaining connection data relating to a monitoring period, said monitoring period comprising a plurality of shorter periods, said connection data comprising, for each of said shorter periods, an indication of whether said connection has experienced instability during said shorter period, and an indication of user activity on said connection during said shorter period; monitoring the performance of the connection in dependence on said connection data; selecting one of said stored profiles to be applied to the connection in dependence on the results of said monitoring; and applying the selected profile to the connection.

A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) is modified to monitor when a line synchronizes (i.e. sets up a DSL connection) and to automatically generate a notification to be sent to a management device of the access network if the rate has changed from the last time the line synchronized.

Method and apparatus for communicating data over a data network

Providing an interface device interfacing between an access network and a back-bone network comprises: providing a management device, receiving data readings from a transceiver device indicative of the current or recent line rate of a DSL connection of the access network, and providing the interface device to restrict data flowing to the DSL connection to a new maximum rate selected in accordance with the received data readings from the transceiver device indicative of the current or recent line rate of the DSL connection. When the new maximum rate is greater than the existing maximum rate for the DSL connection at which the interface device is currently provided, the interface device is provisioned (or re-provisioned) only after a delay period. The delay period depends upon the increase amount of in the new maximum rate compared to the existing maximum rate so that the greater the increase, the shorter the delay period.

Method and apparatus for communicating data over a data network including controlling bandwidth over a DSL line

A management device for automatically provisioning a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) for use in connecting Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to an Internet Protocol (IP) network via a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) and the BRAS, the management device comprising: a first interface for receiving from time to time data readings from the DSLAM indicative of the current or recent line rate of the DSL; a processor unit for calculating from the received data readings a consistent rate indicative of a consistent line rate of the DSL based on a plurality of data readings for the DSL from the DSLAM; and a second interface for transmitting provisioning messages to the BRAS for provisioning the BRAS to restrict data flowing to the DSL to a maximum rate selected by the management device in accordance with the calculated consistent rate.

Method and apparatus for communicating data over a data network and controlling an amount of bandwidth a user can transmit or receive over a DSL connection

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Ipswich, United Kingdom

Philip Anthony Everett