Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

Netspeed, Inc.

Robert H Locklear, Jr

John Francis McHale

James R Sisk

Clifford L Hall, Iii

Jason F McCullough

Ronald Edgar Ham

Craig S Cantrell

Kip R McClanahan

Robert M Burke, Ii

William Keith Brewer

Jonathan Harrod

Anthony J P Carew

A communication system () includes a plurality of subscriber systems () coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines (). Each subscriber system () has an availability guarantee value, which may specify a level of service for the subscriber system (). A communication server () is coupled to the plurality of subscriber systems (). The communication server () selectively couples a subscriber system (), responsive to a request for service, to either a first modem pool () or a second modem pool () based on the availability guarantee value associated with the subscriber system (). Communication server () can also provide a soft-termination state and dynamic network address allocation for subscriber systems ().

Communication server apparatus providing XDSL services and method

A communications system includes an xDSL communications device coupled to customer premises equipment via an xDSL link. The communications device trains the link, determines an available bandwidth for downstream communications, allocates a portion of the available bandwidth based on provisioned parameters of the link, and adjusts operational characteristics of a line driver to reduce the power consumption of the communications device.

Digital subscriber line power reduction

A communication system includes a number of communication devices coupled to a data network using communication servers. The communication system supports communication sessions between a variety of networks and devices using, at least in part, XDSL communication techniques. Specifically, information associated with a session passes between a device and an associated server using a modifiable number of XDSL modems and associated twisted pair lines.

Data communication using a modifiable number of XDSL modems

A communication server maintains profile information on twisted pair lines in a profile table. This profile information may be generated in a training session and then retrieved to train a modem or transceiver unit to communicate data over the associated twisted pair line using XDSL communication techniques.

Communication server apparatus and method

A communication server (,) includes a plurality of pairs of frequency agile modulators (,) and demodulators (,) each set to operate at a unique frequency and associated with a twisted pair data line (,). The communication server (,) also includes a plurality of pairs of demodulators (,) and modulators (,) that each have a designatable operation frequency and are associated with one of a plurality of XDSL modems (,). A mixer (,) operates to combine signals from the frequency agile modulators (,) and provide the combined signal to the demodulators (,). The mixer (,) further operates to combine signals from the modulators (,) and provide the combined signal to the frequency agile demodulators (,). A detector (,) operates to detect a need for data service on a selected twisted pair data line (,). The controller (,) then operates to couple the selected twisted pair data line (,) to the selected XDSL modem (,) by designating the demodulator (,) and modulator (,) pair associated with the selected XDSL modem (,) to operate at the unique frequency of the frequency agile modulator (,) and demodulator (,) associated with the selected twisted pair data line (,).

Communication server apparatus using frequency multiplexing and method

A remote XDSL transceiver unit (,) includes an XDSL transceiver (,) and a control block (,). The XDSL transceiver (,) is operable to establish and communicate across an XDSL physical layer. The control block (,) is coupled to the XDSL transceiver (,) and operates to transmit a request for service to a loop termination point. The control block (,) also operates to identify a signal received from the loop termination point (,) and respond based upon a current context of the remote XDSL transceiver unit (,). Further, the control block (,) operates to control power-up and training of the XDSL transceiver (,) such that the XDSL physical layer can be dynamically brought up and down. In one embodiment, the control block (,) operates to store profile information for an established XDSL physical layer to use for future re-establishing of the XDSL physical layer.

Remote XDSL transceiver unit and method of operation

A communication system includes an access server that communicates information between a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN). The access server includes a WAN interface, a switch fabric, a number of route processors, and a LAN interface. The switch fabric directs information from the WAN interface to a selected route processor based on its loading characteristics.

Switched architecture access server

A communication server includes a modem pool (,) that comprises a plurality of XDSL modems (,). The communication server also includes a plurality of line interface modules (,). Each line interface module (,) has a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line and has a plurality of outputs each coupled to one of the XDSL modems (,). Each line interface module (,) operates to detect a need for data service on a requesting twisted pair data line and to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL modem (,). A controller (,) is coupled to the XDSL modems (,) and to the plurality of line interface modules (,). The controller (,) operates to select one of the XDSL modems (,) in response to a detected need for data service. The controller (,) further operates to direct the line interface module (,) to which a requesting twisted pair data line is coupled to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to the output associated with the selected XDSL modem (,).

Communication server apparatus having distributed switching and method

A communication system (500) includes a plurality of subscriber systems (510) coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines (520). Each subscriber system (510) has an availability guarantee value, which may specify a level of service for the subscriber system (510). A communication server (502) is coupled to the plurality of subscriber systems (510). The communication server (502) selectively couples a subscriber system (510), responsive to a request for service, to either a first modem pool (530) or a second modem pool (540) based on the availability guarantee value associated with the subscriber system (510). Communication server (502) can also provide a soft-termination state and dynamic network address allocation for subscriber systems (510).

A communication server (58) is provided that includes a plurality of line interface units (500) each coupled to an associated twisted pair data line (54) and to an associated receive data pair (506) and transmit data pair (504). A plurality of XDSL modems (510) are coupled to associated modem receive data pairs (514) and transmit data pairs (512). A switch (502) operates to couple a selected subset of the receive data pairs (506) and transmit data pairs (504) of the line interface units (500) to the modem receive data pairs (514) and transmit data pairs (512) of the XDSL modems (510). A detector (508) operates to detect a need for data service on a receive data pair (506) of a selected line interface unit (500). A controller (80) operates to select one of the XDSL modems (510) in response to detecting the need for data service and to direct the switch (502) to couple the receive data pair (506) and transmit data pair (504) of the selected line interface unit (500) to the modem receive data pair (514) and transmit data pair (512) of the selected XDSL modem (510).

Communication server apparatus having four-wire switching interface and

A communication server (700) is disclosed and includes a plurality of XDSL transceiver units (710) and a plurality of line interface modules (702). Each line interface module (702) has a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line. Each line interface module (702) also has a plurality of outputs each associated with one of the XDSL transceiver units (710). Each line interface (702) is operable to couple a requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL transceiver unit (710). The communication server (700) also includes a network interface (714) that has a plurality of inputs coupled to associated XDSL transceiver units (710). The communication server (700) further includes a system controller (712) coupled to the XDSL transceiver units (710), to the plurality of line interface modules (702) and to the network interface (714). The system controller (712) is operable to select an available XDSL transceiver unit (710) in response to a detected request for data service and to direct the line interface module (702), to which the twisted pair data line requesting data service is coupled, to connect the requesting twisted pair data line to the selected XDSL transceiver unit (710).

A communication server (58) using digital signal switching is provided. A plurality of twisted pair subscriber lines are split into twisted pair data lines (54) and twisted pair phone lines (52). Analog signals received on the twisted pair data lines (54) are converted into incoming parallel digital words and outgoing parallel digital words are converted into analog signals for transmission on the twisted pair data lines (54) using first converters (614) coupled to each twisted pair data line (54). The incoming parallel digital words are converted into incoming serial bit streams and outgoing serial bit streams are converted into the outgoing parallel digital words using second converters (616) coupled to the first converters (614). A need for data service is detected on a selected twisted pair data line (54), and one of the XDSL modems (620) is selected in response to detecting the need for data service. The selected XDSL modem (620) is then coupled to a second converter (616) associated with the selected twisted pair data line (54) where the selected XDSL modem (620) receives the incoming serial bit stream from and provides the outgoing serial bit stream to the associated second converter (616).

Communication server apparatus using digital signal switching and method

A communication server includes a modem pool (652) that comprises a plurality of XDSL modems (660). The communication server also includes a plurality of line interface modules (650). Each line interface module (650) has a plurality of inputs each coupled to a twisted pair data line and has a plurality of outputs each coupled to one of the XDSL modems (660). Each line interface module (650) operates to detect a need for data service on a requesting twisted pair data line and to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to an output associated with a selected XDSL modem (660). A controller (653) is coupled to the XDSL modems (660) and to the plurality of line interface modules (650). The controller (653) operates to select one of the XDSL modems (660) in response to a detected need for data service. The controller (653) further operates to direct the line interface module (650) to which a requesting twisted pair data line is coupled to couple the requesting twisted pair data line to the output associated with the selected XDSL modem (660).

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Robert H Locklear, Jr