Inband communications in a digital communications system

Abstract

In a digital communication system, select devices are capable of generating and detecting data sequences that are normally suppressed by end user equipment for establishing inband communications among the select devices. Select devices capable of participating in inband communications may include the controller, Digital Channel Units (CUs) and Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs). Inband communications is initiated by a select device by transmitting a sequence comprising a plurality of first bytes for preventing inadvertant initiation of maintenance operations for digital devices in a particular time slot, followed by a plurality of second bytes. Inband communications is established when the select device receives a sequence comprising a plurality of said first bytes, a plurality of bytes which identify the select device and a plurality of said second bytes. Once established, inband communications can then be used to accomplish automated provisioning, performance reporting, status reporting, alarm reporting as well as other important functions. Significantly, the capability to establish inband communications can result in substantial savings in the installation, maintenance and operations of digital networks. Ultimately this capability will allow performance of the above-described functions from a centralized location, thereby saving on the manual dispatches typically required to perform those functions.