System and method for communicating voice and data over a local packet network

Abstract

A system and method of communicating voice and data via a local packet network (LPN) to and from a customer site. A remote digital terminal (RDT) is provided at a customer site to interface a plurality of telephone devices and/or data devices (computers or a local area network of computers) with the LPN via a local loop link, such as a Digital Subscriber Line or a wireless local loop. A host digital terminal (HDT) is provided at a control site within or connected to the LPN that coordinates the communication of voice calls between the RDT and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch via the LPN and that coordinates the communication of data between the RDT and a data network within or without the LPN. Multiple telephone calls with the customer site can be supported by the remote digital terminal over a single local loop link connected to the LPN. A wire center remote digital terminal (WC-RDT) connects to or is incorporated in a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) that is connected to or part of the LPN. The WC-RDT provides standard analog telephone service between a plurality of standard telephone ports suitable for connection to local loop links of a plurality of customer sites and the PSTN switch through the host digital terminal. The WC-RDT is used to provide POTS service to customer sites having an RDT as well as to customer sites that do not have an RDT.