The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2005
Filed:
May. 31, 2002
Raymond Ian Millet, Bowie, MD (US);
R. Andrew Poole, Round Hill, VA (US);
N. Sharon Embrey, Alexandria, VA (US);
Robert D. Farris, Sterling, VA (US);
David Harold Cave, Fairfax, VA (US);
John M. Carman, Alexandria, VA (US);
Faye M. Smith, Alexandria, VA (US);
Lin H. Kerns, Springfield, VA (US);
Kyle Vincent Evans, Dallas, TX (US);
Dale Lee Bartholomew, Vienna, VA (US);
Raymond Ian Millet, Bowie, MD (US);
R. Andrew Poole, Round Hill, VA (US);
N. Sharon Embrey, Alexandria, VA (US);
Robert D. Farris, Sterling, VA (US);
David Harold Cave, Fairfax, VA (US);
John M. Carman, Alexandria, VA (US);
Faye M. Smith, Alexandria, VA (US);
Lin H. Kerns, Springfield, VA (US);
Kyle Vincent Evans, Dallas, TX (US);
Dale Lee Bartholomew, Vienna, VA (US);
Verizon Communications Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A communications network, for example forming a local exchange carrier telephone network, utilizes three layers of fiber optic rings. The point of demarcation between customer premises media and network media comprises an intelligent soft network interface device or 'soft NID'. First layer rings carry telephone and data communications between the soft NIDs and remote terminals. Several remote terminals in an area communicate via one of the next higher level rings to a host digital terminal. The host digital terminals communicate with each other via a backbone optical fiber ring, and a media gateway controller on this ring provides high level service logic. The remote terminals and preferably the host digital terminals are service switching points (SSPs), for intelligent services provided by the network. Local legacy switches connect to remote terminals, whereas a router on the backbone provides communications to other networks, including legacy long distance networks.