Telecommunication system, method and subscriber unit for use therein

Abstract

A telecommunication system includes a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of data packets capable of carrying a plurality of derived digital telephone lines. The telecommunication system further includes a subscriber unit coupled to the asymmetrical digital subscriber line. The subscriber unit monitors the content of at least one of the plurality of data packets, receives an off-hook signal in response to an action of a user, and initiates a first derived digital telephone line of the plurality of derived digital telephone lines in response to the off-hook signal. A telephone communication system including an analog telephone providing a plain old telephone service (POTS) analog voice channel on a subscriber loop with a digital data line sharing the same subscriber loop. In addition to the analog voice line, the digital data line provides an additional digital voice channel for placing telephone voice calls.