Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for providing service to telephone subscribers connected to a remote terminal from multiple telephone service providers

US5673255A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 1995
Grant dateSep 30, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2213/13292
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An unbundling apparatus to permit competitive access providers access to telephone lines connected to a remote terminal, and the ability to control and test such lines. Such unbundling apparatus includes a switch fabric, a command module, and a testing module. The switch fabric provides all voice channel connections between all switches and the remote terminal and grooms the control channels. Control messages are switched into the command module, which performs any protocol translations necessary. All commands from switches are then multiplexed and sent back to the switch fabric, which routes them to the original command channel to the remote terminal. Control messages from the remote terminal are demultiplexed, translated (if necessary) and sent to the switch fabric for delivery to the appropriate switch. Testing of lines is also provided to all competitive service providers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.