Method and apparatus for an application interface module in a subscriber terminal unit
US6081533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/561
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for enhancing the functionalities of a subscriber terminal unit (STU) or ADSL terminal unit (ATU) through the use of different types of application interface modules (AIMs). This is accomplished by incorporating a slot in the STU/ATU through which a detachable AIM can be inserted and electrically coupled to the STU/ATU. The STU/ATU has circuitry for determining which particular type of AIM has been inserted. Depending on the type of AIM that has been inserted in the STU/ATU (e.g., installation, telephony, diagnostics, network interface, television, etc.), management information specific to the particular AIM is sent by the STU/ATU upstream to the headend unit. In response, the headend unit provides applications service(s) to the STU/ATU, depending on the particular type of device inserted into the subscriber terminal unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.