Method for bypassing telephone network
US6084873A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M11/062
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention allows telephone subscriber loops carrying data traffic between computer systems to be switched to an alternative connection through a data network, thereby unloading data traffic from the telephone network. The invention operates by means of a break switch, which selectively switches a plurality of subscriber loops between a central office switching system and a data network. The break switch is coupled to a concentrator which takes a plurality of inputs from the break switch and connects them to a smaller number of modems in a modem pool. The concentrator allows a subscriber line to connect to different types of modems within the modem pool, depending upon requirements of a particular subscriber line user. The modem pool connects through a network interface to a packet-switched network, such as the Internet. A number of different methods can be used to transmit a command to switch a subscriber loop from the central office switching system to the packet-switched network. A loop current detector, which is coupled between the plurality of subscriber loops and the break switch, can monitor on/off hook status of the subscriber loop in order to determine whether t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.