1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital subscriber line (DSL) technology.
2. Background Art
Digital subscriber line (DSL) technology enables high-speed digital transmission on conventional telephone lines. Using DSL technology, a telephone line has two data paths. The first data path is a high-frequency path for digital data and is referred to as a “digital subscriber line” or “DSL”. The second data path is a low-frequency path for analog data such as voice telephony and voice-based modem communications. DSL technology enables the simultaneous transmission of digital data and analog data over the telephone line as the digital data and the analog data are transmitted in separate frequency channels.
The DSL of the telephone line may be continuously available to a user thus making the DSL an “always on” connection. A DSL connection device connected to the end of the telephone line terminating at the user premises and another DSL connection device connected to the end of the telephone line terminating at a central office (CO) enables a DSL provider to provide DSL services to the user. The CO connects to a broadband access network that connects to Internet Service Providers (ISP). As such, the user (e.g., the user's computer) and an ISP are enabled to communicate digital data to one another over a DSL network path which includes the DSL thereby providing the user with Internet service.
The CO also connects with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) thereby connecting the user (e.g., the user's telephone and the user's computer) to the PSTN via the analog path of the telephone line. The PSTN connects with other users and the ISPs thereby connecting the user to the other users and the ISPs. Thus, the user and other users are enabled to communicate voice telephony communications with one another using telephones over an analog network path which includes the analog path of the telephone line. As a result, the user is provided with traditional telephone service. Likewise, the user and the ISPs are enabled to communicate digital data with one another using voice-based modems over the analog network path thereby providing the user with Internet service. In the latter case, voice-based modems transform digital data to resemble voice telephony communications that the PSTN is designed to convey.
The connection between the user and an ISP over the analog path of the telephone line is known as a “dial-up connection”. The connection between the user and the ISP over the digital path (i.e., the DSL) of the telephone line is known as a “DSL connection”. Data transmission speed between the user and the ISP is relatively much faster over the DSL connection than the dial-up connection. A DSL connection has been positioned as a more powerful and technically advanced alternative to a dial-up connection. However, a DSL connection is subject to interruptions and outages, and therefore, while more convenient for a user than initiating a discrete dial-up session for each Internet connection, does not entirely fulfill the “always on” promise.
The user's DSL connection device is typically a modem (or a gateway when combined with wireless connectivity and/or routing for use with multiple user computers). The DSL connection device at the CO is typically a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplier (DSLAM) or a Remote Terminal (RT). The DSL connection device at the CO multiplexes digital data received from the user and then transmits the digital data through the broadband access network to the ISP. The DSL connection device at the CO uses filtering to divert the analog data received from the user to traditional switching equipment in the CO for receipt by the PSTN, thereby forming a separate circuit independent of the DSL network path. Thus, a service outage along the DSL network path does not affect the analog network path.
A DSL provider provisions DSL services to a new DSL user through a process that enables a DSL connection (“DSL sync”) within a given time period (such as five days) following the new DSL user's order. When the DSL sync is available the new DSL user can access a customer website provided by the DSL provider in order to register their new DSL service and begin performing Internet browsing, email, and other applications using the DSL connection. Typically, DSL providers do not enable new DSL users to register and begin using Internet service via a dial-up connection while the DSL sync is unavailable.
The present invention provides an enhanced DSL connection device referred to herein as “ECD” for providing enhanced connection capabilities to digital subscriber line (DSL) users. The ECD is a DSL connection device which is connected to the end of a telephone line terminating at a user premises. As such, the ECD takes the place of typical user DSL connection devices such as modems and gateways.
In general, the ECD is an enhanced connection hardware device for DSL Internet service and has many advantages. The ECD takes advantage of the dual data paths available with telephone service—the high-frequency path for digital data and the low-frequency path for analog data. The high-frequency path of a telephone line is a DSL. The DSL is used to establish a DSL connection between a user and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide the user with an Internet session. The low-frequency path of the telephone line is an analog path. The analog path is used to establish a dial-up connection between the user and the ISP to provide the user with an Internet session. The ECD intelligently takes advantage of both paths to enhance Internet connection reliability between the user (e.g., the user's computer) and the ISP during an Internet session.
The ECD uses embedded logic to manage the two connections (the DSL connection and the dial-up connection) transparently to the user during an Internet session. The ECD is generally operable to make connection state changes in order to provide uninterrupted Internet service to the user (e.g., the user's computer) during an Internet session. For example, upon an established DSL connection between the user and an ISP being interrupted, the ECD establishes a dial-up connection between the user and the ISP to take the place of the interrupted DSL connection. As a result, the Internet session between the user and the ISP is not disrupted even though the DSL connection was interrupted. The DSL connection may have been interrupted as a result of a service outage along the DSL network path. In this case, once the service outage has been resolved, the ECD reestablishes the DSL connection between the user and the ISP to take the place of the dial-up connection established by the ECD. The ECD generally establishes DSL connections and dial-up connections between the user and an ISP in a manner transparent to the user.
The ECD monitors and stores every occasion when a connection state changes. In general, a connection state change occurs when the user uses the ECD to establish either a DSL connection or a dial-up connection to an ISP; when the ECD establishes a dial-up connection between the user and the ISP to take the place of an interrupted DSL connection between the user and the ISP; and when the ECD reestablishes a DSL connection between the user and the ISP to take the place of either a dial-up connection or an interrupted DSL connection between the user and the ISP.
The ECD is operable to share information indicative of the connection state changes with diagnostic software resident on the user's computer and with remote databases and tools used in the customer service operations of the DSL provider. The ECD is operable with software resident on the user's computer to display prompts to the user advising when the ECD is changing connection states, what the ECD is doing, and any decisions or actions required of the user.
Again, the ECD is a DSL connection device located at the user premises which replaces a conventional DSL connection device (such as a DSL modem or gateway) located at the user premises. The ECD, together with connection status software installed on the user's computer at the time of DSL registration with the DSL provider, provides all of the functionality of conventional DSL connection devices along with enhanced capabilities as detailed herein.
Referring now to
ECD 12 and DSL connection device 20 connected on separate ends of telephone line 18 enable a DSL provider to provide DSL services to user 14. That is, ECD 12 and DSL connection device 20 enable digital data and analog data (such as voice telephony and voice-based modem communications) to be transmitted between user 14 and CO 22 via separate data paths of telephone line 18. The separate data paths of telephone line 18 include the DSL (digital subscriber line) for the digital data and the analog path for the analog data.
DSL connection device 20 connects to a broadband access network 24 such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network that connects to ISPs such as ISP 26 shown in
More particularly, DSL connection device 20 multiplexes digital data received from user 14 via ECD 12 and the DSL of telephone line 18 and then transmits this digital data through broadband access network 24 to ISP 26. Similarly, DSL connection device 20 de-multiplexes digital data received from ISP 26 via broadband access network 24 and then transmits this digital data through the DSL of telephone line 18 to ECD 12 for receipt by user 14.
DSL connection device 20 also connects with PSTN 28 thereby connecting user 14 (e.g., the user's computer and the user's telephone) to the PSTN via the analog path of telephone line 18. PSTN 28 connects with other users 30 (e.g., other user telephones) and the ISPs including ISP 26. As a result, user 14 is connected to ISP 26 and other users 30. Thus, user 14 and other users 30 are enabled to communicate analog data such as voice telephony communications with one another using telephones over an analog network path which includes the analog path of telephone line 18. As a result, user 14 is provided with traditional telephone service. The analog network path extends between user 14, ECD 12, the analog path of telephone line 18, DSL connection device 20 in CO 22, PSTN 28, and other users 30. Likewise, user 14 (e.g., user's computer) and ISP 26 are enabled to communicate digital data which has been transformed into analog data with one another using voice-based modems over the analog network path. The analog network path established between user 14 and ISP 26 is a dial-up connection and, in this case, the user is provided with dial-up Internet service.
More particularly, DSL connection device 20 uses filtering to divert the analog data carried by the analog path of telephone line 18 to traditional switching equipment (not shown) in CO 22 for PSTN 28, thereby forming a separate circuit independent of the DSL network path. As such, a service outage anywhere along the DSL network path does not affect the analog network path.
Referring now to
For example, in a general configuration 31, user premises 16 includes a user computer such as a personal computer (PC) 32 connected to ECD 12. PC 32 may include a voice-based modem for establishing dial-up Internet connections between user 14 and ISP 26. During a dial-up Internet connection, the voice-based modem of PC 32 transforms digital data from the PC into analog data for transmission to ISP 26 via ECD 12 and the analog network path. Similarly, during a dial-up Internet connection, the voice-based modem of PC 32 transforms analog data transmitted from ISP 26 to ECD 12 via the analog network path (the ISP transmitting digital data which a voice-based modem at CO 22 transforms into the analog data) for receipt by the PC. During a DSL Internet connection, the voice-based modem of PC 32 is not used as the data transferred between the PC and ISP 26 over the DSL network path is digital data. In configuration 31, user premises 16 further includes a user telephone 34 which is connected to ECD 12. User telephone 34 transmits and receives analog data to and from ECD 12 via the analog network path for voice telephony communications with telephones of other users 30. As noted, the DSL network path and the analog network path can be used simultaneously. As such, a DSL Internet connection can take place between PC 32 and ISP 26 while voice telephony communications take place between user telephone 34 and the telephones of other users 30. In configuration 31, ECD 12 takes the place of a typical external DSL modem.
In another configuration 35, user premises 16 includes a PC 36 in which ECD 12 is incorporated into the PC. In this configuration, ECD 12 takes the place of a typical network interface card (NIC) DSL modem. This configuration also typically includes a telephone such as user telephone 34 which is separately connected to telephone line 18. In another configuration 38, user premises 16 includes a plurality of PCs 32 which are separately connected to ECD 12 by way of a local area network (LAN). In this configuration, ECD 12 takes the place of a typical DSL gateway. This configuration also typically includes a telephone such as user telephone 34 which is separately connected to ECD 12. In another configuration 40, user premises 16 includes a plurality of PCs 32 which are separately connected by way of a single connection and a LAN to ECD 12. In this configuration, ECD 12 takes the place of a typical DSL router. This configuration also typically includes a telephone such as user telephone 34 which is separately connected to ECD 12.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The stored back-up access numbers are previously provided by the DSL provider to ECD 12 at the time of user registration. The DSL provider provides ECD 12 with the back-up access numbers that are appropriate for user 14 based on the geographic location of the user. As noted above, during the registration process, user 14 provides the user's geographic location information to the DSL provider. Alternatively or additionally, the DSL provider may obtain the user's geographic location information using the ANI associated with the toll-free registration call established from user premises 16 to the DSL provider.
While establishing the dial-up connection, ECD 12 prompts user 14 (by way of the user computer) that the ECD is establishing a dial-up connection in place of the interrupted DSL connection as shown in block 84. Once the back-up dial-up connection is established, ECD 12 records the new connection state and prompts user 14 that the Internet connection has been temporarily restored via a dial-up connection as shown in block 86. Following establishment of a back-up dial-up connection, ECD 12 automatically power-cycles the DSL modem module of the ECD as shown in block 88. This automates one of the primary connection troubleshooting steps for user 14 thereby potentially reducing user service calls, expense, and user inconvenience.
If ECD 12 determines in decision block 80 that the analog network path is not available for establishing the dial-up connection, then the ECD prompts user 14 (by way of the user computer) whether the user's telephone line can be freed up for a back-up dial-up connection as shown in block 90. If user 14 responds affirmatively, ECD 12 establishes the back-up dial-up connection as described.
Referring now to
The periodic automated back-up access number verification is set to occur at configurable intervals. ECD 12 displays a dialog box on the user's computer after first prompting user 14 for permission to test the back-up dial-up access numbers as shown in block 104. If user 14 answers yes or does not answer, then ECD 12 dials out and attempts to establish a dial-up connection with each back-up dial-up access number as shown in block 106. ECD 12 records the test connection state for each back-up dial-up access number dialed and then disconnects (if connected) the dial-up connection as shown in block 108. ECD 12 displays the tested access numbers and the results in the dialog box for user 14 to see as shown in block 110. If all of the back-up dial-up access numbers fail the connection state, then ECD 12 prompts user 14 whether to edit or add any back-up dial-up access numbers as shown in block 112. The DSL provider may also edit or add any back-up dial-up access numbers during any previously established DSL connections and any previously established dial-up connections. ECD 12 tests any new or edited back-up dial-up access numbers in the manner described and records the new test connection states.
Referring now to
If ECD 12 determines in decision block 124 that the interruption affecting the DSL connection still persists, then the ECD monitors the duration and activity levels of the back-up dial-up connection as shown in block 132. If the back-up dial-up connection exceeds configurable inactivity threshold, then the ECD 12 prompts a user computer application to display a dialog box on the user's computer asking user 14 if the back-up dial-up connection is still in use as shown in block 134. If user 14 answers negatively, then ECD 12 disconnects the back-up dial-up connection as shown in block 136. ECD 12 also prompts user 14 that the back-up dial-up connection has been halted and will either be restored automatically when the DSL connection is available again or can be manually restarted by the user by clicking a button on the dialog box. If user 14 does not respond to the prompt regarding whether the back-up dial-up connection is still in use after a set interval, then ECD 12 disconnects the back-up dial-up connection assuming that this connection is not being used as shown in block 138. In the latter case, ECD 12 further stores the non-connection state and displays the dialog box as described.
Referring now to
ECD 12 further includes a set of non-volatile registers 142, 144, and 146. ECD 12 stores the connection state data in registers 142, 144, and 146. More particularly, ECD 12 stores a configurable number of time-stamped connection states recorded before a first DSL connection is established for an Internet session (i.e., stores data indicative of the dial-up connections established before the first DSL connection is established). ECD 12 stores a configurable number of time-stamped connection states recorded other than before the first DSL connection was established (i.e., stores data indicative of the DSL and dial-up connections established after the first DSL connection was established). ECD 12 stores a configurable number of time-stamped test states recorded (i.e., stores data indicative of the tested back-up dial-up access numbers). ECD 12 enables the stored connection data to be accessible to an authorized user (e.g., a service representative of the DSL provider) connecting to the ECD. The authorized user can view or download the contents of registers 142, 144, and 146.
While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.