Method and system for handling telecommunications data traffic

Abstract

A method and device for (a) generating a constant rate data stream from data, (b) providing, via a termination unit, the constant rate data stream to a router, and (c) assigning an address to the termination unit. The method and device permit the data to bypass a switching network of a central office.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for communicating data to a router, comprising the steps of: 
 a) generating a constant rate data stream from the data;    b) providing, via a termination unit, the constant rate data stream to the router; and    c) assigning an address to the termination unit.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of: 
 d) routing the constant rate data stream based on destination information contained therein.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the termination unit is on a subscriber line module of a digital line unit of a central office switch, the central office switch including a switching network, and 
 wherein the step of providing the constant rate data stream to the router is carried out such that the constant rate data stream bypasses the switching network.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the termination unit is on a subscriber line module of a digital line unit of a central office switch, the central office switch including a switch interface module and a switching network, and 
 wherein the step of providing the constant rate data stream to the router is carried out such that the constant rate data stream bypasses the switching network and bypasses the switch interface module.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the termination unit is on a subscriber line module of a digital line unit of a central office switch, the central office switch including a switch interface module, and 
 wherein the step of providing the constant rate data stream to the router is carried out such that the constant rate data stream bypasses the switch interface module.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the termination unit is on a remote line termination unit, the remote line termination unit having a link to a central office, and 
 wherein the step of providing the constant rate data stream to the router is carried out such that the constant rate data stream bypasses the central office.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data is encapsulated, and 
 wherein the step of generating a constant rate data stream comprises the steps of 
 i) buffering the data, and  
 ii) clocking out the buffered data to achieve the constant rate data stream.  
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the constant rate of the data stream is 64 Kbps.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the constant rate of the data stream is 128 Kbps.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a constant rate data stream comprises the steps of 
 i) if the data is not encapsulated, encapsulating the data, to generate capsules of data,    ii) buffering the capsules of data, and    iii) clocking out the buffered frames of data to achieve the constant rate data stream.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the address assigned to the termination unit is a temporary address.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of assigning an address to the termination unit comprises the steps of 
 i) generating a table in which the temporary address is associated with the termination unit, and    ii) storing the table.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the termination unit is coupled with an associated line unit interface at an address assignment unit, and 
 wherein the line unit interface is assigned to the address.    
     
     
         14 . A device for communicating data from a first location, via a central office having at least one digital line unit, to a router at a second location, comprising: 
 a) a data transceiver, 
 i) being located at the first location,  
 ii) accepting the data, and  
 iii) generating a constant rate data stream from the data;  
   b) a first link, 
 i) being coupled with the data transceiver, and  
 ii) carrying the constant rate data stream generated by the data transceiver;  
   c) a line termination unit, 
 i) being located on the at least one digital line unit, and  
 ii) terminating the first link;  
   d) a second link, 
 i) being coupled with the line termination unit, and  
 ii) carrying the constant rate data stream; and  
   e) an address assignment unit, 
 i) terminating the second link,  
 ii) assigning an address to the line termination unit, and  
 iii) providing the constant rate data stream to the router.  
   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the constant rate data stream has a rate data of 64 Kpbs.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the constant rate data stream has a rate data of 128 Kpbs.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the line termination unit is a basic rate interface.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the address assignment unit comprises 
 i) a line termination unit interface for terminating the second link,    ii) a storage device, storing a program,    iii) a storage for executing the program stored in the storage device,    iv) a router interface for terminating a link to the router, and    v) a bus system, shared by the line termination unit interface, the processor, and the router interface.    
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination unit is associated with the address assigned to the line termination unit.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination unit interface is associated with the address assigned to the line termination unit.  
     
     
         21 . A device for communicating data from a first location to a router, the first location having a remote line termination unit, the remote line termination unit coupled, via a link, with a central office comprising: 
 a) a data transceiver, 
 i) being located at the first location,  
 ii) accepting the data, and  
 iii) generating a constant rate data stream from the data;  
   b) a first link, 
 i) being coupled with the data transceiver, and  
 ii) carrying the constant rate data stream generated by the data transceiver;  
   c) a line termination node, 
 i) being located on the remote line termination unit, and  
 ii) terminating the first link;  
   d) a second link, 
 i) being coupled with the line termination node, and  
 ii) carrying the constant rate data stream; and  
   e) an address assignment unit, 
 i) terminating the second link,  
 ii) assigning an address to the line termination node, and  
 iii) providing the constant rate data stream to the router.  
   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the constant rate data stream has a rate data of 64 Kpbs.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the constant rate data stream has a rate data of 128 Kpbs.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the address assignment unit comprises 
 i) a line termination node interface for terminating the second link,    ii) a storage device, storing a program,    iii) a processor for executing the program stored in the storage device,    iv) a router interface for terminating a link to the router, and    v) a bus system, shared by the line termination node interface, the processor, and the router interface.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination node is associated with the address assigned to the line termination unit.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination node interface is associated with the address assigned to the line termination node.  
     
     
         27 . In a central office having 
 a digital line unit having a subscriber line module which terminates a number of local lines,    a switch interface module coupled with the digital line unit, and    a switching network coupled with the switch interface module,    a device for communicating to a router a constant rate data stream, received on one of the local lines, comprising:    a) a line termination unit, 
 i) being located on the digital line unit, and  
 ii) terminating the one of the local lines;  
   b) a link, 
 i) being coupled with the line termination unit, and  
 ii) carrying the constant rate data stream; and  
   c) an address assignment unit, 
 i) terminating the link,  
 ii) assigning an address to the line termination unit, and  
 iii) providing the constant rate data stream to the router, wherein the constant rate data stream bypasses the switching network.  
   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the line termination unit is a basic rate interface.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the address assignment unit comprises 
 i) a line termination unit interface for terminating the link,    ii) a storage device, storing a program,    iii) a processor for executing the program stored in the storage device,    iv) a router interface for terminating a link to the router, and    v) a bus system, shared by the line termination unit interface, the processor, and the router interface.    
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination unit is associated with the address assigned to the line termination unit.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the storage device stores a look up table in which the line termination unit interface is associated with the address assigned to the line termination unit.