Telecommunication system, method and subscriber unit for use therein

Abstract

A telecommunication system includes a digital switch, a local loop coupling the digital switch to a subscriber location, wherein a segment of the local loop includes copper twisted pair and wherein an asymmetrical digital subscriber line is carried by the local loop, the asymmetrical digital subscriber line including a plurality of data packets capable of carrying a plurality of derived digital telephone lines. The telecommunication system further includes a subscriber unit coupled to the asymmetrical digital subscriber line. The subscriber unit monitors the content of at least one of the plurality of data packets, receives an off-hook signal in response to an action of a user, and initiates a first derived digital telephone line of the plurality of derived digital telephone lines in response to the off-hook signal.

1 - 64 . (canceled)  
   
   
       65 . A subscriber unit comprising: 
 a broadband interface configured to communicate data streams of data packets corresponding to a communication along a digital communication line;    a coding/decoding unit configured to communicate data streams and data packets;    a converter in communication with the coding/decoding unit, the converter configured to translate between one or more of the communicated data streams or an analog signal; and    a user interface unit in communication with a smart card, the user interface unit configured to communicate the analog signal and to generate an acoustic signal based on the analog signal.    
   
   
       66 . The subscriber unit of  claim 65 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a smart card interface unit sized to accept the smart card.  
   
   
       67 . The subscriber unit of  claim 65 , wherein the smart card includes a memory programmed to store a plurality of data associated with a user.  
   
   
       68 . The subscriber unit of  claim 65 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a keypad in communication with a dual tone multi-frequency generator.  
   
   
       69 . The subscriber unit of  claim 65 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a telephone handset.  
   
   
       70 . The subscriber unit of  claim 69 , wherein the telephone handset is a digital telephone in communication with the digital communication line, the digital telephone configured to communicate a data stream representative of a voice call over the digital communication line.  
   
   
       71 . The subscriber unit of  claim 65 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a processor in communication with a memory.  
   
   
       72 . The subscriber unit of  claim 71 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to manipulate caller identification information related to an incoming call.  
   
   
       73 . The subscriber unit of  claim 71 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to provide caller identification information related to an incoming call to a display in communication with the processor.  
   
   
       74 . A subscriber unit comprising: 
 a broadband interface configured to communicate at least one data stream comprising a plurality of data packets, wherein the at least one data stream corresponds to at least one communication carried along a broadband communication line;    a communication device configured to: 
 manipulate the at least one of the data stream or the plurality of data packets that comprise the at least one data stream; and  
 translate between the at least one data stream and an analog signal;  
   a user interface unit configured to communicate the analog signal and to generate an acoustic signal based on the analog signal; and    a smart card interface in communication with the user interface unit, the smart card interface configured to communicate user information received from a smart card.    
   
   
       75 . The subscriber unit of  claim 74 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a telephone keypad in communication with a dual tone multi-frequency generator.  
   
   
       76 . The subscriber unit of  claim 74 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a telephone handset.  
   
   
       77 . The subscriber unit of  claim 76 , wherein the telephone handset is a digital telephone in communication with the broadband communication line, the digital telephone configured to communicate a voice data stream representative of a voice call over the broadband communication line.  
   
   
       78 . The subscriber unit of  claim 74 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a processor in communication with a memory.  
   
   
       79 . The subscriber unit of  claim 78 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to manipulate caller identification information related to an incoming call.  
   
   
       80 . The subscriber unit of  claim 78 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to provide caller identification information related to an incoming call to a display in communication with the processor.  
   
   
       81 . A method of utilizing a subscriber unit to conduct voice and data communications, the method comprising: 
 transmitting at least one data stream comprising a plurality of data packets corresponding to a communication along a digital communication line, wherein the plurality of data packets and the at least one data stream are manipulated therebetween, and wherein the at least one data stream is converted to provide an analog signal; and    communicating the at least one data stream and the plurality of data packets to a network address received from a smart card in communication with the digital communication line.    
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising: 
 establishing a plurality of data channels, each of the data channels configured to communicate one or more of the at least one data stream and the plurality of data packets.    
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising: 
 providing caller identification data suitable for identifying an incoming caller associated with the at least one data stream and the plurality of data packets.    
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein identifying the incoming caller includes identifying a facsimile transmission associated with the at least one data stream and the plurality of data packets.  
   
   
       85 . A subscriber unit comprising: 
 a digital telephone configured to communicate with a broadband communication line, the digital telephone configured to communicate a data stream representative of a voice call over the broadband communication line;    a keypad in communication with a dual tone multi-frequency generator and the digital telephone;    a communications device configured to communicate an analog signal received via the digital telephone and to generate an acoustic signal based on the analog signal; and    a smart card interface unit sized to accept a smart card programmed to store a plurality of data associated with a user.    
   
   
       86 . The subscriber unit of  claim 85 , wherein the user interface unit further comprises a processor in communication with a memory.  
   
   
       87 . The subscriber unit of  claim 86 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to manipulate caller identification information related to an incoming call.  
   
   
       88 . The subscriber unit of  claim 86 , wherein the memory comprises a program logic executable by the processor, the program logic comprising instructions for causing the processor to provide caller identification information related to an incoming call to a display in communication with the processor.