Access gateway management system

Abstract

An Access Gateway Management System (AGMS) allows telephone operating companies to transition their existing wireline customers over to Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology without having to invest in new workflow processes, systems, or maintenance facilities by adapting the Operational Support Systems interfaces currently employed for managing legacy circuit-switched switching systems to manage Line Access Gateways (LAGs), which are the generic line termination systems employed in VoIP infrastructure. The AGMS also configures and adapts metallic loop test systems currently deployed for the purpose of routine maintenance and troubleshooting of subscriber lines terminating directly or indirectly (through access systems) on existing switching systems to continue to provide this functionality when the lines terminate on LAGs. Synchronization of the subtended LAGs is coordinated with the legacy network by the AGMS.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access gateway management system for use in the management of Line Access Gateways (LAGs) in a VoIP network by means of legacy operational support systems, said access gateway management system comprising:
 a controller communicating with the LAG and VoIP network; and   a legacy operational support system management interface and communications means responsive to the controller whereupon management messages to and from the legacy operational support systems are adapted and communicated to subtended LAGs over the VoIP network.   
     
     
         2 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1  further comprising support for TL-1 (Transaction Language-1) protocol for use in communicating with legacy operational support systems. 
     
     
         3 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1  further comprising adaptation to SNMP (Simplified Network Management Protocol) for communications with subtended LAGs over the VoIP network. 
     
     
         4 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1 , wherein the management interface communicates with the legacy operational support systems in a manner analogous to that of a legacy voice switch while translating and communicating relevant management information to and from the subtended LAGs. 
     
     
         5 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a test head in communication with the controller, the test head responsive to the controller to direct calibrated tones to line circuits in the subtended LAGs. 
     
     
         6 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a test termination module in communication with the controller configured to apply a plurality of terminations across tip and ring of line circuits in the subtended LAGs. 
     
     
         7 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1 , wherein the management interface receives alarm inputs related to the subtended LAGs. 
     
     
         8 . An access gateway management system for use in providing synchronization for Line Access Gateways (LAGs) in a VoIP network by means of legacy synchronization signals, said legacy synchronization system derived from the circuit-switched network (PSTN) and supplying T1-based synchronization signal, said access gateway management system comprising:
 a controller communicating with the LAG and VoIP network;   a synchronization adapter responsive to the controller interfacing to legacy synchronization signal; and   a clock hold-over means responsive to the controller providing a stable timing source; whereupon controller adapts and transmits timing information over the VoIP network to subtended LAGs.   
     
     
         9 . The access gateway management system of  claim 8  further comprising a synchronization distribution means for disseminating timing information to subtended LAGs using conventional T1-based signals. 
     
     
         10 . The access gateway management system of  claim 8 , wherein the synchronization adapter receives and recovers the legacy synchronization signal, further wherein the legacy synchronization signals comprises a Building Integrated Timing Supply (BITS) signal from a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         11 . The access gateway management system of  claim 8 , wherein the clock hold-over means comprises an oscillator trained to the legacy synchronization signal. 
     
     
         12 . The access gateway management system of  claim 11 , wherein the oscillator has an interface for a local precision timing source to discipline clock hold-over means in the event of longer-term legacy synchronization failures. 
     
     
         13 . The access gateway management system of  claim 1 , wherein the clock hold-over means receives a recovered signal from the synchronization adapter and passes the timing source to a synchronization distribution circuit. 
     
     
         14 . An access gateway management system for use in adapting alarm information from Line Access Gateways (LAGs) in a VoIP network by means of legacy alarm signals, said legacy alarm system interfacing to local alarm means and alarm telemetry systems, said access gateway management system comprising:
 a controller communicating with the LAG and VoIP network; and   a legacy alarm interface responsive to the controller whereupon alarm information received from the subtended LAGs over the VoIP network is adapted and communicated to the legacy alarm systems.   
     
     
         15 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14  further comprising adaptation of alarm information to legacy alarm systems; said alarm information obtained using SNMP (Simplified Network Management Protocol) for communications with subtended LAGs over the VoIP network. 
     
     
         16 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14  further comprising a legacy operational support system management interface for reporting alarm information obtained from subtended LAGs over the VoIP network. 
     
     
         17 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14  further comprising a legacy operational support system management interface for reporting alarm information; said alarm information obtained using SNMP (Simplified Network Management Protocol) for communications with subtended LAGs over the VoIP network. 
     
     
         18 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14  further comprising a legacy operational support system management interface for reporting alarm information whereupon the TL-1 (Transaction Language-1) protocol is employed; said alarm information obtained from subtended LAGs over the VoIP network. 
     
     
         19 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14 , wherein the alarm interface provides relay contact closures for signaling out to local alarming systems. 
     
     
         20 . The access gateway management system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further receives alarm information over a management interface.