Patent ID: 8891519
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. An access device comprising: a first port configured to communicatively couple to a network node via a first communications link, the first communications link having a plurality of flows, at least one of the flows being configured as a maintenance and control flow, comprising a non-dedicated VLAN, and at least one of the flows being configured to carry customer data; a second port configured to communicatively couple to one or more demarcation devices via a second communications link, the demarcation devices being communicatively coupled to one or more customer premise equipment (CPE); and a processing unit configured to transmit communications between the first port and the second port and configured to respond to commands received in the maintenance and control flow and to transmit access device information on the maintenance and control flow, wherein the access device is configured to transmit management information via an in-band management channel on the first port; wherein the access device is further configured to block attempts from the second port to access the processing unit; and wherein a VLAN header encapsulates maintenance and control messages in the maintenance and control flow, and the VLAN header includes a flow identifier and a VLAN identifier for specifying a maintenance and control VLAN and specifying the first and second ports as a combination of a shelf identifier, card identifier, and port identifier.