Abstract:
A communication system is provided for transferring data through a digital switching network. The communication system includes a client modem, a linecard in communication with the client modem over a local loop, and a linecard modem interfacing with the linecard and the digital switching network. The client modem modulates client data to generate modulated client data for transmission to the linecard over the local loop, and the linecard modem receives the modulated client data from the linecard and demodulates the modulated client data to generate the client data for transmission through the digital switching network. Further, the linecard modem modulates network data from the digital switching network to generate modulated network data for transmission to the client modem over the local loop, and the client modem receives and demodulates the modulated network data to generate the network data.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/322,936, filed Sep. 17, 2001, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference in the present application. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to modem communications and, more particularly, to systems and methods for increasing speed and improving performance of modems. 
   2. Related Art 
   As the popularity of the Internet continues to increase, consumers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) seek new methods and systems for providing data at a higher throughput in a way that requires minimal expense and retrofitting at the subscriber&#39;s premises. The need for transferring data at higher rates has been intensifying day by day due to the increased use of the Internet to transfer image files, video files and the like files, which contain a great amount of data. Such need has caused many users to transition away from traditional voiceband analog modems, with a top data rate of about 56,000 bits-per-second (bps) downstream and about 33,000 bps upstream, to more expensive broadband alternatives such as DSL modems, cable modems, T1 or T3 lines. However, it is well known that such alternatives suffer from many drawbacks when compared to analog modems. For example, (1) such alternatives are not versatile and unlike analog modems may not be simply plugged into any phone line that can support voice and all legacy voiceband modem and fax services, (2) DSL and cable services may not be available in many locations, (3) such alternatives need retrofits at both central site and the client premises, and (4) such alternatives are considerably more expensive and take more time to be set up. 
   On the other hand, modems are less expensive, more versatile and take less time to be set up and placed in use, because they take advantage of the existing telephony infrastructure provided by copper wire pairs and linecards, which are used to provide telephony services. Copper wire pairs are also referred to as a loop and essentially extend from a customer&#39;s premises and terminate at a linecard in a telephone company central office. Line cards and associated line card shelf circuitry at the central office are used to transmit signals on copper wires and to link copper wires to central office switching equipment. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional communication system or model  100  using traditional analog modems (e.g., modems configured in accordance with V.34, V.90 or V.92 standards). As shown, communication system  100  includes client side modem  110  for use by an end-user, such as a modem in a personal computer at home or office. Client side modem  110  receives user data  105  in digital form from the personal computer (not shown) and converts user data  102  to analog form (modulated data) for transmission as analog signal  112  over the local loop to the central office. In addition, client side modem  110  receives analog signal  115  over the local loop from the central office and converts analog signal  115  to digital form and transmits user data  105  to the personal computer. As discussed above, the local loop carrying analog signals  112  and  115  terminates at linecard  120  located at the central office. For example, linecard  120  receives analog signal  112  from client side modem  110  and provides A/μ-law digitized analog signal  122  to central site modem  140  over digital switching network  130 , and further receives A/μ-law digitized analog signal  125  from central site modem  140  and provides analog signal  115  to client side modem  110 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , A/μ-law digitized analog signal  122  is transmitted over digital switching network  130  and received as A/μ-law digitized analog signal  132  by central site modem  140 , which converts A/μ-law digitized analog signal  132  to user data  142  in digital form (or demodulated data) for use by a remote device, such as Internet Service Provider (“ISP”)  150 . Similarly, ISP  150  transmits user data  145  in digital form to central site modem  140  for conversion to A/μ-law digitized analog signal  135  and transmission over digital switching network  130 , which signal is received by linecard  120  as A/μ-law digitized analog signal  125  and provided to client side modem  110  over the local loop as analog signal  115  for conversion to user data  105  and use by the computer or terminal at the client premises. 
   It is the conversion to A/μ-law PCM at 8 kHz sample rate that generally is the main impairment that limits the data rates, which imposes a theoretical maximum connection speed of 64 kbps and a practical limit of below 56 kbps, as provided by traditional modems supporting V.92/V.90 modulation. Furthermore, such modems must determine and compensate for digital network impairments, far end echo, send answer tone to turn off echo suppressor and echo canceler existing in communication system  100 . In addition, traditional modems must always dial a phone number prior to establishing a connection, which requires long training period to achieve. 
   Moreover, a commercially available broadband alternative, such as DSL, also falls short of being a complete solution. For example, DSL is defined primarily to achieve very much higher speeds of up to several mega bits per second, and uses less complex modulation schemes to aid hardware implementation of the highest available speeds. As a result, DSL service is not available on many lines that can support a substantially higher data rate than 56 kbps, but cannot support the lowest provided speeds of current DSL technology. 
   Accordingly, there in an intense need to provide a new and revolutionary communication model, which provides substantially higher data rates for modems and eliminates current limitations and impairments in today&#39;s modem communication systems. There is also a long-felt need for new communication models using existing copper wire infrastructure, with minimal upgrade, which can provide data rates commensurate with existing digital lines and that can eliminate the need for time consuming and expensive installations of new infrastructure for T1, T3 and DSL lines. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the purpose of the present invention as broadly described herein, there is provided system and method for utilizing a linecard modem. In one aspect of the present invention, a communication system is provided for transferring data through a digital switching network. The communication system includes a client modem, a linecard in communication with the client modem over a local loop, and a linecard modem interfacing with the linecard and the digital switching network. According to this aspect of the invention, the client modem modulates client data to generate modulated client data for transmission to the linecard over the local loop, and the linecard modem receives the modulated client data from the linecard and demodulates the modulated client data to generate the client data for transmission through the digital switching network. 
   In a further aspect, the linecard modem modulates network data from the digital switching network to generate modulated network data for transmission to the client modem over the local loop, and the client modem receives and demodulates the modulated network data to generate the network data. In some aspects, the linecard modem is a component of the linecard. Furthermore, the linecard modem is capable of supporting data rates of about 64 kbps, 128 kbps and other multiples of 64 kbps. In one aspect, the linecard modem and the client modem connect at a speed equal or less than a maximum network speed determined by the linecard modem. 
   According to a separate aspect of the present invention, a communication method is provided for use with a linecard terminating a local loop in communication with a client modem, where the linecard interfaces with a linecard modem in commination with a digital switching network. The communication method includes: detecting the local loop to be in an off-hook state by the linecard, transmitting a dial tone by the linecard, transmitting a linecard indication indicative of existence of the linecard modem, receiving a client indication indicative of existence of the client modem, establishing a connection to the client modem by the line card modem, receiving modulated client data over the local loop by the linecard modem from the client modem, demodulating the modulated client data to generate client data by the linecard modem, and transmitting the client data through the digital switching network. 
   These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the drawings and specification, which follow. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art communication system or model; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a communication system or model according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a communication method utilizing the communication system of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention may be described herein in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware components and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, signal processing and conditioning, tone generation and detection and the like. Such general techniques that may be known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail herein. It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates communication system or model  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, communication system  200  includes client side modem  210  for use by an end-user, such as a modem in a personal computer at home or office. Client side modem  210  receives user data  202  in digital form from the personal computer (not shown) and converts user data  202  to analog form (or modulated data) for transmission as analog signal  212  over the local loop to the central office. In addition, client side modem  210  receives analog signal  215  over the local loop from the central office and converts analog signal  215  to digital form (or demodulated data) and transmits user data  205  to the personal computer. 
   As explained above, the local loop carrying analog signals  212  and  215  terminates at linecard  220  located at the central office. According to one embodiment of the present invention, linecard  220  interfaces with linecard modem  230 . In one embodiment, linecard modem  230  may be placed on linecard  220  or is a component of linecard  220 . In another embodiment, linecard modem  230  may be at the central office in close vicinity of linecard  220 . In any event, linecard  220  analog to digital conversion module receives analog signal  212  from client side modem  210  and provides digitized analog signal  222  to linecard modem  230 , and linecard  220  digital to analog conversion module further receives digitized analog signal  225  from linecard modem  230  and provides analog signal  215  to client side modem  210 . In a preferred embodiment, the format for the digitized analog samples is linear/uniform spacing rather than A/μ-law PCM for reduced receiver noise. 
   In other words, linecard modem  230  is placed at the edge of the network, i.e. copper wires termination equipment, to transfer user data  232  and  235  in digital form (or demodulated data) over digital switching network  240 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , user data  232  in digital form is transmitted over digital switching network  240  and received as user data  242  in digital form by a remote device, such as ISP  250 . Similarly, ISP  250  transmits user data  245  in digital form over digital switching network  240 , which is received as user data  235  in digital form by linecard modem  230 . 
   By placing linecard modem  230  at the edge of the network to enable transfer of user data  232  and  235  in digital form over digital switching network  240 , the present invention eliminates major telephone line impairments of the conventional communication systems, such as communication system  100 , and bypasses limitations and impairments caused by G.711 A/μ-law PCM compression with 4 kHz band limiting (i.e. 8 kHz sample rate). As a result, modems implemented for use in communication system  200  may break through the 64 kbps data rate limit of V.90/V.92 channel model and achieve higher data rates that can only be limited by the maximum bandwidth and noise levels of the telephone line and the maximum capacity of the digital line access to digital switching network  240 , but which is not limited by the voiceband analog to digital conversion. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , linecard modem process  300  starts at step  305 , where the telephone line at the client side goes off-hook, for example, by picking up a telephone or taking client side modem  210  off-hook. Next, in step  310 , linecard  220  detects the off-hook condition of the telephone line. In response, at step  315 , linecard  220  starts generating a dial tone and linecard  220  transmits a modem indication, over the telephone line, indicative of the existence of linecard modem  230 . Preferably, the modem indication is of a form that is transparent to the user or other existing telephone devices. For example, in one embodiment, the modem indication is a tone above 4 kHz in frequency, such that the tone is not audible to the user, but still detectable by client side modem  210 . In some embodiments, however, at step  315 , client side modem  210  may provide an indication by transmitting tones or signals on the line, to indicate existence of a client side modem that is capable of communicating with linecard modem  230 . 
   At this stage, if the telephone line has been taken off-hook by a user or a client side modem that is incapable of supporting high speed capabilities of linecard modem  230 , at step  320 , linecard  220  and/or a switch receives DTMF tones indicative of dialing of a phone number by the user or client side modem  210 . In response, process  300  may move to step  325  such that linecard  220  bypasses linecard modem  230  and proceeds with the telephone call according to conventional methods in use today. On the other hand, process  300  may move to step  330  if linecard  220  is capable of determining that the telephone call is a modem call. For example, linecard  220  may determine that the dialed telephone number is a modem call by analyzing the dialed telephone number, e.g., the prefix, additional DTMF tones, etc. Upon determining that the dialed telephone number is a modem call, linecard modem  230  answers the incoming call by emulating the operation of conventional modems including various communications modes, such as V.92, V.90, V.34, V.32, V.22bis, V.21, etc., or by reverting to standard A/μ-law PCM companding so the signals can be passed through the digital switching network  130  to central site modem  140  according to communication system of  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the digital to analog conversion functions of linecard modem  230  are capable of switching between standard A/μ-law PCM mode and high-speed modem mode (for example, including higher sample rate, uniform spacing, etc.), such as the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,672, entitled “Method and System for Achieving Improved Data Transmission Through the Public Switched Telephone Network”, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   Turning back to step  315 , if the telephone line has gone off-hook by a client side modem capable of supporting high speed capabilities of linecard modem  230 , process  300  moves to step  350 . At step  350 , client side modem  210  generates a response or indication to linecard modem  230  by transmitting a tone identifying client side modem  210  as a high speed modem. Next, at step  355 , client side modem  210  and linecard modem  230  initiate the handshaking process to establish a connection, at step  360 , linecard modem  230  makes it possible for client side modem  210  to transmit data in digital form over digital switching network  240 . 
   It should be noted that the handshaking process may be performed substantially faster that the conventional handshaking process between existing modems, because many of the communication channel limitations, impairments or concerns of conventional modems do not exist for linecard modems. For example, there is no need for client side modem  210  to transmit an answer tone, since the answer tone is primarily used to turn off echo suppressor and echo canceler in the network. Also, there is no concern about far end echo, since linecard modem  230  is placed at the edge of the network. As a result, based on communication model  200 , client side modem  210  and linecard modem  230  may train much faster. Furthermore, subsequent trainings may further be speeded up by restoring parameter values for equalizer and echo canceler calculated at the time of first training. It should be noted, however, that the connection between linecard modem  230  and client side modem  210  may also be considered as an “always-on” connection similar to T1, ISDN or DSL connection. 
   Furthermore, because linecard modem  230  is in communication with digital switching network  240 , linecard modem  230  may receive information regarding capabilities of digital switching network  240  and adjust its connection speed according to the maximum speed supported by digital switching network  240 . For example, if digital switching network  240  includes a bottleneck such that data cannot be transferred at a rate faster than 64 kbps, linecard modem  230  will not negotiate any data rate faster than 64 kbps. As a result, the connection between linecard modem  230  and client side modem  210  would be a more robust connection (with a quick train-up time and the same effective speed), than when linecard modem  230  and client side modem  210  connect at higher speeds, which would be subject to the bottleneck speed. 
   Linecard modem  230  may support various speeds given the adequate telephone bandwidth and digital line access to digital switching network  240 . For example, in one embodiment, linecard modem  230  may be a 64 kbps linecard modem (“LC64”), which can support speeds of up to 64 kbps at various increments, such as 2400 bps, and can replace the existing linecards with minimal or no hardware or software changes to the digital switching hardware. Such embodiment may be implemented by a simple upgrade of the existing linecards. In another embodiment, linecard modem  230  may be a 128 kbps linecard modem (“LC128”), which can support speeds of up to 128 kbps at various increments, such as 2400 bps, and can replace existing ISDN linecards with minimal changes to the digital switching hardware. In other embodiments, linecard modem  230  may be any multiple 64 kbps linecard modem (“LCnx64”), which can support mega-bite speeds at various increments, such as 2400 bps, and can support access to any digital network that is configured to support high speed digital data, such as T1, fractional T1, T3 and various DSL flavors. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a communication system that is capable of bridging the gap between the traditional analog modems and the existing broadband modems, such as DSL modems. Various embodiments of the present invention are capable of supporting data rates in excess of 64 kbps on communication lines that cannot support DSL connections. In addition, various embodiments can be placed in use on existing telephone lines without any modifications to the existing infrastructure. Furthermore, communication systems of the present invention, unlike existing broadband systems, do not require the use of analog splitters. Also, by maximizing the data rate while minimizing the use of analog bandwidth, crosstalk levels can be reduced relative to existing DSL schemes. These and other advantages of the present invention can be attained by implementing different flavors of linecard modems described above, while still supporting all existing voice and voiceband modem services. 
   The methods and systems presented above may reside in software, hardware, or firmware on the device, which can be implemented on a microprocessor, digital signal processor, application specific IC, or field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or any combination thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.