Distribution device in a subscriber connection area

The invention relates to a distribution device in the subscriber access area, comprising two changeover devices two switching matrices a DSLAM having associated splitter modules and at least one controller. The first changeover device includes m inputs, m first outputs and m second outputs, with a first and a second output having one associated changeover element by means of which an associated input can be selectively connected to the first or to the second output. The second changeover device includes m first inputs, m second inputs and m outputs, with a first input and a second input having one associated changeover element by means of which an associated output can be selectively connected to the first or to the second input. The controller switches the first and second changeover devices and switching matrices.

The invention relates to a distribution device in the subscriber access area, in particular in cable junction boxes, splice boxes or terminal boxes.

Distribution devices in the subscriber access area are physically located between a switching center and the subscriber. Typical installation sites are cable junction boxes, splice boxes or terminal boxes.

Broadband data transmission via telephone lines has become increasingly important. The system providers therefore face the technical problem of how to provide these broadband services to an increasing number of subscribers in a flexible manner. Approaches to a solution for this are known in which a DSLAM and its associated splitters are integrated in the distribution device in the subscriber access area, with the jumpering which is then necessary being performed manually. However, this is very time-consuming since some of the individual distribution devices are scattered far and wide.

The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a distribution device in the subscriber access area which improves the availability of broadband data services.

To this end, the distribution device in the subscriber access area comprises two changeover devices, two switching matrices, a DSLAM having associated splitter modules, and at least one controller, in which the first changeover device comprises m inputs, m first outputs and m second outputs, with a first and a second output having one associated changeover element by means of which an associated input can be selectively connected to the first or to the second output, the second changeover device comprises m first inputs, m second inputs and m outputs, with a first input and a second input having one associated changeover element by means of which an associated output can be selectively connected to the first or to the second input, the first switching matrix has m inputs and n outputs, and the second switching matrix has n inputs and m outputs, where n<m, the inputs of the first changeover device can be connected to a switching center, the first outputs of the first changeover device are connected to the first inputs of the second changeover device, and the second outputs of the first changeover device are connected to the inputs of the first switching matrix, the second inputs of the second changeover device are connected to the outputs of the second switching matrix, and the outputs of the second changeover device can be connected to subscriber lines, the splitter modules have POTS connections, data connections and POTS/data connections, with the outputs of the first switching matrix being connected to the POTS connections, the data connections being connected to the DSLAM, and the POTS/data connections being connected to the inputs of the second switching matrix, and the controller switches the first and second changeover devices and switching matrices. It should be noted here that the inputs of the first changeover device do not have to be connected directly to the switching center, and the outputs of the second changeover device do not have to be connected directly to the subscribers. It should also be noted that the flow of information is bidirectional. The terms input and output have therefore been chosen for a flow of information from the switching center to the subscriber for simplicity.

The advantage of the invention is that a broadband data service is automatically allocated to a subscriber by switching over the changeover devices or switching matrices. In the basic state, the two changeover devices are switched in such a way here that the signals from the first output of the first changeover device to the first input of the second changeover device are switched-through to the output of the second changeover device. If a subscriber then wants a broadband data service, such as VDSL, the associated input of the subscriber is connected to the second output in the first changeover device. The second input of the second changeover device is accordingly connected to the associated output. Furthermore, an as yet unused XDSL channel is selected and is connected to the associated input of the first switching matrix or to the associated output of the second switching matrix via the two switching matrices. This is possible because each input of the switching matrix can be connected to each output of the switching matrix by means of the switching matrix. A broadband data service can thus be automatically allocated to a subscriber by remote control without manual jumpering. The percentage of possible allocations is defined here by the n/m ratio of the switching matrices, although these may be replaced as required. Overall, this produces a very simple system which can be easily modularly upgraded. One further advantage is that the basic services can also be jumpered by means of the distribution device. For this purpose, an input, which is associated with a subscriber, of the first changeover device is connected to the second output of the first changeover device, associated with a free output of the switching matrix by means of the first switching matrix, and fed into the second switching matrix by means of the splitter. Any second input and thus also output of the second changeover device can then be selected by means of the second switching matrix.

In one preferred embodiment, the controller is a constituent part of the DSLAM. This DSLAM already has controllers which can then be used simultaneously to control the switching matrices and changeover devices.

In one further embodiment, the changeover elements of the changeover device are in the form of relays. These relays have the advantage of being very reliable and having good transmission characteristics. However, microelectronic or micromechanical switches are also feasible in principle.

In one further preferred embodiment, the relays are in the form of bistable or monostable changeover switches. The advantage of the monostable embodiment is that the POTS signals can continue to be switched if the electrical power supply for the distribution device fails. In contrast, the advantage of the bistable embodiment is that the configurations, that is to say the allocation of the broadband services to the subscribers, are maintained.

The invention is explained in greater detail in the text which follows with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The single FIGURE shows a schematic block diagram of a distribution device in the subscriber access area.

The distribution device1in the subscriber access area comprises two changeover devices2,3, two switching matrices4,5, a DSLAM6and a number of splitter modules7. The first changeover device2comprises m inputs8, m first outputs9and m second outputs10. The inputs8of the first changeover device2are connected to wires or cables from or to a switching center (not illustrated). For this purpose, the inputs8are preferably in the form of multipole plug connectors. The first outputs9are connected to first inputs11of the second changeover device3. The second outputs10are connected to inputs12of the first switching matrix4, with the first switching matrix4likewise having m inputs12. The first changeover device2comprises m changeover elements13by means of which an input8can be selectively connected to its associated first output9or second output10. In this case, the changeover elements13are preferably in the form of bistable changeover relays. The changeover elements13are switched here by a control signal S which is generated by a controller14of the DSLAM6. The n outputs15of the first switching matrix4are connected to n splitter modules7, with only one splitter module7being illustrated, for reasons of clarity. In this case, the splitter modules7are preferably arranged together in groups on a printed equipment card. The outputs15are connected to the POTS connections16of the splitter modules7, while the data connections17of the splitter modules7are connected to the DSLAM6. The POTS/data connections18of the splitter modules7are connected to the n inputs19of the second switching matrix5. The outputs20of the second switching matrix5are then connected to the second inputs21of the second changeover device3. The second changeover device3likewise comprises changeover elements22by means of which the associated first input11or second input21can each be selectively connected to the associated output23of the changeover device3. The outputs23are then connected to wires or cables which lead to the subscribers, with the outputs23preferably being in the form of multipole plug connectors, like the inputs8of the first changeover device2. Each input12,19can be connected to each output15,20by means of the switching matrices4,5.

As can be seen, the first changeover device2and the first switching matrix4have mirror-image symmetry with respect to the second changeover device3and the second switching matrix5, so that identical components can be used here.

The process of a subscriber switching from a pure POTS service to an enhanced service will now be briefly explained in more detail. In the basic state, the m inputs8of the first changeover device are connected to the m first outputs9, and the m first inputs11of the second changeover device3are connected to the m outputs23of the second changeover device3, that is to say the subscribers are provided with only a POTS service. If a subscriber then additionally wishes to take advantage of a broadband service, his input8is connected to its associated second output10. At the first switching matrix4, the associated input12, which is connected to the output10, is then connected to an output15, which is connected to an unused splitter module7, of the switching matrix4. An association between the subscriber and the splitter module7is then formed in the DSLAM6, so that the broadband data (e.g. XDSL) arriving via a glass-fiber cable24is then transmitted to the subscriber of the associated splitter module7. In the splitter module7, the POTS and data signals are combined in the signal direction toward the subscriber, and the signal is separated into POTS and data signals in the direction toward the switching center. The associated POTS/data connection18of the splitter module7is connected to an associated input19of the second switching matrix5. This input19is then connected to the second input21, which is associated with the subscriber, of the changeover device3by means of the switching matrix5. The second input21is accordingly connected to the output23by the changeover element22. A broadband data service can thus be allocated to a subscriber without manual jumpering. In addition to this automatic allocation of broadband data services, the distribution device also allows automatic jumpering of the subscriber lines themselves. For example, if a subscriber moves, his input8can be associated with another second input21of the second changeover device3by means of the two switching matrices4,5. If the outputs23of the subscribers j, k are to be exchanged for example, the two associated inputs8are connected to the second outputs10and associated with the other respective inputs21by means of the second switching matrix, each of these inputs then being switched-through to the output23by the changeover elements22.

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