Abstract:
Twisted pair termination using vacuum microelectronic circuitry. The invention is operable to increase greatly the number of subscriber lines to access any number of networks. Certain aspects of the invention employ vacuum microelectronic circuitry that offers a dramatic increase in matrix switch density compared with other technologies. The invention includes a reconfigured/modified version of vacuum microelectronic circuitry to perform any number of applications towards which such technology is not currently directed including line driving, voltage stepping, amplification, impedance matching, filtering, and over-voltage/surge protection including lightning protection. The present implementations of vacuum microelectronic circuitry are primarily directed towards performing large amounts of matrix switching, sometimes on the order of servicing 1500×1500 matrices. In certain embodiments of the invention, the matrix size is dramatically reduced to 300×50, as optimally designed to accommodate and service the particular physical constraints including board and interface real estate, system impedances, and multiplexing limitations for various technologies.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The invention relates generally to vacuum microelectronic circuitry implementations; and, more particularly, it relates to implementations of vacuum microelectronic circuitry that is used to perform twisted pair termination applications.  
           [0003]    2. Related Art  
           [0004]    Conventional approaches to provide varying services to subscribers are geared towards physical provision of hardware on a customer by customer basis. For example, in the context of providing digital subscriber line (DSL) service to a new customer, a common approach is to first disconnect any existing service to that customer, then performing a re-connect to a plain old telephone service/system (POTS) chassis, then connecting the POTS chassis to a DSL enabled modem, and finally connecting the POTS chassis to a class  5  switch. Each and every one of these functions requires a re-configuration of hardware to meet this customer&#39;s new needs. This can prove extremely costly in terms of man hours and hardware. Even changing from a relatively higher end service such as integrated services digital network (ISDN) to digital subscriber line (DSL) service also requires this physical re-configuration for provision of the new service. There does not exist in the art an integrated system to avoid this manual reconfiguration between various services.  
           [0005]    Moreover, the current state of many conventional switching technologies prohibits their implementation within central offices and/or switching stations, given their large size and extremely high consumption of real estate within the circuitries and boards employed to perform such applications.  
           [0006]    In addition, the conventional implementations that employ discrete components to perform a variety of functions including lightning protection, transformer functions, analog front end, and line driver functions using discrete solid state devices inherently leads to a low density of components on a given board or within a given application. The conventional approach of physically re-configuring the system to accommodate the various services to be provided within a substantially diverse customer base inherently leads to this disjointed and discrete device implementation approach.  
           [0007]    A fundamental drawback of active electronic devices based on silicon is that electron transport is impeded by the silicon crystal lattice, which places a limit on both the miniaturization and the switching speed of such devices. A solution to this is to create an active electronic device which relies on electron transport through vacuum. Such devices come under the umbrella of a field of microelectronics known as vacuum microelectronics, the interest in which has grown greatly over the last few years, largely fed by the prospect of their use to make flat-screen displays.  
           [0008]    Integrated vacuum microelectronic triodes have been fabricated on silicon using micromaching to yield an emitting cathode tip made from silicon which lies beneath a self-aligned gate and anode. The anode electrode is suspended across the emitting tip, and the gate approaches from the sides; both are supported on an insulating layer of thick silicon dioxide. The device operates in the normally-on mode: the anode is biased positively until a large stable emission current is obtained, and the gate is biased negatively to turn the device off. D.M. Garner and G. A. J. Amaratunga, “VACUUM MICROELECTRONIC DEVICES,” Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.  
           [0009]    Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    A better understanding of the invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a subscriber network that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a digital signal processing system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4B is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of plain old telephone service/system (POTS) adapted filtering circuitry that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) adapted filtering circuitry that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5B is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of plain old telephone system (POTS) and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14A is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation that is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14B is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation that is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14C is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation that is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a subscriber network  100  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The subscriber network  100  is operable to provide service to any indefinite number of subscribers, shown as a subscriber #1  111 , a subscriber #2  112 , a subscriber #3  113 , . . . , and a subscriber #n  119 . Each of the subscriber #1  111 , the subscriber #2  112 , the subscriber #3  113 , . . . , and the subscriber #n  119  is able to service a point to point twisted pair connection to a central office  120 . A subscriber connection to the central office  120  is made using a conventional telephone line in certain embodiments of the invention. Moreover, and alternatively, each of the subscriber #1  111 , the subscriber #2  112 , the subscriber #3  113 , . . . , and the subscriber #n  119  is able to service a connection to a digital loop carrier (DLC)  130  in even other embodiments.  
         [0030]    The central office  120  includes a main distribution frame (MDF)  122  to which each of the subscriber #1  111 , the subscriber #2  112 , the subscriber #3  113 , . . . , and the subscriber #n  119  first connects within the central office  120 . The central office  120  also includes a plain old telephone system (POTS) splitter  124  to which each of the various subscribers is able to connect via the MDF  122 . In certain embodiments of the invention, the POTS splitter is operable to perform frequency division of the incoming spectrum for various applications. As will be seen in some of the other various applications, the filtering that may be performed in various embodiments of the invention can differ greatly, yet the totality of the invention is operable to accommodate any and all of a variety of filtering needs (including frequency division multiplexing) as required by particular applications. Then, the central office  120  also includes a class  5  switch  128 , known to those having skill in the art, that allows also for point to point connectivity from any one of the subscribers. The class  5  switch  128  is operable to provide connectivity externally from the central office  120  to a network  190 .  
         [0031]    In addition, the POTS splitter  124  provides for point to point connectivity to a multiservice access platform (MSAP)  126 . As may be deduced in various embodiments of the invention, one particular embodiment of an MSAP, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, includes a digital subscriber line access multiplexor (DSLAM). However, the terminology MSAP is more appropriate for certain embodiments of the invention given the novel and improved functionality offered therein. The MSAP  126  is also operable to provide connectivity externally from the central office  120  to a network  190 .  
         [0032]    The network  190  is shown as having any of a number of various networks. Any of the subscribers is able to access one or more, or all, of the various networks shown within the network  190  in certain embodiments of the invention. In other embodiments, a subscriber may only wish to access one network. Exemplary networks within the network  190  are shown as a public switch(ed) telephone (PSTN) network  191 , a private Internet protocol (I/P) network  192 , a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network  193 , . . . , and the Internet  194  itself. The shown networks  191 ,  192 ,  193 , . . . , and  194  do not comprise an exclusive list, and a person having skill in the art will recognize that any number of different networks, each being accessible through an embodiment of a central office, is included within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0033]    In alternative embodiments, the MSAP  126  also includes a POTS splitter  124 E. The functionality offered by the POTS splitter  124 E may include exactly the same functionality offered by the POTS splitter  124 . The POTS splitter  124 E may be employed in place of, or in conjunction with, the POTS splitter  124  as well. Moreover, in alternative embodiments, a matrix switch  151  is included within the central office  151  to perform switching between the various subscribers and the various networks and services that they seek to solicit. The functionality of matrix switching may alternatively be performed in other locations within the central office  120 , including within various locations within the MSAP  126 , as will be seen below in various embodiments of the invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-service access platform (MSAP) system  200  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  200  includes a binder group  205  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  205  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a multi-service access platform (MSAP)  210 . From certain perspectives, the MSAP  210  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0035]    The MSAP  210  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  211 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  211  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of overrated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  211  interfaces with a transformer (XFRM)  212 . The XFRM  212  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  205 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the MSAP  210  as well.  
         [0036]    The XFRM  212  interfaces with circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  213 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  213  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the MSAP  210 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  213  interfaces for both up-stream and downstream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  232 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  231 . Each of the Rx gain  232  and the line driver/Tx gain  231  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  215 . The filtering circuitry  215  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  216  and a Rx filter  217 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  215  may also include an optional echo canceller  218 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. In addition, the filtering circuitry  215  provides for matrix switch functionality  292 . The matrix switch functionality  292  is operable to perform switching between the various subscribers and the various networks and services that they seek to solicit.  
         [0037]    The filtering circuitry  215  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  240 . There are any number of various circuitries that may be included within the digital signal processing circuitry  240 , and a subscriber may access any one, any combination, or all of the various circuitries contained therein. Exemplary digital signal processing circuitries  240  includes a plain old telephone system (POTS) digital signal processing circuitry  241 , an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) digital signal processing circuitry  242 , a very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) digital signal processing circuitry  243 , an integrated services digital network (ISDN) digital signal processing circuitry  244 , a telephony (1.544 Mbps [telephony], one of the basic signalling systems 24×64 Kb) and/or terrestrial  1  [data] T1 digital signal processing circuitry  245 , . . . , or any other digital signal processing circuitry  249 . The digital signal processing circuitry  240  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  219 . The back plane interface (I/F)  219  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to enable the MSAP is properly interfaced and communicatively couple to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  219  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  219  and the network to which it is communicatively coupling.  
         [0038]    The invention allows for any of a number of circuitries within the MSAP  210  to be employed using vacuum microelectronic circuitry as known by those persons having skill in the art. Any one, any combination, or all of the portions  299  may be implemented using vacuum microelectronic circuitry without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Particular embodiments are described below, yet those persons having skill in the art will recognize that even those embodiments, of certain combinations and permutations not explicitly shown in the various Figures, may be achieved using vacuum microelectronic circuitry within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0039]    For example, any one, any combination, and/or all of the circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  211 , the XFRM  212 , the circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  213 , each of the line driver/Tx gain  231 , the Rx gain  232 , the filtering circuitry  215  including the Tx filter  216 , the Rx filter  217 , and the matrix switching functionality  292  may be implemented using the vacuum microelectronic circuitry in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. Similarly, any one, any combination, and/or all of the circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  211 , the XFRM  212 , the circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  213 , each of the line driver/Tx gain  231 , the Rx gain  232 , the filtering circuitry  215  including the Tx filter  216 , the Rx filter  217 , and the matrix switching functionality  292  may also be implemented using solid state technologies. Those having skill in the art will recognize that the scope and spirit of the invention includes the various combinations of devices having portions of vacuum microelectronic circuitry and also solid state circuitries.  
         [0040]    Upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the MSAP system  200  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a digital signal processing system  300  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The digital signal processing system  300  includes digital signal processing circuitry  310 . In accordance with the invention, the digital signal processing circuitry  310  may include any number of digital signal processing circuitry including a plain old telephone system (POTS) digital signal processing circuitry  341 , an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) digital signal processing circuitry  351 , a very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) digital signal processing circuitry  361 , an integrated services digital network (ISDN) digital signal processing circuitry  371 , a telephony (1.544 Mbps [telephony], one of the basic signaling systems 24×64 Kb) and/or terrestrial  1  [data] T1 digital signal processing circuitry  381 , . . . , or any other digital signal processing circuitry  399 .  
         [0042]    Each of the various digital signal processing circuitries may contain its dedicated digital to analog converter (DAC) and analog to digital converter (ADC) as well as dedicated processing circuitry to perform its requisite functionality. Those persons having skill in the art will recognize that some of the various services and network to be accessed using the digital signal processing circuitry  340  may require different sampling rates, resolution, and other parameters particular to the given service and/or application to be accessed.  
         [0043]    In light of this consideration, the plain old telephone system (POTS) digital signal processing circuitry  341  is shown as having a DAC  342 , an ADC  343 , and a voice processing circuitry  344 . Similarly, the asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) digital signal processing circuitry  351  is shown as having a DAC  352 , an ADC  353 , and an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) processing circuitry  354 . The very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) digital signal processing circuitry  361  is shown as having a DAC  362 , an ADC  363 , and a very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) processing circuitry  344 . The integrated services digital network (ISDN) digital signal processing circuitry  371  is shown as having a DAC  372 , an ADC  373 , and an integrated services digital network (ISDN) processing circuitry  374 . The telephony (1.544 Mbps [telephony], one of the basic signaling systems 24×64 Kb) and/or terrestrial  1  [data] T1 digital signal processing circuitry  381  is shown as having a DAC  382 , an ADC  383 , and a T1 processing circuitry  344 .  
         [0044]    Similarly, the other digital signal processing circuitry  399  may also include a DAC, an ADC, and a dedicated processing circuitry to facilitate the operation and services of the other digital signal processing circuitry  399  as well.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry  400 A that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry  400 A includes filtering circuitry  415 A that performs the functionality of a high pass (HP) filter  416 A for the down-stream or Tx path and that also performs the functionality of a low pass (LP) filter  417 A for the up-stream or Rx path. The operation of the low pass (LP) filter  417 A may also include the operation of splitting off a 4 kHz region for POTS at the DC end of the band when this portion has not been dealt with in preceding circuitry. When the 4 kHz region for POTS at the DC end of the band has already been dealt with, then the use of a simple LPF may be used. Those persons having skill in the art will recognize the functionality and the spectrum division of the filtering performed to accommodate asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 4B is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of plain old telephone service/system (POTS) adapted filtering circuitry  400 B that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The plain old telephone service/system (POTS) adapted filtering circuitry  400 B includes filtering circuitry  415 B that performs the functionality of a low pass (LP) filter  416 B for the down-stream or Tx path and that also performs the functionality of a low pass (LP) filter  417 A for the up-stream or Rx path. In this embodiment of filtering that may be performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the lower ends of the frequency band are the same for both the down-stream or Tx path and the up-stream or Rx path. This region of the frequency spectrum includes the 4 kHz region for POTS at the DC end of the band. Those persons having skill in the art will recognize the functionality and the spectrum division of the filtering performed to accommodate plain old telephone service/system (POTS) services.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) adapted filtering circuitry  500 A that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) adapted filtering circuitry  500 A includes filtering circuitry  515 A that performs the functionality of a band pass (BP) filter  516 A for the down-stream or Tx path and that also performs the functionality of a band pass (BP) filter  517 A for the up-stream or Rx path. In this embodiment of filtering that may be performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the band pass (BP) filter  516 A for the down-stream or Tx path operates using a lower end of the spectrum than the band pass (BP) filter  517 A for the up-stream or Rx path. Those persons having skill in the art will recognize the functionality and the spectrum division of the filtering performed to accommodate very high speed asymmetric digital subscriber line (VDSL) services.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5B is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of plain old telephone system (POTS) and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry  500 B that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The plain old telephone system (POTS) and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) adapted filtering circuitry  500 B includes filtering circuitry  515 B that performs the functionality of a low pass (LP) and high pass (HP) filter  516 B for the down-stream or Tx path and that also performs the functionality of a low pass (LP) and a band pass (BP) filter  517 B for the up-stream or Rx path. In this embodiment of filtering that may be performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the low pass (LP) and high pass (HP) filter  516 B for the down-stream or Tx path operates using a lower end of the spectrum than the band pass (BP) filter portion of the low pass (LP) and a band pass (BP) filter  517 B for the up-stream or Rx path. In addition, the lower ends of the frequency spectrum captured by the low pass (LP) filter portions of the combination filters  516 B and  517 B are geared to the 4 kHz region for POTS at the DC end of the band. Those persons having skill in the art will recognize the functionality and the spectrum division of the filtering performed to accommodate both the plain old telephone system (POTS) and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services in a single filtering circuitry.  
         [0049]    Moreover, those persons having skill in the art will recognize the adaptability of the invention to accommodate filtering for any one, any combination, and/or all of the various services and networks proffered within various embodiments of the invention. These FIGS. 4A, 4B,  5 A, and  5 B are exemplary and not exhaustive, and one having skill in the art will understand, in light of the description within this patent application, that filtering may be extended to include such variations and permutations as required by particular applications. Moreover, the adaptability of the filtering may be adapted to accommodate services not yet envisioned, given the relative ease with which the filtering circuitry may be configured and modified, as also implemented using vacuum microelectronic circuitry within the various embodiments.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system  600  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  600  includes a binder group  605  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  605  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  610 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  610  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0051]    The VMC MSAP  610  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  611 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  611  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  611  interfaces with a transformer (XFRM)  612 . The XFRM  612  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  605 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  610  as well.  
         [0052]    The XFRM  612  interfaces with circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  613 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  613  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  610 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  613  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput using a line driver/matrix switching VMC  690 . The driver/matrix switching VMC  690  performs line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain functionality  691  and receiver (Rx) gain functionality  693  as well as matrix switching functionality  691 . The matrix switch functionality  691  is operable to perform switching between the various subscribers and the various networks and services that they seek to solicit. The line driver/matrix switching VMC  690  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  615 . The filtering circuitry  615  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  616  and a Rx filter  617 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  615  may also include an optional echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0053]    The filtering circuitry  615  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  640 . The digital signal processing circuitry  640  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  619 . The back plane interface (I/F)  619  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  610  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  619  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  619  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0054]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIG. 2, upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  600  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 7 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system  700  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  700  includes a binder group  705  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  705  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  710 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  710  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0056]    The VMC MSAP  710  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  711 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  711  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  711  interfaces with a matrix switching vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  790 . The matrix switching VMC  790  is configured to perform matrix switching functionality  792  for both up and down stream paths. The matrix switching vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  790  is communicatively coupled to a transformer (XFRM)  712 . The XFRM  712  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  705 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  710  as well.  
         [0057]    The XFRM  712  interfaces with circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  713 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  713  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  710 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  713  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  732 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  731 . Each of the Rx gain  732  and the line driver/Tx gain  731  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  715 . The filtering circuitry  715  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  716  and a Rx filter  717 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  715  may also include an optional echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  732  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  731  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  715 . The filtering circuitry  715  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  716  and a Rx filter  717 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0058]    The filtering circuitry  715  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  740 . The digital signal processing circuitry  740  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  719 . The back plane interface (I/F)  719  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  710  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  719  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  719  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0059]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6, and  7 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  700  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system  800  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  800  includes a binder group  805  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  805  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  810 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  810  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0061]    The VMC MSAP  810  includes over-voltage/surge protection adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  890 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection adapted VMC  890  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection adapted VMC  890  interfaces with a transformer (XFRM)  812 . The XFRM  812  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  805 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  810  as well.  
         [0062]    The XFRM  812  interfaces with circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  813 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  813  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  810 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  813  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  832 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  831 . Each of the Rx gain  832  and the line driver/Tx gain  831  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  815 . The filtering circuitry  815  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  816  and a Rx filter  817 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  815  may also include an optional echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  832  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  831  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  815 . The filtering circuitry  815  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  816  and a Rx filter  817 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0063]    The filtering circuitry  815  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  840 . The digital signal processing circuitry  840  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  819 . The back plane interface (I/F)  819  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  810  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  819  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  819  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0064]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6, and  7 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  800  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 9 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system  900  that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  900  includes a binder group  905  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  905  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  910 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  910  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0066]    The VMC MSAP  910  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  911 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  911  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  911  interfaces with a transformer adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (XFRM VMC)  912 . The XFRM VMC  912  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  905 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  910  as well.  
         [0067]    The XFRM VMC  912  interfaces with circuitry operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  913 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  913  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  910 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  913  interfaces for both upstream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  932 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  931 . Each of the Rx gain  932  and the line driver/Tx gain  931  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  915 . The filtering circuitry  915  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  916  and a Rx filter  917 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  915  may also include an optional echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  932  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  931  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  915 . The filtering circuitry  915  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  916  and a Rx filter  917 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0068]    The filtering circuitry  915  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  940 . The digital signal processing circuitry  940  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  919 . The back plane interface (I/F)  919  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  910  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  919  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  919  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0069]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6  7 , and  8 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  900  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 10 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  1000  includes a binder group  1005  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  1005  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  1010 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  1010  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0071]    The VMC MSAP  1010  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  1011 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  1011  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  1011  interfaces with a transformer (XFRM)  1012 . The XFRM  1012  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  1005 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  1010  as well.  
         [0072]    The XFRM  1012  interfaces with hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1013 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1013  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  1010 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1013  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The upstream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  1032 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1031 . Each of the Rx gain  1032  and the line driver/Tx gain  1031  is communicatively coupled to filtering circuitry  1015 . The filtering circuitry  1015  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (upstream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1016  and a Rx filter  1017 . Moreover, the filtering circuitry  1015  may also include an optional echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  1032  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1031  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  1015 . The filtering circuitry  1015  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1016  and a Rx filter  1017 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0073]    The filtering circuitry  1015  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  1040 . The digital signal processing circuitry  1040  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  1019 . The back plane interface (I/F)  1019  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  1010  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  1019  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  1019  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0074]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  1000  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 11 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  1100  includes a binder group  11   05  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  1105  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  1110 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  1110  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments.  
         [0076]    The VMC MSAP  11   10  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  1111 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  1111  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  1111  interfaces with a transformer (XFRM)  1112 . The XFRM  1112  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  1105 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  1110  as well.  
         [0077]    The XFRM  1112  interfaces with a circuitry that is operable to provide a hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  1113 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  1113  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  1110 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match )  1113  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain  1132 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1131 . Each of the Rx gain  1132  and the line driver/Tx gain  1131  is communicatively coupled to filtering adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1115 . The filtering adapted VMC  1115  is configured to provide functionality to perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1116  and a Rx filter  1117 . Moreover, the filtering adapted VMC  1115  may also be configured to perform the optional functionality of an echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  1132  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1131  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  1115 . The filtering circuitry  1115  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1116  and a Rx filter  1117 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0078]    The filtering circuitry  11   15  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  1140 . The digital signal processing circuitry  1140  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  1119 . The back plane interface (I/F)  1119  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  1110  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  1119  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  1119  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0079]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  1100  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 12 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  1200  includes a binder group  1205  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  1205  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  1210 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  1210  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments. Moreover, an entire portion of the VMC MSAP  1210  is composed of adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1290 .  
         [0081]    The VMC MSAP  1210  includes circuitry operable to perform over-voltage/surge protection  1211 . The functionality offered by the over-voltage/surge protection  1211  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection  1211  interfaces with a transformer adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (XFRM VMC)  1212 . The XFRM VMC  1212  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  1205 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  1210  as well.  
         [0082]    The XFRM VMC  1212  interfaces with hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1213 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1213  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  1210 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1213  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain adapted VMC  1232 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain adapted VMC  1231 . Each of the Rx gain adapted VMC  1232  and the line driver/Tx gain adapted VMC  1231  is communicatively coupled to filtering adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1215 . The filtering adapted VMC  1215  is configured to provide functionality to perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1216  and a Rx filter  1217 . Moreover, the filtering adapted VMC  1215  may also be configured to perform the optional functionality of an echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  1232  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1231  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  1215 . The filtering circuitry  1215  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1216  and a Rx filter  1217 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0083]    The filtering circuitry  1215  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  1240 . The digital signal processing circuitry  1240  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  1219 . The back plane interface (I/F)  1219  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  1210  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  1219  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  1219  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0084]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  1200  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 13 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a vacuum microelectronic circuitry multi-service access platform (MSAP) system that is built in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. The MSAP system  1300  includes a binder group  1305  that may include a number of subscriber lines. The particular number of subscriber lines included within the binder group  1305  is variable in certain instances, and the scalability of the invention is operable to accommodate any of the various number of subscriber lines. The binder group is shown as interfacing with a vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC) adapted multi-service access platform (VMC MSAP)  1310 . From certain perspectives, the VMC MSAP  1310  may be viewed as being located within a central office. Alternatively, it may be viewed as being within a digital loop carrier (DLC) in other embodiments. Moreover, an entire portion of the VMC MSAP  1310  is composed of adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1390 .  
         [0086]    The VMC MSAP  1310  includes over-voltage/surge protection adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1311 . The over-voltage/surge protection adapted VMC  1311  includes lightning protection, protection from over-rated voltage getting on the system, and protection against surges of over-rated current as well. The over-voltage/surge protection adapted VMC  1311  interfaces with a transformer adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (XFRM VMC)  1312 . The XFRM VMC  1312  is operable to perform DC rejection of any of the inputs contained within the binder group  1305 . Alternatively, any requisite DC rejection or other filtering may also be performed in other areas within the VMC MSAP  1310  as well.  
         [0087]    The XFRM VMC  1312  interfaces with hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1313 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1313  is operable to perform impedance matching of the network to ensure maximum power and signal throughput, among other benefits of providing impedance matching between the network and the VMC MSAP  1310 . The hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ) adapted VMC  1313  interfaces for both up-stream and down-stream throughput. The up-stream flow may be accommodated by a possible receiver (Rx) gain adapted VMC  1332 , and the down-stream flow is handled by a line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain adapted VMC  1331 . Each of the Rx gain adapted VMC  1332  and the line driver/Tx gain adapted VMC  1331  is communicatively coupled to filtering adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry (VMC)  1315 . The filtering adapted VMC  1315  is configured to provide functionality to perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1316  and a Rx filter  1317 . Moreover, the filtering adapted VMC  1315  may also be configured to perform the optional functionality of an echo canceller. As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application. Each of the receiver (Rx) gain  1332  and the line driver/transmitter (Tx) gain  1331  communicatively couple to filtering circuitry  1315 . The filtering circuitry  1315  is operable perform filtering for both the transmit (down-stream) and receive (up-stream) paths, as shown by a Tx filter  1316  and a Rx filter  1317 . As mentioned above, and as will be described in even more detail below in various embodiments of the invention, the particular filtering that is to be performed for each of the potential services and networks that is to be accessed may various from application to application.  
         [0088]    The filtering circuitry  1315  communicatively couples to digital signal processing circuitry  1340 . The digital signal processing circuitry  1340  then communicatively couples to a back plane interface (I/F)  1319 . The back plane interface (I/F)  1319  is operable to communicatively couple to a network interface card or any other network interface circuitry that is operable to ensure that the VMC MSAP  1310  is properly interfaced and communicatively coupled to a network. Alternatively, the back plane interface (I/F)  1319  itself may be designed to include network interfacing circuitry, thereby obviating the need of an additional network interface card between the back plane interface (I/F)  1319  and the network to which it is communicative coupling.  
         [0089]    Similar to the embodiment described above in the FIGS. 2, 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , upon reviewing the various embodiments of the invention disclosed within this patent application, those persons having skill in the art will recognize that many of the various functionality devices within the VMC MSAP system  1300  may be transposed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the over-voltage/surge protection may be provided immediately before interfacing with any digital signal processing circuitry in various embodiments of the invention. The variations of moving and re-ordering such transposable devices does not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 14A is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation that  1400 A is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. A matrix switch  1410 A is shown as being operable to perform switching between an indefinite number of inputs 1, 2, . . . , and n to an indefinite number of outputs 1, 2, . . . , and m. The number of outputs m may differ from the number of inputs n. In addition, the number of outputs m may be less than the number of inputs n; the number of outputs m may be also be greater than the number of inputs n (as shown by the dotted line to the optional output m). The matrix switch  1410 A may be employed in any of the various embodiments of the invention shown above. In addition as also shown above in many of the various embodiments, the matrix switch  1410 A may also be employed within the different locations within the various embodiments shown above. The indefinite number of inputs n and outputs m is shown, among other reasons, to display the adaptability of the switching functionality of the matrix switch  1410 A and its ability to be adapted to any number of applications.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 14B is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation  1400 B that is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. From certain perspectives, the matrix switch  1400 B is one of the particular embodiments of the matrix switch  1400 A as shown above in the FIG. 14A. The FIG. 14B shows one embodiment of matrix switching operation that is ideally tailored to application within any of the multi-service access platforms described above in the various embodiments of the invention. For example, as shown above, the matrix switch functionality may be located in any number of the various locations within the various embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. However, from at least one perspective, the matrix switch  1400 B is appropriately chosen in terms of input to output to accommodate the needs and requirements of a binder group, containing any number of subscriber lines, in terms of the physical limits within a central office including considerations such as cross-talk, board impedance, trace impedance, and other considerations relating to the performance and layout of a number of subscriber lines coming into a central office having a fixed size and processing capabilities. The scalability of the matrix switching functionality employed within the invention is theoretically indefinite, as described in the FIG. 14A, yet the invention is also adaptable to situations where the physical constraints of a given application present limits such as the number of lines and the number of devices that may be employed within a particular application.  
         [0092]    As shown in the FIG. 14B, a matrix switch  1410 B is shown as being operable to perform switching between a number of inputs 1, 2, . . . , and 300 to a number of outputs 1, 2, . . . , and 50. The number of outputs is 300, and the number of inputs is 50. This 300×50 switching matrix size is appropriately chosen and is operable to meet a particular number of design requirements within the digital subscriber line (DSL) context.  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 14C is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment matrix switching operation  1400 C that is performed in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. From certain perspectives, the matrix switch  1400 C is one of the particular embodiments of the matrix switch  1400 A as shown above in the FIG. 14A. The FIG. 14C shows one embodiment of matrix switching operation that is operable using one of any number of commercially available vacuum microelectronic circuitry products. Some products are operable to perform 1500×1500 matrix switching. While this total number of operable switching may be viewed as being overkill in certain embodiments of the invention, the availability of such matrix switching may be fully utilized in different embodiments.  
         [0094]    As shown in the FIG. 14B, a matrix switch  1410 B is shown as being operable to perform switching between a number of inputs 1, 2, . . . , and 1500 to an identical number of outputs 1, 2, . . . , and 15000. The number of outputs is 1500, and the number of inputs is 1500. This 1500×1500 switching matrix size is just one such sized and available vacuum microelectronic circuitry product device.  
         [0095]    Moreover, the availability of such high density vacuum microelectronic circuitry allows operation for a number of applications. For example, a re-configured or adapted vacuum microelectronic circuitry could be generated to include various functionality offered by the inherent anode-cathode characteristics offered within the vacuum microelectronic circuitry for any number of applications including over-voltage/surge protection, hybrid network matching impedance (Z match ), line driver functionality, gain and voltage stepping functionality, filtering functionality, and of course matrix switching. The invention has disclosed many embodiments that employ the configurable nature of such vacuum microelectronic circuitry within such applications besides simply matrix switching. If desired, the high density of gas chambers allowed within these vacuum microelectronic circuitry devices are operable to perform one, all, or combinations of these various functions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. As desired within a particular application, the total number of functions that are implemented within the vacuum microelectronic circuitry will vary, yet the scope and spirit of the invention includes each of these various permutations. Many of these permutations have been shown explicitly, yet those having skill in the art will recognize the ability of this design to be easily extended to such other embodiments as well.  
         [0096]    In view of the above detailed description of the invention and associated drawings, other modifications and variations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It should also be apparent that such other modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.