Patent ID: 6975620

Claim:
A system, comprising: a splitter that is locatable at a central office that comprises a plurality of lines; wherein the splitter is configured to be connectable with a subset of the plurality of lines on a one-to-one basis between the splitter and the subset of the plurality of lines; wherein the central office comprises a main distribution frame and a switch, wherein the main distribution frame is coupled with a first line of the subset of the plurality of lines, wherein the switch is coupled with a second line of the subset of the plurality of lines, wherein the first line is different from the second line; wherein the splitter is configured to be connectable with the first line and the second line without employment of a splitter shelf; wherein the second line is convertible from a plain old telephone service line to a plain old telephone service and asymmetric digital subscriber line through employment of an individual unit that comprises the splitter and the subset of the plurality of lines; wherein the splitter provides a first signal path between the switch and the main distribution frame, wherein the splitter is configured to be installable on the subset of the plurality of lines without interruption of plain old telephone service on a particular line of the plurality of lines, wherein the particular line is different from every line of the subset of the plurality of lines and provides a second signal path that directly connects the switch with the main distribution frame.