Patent ID: 7948972

Claim:
An apparatus located within a customer premises for enabling change in a number of voice communication channels and/or data communication channels provided within said customer premises, comprising: at least two interfaces, where a first interface of said at least two interfaces is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) interface for providing communication with at least one voice communication channel, where a second interface of said at least two interfaces is a digital subscriber line (DSL) technology interface for providing communication with at least one data communication channel, and where each communication channel may be exchanged between being a voice communication channel or a data communication channel; a memory having software stored therein; a processor configured by said memory to perform the steps of: allowing a user of said apparatus to directly designate, within said customer premises, a number of data communication channels to be accommodated within said customer premises by said apparatus; allowing said user of said apparatus to designate, within said customer premises, a number of voice communication channels to be accommodated within said customer premises by said apparatus; allowing said user to personally change said designation of said number of data communication channels and voice communication channels in said customer premises in accordance with need of said data communication channels and said voice communication channels, through use of said apparatus; and directly physically changing the number of data communication channels and voice communication channels according to the designation of data communication channels and voice communication channels changed by the user, wherein both the voice communication channels and the data communication channels are provided over a local loop.