Abstract: Apparatus and methods for managing communication system resources are disclosed. Based on status information received from a resource itself or from other sources, an operational status of a maintenance resource to perform a predetermined maintenance operation on a target communication system resource, for example, may be determined. Access to use resources in performing operations may also be controlled. Resource access is granted or denied based on an availability status of a resource. Other parameters such as relative priorities of a new request to use a resource and a current operation for which access to use the resource was previously granted may also be used in determining whether to grant access to use a resource. A resource may be reclaimed for a higher priority operation for instance. Redundant or alternate resources may also be identified where a resource is not operational or otherwise not available.

Abstract: Subscriber line maintenance apparatus and methods are disclosed. A maintenance operation is performed on a subscriber line in a communication system by an embedded test unit. The test unit limits an effect of the maintenance operation on communication signals that are transferred on the subscriber line during the maintenance operation. In one embodiment, the communication signals are high-frequency signals, and the limiting is achieved by performing the maintenance operation through a low-pass filter, such as the low pass filter of a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) splitter. The test unit may be implemented as a daughter card carried by another electronic circuit card in a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), for example, so that the test unit does not occupy its own card slot in an equipment shelf. One, or more than one, test unit may be provided to serve multiple equipment shelves in a distributed communication equipment architecture.

Abstract: A multi-dwelling unit (MDU) module is configured for providing telephony communicating services and non-telephony services. The MDU module includes a motherboard and a plurality of service units connected to the motherboard. Each one of said service units and the motherboard are jointly configured for providing non-telephony service and telephony service to a plurality of service subscribers. The motherboard is configured for providing overload power management to limit power consumption associated with said telephony services during an overload condition and for providing lifeline power management to limit power consumption associated with said non-telephony services during a power outage condition. The MDU module optionally includes lightning primary surge protection blocks configured for being connected to the service units.

Abstract: Distributed communication equipment architectures and techniques are disclosed. A host system includes an expansion unit through which control information and communication traffic may be exchanged with an expansion system. The expansion system is thereby controllable by a controller at the host system, significantly simplifying the design and reducing the cost of the expansion system. The expansion unit for a host system may also provide one or more configurable communication link interfaces. Each configurable interface may be independently configured as a network-side interface for connection to upstream communication equipment or as an access-side expansion interface for connection to an expansion system, allowing provisioning of network and access interfaces at the host system as needed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for managing communication system resources are disclosed. Based on status information received from a resource itself or from other sources, an operational status of a maintenance resource to perform a predetermined maintenance operation on a target communication system resource, for example, may be determined. Access to use resources in performing operations may also be controlled. Resource access is granted or denied based on an availability status of a resource. Other parameters such as relative priorities of a new request to use a resource and a current operation for which access to use the resource was previously granted may also be used in determining whether to grant access to use a resource. A resource may be reclaimed for a higher priority operation for instance. Redundant or alternate resources may also be identified where a resource is not operational or otherwise not available.

Abstract: Subscriber line maintenance apparatus and methods are disclosed. A maintenance operation is performed on a subscriber line in a communication system by an embedded test unit. The test unit limits an effect of the maintenance operation on communication signals that are transferred on the subscriber line during the maintenance operation. In one embodiment, the communication signals are high-frequency signals, and the limiting is achieved by performing the maintenance operation through a low-pass filter, such as the low pass filter of a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) splitter. The test unit may be implemented as a daughter card carried by another electronic circuit card in a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), for example, so that the test unit does not occupy its own card slot in an equipment shelf. One, or more than one, test unit may be provided to serve multiple equipment shelves in a distributed communication equipment architecture.

Abstract: A hybrid IP/ATM DSLAM and method are provided for hybrid IP/ATM DSL access multiplexing. While traversing a DSLAM, ATM traffic over ATM network infrastructure and GigE/IP traffic over GigE/IP network infrastructure may be recast into crossover GigE/IP traffic and crossover ATM traffic respectively, and routed to the opposite kind of network infrastructure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring an identifier in accordance with a predetermined identification scheme for a particular component within a network, the particular component being incapable of providing one or more value(s) for parameters of the predetermined identification scheme is provided. The apparatus comprises a module for determining that the particular component requires the identifier in accordance with the predetermined identification scheme and a processor for configuring the identifier in accordance with the predetermined identification scheme using one or more parameter value(s) available for components incapable of providing the parameter value(s) in accordance with the predetermined identification scheme. In some embodiments the identifier is assigned to the component.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing remote control and control redundancy for distributed communication equipment are disclosed. An expansion system in a distributed communication equipment architecture is controlled by a controller in a host system. Control information is exchanged between the host system controller and an expansion system in communication signals that are processed by one or more communication modules such as line termination cards in the expansion system. Communication signals are transferred to the communication module(s) through an expansion system control device, and control information is then transferred back to the control device. Control information may also be transferred from the expansion system control device to the host system through the communication module(s). This simplifies the design and lowers the cost of the control device, which does not process received signals.

Abstract: Distributed communication equipment architectures and techniques are disclosed. A host system includes an expansion unit through which control information and communication traffic may be exchanged with an expansion system. The expansion system is thereby controllable by a controller at the host system, significantly simplifying the design and reducing the cost of the expansion system. The expansion unit for a host system may also provide one or more configurable communication link interfaces. Each configurable interface may be independently configured as a network-side interface for connection to upstream communication equipment or as an access-side expansion interface for connection to an expansion system, allowing provisioning of network and access interfaces at the host system as needed.