Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveying information over a communication network such as a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) network free of in-band signaling information for at least a portion of an established communication between at least two users so as to reduce the information error rate associated with the established communication. For communication links that support robbed-bit signaling (RBS), the RBS signaling is disabled to allow the communication link to be operated in a clear channel mode. When appropriate, operations can be switch from the clear channel mode back to the RBS mode. Embodiments are described for one-stage DLC systems having a local digital switch (LDS) connected to a remote terminal (RT) by a communication link conforming to either the TR-303 protocol or the TR-008 protocol. In addition, embodiments are described for two-stage DLC systems that also have a distance terminal (DT) connected to the RT by a second communication link.

Abstract: A system and method for translating a non-logic-family signal level into a logic-family signal level, the system comprising: a source of a non-logic-family signal that can assume a first and a second non-logic-family state; and a translator for determining whether the signal is in the first non-logic-family state, and if so, providing a translated signal having a first-logic family level. The translator can take the form of a comparator controlling an output transistor tied to a pull-up resistor, or a programmed processor. Examples of the logic-families include transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) logic. Examples of sources of non-logic-family signals includes a light emitting diode, a buzzer and a beeping device.