Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) access network connected to an external data network can be tested using a remote test host operating on the external data network by looping test data from the test host through the PON to an Optical Network Terminator (ONT), through a data path between an ONT test port and an ONT user port, and back through the PON to the test host. Data tunneling is used to route the data through the external data network between the test host and the PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The invention can be used to emulate downstream as well as upstream PON traffic for remote diagnostic testing or other purposes.

Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) access network connected to an external data network can be tested using a remote test host operating on the external data network by looping test data from the test host through the PON to an Optical Network Terminator (ONT), through a data path between an ONT test port and an ONT user port, and back through the PON to the test host. Data tunneling is used to route the data through the external data network between the test host and the PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The invention can be used to emulate downstream as well as upstream PON traffic for remote diagnostic testing or other purposes.

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: Apparatus and methods for communication system-level communication link bonding are disclosed. Multiple communication links provided by transceivers in communication link termination modules are configured as a bonding group to support an aggregate group communication traffic rate on another communication link. Through an internal communication mechanism in communication equipment, communication traffic received on the other communication link is distributed among those of the communication link termination modules which include transceivers for transferring communication traffic on the communication links in the bonding group. The bonding module also receives, from communication link termination modules, communication traffic to be sent on the other communication link.

Abstract: Communication link bonding apparatus and methods are disclosed. Multiple communication links are configured, at a communication link termination module which transfers communication traffic between a further communication link and the multiple communication links, as a group for providing an aggregate group communication traffic rate. The aggregate group communication traffic rate is allocated among the grouped communication links, and communication traffic is distributed for transmission on the communication links in accordance with the communication traffic rate allocation. Once communication links of a group have been initialized using respective initialization communication traffic rates, a communication traffic rate allocation for each of the communication links may be calculated based on an attainable communication traffic rate of the communication link.