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: 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: 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: 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.