Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing backup power over communication wires from a central office of a service provider to a remote customer premise. In accordance with the invention, a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power signal and a digital data signal are combined and coupled to the communication wires at the central office. The combined signal is then transmitted along the communication wires to the remote customer premise. At the customer premise, the HVDC power signal is separated from the digital data signal. The HVDC power signal is then down converted into a low voltage direct current (LVDC) power signal that is coupled to premise communication wires at the remote customer premise. The premise communication wires them provide a path for the data signal and the LVDC power signal to the customer premise equipment (CPE). Thus, a reliable and safe source of backup power is provided for the CPE over existing communications wires.

Abstract: An arbitration mechanism is distributed among channel units of a statistically multiplexed frame relay switching system serving a plurality of access lines, the cumulative bandwidth of which exceeds that of an aggregate data link over which data is to be transported. For each access line, an arbitration code is generated. This code includes a transmit request or start bit, a calculated multibit arbitration value based upon a combination of parameters, including queuing delay and the configuration and traffic rate of the line, and an address code that identifies the physical location of the respective channel unit. All arbitration codes are readable by each frame relay channel unit via a wire-ORed bus. A channel unit participating in an arbitration cycle compares the value of its arbitration code with those of the other participants.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing backup power over communication wires from a central office of a service provider to a remote customer premise. In accordance with the invention, a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power signal and a digital data signal are combined and coupled to the communication wires at the central office. The combined signal is then transmitted along the communication wires to the remote customer premise. At the customer premise, the HVDC power signal is separated from the digital data signal. The HVDC power signal is then down converted into a low voltage direct current (LVDC) power signal that is coupled to premise communication wires at the remote customer premise. The premise communication wires them provide a path for the data signal and the LVDC power signal to the customer premise equipment (CPE). Thus, a reliable and safe source of backup power is provided for the CPE over existing communications wires.

Abstract: An arbitration mechanism is distributed among channel units of a statistically multiplexed frame relay switching system serving a plurality of access lines, the cumulative bandwidth of which exceeds that of an aggregate data link over which data is to be transported. For each access line, an arbitration code is generated. This code includes a transmit request or start bit, a calculated multibit arbitration value based upon a combination of parameters, including queuing delay and the configuration and traffic rate of the line, and an address code that identifies the physical location of the respective channel unit. All arbitration codes are readable by each frame relay channel unit via a wire-ORed bus. A channel unit participating in an arbitration cycle compares the value of its arbitration code with those of the other participants.

Abstract: A simple network management protocol (SNMP) agent is distributed among individual channel units of frame relay switching system, rather than in a proxy device. The SNMP agent is implemented by encoding the identity of an individual channel device for whom a data packet is intended in the community data string portion of an SNMP packet. For a read request, the address of a channel unit is encoded as an augmented community string, such as “public.#”. For a write request, the address is encoded as an augmented community string, such as “private.#”.

Abstract: An arbitration mechanism is distributed among channel units of a statistically multiplexed frame relay switching system serving a plurality of access lines, the cumulative bandwidth of which exceeds that of an aggregate data link over which data is to be transported. For each access line, an arbitration code is generated. This code includes a transmit request or start bit, a calculated multibit arbitration value based upon a combination of parameters, including queuing delay and the configuration and traffic rate of the line, and an address code that identifies the physical location of the respective channel unit. All arbitration codes are readable by each frame relay channel unit via a wire-ORed bus. A channel unit participating in an arbitration cycle compares the value of its arbitration code with those of the other participants.

Abstract: A composite circuit card architecture conforms with a prescribed form factor for installation in a card slot and connection to a backplane of a multiple circuit card-supporting housing. Only a portion of the card is comprised of printed wiring board material, while the remainder, where no printed circuit components are installed, is a support substrate formed of a material other than that of said printed wiring board. Also, a front panel portion is formed of the material other than that of the printed wiring board, such as plastic integrally molded with the support substrate, thereby significantly reducing the cost associated with the conventional approach of making the entire card from printed circuit board material. At one communication link, such as a ribbon cable, may be coupled between the printed wiring board and at least one input/output port at the front panel.

Abstract: A composite circuit card architecture conforms with a prescribed form factor for installation in a card slot and connection to a backplane of a multiple circuit card-supporting housing. Only a portion of the card is comprised of printed wiring board material, while the remainder, where no printed circuit components are installed, is a support substrate formed of a material other than that of said printed wiring board. Also, a front panel portion is formed of the material other than that of the printed wiring board, such as plastic integrally molded with the support substrate, thereby significantly reducing the cost associated with the conventional approach of making the entire card from printed circuit board material. At one communication link, such as a ribbon cable, may be coupled between the printed wiring board and at least one input/output port at the front panel.

Abstract: A performance monitoring arrangement conducts auxiliary communications between a performance-monitoring capable line interface unit and one or more performance-monitoring capable channel units of a D4 channel bank without interrupting transmission of digital data to and from a customer premises. During each of an initialization mode and a performance-monitoring mode, the data communication format of a channel bank bus is modified to allow insertion of an auxiliary line interface unit-sourced command bit between selected bits of the data. During the performance-monitoring mode, the communication format of the channel bank link is further modified to provide for insertion of a response bit from a channel unit and the transmission of data at an increased data rate. In the absence of an indication that there is an anomaly that would impair the operation of the channel bank, the channel unit transitions to a performance-monitoring mode of operation.