Network equipment system providing surge protection and DC blocking bypass functionalities

Abstract

A network equipment system comprises a communication apparatus, an equipment protector block connected between the communication apparatus and a subscriber premise DSL network termination device (NTD), and a protection module mounted on the equipment protector block. The protection module includes circuitry configured for providing surge protection functionality, for providing AC coupling-DC blocking functionality, for providing DC blocking bypass functionality, and for enabling said DC blocking bypass functionality to be selectively activated and deactivated. The protection module facilitates such functionality in association with the communication apparatus and the subscriber premise DSL NTD.

1 . A network equipment system, comprising:
 a communication apparatus;   an equipment protector block connected between the communication apparatus and a subscriber premise DSL network termination device (NTD); and   a protection module mounted on the equipment protector block and including circuitry configured for providing surge protection functionality, for providing AC coupling-DC blocking functionality, for providing DC blocking bypass functionality and for enabling said DC blocking bypass functionality to be selectively activated and deactivated;   wherein the protection module facilitates said functionality in association with the communication apparatus and the subscriber premise DSL NTD.   
   
   
       2 . The network equipment system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the communication apparatus includes DSL multiplexing equipment and test equipment; and   the equipment protection block is connected to at least one of said DSL multiplexing equipment and said test equipment.   
   
   
       3 . The network equipment system of  claim 2  wherein the DSL multiplexing equipment is one of a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) and a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor. 
   
   
       4 . The network equipment system of  claim 3  wherein the test equipment is configured for performing Metallic Loop Test (MLT) functionality. 
   
   
       5 . The network equipment system of claim  13  wherein:
 said circuitry is contained in a discrete packaging device;   the discrete packaging device is mounted on the equipment protector block; and   the equipment protector block is an unmodified commercially-available equipment protector block that is OEM-configured for having conventional surge protectors mounted thereon.