Method and apparatus for automated subscriber-based tdm-ip conversion

Abstract

An automated conversion method and apparatus are provided to automatically detect the type of an incoming signal (e.g., SONET or Ethernet signal) at a site and to encapsulate outgoing data, or not, based on that detection to facilitate conversion to new infrastructure (e.g., TDM to Ethernet). The automatic detection can be achieved by alternating a search for a first or second protocol signals (e.g., a SONET signal or Ethernet signal) received after a loss of signal or other similar event. Diagnostics of any prior valid transmission are retained in case the disruption was due to transmission quality problem rather than a change in the transmission protocol (e.g., SONET to Ethernet). An FPGA can have firmware configured as necessary to support either an IP or TDM configuration when change is detected in the format of the signal arriving at the optical port of the premises device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing an automated transmission protocol conversion at a site that is remote from a central office or other site wherein the remote site equipment is connected to the central office or other site by a carrier that supports a first transmission protocol and provides signals to one or more subscribers in accordance with the first transmission protocol, the method comprising:
 storing different firmware code corresponding to respective transmission protocols in a memory accessed by the remote site equipment, the different firmware code comprising at least a first firmware code and a second firmware code for supporting, respectively, the first transmission protocol and a second transmission protocol;   operating the remote site equipment in accordance with the first firmware code to transmit outgoing signals from the remote site equipment in the first transmission protocol in accordance with the first firmware code;   determining if the transmission protocol of an incoming signal to the remote site equipment has transitioned to the second transmission protocol;   reconfiguring the remote site equipment to operate in accordance with the second firmware code instead of the first firmware code to convert, prior to transmission, the transmission protocol of an outgoing signal to the second transmission protocol when the determined transmission protocol of the incoming signal has changed from the first transmission protocol to the second transmission protocol; and   continuing to operate the remote site equipment in accordance with the second firmware code instead of the first firmware code and transmit any subsequent outgoing signals in the second transmission protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission protocol is synchronous optical network or SONET-based. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission protocol is time division multiplexing or TDM-based. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second transmission protocol is Ethernet-based. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the continuing to operate comprises operating the remote site equipment in accordance with the second firmware code until a disruption in service is detected and a determination is made that an incoming signal to the remote site equipment has transitioned to a transmission protocol different from the second transmission protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:
 detecting when a disruption in receipt of incoming signals at the remote site equipment has occurred; and   alternately searching for an incoming signal having a first transmission protocol and an incoming signal having a second transmission protocol.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating performance data relating to the incoming signal;   storing the performance data in a memory device.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 detecting when a disruption in receipt of incoming signals at the remote site equipment has occurred;   restoring service to the remote site equipment via incoming signals; and   retrieving the performance data from the memory device.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the performance data is retrieved regardless of whether the restoring comprises incoming signals having a transmission protocol that is different from the transmission protocol of the incoming signals that was in use before the disruption. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus configured to perform an automated transmission protocol conversion at a site that is remote from a central office or other site wherein the apparatus is connected to the central office or other site by a first carrier type that supports a first transmission protocol, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory device configured to store different firmware code corresponding to respective transmission protocols in a memory accessed by the remote site equipment, the different firmware code comprising at least a first firmware code and a second firmware code for supporting, respectively, the first transmission protocol and a second transmission protocol;   a processing device configured to operate in accordance with the first firmware code to transmit outgoing signals from the remote site equipment in the first transmission protocol;   a transmitting/receiving interface for transmitting outgoing signals from the apparatus in a first transmission protocol in accordance with the first firmware code;   wherein the apparatus, upon receiving an indication that the transmission protocol of an incoming signal to the remote site is the second transmission protocol, reconfigures the processing device to operate in accordance with the second firmware code instead of the first firmware code to convert, prior to the transmitting, the transmission protocol of an outgoing signal to the second transmission protocol, and to continue operating the processing device in accordance with the second firmware code instead of the first firmware code and transmit any subsequent outgoing signals in the second transmission protocol.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first transmission protocol is synchronous optical network or SONET-based. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first transmission protocol is time division multiplexing or TDM-based. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the second transmission protocol is Ethernet-based. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the incoming signals directed downstream at a site located downstream of the central office or similar site and selected from the group consisting of a customer premises, a remote terminal, a mini-premises, a cabinet serving a plurality of customers, and another central office, and to transmit the outgoing signals upstream to the originating central office from the remote site. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configured to determine the transmission protocol of the incoming signal automatically at selected times or events. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform alternating searches for an incoming first transmission protocol-based signal and an incoming second transmission protocol-based signal. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured to determine the transmission protocol of the incoming signal after a disruption in the incoming signal. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configured to continue operating the processing device in accordance with the second firmware code until a disruption in service is detected and a determination is made that an incoming signal to the remote site equipment has transitioned to a transmission protocol different from the second transmission protocol. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configured to generate performance data relating to the incoming signal, and to store the performance data in the memory device. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is configured to detect when a disruption in receipt of incoming signals at the remote site equipment has occurred, restore service to the remote site equipment via incoming signals, and retrieve the performance data from the memory device. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus is configured to retrieve the performance data regardless of whether the restored service comprises incoming signals having a transmission protocol that is different from the transmission protocol of the incoming signals that was in use before the disruption.