ACCESS MULTIPLEXER FOR DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LOOPS

摘要

In order to reduce complexity and equipment costs, access apparatus for connecting a plurality of DSL lines to a data network comprises a plurality of interface units connected to a plurality of DSL lines, respectively, for converting DSL signals to digital signals, or vice versa; at least one digital signal processor (DSP) unit for processing the digital signals and routing the processed signals to the data network, and for processing signals from the data network and supplying the resulting digital signals to the interface units, respectively , and a session switch for making virtual connections between respective ones of t he interface units whose associated DSL lines are active and the DSP. The session switch maintains each connection for the duration of a session. With such an arrangement, a pool of DSPs may be shared by a much larger number of DSL lines.