A DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH INTELLIGENT CHANNEL UNITS

摘要

In a time division multiplex digital communication system, access devices are capable of generating and detecting data sequences that are normally suppressed by end user equipment for establishing in-band communications between the access device and selected intelligent channel units (ICU's). In-band communication is initiated by transmitting a sequence comprising a plurality of first bytes for preventing inadvertent initiation of maintenance operations for digital devices in a particular time slot, followed by a plurality of second bytes in said time slot. In-band communication is established when the selected ICU receives a sequence comprising a plurality of said first bytes, a plurality of bytes which identify the select device and a plurality of said second bytes. Once established, in-band communications can then be used to accomplish automated provisioning, performance reporting, status reporting, alarm reporting as well as other important functions.