Method and apparatus for flexible FXS port utilization in a telecommunications device
An apparatus for flexible FXS port utilization includes a switch adapted for connection to a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) based communication lines, a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) connected to the switch and having a single FXS port and an IP based handset connected to the switch. The switch may be a softswitch with switching operations executed by a network processor adapted for connection between an external IP signal source and the switch. A method of the invention includes providing a utilization status of the single FXS port and performing an automated switching operation at least the SLIC; based on and in response to a desired port utilization status initiated remotely from the communication device.
1 . An apparatus for flexible FXS port utilization comprising:
a switch adapted for connection to a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) based communication lines;
a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) connected to the switch and having a single FXS port; and
an IP based handset connected to the switch.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch is a softswitch.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein switching operations of the softswitch are executed by a network processor connected to the switch.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a network processor adapted for connection between an external IP signal source and the switch.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the network processor converts IP signals from the external IP signal source into the plurality of IP based communication lines.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plurality of IP based communication lines are at least two VoIP lines.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for external communication device connection connected to the SLIC.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for external device connection is an RJ11 telephone jack.
9 . A method of flexible FXS port utilization for a communication device having a switch adapted for connection to a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) based communication lines; a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) connected to the switch and having a single FXS port and an IP based handset connected to the switch, the method comprising:
providing a utilization status of the single FXS port; and
performing an automated switching operation at least the SLIC; based on and in response to a desired port utilization status initiated remotely from the communication device.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing further comprises relaying utilization status information of the FXS port device found in a configuration file.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the utilization status information is relayed to one selected from the group consisting of a communication service subscriber and a communication service provider.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the automated switching operation is performed by a softswitch.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the automated switching operation of the softswitch is controlled by a network processor connected to the switch.
14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the desired port utilization status initiated remotely from the communication device occurs by an activity selected from the group consisting of a communication service provider providing new configuration file information to the communication device and a communication service subscriber providing new configuration file information to his communication device.
15 . The method of claim 9 wherein the automated switching operation changes switch connection points of at least one switching point in the communication device based on changes to a configuration file therewithin.
16 . A computer readable medium storing a software program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform an operation of flexible FXS port utilization for a communication device having a switch adapted for connection to a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) based communication lines; a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) connected to the switch and having a single FXS port and an IP based handset connected to the switch the operation comprising:
providing a utilization status of the single FXS port; and
performing an automated switching operation at least the SLIC; based on and in response to a desired port utilization status initiated remotely from the communication device.
17 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the step of providing further comprises relaying utilization status information of the FXS port device found in a configuration file.
18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the utilization status information is relayed to one selected from the group consisting of a communication service subscriber and a communication service provider.
19 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the automated switching operation is performed by a softswitch.
20 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the automated switching operation of the softswitch is controlled by a network processor connected to the switch.
21 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the desired port utilization status initiated remotely from the communication device occurs by an activity selected from the group consisting of a communication service provider providing new configuration file information to the communication device and a communication service subscriber providing new configuration file information to his communication device.
22 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the automated switching operation changes switch connection points of at least one switching point in the communication device based on changes to a configuration file therewithin.