TFO resynchronization system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An embodiment of the invention provides a method of maintaining synchronization of an inband signaling system comprising the steps of: collecting inband signaling information from samples in a signaling channel; synchronizing the signaling system based on the collected inband signaling information; and continuing to collect inband signaling information while the signaling system is synchronized for use in resynchronizing the signaling system when synchronization is lost.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of facilitating tandem free operation of two devices in an inband signaling system having an inband signaling message comprised of the concatenation of the least significant bit of every M.
sup.
th sample of a digital signaling channel, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the least significant bit of samples of the digital signaling channel; filling M sample grids with the collected bits to provide M possible sample grids; determining whether any of the M sample grids match a reference bit pattern in order to detect the presence of an inband signaling channel; synchronizing the two devices using a detected inband signaling channel; and continuing to fill the M sample grids while the two devices are synchronized in order to maintain all of the possible sample grids to facilitate rapid resynchronization of the two devices if synchronization is lost.
One embodiment includes a tandem free operation inband signaling synchronization system comprising: a storage device for maintaining a plurality of sample grids, wherein samples are collected from a signaling channel and are used to fill the plurality of sample grids; and a detector for detecting the presence of an inband signaling channel based on the contents of the plurality of sample grids, wherein a detected inband signaling channel is used to synchronize devices to facilitate tandem free operation, and wherein the collection of samples continues during synchronization to maintain the plurality of sample grids for facilitation of rapid resynchronization