Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
  • H04L12/2801—Broadband local area networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/10—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
  • H04L1/0001—Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff
  • H04L1/0023—Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff characterised by the signalling
  • H04L1/0026—Transmission of channel quality indication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/21—Server components or server architectures
  • H04N21/214—Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital
  • H04N21/2143—Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
  • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
  • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
  • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
  • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
  • H04N21/6118—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
  • H04N21/6156—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
  • H04N21/6168—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/10—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
  • H04N7/106—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable for domestic distribution
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
  • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Definitions

• HSIA High-Speed Internet Access
• MDUs Multiple Dwelling Units
• MDUs Multiple Dwelling Units
• Such approaches usually require selective identification and disconnection of each telephone pair and the insertion of a modem function at the central end of the telephone loop.
• Such intrusive installation is both costly and time consuming.
• a second modem is required at the user end of the telephone pair to connect to the user's PC ("Personal Computer") or in-home network.
• PC Personal Computer
• MDU telephone wiring generally has a worse inter-pair crosstalk performance than that of outside wiring and suffers considerable electrical ingress interference
• data is usually inserted on the telephone loop within the building to ensure adequate performance.
• the high frequency loss of longer telephone loops between the central office and the MDU considerably limits potential two-way transmission speed for longer telephone loops.
• the use of low-cost wireless data transmission works well where the distances are short and spectrum is abundant. However, for densely populated MDUs, this is not usually the case.
• Both cable modem and telephone loop data modems are usually interfaced to the PC using an Ethernet lObaseT connection.
• NIC Network Interface Card
• USB Universal Serial Bus standard
• Coax distribution systems such as those found in MDUs, hotels, hospitals, and university campus facilities, which can be served by Cable, Satellite or Broadcast network operators, are usually configured as passive "tree and branch" systems using splitters and/or relatively long coax runs with taps or couplers arranged to serve the apartments or rooms. Such passive distribution arrangements frequently serve from 30 to 100 rooms or apartments and are arranged such that the TV signal levels fed to each apartment or hotel room are typically within a 10 dB range.
• These coax distribution systems typically have losses in the range of 15 dB to 45 dB (at typical MDU TV service frequencies) and are usually fed from a centralized one-way broadband TV channel amplifier to ensure adequate signal levels for the users.
• Larger high-rise MDUs and hotels usually have a number of centralized amplifiers each feeding a passive coax distribution sub-system serving separate areas or floors of the building.
• the spectrum utilized for MDU TV services usually lies below 750 MHz, whereas the components used in the distribution of these services, such as coax cable, can handle frequencies beyond 1 GHz.
• Passive splitters and couplers (collectively called “joiner devices”), although usually only rated for use in the TV bands, generally perform adequately in terms of loss and/or port isolation when carrying robust digital signals of up to 1 GHz.
• the loss per unit length of the in-building coax wiring rather than being a problem, helps attenuate echoes thus permitting the use of much simpler equalization in digital receivers.'
• ingress interference is very much less at frequencies above those of TV channels, and being contained by the one-way characteristic of the central TV channel amplifiers — at least at the TV downstream channel frequencies and higher, any ingress interference is nreventerl from exiting the MDTT and interfering with the HFC cable frequencies of 1 GHz and below.
• This available 100 MHz of available spectrum is plenty to serve the statistical two-way Internet access needs of 50 to 100 users or client modems. If higher capacity is needed, additional downstream spectra can be allocated in bands between 1 GHz and about 1.6 GHz provided that higher frequency specified splitters are substituted; higher capacity can also be obtained by moving down in the frequency spectrum.
• Such higher uni-directional capacity can provide for additional digital video- on-demand (VOD) services, in either Internet Protocol (IP) format or in native MPEG2 format.
• IP Internet Protocol
• IP Internet Protocol
• IP native MPEG2 format.
• IP Internet Protocol
• the frequencies within the range of 850 MHz to 950 MHz are useful in most preferred embodiments for upstream transmission.
• the use of this single upstream spectrum provides adequate traffic capacity and simplifies control.
• This disclosure builds on the teachings of the '378 and the '836 applications referenced above which takes advantage of the topology and performance of a in-building coax distribution to provide HSIA services. More specifically, this disclosure adds to the previous disclosures by identifying a number of shared coax distribution Internet access configurations to promote economical capacity scaling and topological re-distribution of functions aimed at extending the breadth of application and economical deployment of Internet access and other data/telephony and video services within hotels, large and small multi-dwelling/multi-tenant environments.
• a multipoint network such as coaxial tree and branch cable television distribution network
• FIGURE 1 is provided for reference purposes and illustrates the basic system as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/818,378 for Architecture and Method for Automatic Distributed Gain Control for Modem Communications.
• FIGURE 2 is a simplified version of a portion of FIGURE 1 whose functional drawing elements are re-used within FIGURES 3 to 12.
• FIGURE 3 shows how the hub 328 can be connected via a splitter 506 to three separate diplexers (316, 317, and 318).
• the diplexers combines the output of the hub 328 and the output from the TV channel amplifier 312 to provide Internet service from the single hub 328 and CATV service from the amplifier 312 to a number of separate passive coax distribution networks (320, 321, and 322).
• FIGURE 4 shows a very high capacity configuration in which the Internet backhaul service is provided via three pairs of cable modems and hubs (324/328, 325/329, and
• each of the three small distribution networks (320, 321, and 322) has it's own cable modem and hub (324/328, 325/329, and 326/330).
• FIGURE 5 shows a configuration where the combination of functions performed by the hub 328 (FIGURES 1-4) can be divided across a central server 512 and multiple server- modems (520, 524, and 528) through use of a router or switch 516 connecting the central server to the server modems.
• FIGURE 6 uses a configuration similar to FIGURE 5 but has independent sources for TV and Internet backhaul services. Rather than have one source that provides both, as shown by cable 304 in FIGURES 1-5, FIGURE 6 receives the TV signal from source 532 and connects with the Internet via fiber interface 536.
• FIGURE 7 uses a configuration similar to FIGURE 5 but has independent sources for TV and Internet backhaul. Rather than have one source that provides both as shown by cable 304 in FIGURES 1-5, FIGURE 7 receives the TV signal from source 532 and connects with the Internet via wireless interface 540.
• FIGURE 8 illustrates a cable head-end containing a coaXmedia server, which has been migrated from a small hotel or small MDU system in order to reduce costs and maintenance trips.
• FIGURE 9 shows a serverless configuration that may be used in conjunction with the head-end shown in FIGURE 8.
• FIGURE 9 uses a splitter 506 as shown in FIGURE 3 in order to use a single central modem 520 to service several sparsely loaded networks (320, 321, and 322).
• FIGURE 10 illustrates an alternative configuration for use with a cable head-end such as shown in FIGURE 8, using a router or switch to connect the Internet backhaul to several central modems.
• FIGURE 11 illustrates that multiple cable modems (324, 325, and 326) maybe used to increase backhaul capacity.
• FIGURE 12 illustrates that the backhaul may be achieved by a mix of cable modem 324, fiber interface 536, and wireless interface 540.
• FIGURE 12 also illustrates that the system may be attached to a Local Area Network 568.
• FIGURE 1 illustrates the overall architecture.
• FIGURE 1 can be subdivided into four clusters of components.
• the first cluster is Cable-TV (CATV) head-end equipment 100.
• the second cluster is the Hybrid Fiber-coax (HFC) Distribution Network 200.
• the third cluster is the premises coax distribution equipment 300 which could exist in either an MDU or an analogous situation such as a hotel.
• the final cluster is the cluster of equipment in the user's room 400.
• Clusters 300 and 400 contain elements of the present invention.
• the CATV head-end and the Internet are the upstream end of FIGURE 1 for cable TV and IP data respectively.
• the television set or computer in the user's room are the downstream points. Upstream data transmissions travel upstream towards the upstream end. Downstream transmissions travel downstream towards the downstream end.
• a component on a data path receives a downstream data transmission from its upstream end and an upstream data transmission from its downstream end.
• a cable TV signal is provided to the HFC distribution network 200 via connection 104.
• the source of the cable TV signal may be from conventional equipment represented by CATV Service Elements 108 connected to one leg of joiner device 106.
• Digital communication signals from Internet 504 travel through Internet connector cable 112. to Router 116, which is in communication with Internet Service Management 120.
• the digital communication signals pass through the Cable Modem Termination System 124 and joiner device 106 when moving downstream from the Router 116 to the connection 104 to the HFC Distribution Network 200.
• the description of selected elements of the CATV head-end is to provide context for the present invention and does not constitute a limitation or required elements for the present invention.
• the incoming signal from the HFC Distribution Network 200 is carried on cable 304 to joiner device 308 such as a directional coupler.
• joiner device 308 is connected to the input of TV Channel Amplifier 312.
• the Output of TV Channel Amplifier 312 is passed to the low pass port of a diplexer 316 and then to set of one or more joiner devices forming the tree and branch distribution network 320 terminating at a series of TV coax Receptacles 404. Note that care must be taken in selecting diplexers so that the operating range of the diplexer includes the relevant range above the frequencies normally used for cable television channels.
• the technology for tree and branch networks suitable to distribute Cable TV signals is well known to those of skill in the art.
• the tree and branch network 320 is shown with just a few joiner devices and connecting cables rather than the full set of components for a tree and branch network.
• the tree and branch network 320 would be connected to 50 or more coax receptacles 404.
• Joiner device 308 and diplexer 316 form a parallel path around the TV Channel Amp 312.
• This parallel path has a cable modem 324 at the upstream end and data hub 328 ("hub") at the downstream end of the parallel path.
• the splitter and combiner allows signal to go to the TV Channel amp 312 and the cable modem 324.
• 316 is used to combine the amplified CATV signal and the data signal to pass them together down to the distribution network.
• the data hub 328 performs several functions for the various client modems 408.
• NIC Network Interface Card
• Protocol Converter 336 Protocol Converter
• RF Modem 332 RF Modem
• the hub 328 handles the buffering for both the upstream and downstream communications as well as managing the various client modems so that there is not bus contention on the upstream channel.
• a client modem 408 connects to a diplexer 406.
• a diplexer 406 is connected to the coax receptacle 404.
• a conventional TV coax cable 412 to connects a television 416 to the low pass port on the diplexer 406.
• a client modem 408 is connected to the high pass port on the diplexer 406.
• the client modem 408 is shown as a sand dollar in deference to the assignee's name for this device.
• the user may connect a downstream device 420 to the data cord 424 of client modem 408 with the appropriate port connector for connection to the user's downstream device 420 such as a personal computer ("PC") as shown in FIGURE 1.
• the downstream device 420 is likely to be either a desktop or laptop personal computer, it could be some other device capable of interfacing with an external source of digital data.
• PDAs Personal Digital Assistants
• the present invention allows for communication between the downstream device 420 and the Internet 504 through substantial use of existing infrastructure used to deliver cable TV signals to user's television 416.
• a single DOCSIS-compliant off-shelf cable modem 324 is used to serve the statistical data needs of multiple users connected via a passive in- building coax distribution system.
• PPP Point-to-Point Protocol
• a protocol converter 336 is provided between this central RF modem 332 and the shared DOCSIS-compliant cable modem 324.
• This protocol converter 336 translates the data format between the Point-to-Point Protocol (or some other protocol) used by the PC and the IP used by the DOCSIS Cable modem's Ethernet port.
• any IP protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, etc., is carried transparently to and from the Internet 504. Special prioritization is available for low-latency requirement traffic, such as IP voice or multimedia, in both directions of transmission.
• the protocol converter 336 also acts as a proxy server (if required) in order to connect the many client modems and their PCs to one or a few DOCSIS-compliant cable modems (to avoid clutter, FIGURE 1 shows a single cable modem). This involves providing IP addresses to the PCs in response to PPP connection requests.
• the protocol converter 336 translates single or multiple socket addresses that uniquely identify multiple sessions or windows running within each PC, in order to present unique socket addresses to servers that exist on the IP network 504. If desired, the many client-PC's can be made to appear, from a head-end service management perspective, as though they are connected via individual cable modems. Thus a function is provided in the head-end that collects associated user-PC MAC and assigned IP address information from the protocol converter and presents this as an interface to Internet head-end service management 120 that also manages single-user cable Modem services.
• One embodiment uses 15 Msymbol/sec Binary Phase Shift Keying (“BPSK”) or Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (“QPSK”) modulation in a single downstream "channel” with a center frequency of approximately 970 MHz. Higher symbol rates are planned which could offer at least 30 Mb/s net downstream data capacity. Current embodiments use center frequency of 980 MHz to 985 MHz. The specific center frequency is not critical as long as it is in the band of frequencies set forth in this description and is not subject to interference from other sources.
• BPSK Binary Phase Shift Keying
• QPSK Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
• the downstream signal is transmitted continuously and formatted in a standard MPEG2/DVB structure.
• the MPEG2 frames comprise a framing (47 hex) / super- framing (inverted 47 hex) byte, 187 information bytes and 16 forward error correcting (FEC) bytes - a total of 204 bytes.
• FEC forward error correcting
• Certain reserved MPEG2 "Packet IDentification" (PJJD) codes are used to indicate that the following information bytes are data of a particular type rather than digital video or idle frames. Conventional synchronized scrambling is employed for spectral reasons and the
• 16-byte FEC field is always used or reserved for error correction.
• upstream transmission in the in-building coax uses a BPSK modulated 915 MHz RF signal carrying a 15 Mb/s digital stream.
• Upstream transmission is only permitted from one client modem at a time as specified by downstream "polling" contained in the downstream data control envelope. Thus, there is no collision of upstream signals.
• the upstream signal comprises a preamble signal that is ramped up in level followed by a sync byte.
• the length of the data field is dependent on how much is requested by the central modem or the remaining amount of upstream data buffered in the client modem.
• special provision is made for the needs of low-latency traffic.
• Path losses between each client modem 408 and the central RF modem 332 will have a wide variation due to the coax distribution topology and loading variations.
• the system is designed to accept losses of 40 dB or more.
• AGC automatic gain control
• the upstream AGC method involves adjusting each of the client modem transmitters such that their signals, upon arrival at the upstream receiver in the central modem, are approximately equal.
• One embodiment of the present invention uses available low-cost, commercial RF and digital technologies.
• Alternative embodiments include a client modem receiver that uses tuner/demodulator chipsets commonly used in satellite set-top boxes.
• One alternative embodiment calls for moving most functions into a pair of custom chips; one a small RF analog chip, the other a semi-custom chip containing the digital functions. This technology evolution will result in a client modem the size of a small cellular phone that may become part of a coax cord assembly and consume very little power.
• the hub 328 is presently constructed using a normally rack-mounted, low cost, PC motherboard equipped with an RF/protocol board 336 and one or more lObaseT NIC interfaces 340. This may be mounted, together with one or more off-shelf cable modems 324, on a wall adjacent to the existing building TV distribution amplifier 312.
• a variety of server platforms choices exist, which can be configured with or without disks.
• the central installation requires only the addition of two coax joiner devices 308 and 312 to which are attached a conventional cable modem 324 and the hub 328.
• the client modems are simply introduced, by the end-user, between the TV coax receptacle 404 and TV set 416 (if any).
• An associated transformer cube (not show in FIGURE 1) is then plugged into a convenient power receptacle and the data cord 424 plugged into the user's PC. No network-stack configuration of the PC is required, thus offering a real plug-and-play high-speed Internet access service.
• the system presents an economic approach for MDU or hotel high-speed Internet access that works well over existing in-building coax.
• This system is DOCSIS-compliant as seen from the head-end networking elements, consistent with existing cable modem operation and service practices and yet offers easy end-user attachment without PC reconfiguration or installation of an Ethernet NIC card in the user's PC.
• the per-MDU common equipment installation is extremely simple and there is no need for a .truck-roll, or appointment to provide service to each customer. Indeed, client modems can be mailed and are easier to hook-up than a VCR.
• Multi-megabit Internet access is achieved via the PC's existing parallel or USB port using a simple "enabler” that places a connection icon on its desktop and activates the PC's existing PPP direct connection facility.
• the "enabler” can be loaded from the hub 328 via the PC's existing serial connector — no floppy disks or CDs.
• FIGURE 2 is a simplified version of the relevant portion of FIGURE 1. Note that the multiple levels of splitters found in tree and branch network 320 are shown simply as a single element with 50 terminal branches.
• the coax distribution network 320 is shown with branches 1, 2, 3, 48, 49, and 50 labeled. Subsequent depictions of coax distribution networks will merely show lines representing the multitude of terminal branches.
• the specific number 50 is provided simply to illustrate the environment and does not form a limitation of the present invention.
• FIGURE 3 shows how the hub 328 can be connected via a splitter 506 to three separate diplexers (316, 317, and 318).
• the diplexers connect the hub 328 and the output from the TV channel amplifier 312 to provide Internet service from the single hub 328 to a number of separate passive coax distribution networks (320, 321, and 322).
• This arrangement provide a very economical distribution to a large number of rooms or living units when the percentage subscription is low or where the capacity of service per user is managed to a lower data rate - with a potentially lower tariff. Note that the use of three diplexers and three passive coax distribution networks is for purposes of illustration.
• FIGURE 4 shows a very high capacity configuration in which the incoming
• Ethernet signal transmission are distributed to three pairs of cable modems and hubs (324/328, 325/329, and 326/330) by splitter 508.
• each of the three small networks (320, 321, and 322) has its own cable modem and hub (324/328, 325/329, and 326/330).
• FIGURE 4 might be appropriate for a relatively high usage rate such as 20 users per 50 port network.
• FIGURE 4 could be combined with the configuration of FIGURE 3 to allow several low usage/low quality of service networks to share one hub while other high usage/high quality of service networks operate off a separate modem/hub pair.
• FIGURE 5 shows a configuration where the combination of functions performed by the hub 328 (FIGURES 1-4) can be divided across a central server 512 and multiple server-modems (520, 524, and 528) through use of a router 516 connecting the central server to the server modems.
• the allocation of functions is as follows.
• the central server 512 performs the conversion of Ethernet to PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), when required, and other local value-add functions.
• the individual server-modems (520, 524, and 528) perform the tasks associated with polling the client modems and buffering the data in addition to the modulating and demodulating tasks.
• An acceptable piece of equipment for use as the router 516 is a Linksys Router Model BEFSR41 (manufactured by Linksys of Irvine, CA 92614). Those of skill in the art can substitute other routers or suitable switches.
• FIGURE 5 offers an economical approach and allows, for example, local communication between users served from separate passive coax distribution systems. While the system illustrated in FIGURE 3 intrinsically provides local communication between passive coax distribution networks, the system illustrated in FIGURE 5 offers much higher capacity for local communications.
• FIGURE 6 uses a configuration similar to FIGURE 5 but has independent sources for TV and Internet backhauls. Rather than have one source that provides both as shown by cable 304 in FIGURES 1-5, FIGURE 6 receives the TV signal from source 532 and connects with the Internet via fiber interface 536.
• FIGURE 7 uses a configuration similar to FIGURE 5 but has a split source of TV and Internet. Rather than have one source that provides both as shown by cable 304 in FIGURES 1-5, FIGURE 7 receives the TV signal from source 532 and connects with the Internet via wireless interface 540.
• FIGURE 8 illustrates a cable head-end that contains a central server 512 that has been migrated from a small hotel or small MDU system in order to reduce costs and maintenance trips. This has particular value in garden-home MDU environments where each building has perhaps only 8 or so living units.
• the protocol carried via the cable modem can be PPP over Ethernet or Ethernet. This PPPoE protocol is a public standard. More specifically, FIGURE 8 shows a hybrid fiber-coax CATV network 200 connected to coupler 544. One port of the coupler 544 is connected to a TV channel modulator bank 548 that is connected to an antenna 552. Another port on the coupler 544 is connected to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) 124.
• CMTS cable modem termination system
• the CMTS 124 is connected to router 116 that is connected to Internet 504.
• a second parallel path between the CMTS 124 and the router 116 runs through the central server 512 that performs the conversions between Ethernet and PPP over Ethernet and other value-add functions.
• the description of selected elements of the CATV head-end is to provide context for the present invention and does not constitute a limitation or required elements for the present invention, but provides context for the placement of the central server at the CATV head- end.
• FIGURE 9 shows a serverless configuration that may be used in conjunction with the head-end shown in FIGURE 8.
• FIGURE 9 uses a splitter 506 as shown in FIGURE 3 in order to use a single central server 520 to service several sparsely loaded networks (320, 321, and 322).
• FIGURE 10 illustrates an alternative configuration for use with a Cable head-end such as shown in FIGURE 8.
• FIGURE 10 can be modified to include a local MPEG-2 video server (not shown) whose traffic may be interleaved with that of Internet data.
• Such an application justifies very high local capacity in a situation where the access backhaul is of limited capacity, such as that provided by a single cable modem.
• FIGURE 11 illustrates that multiple cable modems may be used to increase backhaul capacity.
• a bank of aggregation routers 560 and 564 lie between the set of cable modems (324, 325, and 326) and the set of central modems (520, 524, and 528).
• each user's traffic may be aggregated across multiple cable modems or, alternatively, groups of users may be assigned to particular modems - either automatically according to usage or under the control of a traffic manager. Note that the ratio of cable modems to central modems does not need to be one to one under this configuration.
• FIGURE 12 illustrates that the backhaul may be achieved by a mix of: a cable modem 324, a fiber interface 536, and a wireless interface 540.
• FIGURE 12 also illustrates that the system may be attached to a Local Area Network 568.
• An example of this configuration could be that of a university dormitory application in which the users require access to their university laboratory/office network and Internet access for web browsing, web entertainment services or perhaps video teleconference services.
• an alternative embodiment of the disclosed topologies can use Ethernet or some other communication protocol for the communications with the user's computer 420.
• PPP over Ethernet PPPoE
• PPPoE PPP over Ethernet
• element 512 in FIGURE 5 might not perform a conversion from Ethernet to PPPoE but would still perform the local value add functions.
• FIGURE 5 shows elements 512, 516, 520, 524, and 528 as separate elements. These elements may be part of a common box with some elements existing as cards in the box.
• the invention was disclosed in context of one or more passive distribution networks. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the present invention can be applied to a. network with certain active devices by bypassing the active devices in a matter analogous to what was done to effectively route the data transmissions around the television channel amplifier 312.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
• Cable Transmission Systems, Equalization Of Radio And Reduction Of Echo (AREA)
• Radio Relay Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22849190

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-21 CA CA002419571A patent/CA2419571A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-08-21 AU AU2001286580A patent/AU2001286580A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-08-21 CN CN01814451A patent/CN1448027A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-08-21 KR KR10-2003-7002601A patent/KR20030026350A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-08-21 EP EP01966036A patent/EP1323012A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-08-21 JP JP2002521669A patent/JP2004507915A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-08-21 MX MXPA03001490A patent/MXPA03001490A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-08-21 WO PCT/US2001/026068 patent/WO2002017041A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events