GB2361849A - Modular and programmable multi-media wireless access gateway and server - Google Patents

Abstract

A multimedia gateway provides simultaneous access to broadband and narrowband services in the home or office. The gateway is modular (mezzanine or module cards can be inserted in the mother board) and has software definable logic blocks to allow expansion, upgrading and real time re-configuration according to user selected parameters. Data and information is transferred to various destination applications via one or more wireless modules. This allows different equipment in a home to access the various services on demand. To reduce the need for various protocol stacks such as TCP/IP and WAP in all the destination equipment, the gateway optionally implements a multi-channel multi-protocol stack. The gateway optionally connects via modems to a conventional telephone line, Internet and cable services and terrestrial/satellite television broadcasts.

Description

2361849 MODULAR AND PROGRAMMABLE MULTI-MEDIA WIRELESS ACCESS GATEWAY AND

SERVER.

This invention relates to a software definable, modular multi-media wireless access gateway and server.

With the development of more complex silicon devices for implementing DSP functions, and the growth in communications technologies like cable and the Internet, more and more services are being delivered to the home via Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IP) and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) (T1.413). Likewise, wireless technology, such as Bluetooth, has reduced the need for cabling between equipment boxes, allowing equipment to be portable in the home and office. This also allows the distribution of services around a home and office. For example, television and audio information received via the access gateway can then be retransmitted to different applications within a home negating the need to have separate decoding boxes at each location in a house. The wireless links also remove the need for expansive and cumbersome cabling.

However, there are many new standards being developed and methods of transporting the various data to and from the services providers. For example, there are different methods of performing voice compression and creating links to transfer voice information. Voice data could be transferred using conventional Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), by mobile phone or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Each have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, it is becoming more likely that users will require at least one, if not all of these methods of voice transfer.

The same is true for television, video and graphics. Television programs can now be delivered to the home using one of several technologies. These include conventional terrestrial broadcasts, cable television and satellite broadcasts. These systems are or becoming digital based and employ Motion Picture Expert Group 2 (MPEG2) coding and transport. MPEG 4 audio and video is the next step for mobile phones, the Internet and distribution of "television" programs and video.

With the increase in silicon gate counts and the use of mixed signal technologies comes better system performance and the chance to implement new techniques and / or algorithms which exploit the improvements high speed, high resolution digital technologies bring i.e. graphics, 3D sound and high speed telecommunication transport. However, for manufacturers to gain market advantage and exploit greater processing power, data needs to be transferred at every faster rates. This requires new interfaces (such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firevvire, xDSL and wireless access such as Bluetooth. Consequently, interfaces and processors are constantly being developed every 12 - 18 months requiring the customers to update their systems to stay "in touch". Though many of these systems are backward compatible, this leads to reduced performance, with systems requiring more software and processing power to execute the required functions. Also, not all manufactures sign up to the same interface consortiums and differences exist in similar equipment. An example would be the recent introduction of digital terrestrial television and digital satellite television in which both set top boxes use MPEG2 video transport but the former is received via a conventional television aerial and the latter by a satellite dish.

However, with the development of international standards such as Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG), many of todays and tomorrows multi-media systems use these video and audio standards. Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) uses MPEG 2 Audio, Set Top Boxes (STBs) use MPEG 2 Video and Audio standards for the deliver of video to the home, many Internet services will use MPEG2, MPEG4 and MP3 audio compression standards. Being able to swap between the different formats without having to substitute whole equipment boxes would be a great advantage and cheaper for the user. New standards are constantly being developed and used to transport multimedia data e.g. MPEG4 and MP3.

However, as stated above, many of these systems replicate certain key functional blocks. When expanding or upgrading a system, whole units need to be replaced. This can be expensive and a waste of functional blocks which are effectively replicated and left idle when not in use.

Interconnection between the various equipment boxes requires many cables and power supply connections and tends to be unwieldy. Also, many different systems require interface upgrades, which requires changing more than the interfaces, usually a wflole system element needs to be replaced and new hardware and software installed. In fact, interfacing between system elements can be one of the most complex problems to overcome as many new interfaces rely on software protocols to implement their functionality. For example Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire (1394 standard) and UTOPIA Level 2 interfaces. Wireless connections between a master unit and peripherals would reduce the cumbersome cabling, allow units to communicate without user intervention and allow equipment mobility and access to different units around a home or office. Figure 3 shows a logical block diagram of such a system Mere the access gateway 2 communicates with one or more applications around a home by wireless means. These applications include video data to a television set 1T, Internet data to a Personel Computer (PC) 1 G, the transfer of MP3 audio data to a hi-fi unit 1 H or cordless headset 1Q, telephone connections for voice transfer, Internet access from applications such as fridges, security devices and monitors (not shown) central heating controls, light controls generically grouped here as 1 X.

Usually, there is only one phone line to a house, but there are many applications requiring simultaneous Internet access or other services. This means that different higher layer protocols will be operational at the same time. Therefore, having an access gateway that can handle the various protocols and distribute the data to different applications within a house or office would be an advantage over today's technology. For example, some Set Top Boxes (STBs) now connect by cable means to the Internet via a RJ45 phone connector. Of course, the disadvantage is that the user cannot make or receive calls on this phone line if the user is accessing the Internet via the Set Top Box. To overcome these problems several services can be multiplexed across the available bandwidth. Several techniques exist to achieve these goals.

Within the apparatus, certain system functions can be performed in software and or firmware. These type of functions include for example, digital filters, codecs, digital signal processing algorithms such as Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), Inverse Fast Fourier Transforms (IFFTs), noise reduction, surround sound algorithms, encryption, authentication and image processing algorithms. To perform these functions the software is run on microprocessors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) or RISCs. This gives rise to the concept of "Software Definable Systems!'or SDS. This concept allows different sub functions required to form parts of the overall desired access gateway system to be implemented in software and run on a microprocessor. To allow the maximum flexibility, several processors and associated memory and Input - Output peripheral devices can be provided on a single card module. As different applications require different sub-functions, the host controller can allocate the various software sub functions to various processors as necessary. For example, depending on the capabilities of the processor and the required functionality, a processor could run several software sub functions if the processing time permitted and they are effectively sequential operations or the host controller could allocate different software sub functions to different processors (not shoVM).

This concept can be extended to include implementing system sub functions in programmable logic. The use of programmable logic, such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), is sometime required to implement more complex and time consuming algorithms, which are better suited to hardware implementation. However, the use of programmable logic still requires the host controller to download firmware to program the programmable device to implement the desired sub function or sub functions required in the overall system configuration. This, therefore, is considered part of the Software Definable System (SDS).

Having an array of inter connectable processor elements and programmable logic elements provides the greatest flexibility and programmability when it comes to implementing the desired sub functions which are then combined to form the functionality for the required entertainment system. The host can of course allocate the various sub functions to the different processors or programmable logic devices. This is useful is more complex systems in which more than one user wishes to use the wireless access gateway. In this case, the wireless access gateway can be configured to implement two or more separate access functions, which are used by two different users. Therefore, the host processor would need to allocate the desired sub functions to the relevant processors and programmable logic. This means that the various sub functions don't necessarily have to be performed on the same processors or programmable logic devices. There is not a one to one correspondence between the software sub function and a particular processor or programmable logic device. The allocation of the software sub functions to the various processors and or programmable logic in the system depends on the various system configurations and the system requirements at the time.

The fact that Software Definable Systems (SDS) provided the greatest flexibility (functional re-use and system re-configuration) in system design means that it is expandable and easily upgradeable. The processor module can have mezzanine card slots to allow the addition of more processors when a system needs to be expanded. The use of Plug'n'Play facilities means that the host processor can automatically determine the number and capabilities of the processor and or programmable logic devices available and hence allocate the desired resources accordingly.

Such a system can download new software and or firmware functions or upgrade existing functions from the Internet via the modem means. The new upgrade software and or firmware being stored by the host processor 2H in the host memory 2F.

According to the present invention there is a software definable, modular, multi-media wireless access gateway and server for home or small office applications, which can access one or more narrowband and or broadband services and consists of- A multi-media, software definable, modular wireless access gateway for home or small office applications, which can access one or more narrowband and or broadband services and consists of:a). optional modem means to connect and interface to a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) line, b). and or optional modem means to connect and interface to a cable connection, c). a wireless module for formatting and transferring control and data messages between the wireless access gateway apparatus and one or more destination apparatus, allowing distribution of the various services to different applications, creating ad-hoc wireless networks, d). a traffic management module to control the traffic flow and provide various quality of services for the various channels based on channel priority and channel type, e). a segmentation and reassembly module for implementing one or more different Asynchronous Transfer Mode Adaptation Layers (AAL) functions such as AAL1, AAL.2, AAL3/4 and AAL5, when the equipment is used to transfer data using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), f). a host processor with access to local host memory which can be nonvolatile and or volatile memory, the host processor being used perform any of the following functions, to configure the apparatus, performs house-keeping tasks, connection set-up, channel monitoring, connection termination for the various channels, provides an interface to a keypad which can optionally used by the user to configure the apparatus, provide an interface to the display means which is used to access apparatus status information, provide an optional interface to the remote control interface, the wireless access gateway apparatus also comprising one or a plurality of software definable logic blocks, these logic blocks being a combination of digital signal processors (DSPs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) and memory, which can be configured in real time and or non real time to implement different signal processing algorithms or logic functions required to implement the desired functionality, thus allowing the apparatus to be used in different configurations, the Programmable Logic providing hardware acceleration of complex and otherwise software intensive functions, the apparatus can be expanded for use with other protocols or for implementing new access functions or accommodating more wireless applications by inserting mezzanine or module cards to the mother board, these mezzanine and or module cards containing any combination of the following logic and circuitry; a). Digital Signal Processor, b). Memory, c). Programmable Logic, d). Interface logic, e). Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC), 0. Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC), g). Small signal amplification filter circuitry, the configuration of the software definable logic blocks being performed by the host processor depending on the user selected parameters, these parameters being entered into the system via either an integrated keypad and display unit or via remote control means, the host processor configuring the apparatus to implement the desired functions needed to process the data services selected by the user, hence reducing the silicon device count, making the system software / firmware definable, easily expandable and upgradeable.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by the way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure I shows an example of an end-to-end ADSL based broadband network architecture; Figure 2 shows the prior art configurations for Personel Computer (PC) Internet access via an analogue modem to the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) connection and broadband access via a cable modem;

Figure 3 illustrates a logical diagram showing the access gateway communicating by wireless means to several remote applications; Figure 4 shows a logical block diagram for the basic configuration of the access gateway employing one wireless module; Figure 5 shows a logical block diagram for an access gateway employing several wireless modules in which information is routed via a switch; Figure 6 shows a logical diagram for an access gateway which incorporates an MPEG processor, video / graphics processor, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive and a video codec; Figure 7 illustrates a logical block diagram of an access gateway as shown in Figure 6, but also includes non-wireless interface logic for connection to external equipment-, Figure 8 illustrates an example of a reference configuration for the protocol stacks used between a Bluetooth terminal a wireless access gateway and a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) for the transfer of data using Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) over Bluetooth, then IP over ATM over ADSL; Figure 9 illustrates an example of a reference configuration for a Bluetooth terminal which does not implement a TCP / IP stack, but uses the services of the wireless access gateway to encapsulate application data and implement a virtual TCP / IP link; Figure 10 shows an example of the reference configuration for the transfer of video data using MPEG or H.3xx protocols between a DSLAM, wireless access gateway and a wireless terminal unit; Figure I I shows an example of a reference configuration in which the link between the wireless terminal or unit and the wireless access gateway is based on Wireless Asynchronous Transfer Mode (WATM); Figure 12 shows an example of a reference configuration for the transfer of MPEG data over ATM over ADSL and MPEG over ATM over Bluetooth; Figure 13 illustrates the reference configuration for the transfer of Point-topoint Protocol (PPP) data flows through a Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP) tunnel using a non-YAreless interface such as Ethernet; Figure 14 illustrates the reference configuration for the transfer of PPP data flows through a Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP) tunnel using a non-wireless interface such as Ethernet.

Figure 1, shows an example of an end-to-end ADSL broadband network architecture in which a home user can access both narrowband and broadband services. The personal computer IG can gain access to the Internet 3A via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 3P at a high data rate using an ADSL modem 2A. There are effectively two standards in operation for ADSL, ADSL and g.lite. The latter doesn't employ a POTS splitter to reduce costs. The POTS splitter (not shown) is a filter used to filter the conventional telephone signals to a telephone handset and the broadband signals to say a set top box 1 D. Other multi-media services can be accessed, such as those provided by a Content Provider 3G.

Businesses or Small Office Home Office (SOHO) 3H can also gain access to a variety of narrowband and broadband services using similar techniques. Higher data rates are achieved using IDS-3 and SONET methods of transport. These operate at 45Mbps and 155Mbps respectively.

Access from the home 3H is via the normal twisted pair telephone cable used for POTS. This connects the ISP 3P, content providers 3G, such as video on demand (VOID) via the central office 3D. Figure 2 shows two examples of how equipment in the home 3H can be connected via modems to send and receive multi-media information. A Personel Computer (PC) 1 F can connect to the Internet via an analogue modem 1 E via a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTs) line 1B or local loop 3L. In some cases the modem is integrated into the PC 1 G. For higher bandwidth applications which can also provide several services simultaneously a cable modem 2CM cam be used to connect to a Set Top Box (STB) I D, a telephone and a PC. The connection from the home to cable can be implemented in several ways, such as cable or a hybrid cable - coax connection from a kerbside connection / distribution box 1A. Television program selection and interactive commands can be entered using a remote control unit 2R.

To allow a user to gain access to all these services using one piece of equipment and upgrade the apparatus to allow expansion for extra or new services a software definable, modular access gateway is defined.

In a first embodiment a basic access gateway is described and shown in figure 4. 2W is a module that can implement one of several wireless protocols, such as Bluetooth, wireless ATM, HomeRF or IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standards. The wireless module 2W is interchangeable to cater for the choice by the user of the various standards. Signals are transmitted and received via an antenna 2WA connected to each wireless module 2W. One of the advantages of employing Bluetooth is that it allows communications with up to eight peripheral devices. HomeRF allow simultaneous communication with up to 127 slave devices. This allows near simultaneous access of the eight slave peripherals with a master Bluetooth device and the creation of ad-hoc networks. Depending on the bandwidth requirements of the slave application several remote applications can access the Internet via the access gateway. For example, several users in a home 3H could send and receive phone calls via cordless handsets 1Q or 1X, a user could also gain access to the Internet 3A and another user could download MP3 layer audio.

The access gateway 2 connect to the local loop 3L via a conventional POTS line using a modem 2A. This can be an analogue modem or a digital modem using ADLS or g.lite technology. The connection from the modem 2A to the POTS line is normally via a RJ45 connector 1B. Conventional telephone signals are of a lower frequency and are filtered and directed to the telephone handset. Broadband signals occupy higher frequencies. ADSL employs Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) as a method of transport. This allows many traffic channels with different traffic characteristics to be supported. Hence different applications requiring differing quality of service requirements can gain access to the network via the access gateway 2.

Data from the network is received and decoded by the modem 2A. The data output from the modem 2A is transferred to the Segmentation and Reassembly block 2S. The Segmentation and Reassembly block 2S reassembles the segmented data packets into complete data packets. The type of reassembly depends on the traffic type and its characteristics. For ATM traffic this could be AAL1, AAL2 AAL3/4 or AAL5. AAL5 is used to transport signalling information and is always supported by the SAR block 2S. AAL2 is used to transport Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The reassembled packets are optionally stored in local memory 2M. As there could be many traffic channels in operation at the same time, the transfer of data to and from the various applications needs to be scheduled correctly so each application receives the correct amount of data at the correct time. For example, in a real time application such as a voice connection, data must be transferred periodically to guarantee the desired quality of service. Lost packets or delays in the reception of real time data packets will result in errors for the end user. To transfer the various data packets for the different services a traffic management block 2T, which can be separate or integrated as part of the segmentation and reassembly block 2S, is used to schedule and transfer data packets for the different channels at the correct time. Each traffic channel will have an associated traffic descriptor, which is negotiated and set at initialisation based on the traffic channel's data rate, quality of service and priority. This information, which is determined at start-up is loaded into the local memory 2M by the Host Processor 2H. The Host Processor 2H is used to control and monitor link management and so negotiates with the network and the remote application apparatus the traffic channel parameters required to implement the error free transfer of data between the network and the remote application.

Certain remote applications 1 T, 1 G, 1 H, 1 Q, 1 R and 1 X will have circuitry and processing means to implement higher layers of the protocols stacks. Therefore, encapsulated data will be transferred to these remote applications via the wireless module 2W. This mode of operation means the access gateway provides a transparent traffic channel for these types of applications and does not need to fully decode the data at each level of the protocol stack.

Other applications on the other hand may not implement the higher layers of a protocol stack. In these cases, application data is transferred between the remote applications 1 T, 1 G, 1 H, 1 Q, 1 R, 1 X and the Wreless access gateway 2 via a wireless channel. The higher layers of the protocol stack are implemented in the access gateway 2. The protocol processor 2P implements the various protocol stacks, such as TCP/IP, PPP, PPT1P, L2TP, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DCHP). Reassembled data stored in the local memory 2M is transferred to the protocol processor 2P by the traffic management block 2S, The protocol processor extracts the application data and implements the management and control functions for the various layers. The extracted data is then passed to the wireless module 2W for formatting and transfer to the selected remote applications 1T, 1G, 1H, 1Q, 1R, 1X. The formatting and wireless link protocol being based on the selected wireless protocol implemented by wireless module 2W. Likewise, application data received by the wireless module 2W from the remote application 1 T, I G, I H, 1 Q, 1 R, 1 X is decoded and presented to the protocol processor 2P. This data is then processed and encapsulated by the various layers in the protocol stack and transferred to the segmentation and reassembly block 2S. The segmentation and reassembly block 2S then segments the data into ATM cells and optionally stores them in the local memory 2M. The traffic management block 2T then schedules the cells for transfer to the network via the modem 2A. For non ATM connections where an analogue modem, for example based on the V.90 standard, is used to transfer data using a PPP or SLIP connection the data doesn't necessarily need to be segmented so the SAR 2S is effectively by-passed in this configuration.

As mentioned in the above paragraph, there are many communication protocols that exist for transferring data across the network to a user end equipment depending on the application being used at the time. There are also various protocol stacks within the end user apparatus for allocating IP addresses and routing data, such as the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). It will be appreciated by those familiar in the art that the wireless access gateway described can be configured to implement these various protocols and that those mentioned below and shown in figures 8 to figure 13 are outlined here to provide examples for some of these protocol stacks and how different configurations are implemented and data transferred. In the above example data transfer was by MPEG over ATM over ADSL for video and Internet access was by IP over ATM over ADSL. This type of configuration is outlined in figure 10 where video from a videoconference or a video-on-demand program is transferred using MPEG or H.3xx over IP or over ATM over ADSL. Figure 12 shows a similar configuration for the transfer of MPEG over ATM over ADSL. This assumes the access gateway 2 is connected to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) 3D in at the central office 3C, as shown in figure 1. Users can also login to their corporate network 3E and business enterprise 3F from a remote site via the Regional Broadband Network 3N. The Regional Broadband Network being controlled by the Regional Operation Centre 30. Other services may be provided by servers 3S in the central office 3C or remote access servers 3T. However, a user familiar with the art will now that there are several different protocols for implementing transfer between the access gateway 2 and the service provider across a network. The above paragraphs describe just one example. Figure 8 shows an example of the various protocol stacks used by a Bluetooth Terminal (BT) 1X to connect to the network via the wireless access gateway 2. In this example the Bluetooth Terminal uses the well know TCP / IP protocol stack 3J to set-up a connection to the network and transfer data. The 11P packets are formatted by the Bluetooth stack 3K for transmission and reception over the Bluetooth wireless link to / from the wireless access gateway 2. The wireless access gateway 2 converts the received Bluetooth packets into packets for transmission over ADSL by encapsulating the IP packets into ATM cells using the SAR 2S.

Figure 9 outlines a similar configuration to that depicted in figure 8. However, the Bluetooth Terminal is a simpler version and does not have software to implement the higher layer protocols such as TCP / IP. These are implemented in the wireless access gateway 2. The advantage to this configuration is that it makes the Bluetooth Terminal simpler to implement and requires less memory to store the higher layer protocol stacks and less processing povmr to perform the various protocol functions. In turn, this also reduces the power dissipation, which is essential for portable applications. Instead, the wireless terminal makes requests, under the user commands, to access the Internet for example via the wireless access gatemray 2. The wireless access gateway 2 receives these requests and then makes the Internet connection on behalf of the application. Once aconnection has been established this is monitored and controlled by the protocols stacks responsible for the connection in the wireless access gateway 2. However, received data is then decoded and re-formatted for transmission to the wireless application using the desired wireless protocol used to communicate between the wireless access gateway 2 and the remote application 1X. For example, a domestic fridge application IX, which can maintain stock control, may wish to order more food items from a supermarket via an Internet connection. By making the circuitry simpler to implement this function in the domestic fridge 1X then the costs will be reduced. The monitoring circuitry in the fridge conveys the required information to the wireless access gateway 2, which then sets up and controls the Internet link. This gives rise to a virtual Internet link from the fridge's perspective. Basically, in this type of application the wireless terminal or module acts as dump terminal with the network connection software protocol stacks and associated hardware implemented in the wireless access gateway 2.

Currently, the maximum data rate for a Bluetooth connection is approximately 723kbps. It is anticipated this will increase in future generations of the specification. However, applications 1X requiring more bandwidth could use the HomeRF protocol or Wireless ATM protocol. Figure 11 shows the protocol stacks for the various elements in a network connection when a mobile terminal is a Wreless mobile ATM terminal. The Wireless Access Layer (WAL) performing the encoding and formatting to implement the link.

Of course, the protocol stacks and configurations shown in figures 8 to figure 13 are only some of the protocol stacks that can be used. This invention does not preclude these other protocol stacks, such as the Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), for example. In fact, by making the wireless access gateway 2 programmable and reconfigurable means that these new or other protocol stacks can be easily implemented using the same hardware. Also, in figures 8 to figure 13 not all the levels or sections of the protocol stacks are shown. For example, only the user planes are shown. The associated control planes are not shown. A user with knowledge of the various protocol stacks and familiar in the art will appreciate the operations of such stacks and they are not shown here for simplicity.

Figure 13 show the protocol stacks for Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) 3M data flows through a Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP) 3N tunnel. Figure 14 shows the PPP data flow through the Point-to-Point Protocol Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP) 3Q Tunnel. Though not shown, a similar protocol called BMAP exists to perform a similar operation. These latter three protocols provide means to reduce the cost and complexity of implementing remote dial-up networking by exploiting the facilities of the Internet 3A and associated Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3P. As a user will appreciate, having many different protocols, provided by many different manufacturers or service providers means having a programmable and reconfigurable, access gateway 2 is a distinct advantage as it allows the user to easily adapt to new standards and upgrade to new services easily and cheaply without having to purchase whole new equipment boxes from the different service providers.

To control the wireless access gateway apparatus 2 a Host Processor 2H is used. More microprocessors can be added to increase system performance or be used is configurations when the apparatus 2 is used to perform several different configuration simultaneously, such as allowing one user to watch satellite television IT and another user the apparatus as a personel computer 1 G. The Host Processor 2H can receive and transmit data from / to the Display / Keypad 2DK. Many apparatus control parameters can be set using a hand held Remote Control unit 2R. New system parameter settings are transmitted to the Display 213K. The received signals are pre processed and passed to the host processor 2H via an interrupt mechanism means. The host processor 2H then perform the corresponding parameter changes and reconfigures the apparatus. New updates are also displayed to the user on the font panel display means 213K. The remote control unit 2R communicating with the wireless access gateway 2 via one of the wireless links implemented using one of the wireless modules 2W. The control and data messages being transferred to / from the host processor 2H is achieved using in-band signalling / in-band messaging.

Several apparatus configurations may require conditional access, as the user is required to subscribe to certain services such as digital and satellite television. The Conditional Access Module 2CA is used to perform this function and interacts with the Host processor 2H to ensure correct apparatus configuration is maintained. The Conditional Access Module Card 2CA employs, for example, SMART Card technology to perform user authentication methods.

Remote control means 2R allows the user to program and configure the access gateway 2. The wireless protocol used between the remote control unit 2R and the access gateway 2 can also be Bluetooth, HomeRF, IEEE 802. 11 WILAN, Wireless ATM or IrDA. As several of the latter mentioned wireless protocols support multiple channels / applications, more than one remote control unit 2R can be used simultaneous to configure the access gateway 2. This would allow users using different applications to control their respective channels and applications. For example, a user could use their remote control unit 2R to control the interactive session displayed on a television screen IT while another user could use their remote control unit 2R to communicate with a local application 1X, such as the selection of an MP3 audio session across the Internet.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the access gateway 2 employs one or a plurality of wireless modules 2W. As a wireless module 2W can only support a certain number of channels and a limited bandwidth, if more applications are required or more bandwidth is required to support all the applications then more wireless modules 2W can be added to the access gateway 2. To route the data to / from the wireless modules 2W and the protocol processor 2P then switching means 2C are used. The aggregate bandwidth of the data path between the switch means 2C and the protocol processor 2P is enough to support the many applications. The switch means 2C operating fast enough to prevent any congestion or head of line blocking. For example, if the access gateway 2 used four wireless modules 2W each requiring a maximum bandwidth of 1Mbps, then the bandwidth of the switch 2C and the protocol processor 2P would be at least 4Mbps. In some applications the protocol processor 2P may not be required and encapsulated data is transferred between the switch 2C and the traffic management 2T / segmentation and reassembly unit 2S. In such configurations, which can be user programmable via the host processor 2H, both the protocol processor 2P and the traffic management unit 2T are connected to the switch means 2C.

For applications that require a greater data bandwidth between the remote application and the wireless access gateway 2 more than one wireless module 2W could be used to transfer the data. The data bandwidth could be shared across a number of wireless modules 2W, thus implementing a form of inverse multiplexing over a wireless protocol. Again, by employing programmable hardware new higher bandwidth applications can be catered for and easily configured by the host processor 2H.

In another embodiment, the access gateway 2 employs more than one wireless module 2W. Each wireless module 2W is connected to a port of switch 2C. These ports can be uni-directional, but will more likely be bidirectional. In the latter case, the port can be implemented using separate receive and transmit buses.

In a preferred embodiment, many of the functions that need to be implemented to form a selected apparatus configuration are implemented using programmable logic device and programmable processor, such as Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), microprocessors, RISC processor and or microcontrollers. The host processor 2H configures the various programmable elements to implement the user-selected functionality. Many of the programmable devices and processors also have programmable interconnect to allow different device to be connected to each depending on the setting of the interconnect logic. The interconnect can be implemented using either parallel buses or serial buses. Programmable switching circuitry allows devices connected to the switching circuitry to transfer data to and from other devices connected to the switch. To reduce the inter-device buses, in-band signalling and data transfer can be implemented. Each data or control packet being identified by an appended address identity field in the packet header or a self-routing tag appended to the packet.

The functions to be implemented by the programmable logic are stored in software and or firmware (in the host memory 2F), which are downloaded to the selected programmable device by the host processor 2H. Programs and software based algorithms are downloaded to the selected processors memory 2F allowing the program to be accessed directly by the associated local processor, for example the segmentation and reassembly block 2S, or the Protocol Processor 2P. This is more efficient in term of performance when the system is actually operational. If a new system configuration is requested by the user, the host processor 2H can then reconfigure the available hardware to implement the new system. The apparatus optionally has Printed Circuit Board (PCB) slots to accept additional mezzanine and or card modules. These mezzanine and or card modules implement one or a plurality of software definable logic blocks, these logic blocks being a combination of digital signal processors (DSPs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) and memory, which can be configured in real time and or non real time to implement different signal processing algorithms or logic functions required to implement the desired functionality. This allows the apparatus 2 to be used in different configurations, the Programmable Logic providing hardware acceleration of complex and otherwise software intensive functions. The wireless access gateway apparatus 2 can be expanded for use with other protocols or for implementing new access functions or accommodating more wireless applications by inserting mezzanine or module cards to the mother board (not shown). The mezzanine and or module cards can contain any combination of the following logic and circuitry; a). Digital Signal Processor, b). Memory, c). Programmable Logic, d). Interface logic, e). Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC), f). Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC), g). Small signal amplification filter circuitry, the configuration of the software definable logic blocks being performed by the host processor depending on the user selected parameters, these parameters being entered into the system via either an integrated keypad and display unit 2DK or via remote control means 2R. These signals being transmitted and received via antenna 2RA of the remote control unit 2R. An optional remote control interface 21 can be employed which transfers data to and from the host processor 2H directly and in "seen" as a host processor peripheral as it is connected to the host processor system bus (not shown).

The wireless access gateway apparatus 2 also has Internet access, via modem means 2A or 2CM, alloWng the user to download upgrade firmware or software for implementing new access and or communication protocols and or signal processing algorithms allowing the programmable logic and processing elements in the apparatus to be reconfigured to implement the new algorithms. The new firmware and or software being stored in nonvolatile memory, which is accessible by the host processor 2H. The Internet access also allows the user to download multi-media data, such as MP3 audio information, which can then be processed by the apparatus before being output to other application in remote apparatus 1X by either wireless means or cable means.

The switching means 2C can take the form of a pure cross bar switch in which signal paths between the switch inputs and switch outputs are dynamically set by the host processor 2H depending on the configuration of the apparatus 2. The switching means 2C can also be a self routing buffered switch fabric in which data packets are transferred from the switch's input ports to the switch's output ports based on routing information contained in the header section of the data packet. As several inputs could route data packets to the same switch output port, buffering is required. To reduce congestion different priority queues could be used in the switch to allow higher priority traffic preference over lower priority traffic. This allows real time traffic and traffic requiring a better class of service to pass through the switch fabric 2C with a lower latency and hence reduce timing errors. The switch paths and header fields are set by the host processor at system startup or if there is a new configuration update.

To reduce card module and backplane routing within the wireless access gateway apparatus 2, in-band signalling and control messages can be employed. Data fields in the cell header identify these. Figure 10 outlines two possible frame formats for use in the apparatus. These being based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell format and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) packets.

By allowing data packets to be identified by channel address means, data traffic from several sources can be routed to the same module or block using the same signal path. This reduced the complexity of the communication buses between devices and boards, which can then be serial buses rather than parallel buses. This provides other advantages such as reduced Printed Circuit Board (PCB) routing, cheaper PCBs, easier maintenance and reduced EIVII, the latter point being especially useful in an RIF environment.

The advantages of using a switch 2C to route data packets between different modules and devices within these card modules are that it reduces the complexity of the system. Each device or block does not require connections to all other possible blocks. Control and data messages can be switched to the correct module via the switching means 2C. This makes it easier to configure the system and allows the modules to be placed almost anywhere in the apparatus card frame or motherboard (not shown) as the host processor 2H can interrogate each card to determine it's function and initialise it and the apparatus 2 accordingly. Also, certain card modules can incorporate Plug'n'Play means, which allows card modules to initialise and or assist in configuring themselves. Another preferable feature is for the card modules and or mezzanine cards to be 'hot swappable'. This feature allows cards to be removed or inserted into the apparatus card frame while the system is operational.

In another embodiment, the access gateway 2 incorporates a Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG 1 / 2) processor 2M1P. This processor 2MP is used to decode MPEG 1 and or MPEG 2 data streams. Local memory 2K being used by the MPEG Processor 2M1P and or by the DVD / Graphics Processor 2G to store temporary data and parameters. The MPEG data stream can consist of video, audio and data packets depending on the application. For example, cable television, satellite television and video on demand (VOD) services all employ MPEG2 to code and transport video and audio programs. The access gateway 2 will be able to connect to these services, via the Internet 3A and modem means 2A and or 2CM, decode the data and transfer it by wireless means 2W to various applications 1 R, I Q, 1 T, 1 X, within a home. This has the advantage over conventional set top boxes as the wireless access gateway 2 can distribute the selected programs to one or more applications around a home. If a user wished to watch satellite television in bed or in another location in the house they would require a second set top box. Therefore, a user could be watching a program in one room and then say continue to watch the same or a different program on a different television set 1T in a different location in the house, say watching television in bed. As the application can be controlled by a remote control unit 2R, the user can configure the access gateway 2 via the remote control unit 2R to re-route the selected traffic channel to a different remote application 1T.

Decoded data output from the MPEG 1 / 2 Processor 2MP can be optionally encoded using a video / audio coder 2V, such as MPEG4 for compression reasons to reduce the bandwidth required to transmit the video and or audio data to a remote application, 1T for example, via a wireless protocol implemented by a wireless module 2W. The data output from the MPEG 1 / 2 Processor 2MP is input to the switching means 2C directly or via the video coder 2V where it is routed to the selected wireless module 2W for retransmission and distribution around the home or office 3H.

In a further embodiment, the access gateway incorporates a Digital Video Disc (DVD) Transport Module 2D which contains the transport mechanism and associated electronic means to load, read and monitor data from the video disc media. Data read from the disc media by the Digital Video Disc Transport Module 2D is transferred to the MPEG 1 / 2 Processor 2MP and or the DVD / Graphics processor 2G. To watch a DVD video, the data stream from the Digital Video Disc (DVD) Transport Module 2D is processed by the MPEG 1 / 2 Processor 2MP. The video data is optionally encoded by the video coder block 2V for compression reasons to reduce the bandwidth requirements for wireless transmission by a wireless module 2W and to digitally format the data. The audio data is also tagged and routed via the switch means 2C to a wireless module 2W for transmission to either the destination television unit or a wireless audio processor such as a wireless enabled hi-fi 1H or surround sound system. The information stored on the DVD / CD could also be that for a computer game. This graphic data being processed by the DVD / Graphics Processor 2G before being formatted for transmission to a remote display 1T via a wireless module 2W. Parameters and instructions to control the game being transmitted to the access gateway apparatus 2 by a wireless remote control handset 2R. The received data from the wireless remote control handset 2R being demodulated and decoded by a wireless module 2W. The decoded data then be transferred to the DVID / Graphics Processor 2G via the switch means 2C and used by the games program to calculate the next stage in the game.

Instructions to configure and control the operation of the Digital Video Disc Transport Module 2D are passed to the DVD processor logic 2G either via the remote control unit 2R or the keypad and display of the access gateway apparatus 2. The control information is first received and decoded by a wireless module 2W. This data is then transferred to the host processor 2H either by a dedicated system bus or by in-band means. In-band signalling means that the signalling information is encapsulated and a routing tag appended to the data packet so it can be routed to the host processor 2H via the switch means 2C using serial links.

In yet another embodiment, the wireless access gateway apparatus 2 contains one or more non-wireless interface modules 2B. These interface modules cam also be programmable to allow the host processor to configure the programmable to implement the desired interface. The type of interfaces implemented on a non-wireless interface module 2B are RS-232, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire and Ethernet. However, this doesn't preclude the use of other interfaces. The non-YAreless interface module 2B allows connection to legacy equipment, which doesn't have Wreless communication link facilities. For example, the apparatus 2 can be used to connect to a video recorder (not shown), either by cable means using the appropriate nonwireless interface 21B or by wireless means via the Wreless module 2W to allow the distribution of video programs by vvireless means, via a wireless module 2W, to remote display means 1T. Control of the video apparatus being achieved by a wireless remote control handset 2R.

In another embodiment, the Wreless module 2W can also perform encoding and modulation of video and audio information in the 2.4GHz IMS band. The modulation scheme is the same for convention PAL encoding, INITSC encoding or SECAM encoding (not shown), but modulated at a higher frequency of 2.4 GHz. The decoded MPEG data stream first being decoded by the MPEG video / audio decoder which converts the received digital data back into video / audio signals via digital to analogue converters. This is then passed to the PAL Encoder for formatting into PAL signals and then modulated together vvith audio signals.

Claims (24)

_19CLAIMS

1. A multi-media, software definable, modular wireless access gateway for home or small office applications, which can access one or more narrowband and or broadband services and consists of:- a). optional modem means to connect and interface to a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) line, b). and or optional modem means to connect and interface to a cable connection, c). a wireless module for formatting and transferring control and data messages between the wireless access gateway apparatus and one or more destination apparatus, allowing distribution of the various services to different applications, creating ad-hoc Wreless networks, d). a traffic management module to control the traffic flow and provide various quality of services for the various channels based on channel priority and channel type, e). a segmentation and reassembly module for implementing one or more different Asynchronous Transfer Mode Adaptation Layers (AAL) functions such as AAL1, AAL2, AAL3/4 and AAL5, when the equipment is used to transfer data using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), f). a host processor with access to local host memory which can be nonvolatile and or volatile memory, the host processor being used perform any of the following functions, to configure the apparatus, performs house-keeping tasks, connection set-up, channel monitoring, connection termination for the various channels, provides an interface to a keypad which can optionally used by the user to configure the apparatus, provide an interface to the display means which is used to access apparatus status information, provide an optional interface to the remote control interface, the wireless access gateway apparatus also comprising one or a plurality of software definable logic blocks, these logic blocks being a combination of digital signal processors (DSPs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) and memory, which can be configured in real time and or non real time to implement different signal processing algorithms or logic functions required to implement the desired functionality, thus allowing the apparatus to be used in different configurations, the Programmable Logic providing hardware acceleration of complex and otherwise software intensive functions, the apparatus can be expanded for use with other protocols or for implementing new access functions or accommodating more wireless applications by inserting mezzanine or module cards to the mother board, these mezzanine and or module cards containing any combination of the following logic and circuitry; a). Digital Signal Processor, b). Memory, c). Programmable Logic, d). Interface logic, e). Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC), f). Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC), g). Small signal amplification filter circuitry, the configuration of the software definable logic blocks being performed by the host processor depending on the user selected parameters, these parameters being entered into the system via either an integrated keypad and display unit or via remote control means, the host processor configuring the apparatus to implement the desired functions needed to process the data services selected by the user, hence reducing the silicon device count, making the system software / firmware definable, easily expandable and upgradeable.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless access gateway implements more than one wireless module, each wireless module being connected to one of the input / output ports of a digital switch, such as a cross-bar switch, or a buffered self-routing switch, to allow bidirectional traffic flow between the switch and a wireless module, the switch also being connected to the Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR) block and the host processor, the SAR transferring re-assembled packets to the switch and segmenting received packets from the switch for transfer to the network, inband signalling messages being routed to / from the host processor to / from the various devices connected to the switch.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the wireless modules implement either the Bluetooth wireless protocol, the HomeRF wireless protocol, Wireless ATM (WATIVI) or the IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network protocol or any combination of these protocols and the apparatus can optionally implement interoperability between the different protocols to allow communication between disparate equipment.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein wireless modules implementing different wireless protocols are used to allow remote destination equipment to communicate with the access gateway apparatus and wireless interoperability is implemented between the different wireless protocols allowing equipment using different wireless protocols to exchange data.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which a protocol processor means, used to implement higher layer protocols for both transmission and reception of data packets, is connected to the switch means to allow the extraction of higher layer and or application data from the network side and encapsulation of data from the application which can then be transferred to the wireless module for formatting and transmission to the remote application, received data from the remote application being received by a wireless module, decoded and transferred to the protocol processor means via the sWtch means for formatting and transfer to either the network via modem means or to other apparatus in one of the created ad-hoc wireless networks.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim which supports both traffic channels which are encapsulated and transferred to and from a wireless module without performing higher layer protocols, effectively performing a tunnelling function or are protocol transparent to the apparatus and traffic channels which do require some degree of higher layer protocol processing to extract received data or format transmit data and perform a translation between the implemented protocols, higher layer protocol layers referring to layer 3 and above in the OSI seven layer model.

7). Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim which implements single or multi-channel protocol stacks, such as a multi-channel Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack which packages data received from the remote applications for transfer via the modems and decodes received packets from the network for transfer to the remote applications, ensuring there is no need for a higher layer protocol stack, such as a TCP1IP software stack at each remote destination apparatus, this configuration reducing the memory requirements and processing requirements at a remote destination apparatus, this configuration effectively implementing a virtual protocol stack as seen by the remote destination apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which the segmentation and reassembly function implements any combination or all of the following ATM Adaptation Layers, ATM Adaptation Layer 1 (AALl), ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2), ATM Adaptation Layer 3 / 4 (AAL 3 / 4) and ATM Adaptation Layer 5 (AAL5).

9. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the modem is an ADSL modem or a g.lite modem and the apparatus connects to a DSLAM at the central office.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein a cable modem is used to interface to cable means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein one or more cordless handset are used to receive and transmit voice calls, the cordless handsets communicating with the access gateway apparatus via a wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth, HomeRF or IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN protocol.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the access gateway apparatus implements Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allowing real time audio voice to be transmitted and received via the access gateway apparatus.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the access gateway implements one or more Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) 2 video and or audio decoders to decode cable television services, satellite or digital terrestrial television services, this decoded data being formatted and transmitted at the correct data by the traffic management unit to one or more destination receiving apparatus via one or more of the wireless modules.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the MPEG audio decoder can receive and decode Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) Player MP3 audio data from the Internet, format the data for transmission to one or more remote destination equipment via one or more of the wireless modules.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the apparatus contains an integrated Digital Versatile Disc / Compact Disc (DVD/CD) transport reader and associated control and data decoding circuitry which transfers the read signals from the Digital Versatile Disc / Compact Disc (DVD/CD) to the MPEG 2 decoder logic to decode the audio and or video signals for transfer via one or more of the wireless module to remote destination equipment.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the host processor can configure the apparatus to implement inverse multiplexing over the wireless link between the wireless access gateway and a remote application allowing the selected number of wireless modules to share the total bandwidth required by the application so applications requiring more bandwidth than a single wireless module can cater for can be implemented.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the apparatus has Internet access, via modem means, allowing the user to download upgrade firmware or software for implementing new access and or communication protocols and or signal processing algorithms allowing the programmable logic and processing elements in the apparatus to be reconfigured to implement the new algorithms, the new firmware and software being stored in non-volatile memory which is accessible by the host processor, the Internet access also allows the user to download audio information, such as MP3, which can then be processed by the apparatus before being output to other apparatus.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which the remote control means communicates with the wireless access gateway via one of the wireless modules, the wireless remote control unit being able to control any of the user functions within the apparatus.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which the apparatus implements condition access means, such as a SMART card and or PIN number system so a user can access subscriber based information via the wireless access gateway apparatus.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which local switching is performed allowing wireless applications to communicate with each other via the access gateway, the switching between the wireless modules being implemented via a digital switch means in the apparatus.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which signalling and or data messages are transferred between functional blocks using in-band signalling.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which decoded video and audio data is either PAL encoded, NTSC encoded or SECAM encoded and modulated at a frequency in the IMS band so the video and audio can be distributed locally using analogue communication means.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim in which the remote wireless application interfaces to a wireless handset for voice communications or a fridge or a security monitoring device or a temperature sensor or a portable video - data pad.

24. An integrated, modular, software definable, multi-channel, muffimedia wireless access gateway and or server apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-14 of the accompanying drawings.