Broadband system with intelligent network devices
First Claim
1. An intelligent network element comprising:
- a data switch;
a processor for controlling the data switch;
at least two transceivers coupled to the data switch, each transceiver operable to be interconnected to transceivers at another intelligent network element, the interconnected intelligent network elements operable to establish point-to-point connections with other intelligent network elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hybrid fiber/coax networks employ the existing cable plant used for cable TV and transmit data signals in a frequency bandwidth above that which is used for cable TV. As this cable plant was deployed in a tree and branch topology, data transmissions may be susceptible to noise, variable transmission loss and frequency dispersion, particularly in the upstream direction. Further, due to the tree and branch topology, homes at the far end of the network experience much greater loss than do the homes that are near to the headend/ONU. The present system, which uses point-to-point data links between intelligent network elements located in the feeder/distribution network to provide reliable, secure, bi-directional broadband access. Digital signals are terminated at the intelligent network elements, switched and regenerated for transmission across additional upstream or downstream data links as needed to connect a home to a headend or router. The intelligent network elements can be co-located with or replace the standard network elements to take advantage of existing network configurations. The standard network elements can be selectively replaced by the intelligent network elements in an incremental approach. In this manner, the data links are made over relatively short runs of coax cable, which can provide greater bandwidth than the typical end-to-end feeder/distribution connection between a home and the headend or optical network unit.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An intelligent network element comprising:
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a data switch;
a processor for controlling the data switch;
at least two transceivers coupled to the data switch, each transceiver operable to be interconnected to transceivers at another intelligent network element, the interconnected intelligent network elements operable to establish point-to-point connections with other intelligent network elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of transmitting messages over a network comprising:
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identifying a preexisting network transmitting over a first bandwidth range;
interconnecting, at predetermined points in the network, a plurality of intelligent network elements, each intelligent network element having at least two transducers, a data switch, and a processor;
establishing a point to point connection between the transceivers of the interconnected intelligent network elements; and
transmitting, in a second bandwidth range, the messages between the interconnected intelligent network elements, wherein the first bandwidth range is different than the second bandwidth range. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A computer program product including computer program code for transmitting messages over a network comprising:
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computer program code for identifying a preexisting network transmitting over a first bandwidth range;
computer program code for identifying interconnections between a plurality of intelligent network elements, each intelligent network element having at least two transducers, a data switch, and a processor;
computer program code for establishing a point to point connection between the transceivers of the interconnected intelligent network elements; and
computer program code for transmitting, in a second bandwidth range, the messages between the interconnected intelligent network elements, wherein the first bandwidth range is different than the second bandwidth range.
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62. A computer data signal having program code for transmitting messages over a network comprising:
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program code for identifying a preexisting network transmitting over a first bandwidth range;
program code for identifying interconnections between a plurality of intelligent network elements, each intelligent network element having at least two transducers, a data switch, and a processor;
program code for establishing a point to point connection between the transceivers of the interconnected intelligent network elements; and
program code for transmitting, in a second bandwidth range, the messages between the interconnected intelligent network elements, wherein the first bandwidth range is different than the second bandwidth range.
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63. An intelligent network element comprising:
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means for identifying a preexisting network transmitting over a first bandwidth range;
means for identifying interconnections between a plurality of intelligent network elements, each intelligent network element having at least two transducers, a data switch, and a processor;
means for establishing a point to point connection between the transceivers of the interconnected intelligent network elements; and
means for transmitting, in a second bandwidth range, the messages between the interconnected intelligent network elements, wherein the first bandwidth range is different than the second bandwidth range.
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Specification