Access network over a shared medium

• US 20020118676A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allan Hansson, Ingmar Tonnby
• Original Assignee: Allan Hansson, Ingmar Tonnby
• Inventors: Tonnby, Ingmar, Hansson, Allan
• Application Number:
  US10/131,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2863 Arrangements for combining access network resources elements, e.g. channel bonding modem pooling H04L25/14; routing of packets H04L45/00; multichannel or multilink protocols H04L69/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2865 Logical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method for providing access to sources of at least one telephone network and at least one IP based network over a TV distribution network. The method uses the IP protocols as an internal multiplexing technique and transport mechanism. The IP handling takes places between a TV IP network terminal, connected to a user end of the TV distribution network, via an IP access server, connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, to a telephony server and a router, respectively. The method and system allows for simultaneous datacom and telephone traffic within one network terminal, within the TV distribution network, or access to connected service providers of telephone and IP based networks.

Claims

1. A method to provide access to services of a multitude of different communication service networks over a TV distribution network, comprising the step of using Internet Protocols (IP) as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, the interaction channel supporting bi-directional communication via the TV distribution network with the multitude of different communication service networks simultaneously with TV broadcasting in the TV distribution network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitude of communication service networks comprises at least one telephony service network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitude of communication service networks comprises at least one IP based network.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing IP protocol handling in a network terminal connected to a user end of the TV distribution network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of carrying out access to the telephony service network via a telephony server connected to an IP access server, which in turn is connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, which is common for a suitable set of users.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of carrying out access to the IP based network via a router connected to an IP access server, which in turn is connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, which is common for a suitable set of users.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of associating in at least one of the telephony server and the router, an external address with an IP address in the TV distribution network.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of allowing simultaneous telephony and data communication sessions on the same network terminal.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing access simultaneously for more than one telephony session on the same network terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the simultaneous telephony sessions on the same network terminal use different telephony service networks.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing access simultaneously for more than one datacom session on the same network terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the simultaneous datacom sessions on the same network terminal are given access to different IP based networks.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one addressable unit related to one network terminal is associated with more than one external address.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one external address is associated with more than one addressable unit related to the same network terminal.

15. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of supporting internal telephone calls between different telephony devices connected to the same network terminal.

16. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of supporting internal datacom sessions between different computer devices connected to the same network terminal.

17. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing users of the same network terminal with access to several different telephony service networks.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of selecting required telephony service network on a per call basis.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing users of the same network terminal with access to several different IP based networks.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of selecting a required IP based network on a per session basis.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of supporting internal telephone calls between different telephony devices connected to the same TV distribution network.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of supporting internal datacom sessions between different computer devices connected to the same TV distribution network.

24. The network terminal of claim 23, wherein the multitude of communication service networks includes at least one telephony service network.

25. The network terminal of claim 23, wherein the multitude of communication service networks includes at least one IP based network.

26. The network terminal of claim 25, wherein the network terminal comprises at least one interface to a terminal unit.

27. The network terminal of claim 26, further comprising at least one telephony interface supporting communication for access to the telephony network.

28. The network terminal of claim 26, further comprising at least one PC/LAN interface supporting communication for access to the IP based network.

29. The network terminal of claim 25, further comprising applications for telephony, IP traffic and management of the network terminal configuration.

30. The network terminal of claim 29, further comprising means for communication with the management application of the network terminal, for enabling modification of a configuration of the network terminal.

23. A network terminal for providing access to services of a multitude of different communication service networks over a TV distribution network, wherein the network terminal is located at a user end of the TV distribution network and comprises means for using Internet Protocols (IP) as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, and at least one interface for communicating with a respective one of the multitude of different communication service networks, wherein the interaction channel supports bi-directional communication via the TV distribution network between the network terminal and the multitude of different communication service networks simultaneously with TV broadcasting in the TV distribution network.

31. A telephony server for providing access to services of at least one telephony network over a TV distribution network, comprising means for connecting the telephony server to an Internet Protocol (IP) access server, which in turn is connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, and means for using the IP protocols as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, and means for associating a telephone number with a terminal at a user end of the TV distribution network, wherein the interaction channel supports bi-directional communication via the TV distribution network between the terminal and the at least one telephony network simultaneously with TV broadcasting in the TV distribution network.

32. The telephony server of claim 31, wherein the telephony server has access to more than one telephony network.

33. The telephony server of claim 31, wherein the telephony server comprises a telephony application.

34. The telephony server of claim 31, further comprising means for associating an external telephony address with an internal IP address.

35. The telephony server of claim 31, further comprising an application for management of the telephony server and means for communication with the management application, for enabling modification of a configuration of the telephony server.

37. The router of claim 36, wherein the router has access to more than IP based network.

38. The router of claim 37, wherein the router has an IP application which communicates with the IP based networks.

39. The router of claim 36, further comprising means for associating an external IP address with an internal IP address.

40. The router of claim 36, further comprising an application for management of the router and means for communication with the management application, for enabling modification of the configuration of router.

36. A router for providing access to services of at least one Internet Protocol (IP) based network over a TV distribution network, comprising means for connecting the router to an IP access server, which in turn is connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, and means for using the IP protocols as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, wherein the interaction channel supports bi-directional communication via the TV distribution network between a terminal at a user end of the TV distribution network and the at least one IP based network simultaneously with TV broadcasting in the TV distribution network.

41. A network node for providing access to services of at least one Internet Protocol (IP) based network and of at least one telephony service network, comprising an IP access server, a router connected to the IP access server and with IP interfaces for connection to a respective one of the IP based networks, a telephony server connected to the IP access server and with a number of telephony interfaces for connection to respective ones of the telephony service networks, the IP protocol being used as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism, whereby a user terminal in communication with the network node is able to communicate using IP with the at least one IP based network and with the at least one telephony service network.

42. An arrangement for providing access to services of an Internet Protocol (IP) based network over a TV distribution network, comprising a network terminal located at a user end of the TV distribution network, a telephony server connected to an IP access server, which in turn is connected to a TV transmitter end of the TV distribution network, and a router connected to the IP access server, using the IP protocols as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, wherein the interaction channel supports bi-directional communication via the TV distribution network between the network terminal and the IP based network simultaneously with TV broadcasting in the TV distribution network.

43. An access network comprising a number of network terminals and a network node, the network node having a telephony network interface and an Internet Protocol (IP) access server, a router connected to the IP access server and having an IP network interface, a telephony server connected to the IP access server and to the telephony network interface, the number of network terminals being connected to the IP access server at TV distribution network interfaces provided in the IP access server networks, wherein the TV distribution network interfaces support bi-directional IP based communication between the network terminals and at least one IP based network and at least one telephony service network simultaneously with TV broadcasting in a TV distribution network to which the TV distribution network interfaces are connected, the IP protocol being used as a common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism in an interaction channel of the TV distribution network, whereby the network terminals are able to communicate using IP with the at least one IP based network and telephony service network via the TV distribution network interfaces.

44. The access network of claim 43, wherein the router has several IP network interfaces, each one of which is connected to a respective one of several IP networks.

45. The access network of claim 43, wherein the telephony server has several telephony network interfaces, each one of which is connected to a respective one of several telephony service networks.

46. A network terminal comprising:

at least one local area network (LAN) interface;

a plurality of telephone interfaces;

a TV interface compatible with a TV distribution network;

a digital stream service (DSS), wherein the DSS provides a bi-directional interaction channel over the TV distribution network through which Internet protocol (IP) is used as the common internal multiplexing and transport mechanism and IP packets are transmitted and received; and

an IP multiplexer/demultiplexer, which transfers IP packets between the DSS and one of the at least one LAN interface and the plurality of telephone interfaces, wherein IP packets corresponding to a telephone call are routed to one of the plurality of telephone interfaces depending on the origin of the telephone call.

47. The network terminal of claim 91, wherein the at least a portion of the plurality of telephone interfaces are associated with a same telephone number.