Multi-carrier frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) architecture for high speed digital service in local networks

• US 20030058885A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brickell, John W., Mobley, Joseph Graham, Futch, Richard J., Sorenson, Donald C., Farcas, Florin, Ao, Jiening, Blashewski, Steven E., Ritchie,, John A. Jr., West,, Lamar E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 4/00 Combined time-division and frequency-division multiplex systems H04J13/00 takes precedence ; data transmission H04L5/26; telemetry G08C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/041 using special codes as synchronising signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator. Furthermore, the architecture may be integrated into other higher level devices such as, but not limited to, bridges, switches, routers, and/or gateways. In addition, the architecture may be used as a local network such as the networks commonly called local area networks (LANs). As a local network, the architecture supports guaranteed bandwidth for delivery of data flows to a plurality of host devices. Each host device might have a network interface card (NIC) that conforms to the architecture of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, because the architecture may peacefully coexist with other services commonly-found in cable distribution networks, these other services may also be delivered to a host device. Thus, as a non-limiting example a host device may utilize the preferred embodiments of the present invention for local area network (LAN) data communication, and may also utilize cable television video channels in the same communication medium to carry various multimedia information.

Claims

1. A method of providing a host with local area network connectivity and access to other services in a cable transmission network, the method comprising the steps of:

allocating data bandwidth in the cable transmission network to support bi-directional communication between the host and a central concentrator;

conveying at least one data flow between the host and the central concentrator over the allocated data bandwidth; and

utilizing bandwidth not allocated to data communications in the cable transmission network to provide the host with at least one audio/visual service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio/visual service is a cable television service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a network interface card (NIC) of the host.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allocating data bandwidth further comprises the steps of:

allocating first downstream bandwidth on at least one downstream frequency channel based on at least one first non-shared time slot assignment in at least one downstream packet; and

allocating first upstream bandwidth of at least one first non-shared upstream frequency channel;

and wherein the step of conveying at least one data flow further comprises the steps of;

conveying a first upstream data flow over the first upstream bandwidth; and

conveying a first downstream data flow over the first downstream bandwidth.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one downstream frequency channel is a plurality of downstream frequency channels.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one first non-shared upstream frequency channel is a plurality of upstream frequency channels.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide symmetric bandwidth bi-directional communications.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide asymmetric bandwidth bi-directional communications.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide a connection-oriented service to the bi-directional communications between the first device and the second device.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the second upstream bandwidth provide physical layer connectivity between the first device and the second device.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one downstream frequency channel and the at least one non-shared upstream frequency channel utilize a different amount of frequency bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein bi-directional communication between the first device and the second device communicates ethernet/802.3 frames.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein bi-directional communication between the first device and the second device communicates circuit emulation services.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allocating data bandwidth further comprises the steps of:

providing at least two first frequency channels for a first direction of communication between the host and the central concentrator; and

providing at least one second frequency channel for second direction of communication between the host and the central concentrator, the second direction of communication being in an opposite direction to the first direction of communication;

and wherein the step of conveying at least one data flow further comprises the steps of;

communicating first direction frames in the first direction, the first direction frames being fragmented to allow contemporaneous communication of portions first direction frames over the at least two first frequency channels; and

communicating second direction frames in the second direction, the second direction frames communicated over the at least one second frequency channel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first direction frames and the second direction frames are ethernet/802.3 frames.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the at least one first frequency channels utilize a different amount of frequency bandwidth from the at least one second frequency channel.

17. A device that provides a host with local area network connectivity and access to other services in a cable transmission network, the device comprising:

logic configured to allocate data bandwidth in the cable transmission network to support bi-directional communication between the host and a central concentrator;

logic configured to convey at least one data flow between the host and the central concentrator over the allocated data bandwidth; and

logic configured to utilize bandwidth not allocated to data communications in the cable transmission network to provide the host with at least one audio/visual service.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one audio/visual service is a cable television service.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the device comprises a network interface card (NIC) of the host.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to allocate data bandwidth further comprises:

logic configured to allocate first downstream bandwidth on at least one downstream frequency channel based on at least one first non-shared time slot assignment in at least one downstream packet; and

logic configured to allocate first upstream bandwidth of at least one first non-shared upstream frequency channel;

and wherein the logic configured to conveying at least one data flow further comprises;

logic configured to convey a first upstream data flow over the first upstream bandwidth; and

logic configured to convey a first downstream data flow over the first downstream bandwidth.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one downstream frequency channel is a plurality of downstream frequency channels.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one first non-shared upstream frequency channel is a plurality of upstream frequency channels.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide symmetric bandwidth bi-directional communications.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide asymmetric bandwidth bi-directional communications.

25. The device of claim 20, wherein first upstream bandwidth and the first downstream bandwidth provide a connection-oriented service to the bi-directional communications between the first device and the second device.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the first upstream bandwidth and the second upstream bandwidth provide physical layer connectivity between the first device and the second device.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one downstream frequency channel and the at least one non-shared upstream frequency channel utilize a different amount of frequency bandwidth.

28. The device of claim 20, wherein bi-directional communication between the first device and the second device communicates ethernet/802.3 frames.

29. The device of claim 20, wherein bidirectional communication between the first device and the second device communicates circuit emulation services.

30. The device of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to allocate data bandwidth further comprises:

logic configured to provide at least two first frequency channels for a first direction of communication between the host and the central concentrator; and

logic configured to provide at least one second frequency channel for second direction of communication between the host and the central concentrator, the second direction of communication being in an opposite direction to the first direction of communication;

and wherein the logic configured to convey at least one data flow further comprises;

logic configured to communicate first direction frames in the first direction, the first direction frames being fragmented to allow contemporaneous communication of portions first direction frames over the at least two first frequency channels; and

logic configured to communicate second direction frames in the second direction, the second direction frames communicated over the at least one second frequency channel.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the first direction frames and the second direction frames are ethernet/802.3 frames.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein each of the at least one first frequency channels utilize a different amount of frequency bandwidth from the at least one second frequency channel.