Configurable network interface device and systems and methods for its use

• US 20040151168A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I., Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M., Brodigan, Donald L., Campbell, Kurt A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices and systems and methods for using them. For instance, a system in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention comprises a network interface device adapted to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information (telecommunication can include, inter alia, voice signals, Internet Protocol data, audio signals, data representing encoded audio signals, video signals and data representing encoded video signals) and distribute at least one of the plurality to a customer premises. The system can further include a control point operable to transmit configuration information to the network interface device. The configuration information can be operable to configure the behavior of the network interface device with respect to one or more of the information sets.

Claims

1. A system for providing telecommunication services to a customer premises, the system comprising:

a network interface device adapted to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information and distribute at least one of the plurality of information sets to a customer premises; and

a control point operable to transmit configuration information to the network interface device, wherein the configuration information is operable to configure the behavior of the network interface device with respect to at least one of the plurality of information sets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication information is selected from the group consisting of voice signals, Internet Protocol data, audio signals, data representing encoded audio signals, video signals, and data representing encoded video signals.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device in communication with the network interface device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein configuring the behavior of the network interface device comprises instructing the network interface device to store at least a portion of one of the plurality of information sets on the storage device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage device is adapted to store at least a portion of the configuration information.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage device is selected from the group consisting of a random access memory device, a non-volatile random access memory device, a programmable read only memory device, an erasable programmable read only memory device, an optical storage medium, and a hard disk drive.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein within the network interface device comprises the storage device.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage device is remote from the network interface device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the behavior of the network interface device comprises instructing the network interface device to distribute to the customer premises at least one of the plurality of information sets.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one information set is associated with a particular telecommunication service.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the behavior of the network interface device comprises instructing the network interface device to adjust the behavior of at least one home fixture at the customer premises.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the behavior of the network interface device comprises instructing the network interface device to configure a home security system at the customer premises.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the behavior of the network interface device comprises configuring a security setting of the network interface device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is remote from the network interface device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is located at the customer premises.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is located at a distribution point and wherein the distribution point is in communication with the network interface device via an external transport medium.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point communicates with the network interface device via a TCP/IP protocol.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the protocol is the simple network management protocol.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point communicates with the network interface device through an application programming interface.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point comprises a web browser.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is capable of submitting to the control point a request for at least one telecommunication service.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control point is capable of transmitting to the network interface device configuration information responsive to the submitted request.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the control point is capable of forwarding the submitted request to a telecommunication information provider.

24. A network interface device adapted to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information and distribute at least one of the plurality of information sets to a customer premises, wherein the network interface device is configurable by configuration information received from a control point.

25. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the network interface device comprises:

an isolation device configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that operational changes to the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium and operational changes to the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium;

a first interface coupled to the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, wherein the external transport medium is in communication with a distribution point; and

a second interface coupled to the isolation device adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium.

26. The network interface device of claim 24, further comprising:

a processing system, wherein the processing system is adapted to be configured by the configuration information.

27. The network interface device of claim 26, wherein the processing system incorporates the functionality of an isolation device.

28. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the network interface device is adapted to be fixedly attached to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

29. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the configuration information instructs the network interface device to distribute to the customer premises at least one of the plurality of information sets.

30. The network interface device of claim 29, wherein the at least one information set is associated with a particular telecommunication service.

31. The network interface of claim 24, wherein the network interface device further comprises a storage device.

32. The network interface device of claim 31, wherein the storage device is selected from the group consisting of a random access memory device, a non-volatile random access memory device, a programmable read only memory device, an erasable programmable read only memory device, an optical storage medium, and a hard disk drive.

33. The network interface device of claim 31, wherein the configuration information instructs the network interface device to store at least a portion of one of the plurality of information sets on the storage device.

34. The network interface device of claim 31, wherein the storage device is capable of storing at least a portion of the configuration information received from the control point.

35. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the network interface device is capable of receiving configuration information from a control point remote from the network interface device.

36. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the network interface device is capable of receiving configuration information from a web browser.

37. The network interface device of claim 24, wherein the network interface device further comprises an application programming interface capable of receiving configuration information.

38. A method of providing telecommunication services, the method comprising:

providing a network interface device, wherein the network interface device is capable of receiving a plurality of sets of telecommunication information; and

transmitting configuration information to the network interface device, wherein the configuration information is operable to configure the behavior of the network interface device with respect to at least one of the plurality of sets of information.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

attaching the network interface device to an external wall of a customer premises.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein transmitting configuration information comprises transmitting configuration information via a web browser.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein transmitting configuration information comprises transmitting configuration information via an application programming interface.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising receiving a configuration request from a customer.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

forwarding the request to a telecommunication information provider

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the transmitted configuration information is responsive to the configuration request.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the configuration request is selected from the group consisting of:

an electronic mail request, a web request, a telephone request, a written request, and a request from the network interface device.