Method and apparatus for providing fixed bandwidth communications over a local area network
First Claim
1. A method for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
- receiving data from the wide area network at a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network;
receiving a signal indicating that the data is to be transferred to the computer system at a specified bandwidth with guaranteed quality of service;
formatting packets that contain the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at the requested guaranteed quality of service;
sending the packets that contain the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the requested guaranteed quality of service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network. When characterized as a method, the present invention initially receives data from the wide area network using a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data received by the digital device being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network. Next, the digital device receives a signal from systems in the wide area network indicating that the data is to be transferred to and from the computer system at a predetermined guaranteed quality of service (QoS) and bandwidth. Packets that contain the data are then formatted to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at a “guaranteed” rate of throughput higher than the minimum rate. Finally, the packets that contain the data are sent to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link for the packet stream between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the guaranteed QoS.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
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receiving data from the wide area network at a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network;
receiving a signal indicating that the data is to be transferred to the computer system at a specified bandwidth with guaranteed quality of service;
formatting packets that contain the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at the requested guaranteed quality of service;
sending the packets that contain the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the requested guaranteed quality of service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
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receiving data from the wide area network at a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network;
receiving a signal indicating that the data is to be transferred to the computer system at a rate higher than the specified minimum rate;
formatting packets that contain the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at a rate higher than the minimum rate; and
sending the packets that contain the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the rate higher than the specified minimum rate.
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8. A system for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
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a content provider adapted to broadcast data destined for the computer system; and
a network control system server adapted to send a guaranteed quality of service signal to a digital device that is attached to the local area network, wherein the digital device is operable in one mode of operation to receive data destined for the computer system from the content provider over the wide area network;
receive the guaranteed quality of service signal from the network control system server, wherein the guaranteed quality of service signal specifies a guaranteed quality of service;
format the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted over the local area network at the specified guaranteed quality of service; and
send the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the specified guaranteed quality of service. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, transfers data between wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
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receiving data from the wide area network at a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network;
receiving a signal indicating that the data is to be transferred to the computer system at a guaranteed quality of service;
formatting packets that contain the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at the specified guaranteed quality of service; and
sending the packets that contain the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the specified guaranteed quality of service.
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14. A system for transferring data between a wide area network and a computer system located on an Ethernet type local area network, comprising:
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means for receiving data from the wide area network at a digital device that is connected to both the wide area network and the local area network, the data being destined for a computer system attached to the local area network;
means for receiving a signal indicating that the data is to be transferred to the computer system at a guaranteed quality of service;
means for formatting packets that contain the data to indicate that the data is to be transmitted at the specified guaranteed quality of service; and
means for sending the packets that contain the data to the computer system, thereby establishing a communication link between the wide area network and the local area network that transmits data at the specified guaranteed quality of service.
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Specification