System and method for cable localization

• US 20050212504A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shapiro, Edmond, Revital, Dan, Valentine, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/895,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A method and system for determining cable network topology for a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the cable network, the method comprising using existing information transmitted within the cable network for a non-location purpose to determine an absolute physical location of at least one set-top box within the topology. Related methods and apparatus are also described.

Claims

1. A method for determining cable network topology for a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the cable network, comprising:

using existing information transmitted within the cable network for a non-location purpose to determine an absolute physical location of at least one set-top box within the topology.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable network features two-way transmissions, such that said using said existing information comprises:

listening for an identifier by said at least one set-top box; and

transmitting said identifier in an upstream transmission by said at least one set-top box for identifying said at least one set-top box.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said listening for said identifier comprises:

receiving mapping information by said at least one set-top box; and

listening to at least one transmission frequency selected according to said mapping information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said mapping information includes a LEP (localization entry-point) for analysis of said mapping information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said LEP is used as a key for said mapping information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said using said existing information comprises transmitting a message on an OOB (out of band) channel.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting an EMM (entitlement management message) to a portion of the cable network topology according to said LEP.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting a targeted advertisement to said at least one set-top box according to said at least one LEP.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating a transport stream with a region for a user according to said LEP.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a LEP (localization entry point) according to a UCID (upstream channel identifier) for at least one set-top box for localizing said at least one set-top box.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining at least one location-based or location-sensitive assignment according to said LEP.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining at least one location-based or location-sensitive message according to said LEP.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an advertisement to said at least one set-top box according to said LEP.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said assigning said LEP is performed by a DSG Server, communicating with a DSG Client at said at least one set-top box.

9. The method of 4, further comprising:

receiving a FIPS code according to said LEP; and

determining an emergency message according to said FIPS code.

16. A system for determining a relative cable network topology for a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the cable network, the cable network featuring a plurality of transmission channels, wherein each set-top box is capable of listening to at least one transmission channel but not to all transmission channels, the system comprising:

a cable network component for transmitting data to the transmission channels, wherein said transmitted data differs between at least two of the transmission channels;

a map for mapping information concerning a relative location of at least one set-top box within the topology, wherein said map is transmitted to said at least one set-top box and wherein said transmitted data forms a key to said map, such that said at least one set-top box is capable of determining said relative location within the topology according to said map and said key.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cable network features two-way transmissions between said cable network component and the plurality of set-top boxes, such that the transmission channels comprising an upstream channel and a downstream channel, said upstream channel featuring an upstream channel identifier, and wherein said at least one set-top box determines a capability of communicating on said upstream channel according to said upstream channel identifier, said at least one set-top box transmitting said upstream channel identifier to said cable network component and said upstream channel identifier forming a portion of said mapping information for said map.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said transmitted data is transmitted for a purpose other than determining said relative location.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said transmitted data comprises a LEP (localization entry point).

20. A system for determining a relative cable network topology for a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the cable network, the cable network featuring a plurality of two-way transmission channels, each transmission channel featuring an upstream channel having an upstream identifier and a downstream channel, wherein each set-top box is capable of listening to at least one transmission channel but not to all transmission channels, the system comprising:

a cable network component for receiving a communication from at least one set-top box, wherein said at least one set-top box identifies the upstream identifier of the upstream channel being received by said at least one set-top box and transmits said upstream identifier to said cable network component; and

a map for mapping information concerning a relative location of said at least one set-top box within the topology according to said upstream identifier;

wherein an absolute physical location of each transmission channel within the topology is known.