Coordinated multi-network data services

• US 20060126646A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/85 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/851 Dynamic network selection or re-selection, e.g. after degradation of quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Content and/or services are provided for a session to a user by controlling use of at least two different networks to deliver the content and/or services for the session to the user. The at least two different networks have different data transfer characteristics. Control of use of the at least two different networks is based on the data transfer characteristics of the at least two different networks and characteristics of the content and/or services for the session to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing content and/or services for a session to a user, comprising:

controlling use of at least two different networks to deliver the content and/or services for the session to the user, wherein the at least two different networks have different data transfer characteristics and wherein the control of use of the at least two different networks is based on the data transfer characteristics of the at least two different networks and characteristics of the content and/or services for the session to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two different networks comprise a cable television distribution network and a digital subscriber loop (DSL) network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling use comprises:

dividing communications to deliver the content and/or services for the session to the user into a first type of communications to be communicated over a first of the at least two networks and a second type of communications to be communicated over a second of the at least two different networks;

communicating the first type of communications over the first network; and

communicating the second type of communications over the second network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling use further comprises:

determining a characteristic of the session; and

selecting a predefined use of the networks based on the characteristic of the session, wherein the predefined use is established based on the characteristics of the networks.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling use further comprises:

determining a characteristic of the session;

dynamically determining a characteristic of at least one of the networks; and

dynamically specifying use of the networks based on the characteristic of the session and the dynamically determined characteristic of the at least one of the networks.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the first type of communications over the first network;

receiving the second type of communications over the second network; and

combining the first and second type of communications to deliver the content and/or services for the session.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first type of communications request and/or control the delivery of the second type of communications.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling use comprises controlling the operation of at least one of the two networks.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the two networks comprises a digital subscriber loop (DSL) network and wherein controlling operation comprises controlling the allocation of upstream and downstream bandwidth for a DSL network connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling use further comprises converting a format of communications and/or converting content of the communications.

11. A system comprising means for carrying out the step of claim 1.

12. A system for providing data services, comprising:

a multi-network coordinator configured to control use of at least two networks to deliver content and/or services for a session to a user, the at least two networks having different data transfer characteristics and where the use of the at least two networks is controlled based on the data transfer characteristics of the at least two networks and characteristics of the session to the user; and

multi-network customer premises equipment configured to communicate over the at least two networks and operatively associated with the multi-network coordinator to control the use of the at least two networks with the multi-network coordinator to provide the content and/or services for the session to the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the multi-network coordinator is further configured to determine use of the networks and communicate the use of the networks to the multi-network customer premises equipment.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the multi-network customer premises equipment is further configured to determine use of the networks and communicate the use of the networks to the multi-network coordinator.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the use of the networks is predefined based on characteristics of the session.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the use of the networks is dynamically established based on operating conditions of the networks and characteristics of the session.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least two networks comprise a digital subscriber loop network and a cable distribution network.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the network coordinator and the customer premises equipment is further configured to convert a format of communications and/or convert the content of communications.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the network coordinator comprises:

a content/services provider interface configured to communicate with content/service providers;

a cable network interface configured to communicate with a cable network distribution system;

a telco system interface configured to communicate with a digital subscriber loop (DSL) network system; and

a processor configured to control communications between the content/services provider interface, the cable network interface and the telco system interface; and

wherein the customer premises equipment comprises;

a cable modem;

a DSL modem;

a local area network interface;

a video interface; and

a processor configured to control communications between the cable modem, DSL modem, local area network interface and video interface.

20. A multi-network coordination device, comprising:

means for determining characteristics of a session to a user;

means for controlling communications on at least two different networks; and

means for controlling the means for controlling communications based on characteristics of the at least two networks and the determined characteristics of the session to provide content and/or services for the session to the user over the at least two different networks.