Method, system and apparatus for establishing a packet-based connection with a dial up modem

• US 20060159243A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Mangione, Clayton Joseph, Chan, Frank Siu Hong
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Apparatus for establishing a packet-based connection between a video display equipment (such as a set-top box) having an analog modem and a remote computer. The translation apparatus receives a connection initiation request from the video display apparatus and responsive to the connection initiation request establishes a modem connection with the video display apparatus. The translation apparatus further receives communication data from the video display apparatus via the modem connection and transmits the communication data to the remote computing apparatus via a packet-based network. The translation apparatus can also receive communication data from the remote computer and relay the same to the video display apparatus. The connection can be established upon powering up of the video display apparatus, upon loading of an Interactive TV application or upon other pre-determined event. The connection can be maintained “always-on” or substantially “always-on”.

Claims

1. A system for enabling the establishment of a packet-based connection with a remote computing apparatus, the system comprising:

a video display apparatus operable to generate a connection initiation request, the video display apparatus comprising a modem;

a processing apparatus, coupled to the modem and to a packet-based network;

the processing apparatus operable to receive the connection initiation request;

responsive to the connection initiation request, to establish a modem connection with the video display apparatus;

the processing apparatus further operable to receive at least one data signal from the video display apparatus via the modem connection and to transmit the data signal to the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to receive at least one data signal from the remote computing apparatus and to transmit the at least one data signal to the video display apparatus via the modem connection.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the video display apparatus comprises a set-top box (STB) adapted for the use in a direct broadcast satellite system.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon a power up of the video display apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon loading of an Interactive TV application.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon an occurrence of a pre-determined event.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection initiation request comprises at least one DTMF tone representing a connection number.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to determine a network identifier associated with the remote computing apparatus based on the connection number.

9. The system according to claim 8 further comprising a look-up table for correlation of the connection number with the corresponding network identifier.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a microbilling event, a submission of a high score, a submission of a vote, a request for authorization for downloading of a pay-per-view movie, a request for a new encryption code, an authentication request for a smart card, a request for a software download, a request for a program download, a request for a firmware download, a random maintenance check request and submission of data representing program statistics.

11. A method for establishing a packet-based connection between a video display apparatus and a remote computing apparatus coupled to a packet-based network, the video display apparatus comprising a modem, the method comprising:

receiving a connection initiation request from the video display apparatus;

establishing a modem connection with the modem within the video display apparatus responsive to the connection initiation request;

receiving at least one data signal from at least one of the video display apparatus via the modem connection and the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network; and

transmitting the at least one data signal to the other one of the video display apparatus via the modem connection and the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the receiving a connection initiation request comprises receiving at least one DTMF tone.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising providing a dial tone to the modem prior to receiving the connection initiation request.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the receiving at least one data signal comprises receiving at least one of a microbilling event, a submission of a high score, a submission of a vote, a request for authorization for downloading of a pay-per-view movie, a request for a new encryption code, an authentication request for a smart card, a request for a software download, a request for a program download, a request for a firmware download, a random maintenance check request and submission of data representing program statistics.

15. The method according to claim 11 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon a power up of the video display apparatus.

16. The method according to claim 11 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon loading of an Interactive TV application.

17. The method according to claim 11 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon an occurrence of a pre-determined event.

18. An apparatus for enabling the establishment of a packet-based connection between a local computing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus coupled to a packet-based network, the local computing apparatus comprising a modem, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface operable to be coupled to the modem within the local computing apparatus;

a second interface operable to be coupled to the packet-based network;

a processing apparatus operable to receive a connection initiation request from the local computing apparatus via the first interface and to establish a modem connection with the local computing apparatus in response to the connection initiation request;

the processing apparatus further operable to receive at least one data signal from the local computing apparatus via the modem connection and to transmit the data signal to the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a set-top box.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a microbilling event, a submission of a high score, a submission of a vote, a request for authorization for downloading of a pay-per-view movie, a request for a new encryption code, an authentication request for a smart card, a request for a software download, a request for a program download, a request for a firmware download, a random maintenance check request and submission of data representing program statistics.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a security apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a security breach information, a monitoring data, a request for an authorization code update, a request for an authorization code reset, a request for a software download, a request for a firmware download and a request for an application download.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a monitoring apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a power failure information and a network failure information.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to receive at least one data signal from the remote computing apparatus and to transmit the at least one data signal via the modem connection to the local computing apparatus.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the connection initiation request comprises a connection number.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the connection number comprises at least one DTMF tone.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to determine a network identifier associated with the remote computing apparatus based on the connection number.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processing apparatus is operable to access a look-up table to correlate the connection number and the corresponding network address.

30. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first interface is adapted to be plugged directly into the video display apparatus.

31. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processing apparatus comprises:

a relaying apparatus, coupled to the first interface, for enabling initiation of the modem connection;

a network communication apparatus, coupled to the first interface, for establishing the modem connection and demodulating the data signal, and

a computing apparatus, coupled to the network communication apparatus and the packet-based network, for packetizing the demodulated data signal.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the relaying apparatus and the computing apparatus are embodied in a single apparatus.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the relaying apparatus is operable to provide a ring tone to the network communication apparatus in response to the connection initiation request.

34. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the relaying apparatus is operable to provide a dial tone to the modem via the first interface and, responsive to the connection initiation request, to provide a ring tone to the network communication apparatus.

35. A system for enabling the establishment of a packet-based connection with a remote computing apparatus, the system comprising:

a local computing apparatus operable to generate a connection initiation request, the local computing apparatus comprising a modem;

a processing apparatus, coupled to the modem and to a packet-based network;

the processing apparatus operable to receive the connection initiation request;

responsive to the connection initiation request, to establish a modem connection with the local computing apparatus;

the processing apparatus further operable to receive at least one data signal from the local computing apparatus via the modem connection and to transmit the data signal to the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to receive at least one data signal from the remote computing apparatus and to transmit the at least one data signal to local computing apparatus via the modem connection.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a security apparatus.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon a power up of the security apparatus.

39. The system according to claim 37, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon detection of a security breach by the security apparatus.

40. The system according to claim 37, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a security breach information, a monitoring data, a request for an authorization code update, a request for an authorization code reset, a request for a software download, a request for a firmware download and a request for an application download.

41. The system according to claim 35, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a monitoring apparatus.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon a power up of the monitoring apparatus.

43. The system according to claim 41, wherein the connection initiation request is generated upon a pre-determined event being detected by the monitoring apparatus.

44. The system according to claim 41, wherein the at least one data signal comprises at least one of a power failure information and a network failure information.

45. A method for establishing a packet-based connection between a local computing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus coupled to a packet-based network, the local computing apparatus comprising a modem, the method comprising:

receiving a connection initiation request from the local computing apparatus;

establishing a modem connection with the modem within the local computing apparatus responsive to the connection initiation request;

receiving at least one data signal from at least one of the local computing apparatus via the modem connection and the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network; and

transmitting the at least one data signal to the other one of the local computing apparatus via the modem connection and the remote computing apparatus via the packet-based network.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a security apparatus.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the receiving at least one data signal comprises receiving at least one of a security breach information, a monitoring data, a request for an authorization code update, a request for an authorization code reset, a request for a software download, a request for a firmware download and a request for an application download.

48. The method according to claim 46 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon a power up of the security apparatus.

49. The method according to claim 46 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon detection of a security breach by the security apparatus.

50. The method according to claim 45, wherein the local computing apparatus comprises a monitoring apparatus.

51. The method according to claim 50 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon a power up of the monitoring apparatus.

52. The method according to claim 50 further comprising generating the connection initiation request prior to receiving the connection initiation request;

wherein the generating is performed upon occurrence of a predetermined event detected by the monitoring apparatus.

53. The system according to claim 50, wherein the receiving at least one data signal comprises receiving at least one of a power failure information and a network failure information.