Dispersed high level devices in a network environment

• US 20060280176A1
• Filed: 06/11/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wavestar Communications Systems LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mediacell Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, Donald M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method for locating Open System Interconnection (OSI) Layer 3 or higher devices at strategic locations throughout the network. The Layer 3 devices may have additional capabilities, such as wireless connections or other functionality that may benefit both the consumer and network provider. Layer 2 traffic is confined to smaller areas, allowing the main backbone of the network to handle more useful data traffic and less overhead traffic.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a wide area network connection point device having a connection to the Internet;

a distribution backbone connected to said wide area network connection point;

a subscriber connection point adapted to maintaining a first table comprising the address of at least one downstream device located distally from said wide area network connection point, said first table being located in said subscriber connection point, said subscriber connection point being located off any subscriber'"'"'s premises; and

a subscriber receiver located within a subscriber'"'"'s premises.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein said distribution backbone is a linear broadband network.

3. The network of claim 1 wherein said distribution backbone comprises a plurality of twisted pair conductors.

4. The network of claim 1 wherein said wide area network connection point device is a cable modem termination system.

5. The network of claim 1 wherein said wide area network connection point device is a digital subscriber line access manager.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein said wide area network connection point is adapted to maintain a second table comprising said address of at least one downstream device, said second table being located in said wide area network connection point.

7. The network of claim 6 wherein said second table further comprises an address of at least one device on the Internet.

8. The network of claim 1 wherein said wide area network connection point comprises a router operating at OSI Layer 3 or higher.

9. The network of claim 1 wherein said subscriber connection point comprises a router operating at OSI Layer 3 or higher.

10. A subscriber connection point comprising:

a connection to a distribution backbone;

at least one connection to a subscriber receiver;

an address table; and

a processor capable of determining a subscriber device address and storing said address in said address table;

wherein said subscriber connection point is located off any subscriber'"'"'s premises.

11. The subscriber connection point of claim 10 further comprising a router operating at OSI Layer 3 or higher.

12. A method of sending messages through a network comprising:

connecting a wide area network connection point to the Internet;

connecting said wide area network connection point to a distribution backbone;

connecting a subscriber connection point to said distribution backbone at a point distal to said wide area network connection point, said subscriber connection point being located off any subscriber'"'"'s premises;

connecting a subscriber receiver to said subscriber connection point;

connecting a subscriber device to said subscriber receiver;

sending a query from said subscriber connection point to said subscriber device to determine an address for said subscriber device;

sending said address for said subscriber device to said subscriber connection point;

storing said address in a first address table located in said subscriber connection point;

sending said address to said wide area network connection point;

storing said address in a second address table located in said wide area network connection point;

receiving a message for said subscriber device at said wide area network connection point;

transmitting said message from said wide area network connection point to said subscriber connection point based on said address in said second address table; and

transmitting said message from said subscriber connection point to said subscriber device based on said address in said first table.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting said address to said wide area network connection point; and

storing said address in a second address table located in said wide area network connection point.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said distribution backbone is a linear broadband network.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said wide area network connection point comprises an OSI Layer 3 router.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said connecting said subscriber receiver to said subscriber connection point comprises using a wired connection to a subscriber premises.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said connecting said subscriber receiver to said subscriber connection point comprises using a fiber optic connection to a subscriber premises.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said connecting said subscriber receiver to said subscriber connection point comprises using a wireless connection to a subscriber premises.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said subscriber connection point comprises a router operating at OSI Layer 3 or higher.