Methods and Devices For Providing Dedicated Bandwidth On-Demand

• US 20100115570A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Kevin Sullivan, Wilbur Howard Long
• Original Assignee: Thomas Kevin Sullivan, Wilbur Howard Long
• Inventors: Long, Wilbur Howard, Sullivan, Thomas Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/614,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115570A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272

Abstract

A media converter that includes a QAM modulator converts and maps packets within RF frequencies to 802.1q VLAN identifications (ID). Use of the media converter solves content delivery, bandwidth capacity issues and simplifies head end design.

Claims

1. A media converter operable to:

receive program requests from a set-top box (STB);

request programming information related to a customer'"'"'s requests from one or more upstream sources;

upon receipt of the information from the one or more upstream sources, insert the received information within a given time slot that is within a given frequency range; and

transmit the information to the STB.

2. The media converter as in claim 1 wherein the information includes data that identifies a location of a requested service.

3. The media converter as in claim 1 comprising a QAM modulator operable to convert packets within RF frequencies to 802.1q VLAN identifications (ID).

4. The media converter as in claim 3 wherein the QAM modulator is further operable to map an IP packet within an RF frequency to a VLAN ID.