Systems and Methods for Integrating Microservers with a Network Interface Device

• US 20100299407A1
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M., Campbell, Kurt A., Brodigan, Donald
• Application Number:
  US12/841,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A network interface device has an isolation device adapted to isolate a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media. A first interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, which is in communication with a distribution point. A second interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium. A microserver is disposed external to the customer premises and coupled with the first and second interfaces. The microserver is adapted to receive telecommunication information from the external transport medium and includes software for implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium by processing the received telecommunication information.

Claims

1. A network interface device comprising:

an isolation device adapted to isolate a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media;

a first interface coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, wherein the external transport medium is in communication with a distribution point;

a second interface coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium; and

a microserver disposed external to the customer premises and coupled with the first and second interfaces, wherein the microserver is adapted to receive telecommunication information from the external transport medium and includes software for implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium by processing the received telecommunication information.

2. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the isolation device and microserver are disposed within a common housing.

3. The network interface device recited in claim 2 wherein the common housing is disposed on an exterior wall of the customer premises.

4. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising an addressable application device coupled with the microserver, wherein the addressable application device is adapted to receive the processed telecommunication information and to execute a defined application as an aid to implementing the predetermined function over the internal transport medium.

5. The network interface device recited in claim 4 wherein the addressable application device is disposed external to the customer premises.

6. The network interface device recited in claim 5 wherein the isolation device, microserver, and addressable application device are disposed within a common housing.

7. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises an authentication microserver adapted to verify that the predetermined function is authorized for the customer premises.

8. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises a file-transfer microserver adapted to transfer an electronic file of information to or from the network interface device.

9. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol microserver adapted to manage an internet-protocol address assignment to a device coupled with the internal transport medium.

10. The network interface device recited in claim 9 wherein the internet-protocol address assignment comprises a public internet-protocol address assignment.

11. The network interface device recited in claim 9 wherein the internet-protocol address assignment comprises a private internet-protocol address assignment.

12. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises a code-processing microserver adapted to receive code and process the code for use by another component of the network interface device.

13. The network interface device recited in claim 12 wherein the microserver further comprises a webserver microserver adapted to render a display of incoming web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device.

14. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises an email alert microserver adapted to initiate an alert in response to receipt of an email message at an email account.

15. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises an instant-messenger microserver adapted to provide instant-messaging functionality over the internal transport medium.

16. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises:

a webserver microserver adapted to render a display of web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device; and

an advertising microserver adapted to overlay an advertisement over the display of web-page information.

17. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises a wireless microserver adapted to provide an interface between wireless communications within the customer premises to the external transport medium.

18. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises an RF power-level microserver adapted to monitor an RF power level of telecommunication information received at the first interface.

19. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the microserver comprises a test-access microserver adapted to verify proper functioning of another component of the network interface device.

20. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising a webserver microserver coupled with the microserver and adapted to provide a customer-based graphical user interface for implementing software configuration changes of the microserver.

21. The network interface recited in claim 1 further comprising upgradeable firmware that supports the microserver.

22. A method for providing telecommunication information to a transport medium internal to a customer premises, the method comprising:

isolating the internal transport medium from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media;

receiving the telecommunication information from the external transport medium;

selectively processing the received telecommunication information with a microserver disposed external to the customer premises; and

thereafter, implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium with the processed telecommunication information.

23. The method recited in claim 22 further comprising transmitting the processed telecommunication information to an addressable application device disposed external to the customer premises, wherein implementing the predetermined function comprises implementing an application over the internal transport medium with the addressable application device.

24. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises verifying that the predetermined function is authorized for the customer premises with an authentication microserver.

25. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises transferring an electronic file of information with a file-transfer microserver.

26. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises managing an internet-protocol address assignment to a device coupled with the internal transport medium with a dynamic host configuration protocol microserver.

27. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises receiving code and processing the code for use in implementing the predetermined function with a code-processing microserver.

28. The method recited in claim 27 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver further comprises rendering a display of incoming web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device with a webserver microserver.

29. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises initiating an alert in response to receipt of an email message at an email account with an email alert microserver.

30. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises providing instant-messaging functionality over the internal transport medium with an instant-messenger microserver.

31. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises:

rendering a display of web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser device with a webserver microserver; and

overlaying an advertisement over the display of web-page information with an advertising microserver.

32. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises providing an interface between wireless communications within the customer premises to the external transport medium with a wireless microserver.

33. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises monitoring an RF power level of the telecommunication information received from the external transport medium with an RF power-level microserver.

34. The method recited in claim 22 wherein selectively processing the received telecommunication information with the microserver comprises providing a customer-based graphical user interface for implementing configuration changes of software governing how the received telecommunication information is selectively processed.

35. A network interface device comprising:

means for isolating a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media;

means for receiving telecommunication information from the external transport medium;

means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information, wherein such means for selectively processing is disposed external to the customer premises; and

means for implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium with the processed telecommunication information.

36. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for verifying that the predetermined function is authorized for the customer premises.

37. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for transferring an electronic file of information to or from the network interface device.

38. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for managing an internet-protocol address assignment to a device coupled with the internal transport medium.

39. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for receiving code and for processing the code for use by another component of the network interface device.

40. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for rendering a display of incoming web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device.

41. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for initiating an alert in response to receipt of an email message at an email account.

42. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for providing instant-messaging functionality over the internal transport medium.

43. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises:

means for rendering a display of web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser device; and

means for overlaying an advertisement over the display of web-page information.

44. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for providing an interface between wireless communications within the customer premises to the external transport medium.

45. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for monitoring an RF power level of the telecommunication information received from the external transport medium.

46. The network interface device recited in claim 35 wherein the means for selectively processing the received telecommunication information comprises means for providing a customer-based graphical user interface for implementing software changes of the means for selectively processing.