Level 1 gateway controlling broadband communications for video dial tone networks
First Claim
1. A communication network comprising:
- a plurality of digital entertainment terminals for receiving and processing digital broadband information and transmitting control signals in response to user inputs;
a plurality of interactive information provider systems;
a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point two-way communication sessions for broadband interactive multimedia communications signals with a selected one of the interactive information provider systems;
a backbone subnetwork controller controlling establishment of point-to-point communication sessions through the backbone subnetwork;
an access subnetwork receiving digital broadband information signals from the selected interactive information provider system from the backbone subnetwork for transmission to one of the digital entertainment and supplying control signals from the one digital entertainment terminal to the backbone subnetwork for transmission to the selected interactive information provider system, and receiving broadcast digital broadband information signals from a plurality of broadcast information providers for selective distribution to the digital entertainment terminals;
an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork to provide two-way communications between the one digital entertainment terminal and the backbone subnetwork and to control access to the broadcast digital broadband information signals through the digital entertainment terminals; and
a gateway interacting with the backbone subnetwork controller, the access subnetwork controller and at least the one digital entertainment terminal to establish communication between the one digital entertainment terminal and the selected interactive information provider system and interacting with the access subnetwork controller to make certain broadcast services available to authorized digital entertainment terminals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In advanced digital networks for providing selective point-to-point communications between subscribers terminals and broadband server equipment operated by a plurality of independent information service providers, routing through the network is controlled by functionality identified as a Level 1 Gateway. In an enhanced video dial tone network additionally providing an array of broadcast services from multiple providers, the Level 1 Gateway also provides high level control over at least some of the broadcast services. The Level 1 Gateway will perform a variety of functions including communications port management of transmissions of information between subscribers and servers, processing of billing information and session management. The Level 1 Gateway generates menus of providers and broadcast services, either as a function of providers and services available through a particular portion of the network or in a customized fashion specified by individual subscribers. The Level 1 Gateway may also provide a PIN number functionality, e.g. to permit parents to limit which providers and broadcast services that their children can access. The Level 1 Gateway is itself an interactive device in that subscribers can input information and receive display information from the Gateway to define or modify their own video dial tone service through the network.
165 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A communication network comprising:
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a plurality of digital entertainment terminals for receiving and processing digital broadband information and transmitting control signals in response to user inputs; a plurality of interactive information provider systems; a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point two-way communication sessions for broadband interactive multimedia communications signals with a selected one of the interactive information provider systems; a backbone subnetwork controller controlling establishment of point-to-point communication sessions through the backbone subnetwork; an access subnetwork receiving digital broadband information signals from the selected interactive information provider system from the backbone subnetwork for transmission to one of the digital entertainment and supplying control signals from the one digital entertainment terminal to the backbone subnetwork for transmission to the selected interactive information provider system, and receiving broadcast digital broadband information signals from a plurality of broadcast information providers for selective distribution to the digital entertainment terminals; an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork to provide two-way communications between the one digital entertainment terminal and the backbone subnetwork and to control access to the broadcast digital broadband information signals through the digital entertainment terminals; and a gateway interacting with the backbone subnetwork controller, the access subnetwork controller and at least the one digital entertainment terminal to establish communication between the one digital entertainment terminal and the selected interactive information provider system and interacting with the access subnetwork controller to make certain broadcast services available to authorized digital entertainment terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A communication network comprising:
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a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband information and transmitting control signals in response to user inputs; a plurality of information provider systems; a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point two-way communication sessions for interactive multimedia communications with a selected one of the information provider systems; a backbone subnetwork controller controlling establishment of point-to-point communication sessions through the backbone subnetwork; an access subnetwork providing dynamically allocated two-way communications between one of the user terminals and the backbone subnetwork, and receiving broadcast information signals and distributing the broadcast information signals to authorized ones of the user terminals; an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork to provide two-way communications between the one user terminal and the backbone subnetwork and to control terminal authorizations for reception of the broadcast information signals; and a gateway interacting with the backbone subnetwork controller, the access subnetwork controller and the user terminals to control at least the two-way communications through the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication network comprising:
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a plurality terminals receiving and processing broadband information; a plurality of information provider systems; a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point two-way communication sessions for interactive multimedia communications with a selected one of the information providers; an access subnetwork receiving broadcast information signals and distributing the broadcast information signals to authorized ones of the terminals; an access subnetwork controller controlling terminal authorizations for reception of the broadcast information signals; and a gateway interacting with the access subnetwork controller to activate reception of identified ones of the broadcast information signals at identified ones of the terminals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification