Dynamic channel assignment for TCP/IP data transmitted via cable television channels by managing the channels as a single sub network
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering data services from a plurality of data service providers to a plurality of single user data units, comprising:
- a network for communicating data packets according to TCP/IP protocol;
a local network unit connected to said network by a plurality of NTSC compatible channels and having a plurality of channels for multiplexing data packets from said network upon said plurality of NTSC compatible channels;
said local network unit manages said plurality of channels as a single sub network instead of managing each channel individually;
a plurality of single user data units connected to said local network unit via one of said plurality of channels for receiving data packets, each of said single user data units having a unique internet address assigned thereto;
a plurality of data service provider units, each of said data service provider units is connected to said network for transmitting data packets according to TCP/IP protocol to said single user data units via said local network unit and said plurality of NTSC compatible channels;
each of said data service provider units is respectively connected by an individual channel to each single user data unit to which the respective data service provider transmits said data packets, each of said individual channels for controlling said transmission of data packets to a respective single user data unit; and
a bandwidth manager connected to said plurality of data service provider units and said local network unit via said network, said bandwidth manager keeps a dynamic record of an amount of bandwidth used of each of said plurality of channels and assigns any new bandwidth allocation for data services to the NTSC compatible channel which has a largest amount of bandwidth available to fulfill the new bandwidth allocation for data services.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system which avoids the bandwidth inefficiencies of simply providing multiple separate and independent channels for distributing data services over television compatible networks by considering the multiple channels as one unit and managing them as one unit with an upstream bandwidth management unit. This bandwidth management unit dynamically assigns active users to unused bandwidth among multiple channels. To accomplish this, the bandwidth management unit records each request for channel bandwidth that is made, each request that is being actively fulfilled, and each request that has been completed. Thus, data service providers, such as multimedia services, can efficiently use multiple 6 megahertz television network compatible channels to distribute their data to many requesters/users at high rates of speed over a relatively inexpensive existing network.
185 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering data services from a plurality of data service providers to a plurality of single user data units, comprising:
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a network for communicating data packets according to TCP/IP protocol; a local network unit connected to said network by a plurality of NTSC compatible channels and having a plurality of channels for multiplexing data packets from said network upon said plurality of NTSC compatible channels; said local network unit manages said plurality of channels as a single sub network instead of managing each channel individually; a plurality of single user data units connected to said local network unit via one of said plurality of channels for receiving data packets, each of said single user data units having a unique internet address assigned thereto; a plurality of data service provider units, each of said data service provider units is connected to said network for transmitting data packets according to TCP/IP protocol to said single user data units via said local network unit and said plurality of NTSC compatible channels; each of said data service provider units is respectively connected by an individual channel to each single user data unit to which the respective data service provider transmits said data packets, each of said individual channels for controlling said transmission of data packets to a respective single user data unit; and a bandwidth manager connected to said plurality of data service provider units and said local network unit via said network, said bandwidth manager keeps a dynamic record of an amount of bandwidth used of each of said plurality of channels and assigns any new bandwidth allocation for data services to the NTSC compatible channel which has a largest amount of bandwidth available to fulfill the new bandwidth allocation for data services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification