Photonic home area network

• US 5,983,068 A
• Filed: 02/29/1996
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Throughput Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Throughput Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Tomich, Matthew Michael, Tomich, John Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/607,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/5.2, 455/6.1, 455/6.2
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2755 Ring-type networks with a headend
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

The invention is a photonic home area network for interfacing an external communications data network with a plurality of buildings, residential or commercial, in a neighborhood. The external communications network has a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data and telephony service data provided to the network. The photonic home area network has a photonic multiaccess channel, a head-end communications circuit, a plurality of set-top box circuits, and an executable program for demultiplexing and distributing the data segments in the set-top box circuits and acquiring user data for incorporation into a subsequent multiplexed signal.

Claims

1. A photonic home area network for distributing an external communications data network to a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the external communications data network having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data, computer data and telephony service data, the photonic home area network comprising:

a photonic multi-access channel having a wide-signal bandwidth;

a head-end communications circuit for formatting the user data bandwidth segments into a multiplexed data signal transmittable through said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit having a bi-directional interface electrically connectable to the external communications data network and to said photonic multi-access channel;

a plurality of set-top box circuits each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer electrically connected to a set-top box microcontroller and an electronic memory device, each of said set-top box circuits electrically interconnectable in a ring network configuration to said photonic multi-access channel and to said head-end communications circuit, each of said plurality of set-top box circuits having a peripheral device interface electrically connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices; and

a program executed by the set-top box microcontroller for routing a demultiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments according to a software subscription table stored in the electronic memory device and for accumulating a multiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments to be transmitted to a subsequent set-top box circuit.

2. The photonic home area network of claim 1 wherein said multi-access channel comprises:

a plurality of roof-top units, each of said roof-top units having an optical detector circuit for receiving photonic signals representative of a transmittable signal and an optical laser transmit circuit for transmitting photonic signals representative of the multiplexed data signal, said plurality of roof-top units having a first roof-top unit electrically connectable to said head-end communications circuit and a subsequent set of roof-top units, said plurality of roof-top units placeable among the plurality of residential buildings and substantially alignable by line-of-sight to form a photonically coupled ring network with said head-end communications circuit.

3. The photonic home area network of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of roof-top units further comprise:

a first beamsplitter having a first surface aligned with said optical detector circuit;

a second optical laser transmit circuit aligned with a second surface of said first beamsplitter;

a second beamsplitter having a first surface aligned with said optical laser transmit circuit; and

a second optical detector circuit aligned with a second surface of said second beamsplitter.

4. The photonic local area network of claim 2 wherein each of said roof-top unit further comprises:

a cylindrical optical window having a top edge and a bottom edge, said optical window being substantially transparent to operational photonic wavelengths;

a roof-top enclosure mounted to the top edge of said optical window; and

a bottom plate mounted to the bottom edge of said optical window, whereby the optical laser transmit circuit and the optical laser receive circuit of each said roof-top unit is protected from the elements.

5. The photonic home area network of claim 1 wherein said multiaccess channel comprises:

a fiber optic cable.

6. The photonic home area network of claim 5 wherein said fiber optic cable is a multi-mode fiber optic cable.

7. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein said head-end communications circuit comprises:

a signal formatting circuit electrically connectable to a unidirectional television channel source having carrier signals for synchronizing the carriers for combination into the multiplexed data signal;

a channel selection register electrically connected to said signal formatting circuit for designating a core television channel selection;

a demultiplexer for converting the multiplexed data signal into user data bandwidth segments used in bi-directional communications;

a multiplexer electrically connected to said channel selection register for multiplexing the unidirectional television channel source and bi-directional data sources into the multiplexed data signal;

a head-end microcontroller electrically connectable to the data source and electrically connected to said channel selection register for monitoring voice and data transmissions originating from users and routing this data to said multiplexer for combination with the bi-directional data sources into the multiplexed data signal; and

a computer electronically connected to said channel selection register and said microcontroller for executing a program which creates and maintains a master scheduling plan of television channels and billing services for premium television programming.

8. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein said set-top box circuit further comprises:

a television switch select for designating a of video and audio data;

a demultiplexer for converting the multiplexed signal into a set of user data bandwidth segments;

a multiplexer electrically connected to said television switch and electrically connected to said demultiplexer for combining said plurality of video and audio data into a multiplexed data signal; and

a set-top box microcontroller electrically connected to said demultiplexer and to said multiplexer and having an interface for at least one bi-directional peripheral device, said set-top box microcontroller directing a plurality of user data from said demultiplexer to the bi-directional peripheral device to said multiplexer for combination with the plurality of video and audio data into a multiplexed data signal.

9. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein the multiplexed data signal is encrypted.

10. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein the multiplexed data signal is compressed.

11. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein the multiplexed data signal is in time division multiplex format.

12. The photonic local area network of claim 1 wherein the software subscription table is updated from the head-end communications circuit.

13. A method of interfacing an external communications source having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments containing uni-directional data and bi-directional data in synchronous and asynchronous signal formats with a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the method comprising:

(a) accessing the plurality of user data bandwidth segments with a head-end communications circuit;

(b) combining the plurality of user data bandwidth segments into a multiplexed data signal;

(c) transmitting the multiplexed signal as photonic energy from an optical laser transmit circuit to a first roof-top unit having an optical laser receive circuit;

(d) receiving the multiplexed signal;

(e) demultiplexing the multiplexed signal into the user data bandwidth segments;

(f) routing the user data bandwidth segments according to a software routing table contained in an electronic memory device;

(g) accepting bi-directional data from a peripheral device;

(h) combining the bi-directional data with the unidirectional data into a subsequent multiplexed data signal; and

(i) transmitting the second multiplexed signal as photonic energy from an optical laser transmit circuit to a subsequent roof-top unit having an optical laser receive circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

(j) repeating steps (d) through (i) until the head-end communications circuit receives the subsequent multiplexed data signal.

15. A photonic home area network for distributing an external communications data network to a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the external communications data network having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data, computer data and telephony service data, the photonic home area network comprising:

a photonic multi-access channel having a wide-signal bandwidth, said photonic multi-access channel having a plurality of roof-top units, each of said roof-top units having an optical detector circuit for receiving photonic signals representative of a transmittable signal and an optical laser transmit circuit for transmitting photonic signals representative of the multiplexed data signal, said plurality of roof-top units having a first roof-top unit electrically connectable to said head-end communications circuit and a subsequent set of roof-top units, said plurality of roof-top units placeable among the plurality of residential buildings and substantially alignable by line-of-sight, each of said roof-top units comprising;

a first beamsplitter having a first surface aligned with said optical detector circuit;

a second optical laser transmit circuit aligned with a second surface of said first beamsplitter;

a second beamsplitter having a first surface aligned with said optical laser transmit circuit; and

a second optical detector circuit aligned with a second surface of said second beamsplitter;

a head-end communications circuit for formatting the user data bandwidth segments into a multiplexed data signal transmittable through said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit having a bi-directional interface electrically connectable to the external communications data network and to said photonic multi-access channel;

a plurality of set-top box circuits each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer electrically connected to a set-top box microcontroller and an electronic memory device, each of said set-top box circuits electrically interconnectable in a ring network configuration to said photonic multi-access channel and to said head-end communications circuit, each of said plurality of set-top box circuits having a peripheral device interface electrically connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices; and

a program executed by the set-top box microcontroller for routing a demultiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments according to a software subscription table stored in the electronic memory device and for accumulating a multiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments to be transmitted to a subsequent set-top box circuit.

16. A photonic home area network for distributing an external communications data network to a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the external communications data network having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data, computer data and telephony service data, the photonic home area network comprising:

a photonic multi-access channel having a wide-signal bandwidth, said photonic multi-access channel having a plurality of roof-top units, each of said roof-top units having an optical detector circuit for receiving photonic signals representative of a transmittable signal and an optical laser transmit circuit for transmitting photonic signals representative of the multiplexed data signal, said plurality of roof-top units having a first roof-top unit electrically connectable to said head-end communications circuit and a subsequent set of roof-top units, said plurality of roof-top units placeable among the plurality of residential buildings and substantially alignable by line-of-sight, each of said roof-top units comprising;

a cylindrical optical window having a top edge and a bottom edge, said optical window being substantially transparent to operational photonic wavelengths;

a roof-top enclosure mounted to the top edge of said optical window; and

a bottom plate mounted to the bottom edge of said optical window, whereby the optical laser transmit circuit and the optical laser receive circuit of each said roof-top unit is protected from the elements;

a head-end communications circuit for formatting the user data bandwidth segments in to a multiplexed data signal transmittable through said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit having a bi-directional interface electrically connectable to the external communications data network and to said photonic multi-access channel;

a plurality of set-top box circuits each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer electrically connected to a set-top box microcontroller and an electronic memory device, each of said set-top box circuits electrically interconnectable in a ring network configuration to said photonic multi-access channel and to said head-end communications circuit, each of said plurality of set-top box circuits having a peripheral device interface electrically connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices; and

a program executed by the set-top box microcontroller for routing a demultiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments according to a software subscription table stored in the electronic memory device and for accumulating a multiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments to be transmitted to a subsequent set-top box circuit.

17. The photonic home area network of claim 16 wherein said optical window further comprises:

a collimating Fresnel lens.

18. A photonic home area network for distributing an external communications data network to a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the external communications data network having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data, computer data and telephony service data, the photonic home area network comprising:

a photonic multi-access channel having a wide-signal bandwidth;

a head-end communications circuit for formatting the user data bandwidth segments in to a multiplexed data signal transmittable through said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit having a bi-directional interface electrically connectable to the external communications data network and to said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit comprising;

a signal formatting circuit electrically connectable to a unidirectional television channel source having carrier signals for synchronizing the carriers for combination into the multiplexed data signal;

a channel selection register electrically connected to said signal formatting circuit for designating a core television channel selection;

a demultiplexer for converting the multiplexed dat signal into user data bandwidth segments used in bi-directional communications;

a multiplexer electrically connected to said channel selection register for multiplexing the unidirectional television channel source and bi-directional data sources into the multiplexed data signal;

a head-end microcontroller electrically connectable to the data source and electrically connected to said channel selection register for monitoring voice and data transmissions originating from users and routing this data to said multiplexer for combination with the bi-directional data sources into the multiplexed data signal; and

a personal computer electronically connected to said channel selection register and said microcontroller for executing a program which creates and maintains a master scheduling plan of television channels and billing services for premium television programming;

a plurality of set-top box circuits each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer electrically connected to a set-top box microcontroller and an electronic memory device, each of said set-top box circuits electrically interconnectable in a ring network configuration to said photonic multi-access channel and to said head-end communications circuit, each of said plurality of set-top box circuits having a peripheral device interface electrically connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices; and

a program executed by the set-top box microcontroller for routing a demultiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments according to a software subscription table stored in the electronic memory device and for accumulating a multiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments to be transmitted to a subsequent set-top box circuit.

19. A photonic home area network for distributing an external communications data network to a plurality of residential buildings in a residential neighborhood, the external communications data network having a plurality of user data bandwidth segments with at least television programming data, audio programming data, computer data and telephony service data, the photonic home area network comprising:

a photonic multi-access channel having a wide-signal bandwidth;

a head-end communications circuit for formatting the user data bandwidth segments into a multiplexed data signal transmittable through said photonic multi-access channel, said head-end communications circuit having a bi-directional interface electrically connectable to the external communications data network and to said photonic multi-access channel;

a plurality of set-top box circuits each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer electrically connected to a set-top box microcontroller and an electronic memory device, each of said set-top box circuits electrically interconnectable in a ring network configuration to said photonic multi-access channel and to said head-end communications circuit, each of said plurality of set-top box circuits having a peripheral device interface electrically connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices,

said set-top box circuit having a television switch select for designating a channel of the plurality of video and audio data, a demultiplexer for converting the multiplexed signal into a set of user data bandwidth segments, a multiplexer electrically connected to said television switch and electrically connected to said demultiplexer for combining said plurality of video and audio data into a multiplexed data signal, and a set-top box microcontroller electrically connected to said demultiplexer and to said multiplexer and having an interface for at least one bi-directional peripheral device, said set-top box microcontroller directing a plurality of user data from said demultiplexer to the bi-directional peripheral device to said multiplexer for combination with the plurality of video and audio data into a multiplexed data signal; and

a program executed by the set-top box microcontroller for routing a demultiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments according to a software subscription table stored in the electronic memory device and for accumulating a multiplexed set of user data bandwidth segments to be transmitted to a subsequent set-top box circuit.