Method and apparatus for an application interface module in a subscriber terminal unit

• US 6,081,533 A
• Filed: 06/25/1997
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Com21, Inc.
• Inventors: Helton, Sanford, Gorman, Kenneth, Raissinia, Ali, Baran, Paul, Laubach, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/881,942
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/395, 370/401, 370/421, 370/465, 370/466, 370/484, 370/486, 370/487, 370/488, 370/420, 370/389, 348/6, 348/10, 348/12
• US Class Current: 370/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A method for enhancing the functionalities of a subscriber terminal unit (STU) or ADSL terminal unit (ATU) through the use of different types of application interface modules (AIMs). This is accomplished by incorporating a slot in the STU/ATU through which a detachable AIM can be inserted and electrically coupled to the STU/ATU. The STU/ATU has circuitry for determining which particular type of AIM has been inserted. Depending on the type of AIM that has been inserted in the STU/ATU (e.g., installation, telephony, diagnostics, network interface, television, etc.), management information specific to the particular AIM is sent by the STU/ATU upstream to the headend unit. In response, the headend unit provides applications service(s) to the STU/ATU, depending on the particular type of device inserted into the subscriber terminal unit.

Claims

1. A subscriber terminal unit for transmitting signals upstream to a headend unit and receiving signals downstream from a headend controller through a cable network, comprising:

an application interface module coupled to the subscriber terminal unit comprising an installation module used in installing the subscriber terminal unit, wherein the application interface module is capable of being coupled to and decoupled from the connector while the subscriber terminal unit is in operation without disrupting normal operations;

a connector coupled to the subscriber terminal unit for electrically coupling the application interface module to circuitry within the subscriber terminal unit;

memory coupled to the connector for storing instructions or data;

a processor coupled to the memory for processing data received by the subscriber terminal unit from the headend controller.

2. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the installation module includes a memory for storing channel information corresponding to a channel of a previously installed subscriber terminal unit.

3. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a telephony module having a digital signal processor for providing telephony functions to the subscriber terminal unit.

4. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 3, wherein when the telephony module is inserted into the subscriber terminal unit, the subscriber terminal unit transmits ATM cells containing management information for establishing a virtual circuit so that voice data is routed through an ATM switch in an ATM packet format according to the virtual circuit.

5. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a field diagnostic module used to conduct diagnostics on the subscriber terminal unit.

6. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 5, wherein the field diagnostic module includes a serial interface for coupling an external instrument used to test the subscriber terminal unit.

7. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 5, wherein the field diagnostic module includes a display for displaying a test result.

8. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 6, wherein the external instrument downloads testing software into the memory of the subscriber terminal unit.

9. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a home network module used for interfacing the subscriber terminal unit with one or more consumer network interfaces, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an IEEE 1394 interface.

10. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 9, wherein data in the IEEE 1394 format input through the home network module is converted to packets which are sent to the headend controller and packets from the headend controller are converted into the IEEE 1394 format for output by the home network module.

11. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 9, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an universal serial bus interface.

12. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 11, wherein data in the universal serial bus format input through a network interface module is converted to packets which are sent to the headend controller and packets from the headend controller are converted into the universal serial bus format for output by the home network module.

13. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 9, wherein the home network module includes at least a first port for inputting and outputting either IEEE 1394 or universal serial bus data to/from a first device and a second port for inputting and outputting either IEEE 1394 or universal serial bus data to/from a second device and wherein the first device is in communications with the second device.

14. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 9, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an asynchronous transfer mode interface.

15. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a television module for accepting video data from the headend controller and generating an RF television signal.

16. The subscriber terminal unit of claim 13, wherein a television module includes an infrared remote controller circuit for accepting user commands which are transmitted to the headend controller in packets.

17. A method for enhancing the functionality of a subscriber terminal unit for use in a cable network having a headend controller, comprising the steps of:

coupling the subscriber terminal unit to the cable network;

exchanging communications between the headend controller and the subscriber terminal unit;

determining whether an application interface module is in communications with the subscriber terminal unit;

identifying which function is provided by the application interface module;

transmitting management information from the subscriber terminal unit upstream to a headend unit specific to the application interface module in communications with the subscriber terminal unit;

providing applications services for the subscriber terminal unit by the headend unit in response to the management information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein installation of a first subscriber terminal unit includes the steps of:

coupling an installation module as a device to the subscriber terminal unit;

determining an available channel on the cable network for transmissions by the first subscriber terminal unit;

storing channel information corresponding to the available channel within a memory of the installation module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein installation of a second subscriber terminal unit includes the steps of:

coupling the installation module to the second subscriber terminal unit;

reading the channel information stored in the memory of the installation module;

determining whether the channel according to the channel information is available, wherein if the frequency is available, the subscriber terminal unit is assigned that particular frequency and if the frequency is not available, the subscriber terminal unit performs a seek algorithm to find a different channel that is available.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of storing a frequency of the different channel within the memory of the installation module.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of hot plugging the device into the subscriber terminal unit.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of the headend unit providing telephony functions to the subscriber terminal unit according to a telephone module which is inserted in the subscriber terminal unit as the device.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of establishing a virtual circuit in response to a management signal so that voice data is routed through an ATM switch in an ATM packet format according to the virtual circuit.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of performing diagnostics on the subscriber terminal unit according to a field diagnostic module that was inserted as the device into the subscriber terminal unit by a service technician.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of transmitting commands to the field diagnostic module by a computer system through a serial interface for testing the subscriber terminal unit.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of displaying a test result that was performed on a display of the field diagnostic module.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of coupling a home network module to the subscriber terminal unit for handling consumer network data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the consumer network data has an IEEE 1394 format.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:

converting the IEEE 1394 format data input through the home network module to packets;

sending the packets to the headend controller;

converting packets sent by the headend controller and received by the home network module into the IEEE 1394 format for output by the home network module.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the packets are carried in ATM cells.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of providing an universal serial bus interface through the home network module.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

converting a universal serial bus format data input through the home network module to packets;

sending the packets to the headend controller;

converting packets sent by the headend controller and received by the home network module to the universal serial bus format for output by the home network module.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the packets are carried in ATM cells.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of providing an asynchronous transfer mode interface through the application interface module.

35. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

accepting video data from the headend controller;

converting the video data by a television module inserted in the subscriber terminal unit as the device;

outputting an RF television signal by the television module.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

accepting user commands through an infrared remote controller circuit in the television module;

transmitting management information upstream in response to the user commands;

servicing the user commands by a headend unit.

37. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of downloading software through the cable network to the subscriber terminal unit for supporting the device.

38. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of downloading software through the cable network to the device for supporting a function offered by the device.

39. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of coupling an ADSL interface module to the subscriber terminal unit.

40. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of coupling an ADSL interface module to the ADSL terminal unit.

41. A method for installing a subscriber terminal unit for use in a cable network having a headend controller, comprising the steps of:

coupling the subscriber terminal unit to the cable network;

exchanging communications between the headend controller and the subscriber terminal unit;

determining whether an installation module is in communications with the subscriber terminal unit, wherein if the installation module is in communications with the subscriber terminal unit;

reading channel information stored on the installation module;

determining whether a channel according to the channel information is available;

transmitting information on the channel if the channel is available.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein if the channel is not available:

determining an available channel;

storing the available channel information on the installation module for use in a subsequent subscriber terminal unit installation.

43. An application interface module for adding functionality to a subscriber terminal unit, comprising:

a connector for coupling the application interface module to the subscriber terminal unit;

a bus coupled to the connector;

memory coupled to the bus for storing instructions or data, wherein the memory contains identification information for identifying a particular function of the application interface module;

a processor coupled to the bus for transmitting management information from the application interface module to the subscriber terminal unit, wherein the subscriber terminal unit transmits a request for applications services from a headend controller in response to the management information.

44. The application interface module of claim 43 providing an installation function.

45. The application interface module of claim 43 providing a home network function.

46. The application interface module of claim 43 providing a telephony function.

47. The application interface module of claim 43 providing a diagnostic function.

48. The application interface module of claim 43 providing an ADSL function.

49. An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) terminal unit for transmitting signals over a twisted pair local loop to an ADSL termination system and receiving signals from the ADSL termination system through a telephone twisted pair network, comprising:

an application interface module coupled to the ADSL terminal unit;

a connector coupled to the ADSL terminal unit for electrically coupling the application interface module to circuitry within the ADSL terminal unit;

memory coupled to the connector for storing instructions or data;

a processor coupled to the memory for processing data received by the ADSL terminal unit from a subscriber management system and server.

50. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 49, wherein the application interface module is capable of being coupled to and decoupled from the connector while the ADSL terminal unit is in operation without disrupting normal operations.

51. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 49, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a telephony module having a digital signal processor for providing telephony functions to the ADSL terminal unit.

52. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 51, wherein when the telephony module is inserted into the ADSL terminal unit, the ADSL terminal unit transmits ATM cells containing management information for establishing a virtual circuit so that voice data is routed through an ATM switch in an ATM packet format according to the virtual circuit.

53. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 49, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a field diagnostic module used to conduct diagnostics on the ADSL terminal unit.

54. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 53, wherein the field diagnostic module includes a serial interface for coupling an external instrument used to test the ADSL terminal unit.

55. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 53, wherein the field diagnostic module includes a display for displaying a test result.

56. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 54, wherein the external instrument downloads testing software into the memory of the ADSL terminal unit.

57. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 49, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a home network module used for interfacing the ADSL terminal unit with one or more consumer network interfaces.

58. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 57, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an IEEE 1394 interface.

59. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 58, wherein data in an IEEE 1394 format input through a home network module is converted to packets which are sent to a headend controller and packets from the headend controller are converted into the IEEE 1394 format for output by the home network module.

60. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 57, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an universal serial bus interface.

61. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 60, wherein data in a universal serial bus format input through a network interface module is converted to packets which are sent to a headend controller and packets from the headend controller are converted into the universal serial bus format for output by the home network module.

62. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 57, wherein the home network module includes at least a first port for inputting and outputting either IEEE 1394 or universal serial bus data to/from a first device and a second port for inputting and outputting either IEEE 1394 or universal serial bus data to/from a second device and wherein the first device is in communications with the second device.

63. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 57, wherein one of the consumer network interfaces includes an asynchronous transfer mode interface.

64. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 49, wherein the application interface module is comprised of a television module for accepting video data from a headend controller and generating an RF television signal.

65. The ADSL terminal unit of claim 64, wherein the television module includes an infrared remote controller circuit for accepting user commands which are transmitted to the headend controller in packets.

66. A method for enhancing the functionality of an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) terminal unit for use in a twisted pair telephone network having an ADSL termination system, comprising the steps of:

coupling the ADSL terminal unit to the twisted pair telephone network;

exchanging communications between the twisted pair telephone network and the ADSL terminal unit;

determining whether an application interface module is in communications with the ADSL terminal unit;

identifying which function is provided by the application interface module;

transmitting management information from the ADSL terminal unit to a subscriber management system and server specific to the application interface module in communications with the ADSL terminal unit;

providing applications services for the ADSL terminal unit by the subscriber management system and server in response to the management information.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of hot plugging a device into the ADSL terminal unit.

68. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of the subscriber management system and server providing telephony functions to the ADSL terminal unit according to a telephone module which is inserted in the ADSL terminal unit as a device.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of establishing a virtual circuit in response to a management signal so that voice data is routed through an ATM switch in an ATM packet format according to the virtual circuit.

70. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of performing diagnostics on the ADSL terminal unit according to a field diagnostic module that was inserted as a device into the ADSL terminal unit.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of transmitting commands to the field diagnostic module by a computer system through a serial interface for testing the ADSL terminal unit.

72. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of displaying a test result that was performed on a display of the field diagnostic module.

73. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of coupling a home network module to the ADSL terminal unit for handling consumer network data.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the consumer network data has an IEEE 1394 format.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising the steps of:

converting the IEEE 1394 format data input through the home network module to packets;

sending the packets to a headend controller;

converting packets sent by the headend controller and received by the home network module into the IEEE 1394 format for output by the home network module.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the packets are carried in ATM cells.

77. The method of claim 73 further comprising the step of providing an universal serial bus interface through the home network module.

78. The method of claim 77 further comprising the steps of:

converting a universal serial bus format data input through the home network module to packets;

sending the packets to a headend controller;

converting packets sent by the headend controller and received by the home network module to the universal serial bus format for output by the home network module.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the packets are carried in ATM cells.

80. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of providing an asynchronous transfer mode interface through the interface module.

81. The method of claim 66 further comprising the steps of:

accepting video data from the subscriber management system and server;

converting the video data by a television module inserted in the ADSL terminal unit as the application interface module;

outputting an RF television signal by the television module.

82. The method of claim 81 further comprising the steps of:

accepting a plurality of user commands through an infrared remote controller circuit in the television module;

transmitting management information to the subscriber management system and server in response to the plurality of user commands;

servicing the user commands by the subscriber management system and server.

83. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of downloading software through a telephone to the ADSL terminal unit for supporting a device.

84. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of downloading software through a cable network to the device for supporting a function offered by a device.

85. An application interface module for adding functionality to an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) terminal unit, comprising:

a connector for coupling the application interface module to the ADSL terminal unit;

a bus coupled to the connector;

memory coupled to the bus for storing instructions or data, wherein the memory contains identification information for identifying a particular function of the application interface module;

a processor coupled to the bus for transmitting management information from the application interface module to the ADSL terminal unit, wherein the ADSL terminal unit transmits a request for applications services from a headend controller in response to the management information.

86. The application interface module of claim 85 providing a home network function.

87. The application interface module of claim 85 providing a telephony function.

88. The application interface module of claim 85 providing a diagnostic function.

89. The application interface module of claim 85 providing an ADSL function.