Asymmetric communication system with regulated upstream channel
DCFirst Claim
1. A two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a server and a plurality of remote devices for supporting server-client communication, the communication system comprising:
- a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices;
a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission;
an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission;
a control system acting to generate, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period,wherein each remote interface includesa receiver that receives downstream data from the server over the downstream channel, and provides said downstream data to an associated remote device; and
a sender that sends, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal.
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Abstract
An asymmetric network communication system for use in a client-host environment having independent forward and return channels operating at different speeds and/or under different protocols on the same or different communication media to provide efficient utilization of shared resources. A network manager, such as a hybrid access system, effects transmission of packetized data on a forward (downstream) channel from the host server to multiple client devices coupled with a shared downstream media at 10 or more megabits per second while simultaneously providing selectable multiple lower speeds of operation on shared or dedicated return (upstream) channels from the client devices to the host server depending on bandwidth availability, bandwidth demand, service level authorization, etc, for the return channel. Forward and return channels may be located on the same or different communication medium including a CATV network, direct broadcast satellite network, television or radio RF broadcast network, wireless or mobile cellular facilities or the like. The return channel may reside on a PSTN either directly coupled with the host server or connected with the network manager for subsequent transmission to the host server. The network manager handles or controls the forward and return communication to establish asymmetric communication between the host and plural client devices in a way to pre-authorize the amount of upstream data sent by a remote client.
74 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a server and a plurality of remote devices for supporting server-client communication, the communication system comprising:
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a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices; a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission; an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission; a control system acting to generate, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, wherein each remote interface includes a receiver that receives downstream data from the server over the downstream channel, and provides said downstream data to an associated remote device; and a sender that sends, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a server and a plurality of remote devices for supporting server-client communication, each remote device running a layered communication protocol, the communication system comprising:
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a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices; a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission; an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission; a control system acting to generate, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, wherein each remote interface includes a receiver that receives downstream data from the server over the downstream channel, and provides said downstream data to an associated remote device, such that the downstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device; and a sender that sends, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, such that the upstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a server and a plurality of remote devices for supporting server-client communication, the communication system comprising:
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a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices; a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission; an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission; a control system, common to the downstream and upstream channels, the control system acting to generate, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of the plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, wherein each remote interface includes a receiver that receives downstream data from the server over the downstream channel, and provides said downstream data to an associated remote device; and a sender that sends, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a server and a plurality of remote devices for supporting server-client communication, each remote device running a layered communication protocol, the communication system comprising:
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a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices; a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission; an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission; a control system, common to the downstream and upstream channels, the control system acting to generate, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, wherein each remote interface includes a receiver that receives downstream data from the server over the downstream channel, and provides said downstream data to an associated remote device, such that the downstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device; and a sender that sends, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, such that the upstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a host and a plurality of remote devices for supporting communication, the communication system including a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices, a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission, an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission, the method comprising:
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generating, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, and the following steps, performed by each remote interface, of receiving downstream data from the host over the downstream channel, and providing said downstream data to an associated remote; and sending, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of operating a two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a host and a plurality of remote devices for supporting communication, each remote device running a layered communication protocol, the communication system including a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices, a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission, an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission, the method comprising:
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generating, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, and the following steps, performed by each remote interface, of receiving downstream data from the host over the downstream channel, and providing said downstream data to an associated remote device, such that the downstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device; and sending, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, such that the upstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of operating a two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a host and a plurality of remote devices for supporting communication, the communication system including a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices, a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission, an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission, and a control system common to the downstream and upstream channels, the method comprising the step, performed by the control system, of
generating, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, and the following steps, performed by each remote interface, of receiving downstream data from the over the downstream channel, and providing said downstream data to an associated remote device; - and
sending, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of operating a two way asymmetric network communication system for transferring data between a host and a plurality of remote devices for supporting communication, each remote device running a layered communication protocol, the communication system including a plurality of remote interfaces associated with respective remote devices, a downstream channel in a direct broadcast satellite network, a CATV network, or an over-the-air radio frequency transmission, an upstream channel in said CATV network, or said over-the-air radio frequency transmission, and a control system common to the downstream and upstream channels, the method comprising the step, performed by the control system, of
generating, for each remote interface, a respective signal that determines an amount of data that one of said plurality of remote interfaces may send during a certain period, and the following steps, performed by each remote interface, of receiving downstream data from the over the downstream channel, and providing said downstream data to an associated remote device, such that the downstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device; - and
sending, during the certain period, data from the associated remote device over the upstream channel, such that the upstream channel is transparent to the associated remote device, said amount of the sent data being governed by the respective signal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification