Scalable multimedia network

• US 6,272,151 B1
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, Alan E., Sharper, Craig A., Chen, Yu-Ren Brian, Gupta, Dev Vrat
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/236,788
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 370/419, 370/489, 370/421, 370/462, 370/463, 370/471, 370/229, 370/384, 370/385, 370/466, 370/467, 395/502, 395/508, 395/520, 340/825.5
• US Class Current: 370/489
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2852 Metropolitan area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6402 Hybrid switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5612 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5613 Bus (including DQDB)
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5614 User Network Interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5627 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5638 Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5651 Priority, marking, classes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5652 Cell construction, e.g. including header, packetisation, depacketisation, assembly, reassembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5679 Arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6448 Medium Access Control [MAC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6464 Priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6483 Video, e.g. MPEG
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6489 : Buffer Management, Threshold setting, Scheduling, Shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/107 : using shared medium
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 : at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 : at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 : for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17345 : Control of the passage of the selected programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 : Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A Scalable Multimedia Network providing integrated networking of data, voice, video and image services over a variety of access facilities including metallic loops, fiber/coax or digital fiber is disclosed herein. The SMN establishes customer initiated switched virtual circuits for all traffic types and directs them to the appropriate backbone network. The SMN is based on a distributed switching platform that includes a protocol adaptation capability which permits communications between customer premises equipment and potentially incompatible backbone networks or network servers.

Claims

1. In a communication network, a method of data communication comprising the steps of:

converting user data into cells having an intra-network cell format comprising first and second packet cell formats;

coupling the cells to a high speed system bus;

receiving cells and converting data in the cells into an appropriate physical and frame format; and

coupling the converted data to an appropriate destination;

wherein the cells comprise a plurality of first cells having the first packet cell format and a plurality of second cells having the second packet cell format, any first cell having priority over any second cell in accessing the high speed bus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein any first cell can interrupt any second cell in accessing the high speed bus.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cells carry voice information.

2. In a communication network, a method of data communication comprising the steps of:

converting user data into cells having an intra-network cell format comprising first and second packet cell formats;

coupling the cells to a high speed system bus;

receiving cells and converting data in the cells into an appropriate physical and frame format; and

coupling the converted data to an appropriate destination;

wherein the cells comprise a plurality of first cells having the first packet cell format and a plurality of second cells having the second packet cell format, any first cell having priority over any second cell in accessing the high speed bus and wherein the bus comprises tiers of buses, each tier bus operating at a different data rate.

5. In a communication network, a method of data communication comprising the steps of:

converting user data into cells having an intra-network cell format comprising first and second packet cell formats;

coupling the cells to a high speed system bus;

receiving cells and converting data in the cells into an appropriate physical and frame format; and

coupling the converted data to an appropriate destination;

wherein the cells comprise a plurality of first cells having the first packet cell format and a plurality of second cells having the second packet cell format, any first cell having priority over any second cell in accessing the high speed bus and wherein the first packet cell format has a packet size much smaller than a packet size of the second packet cell format.

6. In a communication network, a method of data communication comprising the steps of:

converting user data into cells having an intra-network cell format comprising first and second packet cell formats;

coupling the cells to a high speed system bus;

receiving cells and converting data in the cells into an appropriate physical and frame format; and

coupling the converted data to an appropriate destination;

wherein the cells comprise a plurality of first cells having the first packet cell format and a plurality of second cells having the second packet cell formats, any first cell having priority over any second cell in accessing the high speed bus and wherein the first packet cell format includes a packet size indicator set to a first bit level and the second packet cell format includes a packet size indicator set to a second bit level.