Apparatus and method for providing PC communication and internet service by using settop box
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising:
- a back bone internet, a PC for providing communication and internet service, a network for D-CATV (Digital Cable Television) and VOD (Video-On-Demand) services;
an internet gateway disposed at a head end of said D-CATV network to provide an internet service channel between said backbone internet and said D-CATV subscriber, and a settop box connected to said network, said settop box comprising;
a PC interface for enabling communication with said PC, and a controller operative to analyze a previously designated VC (Virtual Channel) cell for a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point to Point Protocol (PPP) within data received from said network and to transmit said VC cell together with a SLIP or PPP header, as applicable, to said PC, said controller being further operative to separate a SLIP or PPP header from the data received from said PC and to transmit to said network said designated VC cell together with an IP (Internet Protocol)-over-ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) header.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for supporting a PC communication and internet service while supporting D-CATV and VOD services by using a settop box connected to a network for D-CATV and VOD services, without a separate communication equipment. The apparatus includes a PC interface installed in the settop box to communicate with the PC; and an internet gateway prepared at a head end of the D-CATV to provide an internet service channel between a backbone internet and a D-CATV subscriber. The settop box includes a controller for analyzing a previously designated VC (Virtual Channel) cell for SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) within of data received from the network and for transmitting the VC cell together with a SLIP header to the PC. The controller also is for separating the SLIP header from the data received from the PC and for transmitting to the network the designated VC cell together with an IP (Internet Protocol)-over-ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) header.
87 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communications system comprising:
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a back bone internet, a PC for providing communication and internet service, a network for D-CATV (Digital Cable Television) and VOD (Video-On-Demand) services;
an internet gateway disposed at a head end of said D-CATV network to provide an internet service channel between said backbone internet and said D-CATV subscriber, and a settop box connected to said network, said settop box comprising;
a PC interface for enabling communication with said PC, and a controller operative to analyze a previously designated VC (Virtual Channel) cell for a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point to Point Protocol (PPP) within data received from said network and to transmit said VC cell together with a SLIP or PPP header, as applicable, to said PC, said controller being further operative to separate a SLIP or PPP header from the data received from said PC and to transmit to said network said designated VC cell together with an IP (Internet Protocol)-over-ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) header. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A settop box for providing, D-CATV (Digital Cable Television) and VOD (Video-On-Demand) services to the display of a D-CATV subscriber;
- and for providing communication and internet service between a back bone internet and a PC, where an internet gateway is disposed at a head end of said D-CATV network to provide an internet service channel between said backbone internet and said D-CATV subscriber;
said settop box comprisinga network interface unit for connecting said settop box to said network;
a PC interface for enabling communication with said PC, and a controller operative to analyze a previously designated VC (Virtual Channel) cell for a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point to Point Protocol (PPP) within data received from said network and to transmit said VC cell together with a SLIP or PPP header, as applicable, to said PC, said controller being further operative to separate a SLIP or PPP header from the data received from said PC and to transmit to said network said designated VC cell together with an IP (Internet Protocol)-over-ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) header. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
- and for providing communication and internet service between a back bone internet and a PC, where an internet gateway is disposed at a head end of said D-CATV network to provide an internet service channel between said backbone internet and said D-CATV subscriber;
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16. A method for providing a PC communication and internet service by using a settop box connected to a network for D-CATV (Digital Cable Television) and VOD (Video-on-Demand) services, comprising the steps of:
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connecting a head end of said D-CATV and a center of said VOD to a backbone internet;
assigning inherent IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to the settop box and a PC connected to said settop box via an RS-232C interface;
analyzing a previously designated a VC (Virtual Channel) cell for Serial Line Internet Protocal (SLIP) out of data received from said network and transmitting said VC cell together with a SLIP header to said PC, and analyzing a previously designated VC cell received from said PC for a SLIP header, separating the SLIP header from the data received from said PC and transmitting to said network the designated VC cell together with an IP-over-ATM header.
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Specification