Universal access multimedia data network

• US 6,452,925 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sistanizadeh, Kamran, Amin-Salehi, Bahman, Ghafari, Edward, Sims, Wendell
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/604,265
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/389, 370/401, 375/222, 379/220.01, 379/265.09, 395/249
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A system and method for providing Internet access via a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) using full time asymmetric digital subscriber line connections between subscriber premises processor terminals and a local area network (LAN) node and router gateway on Telco premises connected to a Telco digital packet network connected to Internet service providers and Internet information providers. A domain name server (DNS) and a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server are connected to the router to provide domain name to IP address translations and temporary assignment of IP addresses to said customer premises processor terminal. The customer or subscriber going on-line communicates with the DHCP using encryption and preferably public/private key encryption to both authenticate the customer and the DHCP. The DHCP updates the database in the DNS to maintain freshness. The digital packets in the network use several protocols with a TCP/IP payload encapsulated therein without the need for translation or conversion.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of splitters for connection to network-ends of a plurality of local loops to subscriber premises,

each splitter for splitting signals received over a respective one of the local loops from a respective subscriber premises into data signals and telephony signals and for combining data signals and telephony signals for transport over the respective local loop to the respective subscriber premises;

a plurality of digital subscriber line modems, each digital subscriber line modem coupled to a respective one of the splitters for supplying data to and receiving data from the splitter for the respective local loop; and

a data switch coupled for two-way data communication in accord with a local area network protocol, via the digital subscriber line modems with customer premises data equipment, over the local loops, wherein;

the data switch also is for providing data communication access to a wide area packet switched network using a packet protocol,

communications to and from the packet switched network for the customer premises data equipment utilize the packet protocol transported in the two-way data communication in accord with the local area network protocol, via the digital subscriber line modems and over the local loops, and

the two-way data communication of the data switch is available to customer premises data equipment at each of the subscriber premises on a substantially always-on basis.

2. A communication system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one server coupled for communication via the data switch, for dynamically administering packet protocol addresses for communications of the customer premises data equipment.

3. A communication system as in claim 2, wherein said at least one server comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol server for providing dynamic temporary assignment of one of a plurality of packet protocol addresses.

4. A communication system as in claim 1, wherein:

the local area network protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol; and

the packet protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

5. A communication system as in claim 4, further comprising at least one server coupled for communication via the data switch, for dynamically administering Internet protocol addresses for communications of the customer premises data equipment.

6. A communication system as in claim 5, wherein said at least one server comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol server for providing dynamic temporary assignment of one of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses.

7. A communication system as in claim 1, wherein the data switch comprises a switch for routing frames in the local area network protocol.

8. A communication system as in claim 1, wherein data switch comprises a gateway router for routing packets in the packet protocol.

9. A communication system as in claim 1, wherein the digital subscriber line modems comprise asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems.

10. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of digital subscriber line modems for connection to a plurality of local loops to subscriber premises, each digital subscriber line modem for supplying data to and receiving data over a respective one of the local loops;

a data switch system coupled for two-way data communication with customer premises data equipment, in accord with a local area network protocol, via the digital subscriber line modems and over the respective local loops,

wherein the data switch system also is for providing data communication access to a packet switched network using a packet protocol, and communications to and from the packet switched network for the customer premises data equipment utilize the packet protocol transported in the two-way data communication in accord with the local area network protocol via the digital subscriber line modems and over the local loops; and

at least one server coupled for communication via the data switch system, for dynamically administering packet protocol addresses for communications of the customer premises data equipment, wherein the server administers each packet protocol address by routing to the packet protocol address associated with an identifier entered via the customer premises data equipment.

11. A communication system as in claim 10, wherein the two-way data communication of the data switch system is available to customer premises data equipment at each of the customer premises on a substantially always-on basis.

12. A communication system as in claim 10, wherein said at least one server comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol server for providing dynamic temporary assignment of one of a plurality of packet protocol addresses to individual customer premises data equipment.

13. A communication system as in claim 10, wherein:

the local area network protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol; and

the packet protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

14. A communication system as in claim 10, wherein the data switch system comprises a switch for routing frames in the local area network protocol.

15. A communication system as in claim 14, wherein the switch for routing frames multiplexes frames received from the digital subscriber modems together for upstream transport and demultiplexes frames from downstream data and supplies demultiplexed frames to the digital subscriber line modems.

16. A communication system as in claim 14, wherein the data switch system further comprises a gateway router, coupled to the switch, for coupling to a wide area internetwork as the packet switched network, for routing packets in the packet protocol to and from the wide area internetwork.

17. A communication system as in claim 16, wherein the gateway router is for routing packets via the public Internet.

18. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of digital subscriber line modems for network-side connection to a respective plurality of local loops to customer premises on a one-to-one basis,

each digital subscriber line modem for supplying data to and receiving data from data equipment over a respective one of the local loops on a substantially always-on basis;

a data switch coupled for two-way data communication with the customer premises data equipment via the digital subscriber line modems and over the respective local loops on a substantially always-on basis, such that the switch and digital subscriber line modems are for providing data communication access to a packet switched network, wherein;

the communications between the data switch and the customer premises data equipment utilize a local area network protocol,

the data communication access to the packet switched network utilizes a packet protocol, and

packet protocol communications between the data switch and the customer premises data equipment utilize the packet protocol transported in the local area network protocol, via the digital subscriber line modems and over the local loops.

19. A communication system as in claim 18, further comprising at least one server coupled for communication via the data switch, for dynamically administering packet protocol addresses for communications of the customer premises data equipment.

20. A communication system as in claim 18, wherein the digital subscriber line modems comprise asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems.

21. A communication system as in claim 18, wherein the data switch comprises a switch for routing frames in the local area network protocol.

22. A communication system as in claim 21, wherein:

the local area network protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and the switch for routing frames comprises an Ethernet switch.

23. A communication system as in claim 18, wherein the data switch comprises a gateway router for routing packets in the packet protocol.

24. A method of providing data communication access to a packet switched internetwork, comprising the steps of:

providing digital subscriber line data service over each of a plurality of subscriber telephone lines;

providing local area network transport between a hub location and customer premises over the digital subscriber line data service;

providing packet transport for communication of customer premises data equipment to and from the packet switched internetwork using the local area network transport over the digital subscriber line data service; and

dynamically assigning packet protocol addresses to individual pieces of customer premises data equipment using the local area network transport over the digital subscriber line data service, for use in communications via the packet switched internetwork, wherein the server administers each packet protocol address by routing to the packet protocol address associated with an identifier entered via the customer premises data equipment. ease add the following new claims.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein the packet switched internetwork comprises the public Internet.

26. A method as in claim 24, wherein the providing steps all are performed in such a manner as to offer substantially always-on data communication access to the packet switched internetwork.

27. A method as in claim 24, wherein the digital subscriber line data service comprises an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) data service.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the local area network transport utilizes an Ethernet protocol transported via the ADSL data service.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein the packet transport utilizes a packet protocol transported via the Ethernet protocol on the ADSL service.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein the packet protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

31. A method as in claim 24, wherein said hardware address is a media access control address, said media access control address being an address for an interface card.

32. A method as in claim 31, wherein said interface card is used to connect said customer premises data equipment with said packet switched internetwork.

33. A method as in claim 24, wherein a server dynamically assign a packet protocol address to said customer premises data equipment.

34. A method as in claim 33, further comprising:

authenticating said server, said customer premises data equipment verifying the authenticity of said server.

35. A method as in claim 24, wherein said username, said password are different for each service provider.

36. A method as in claim 24, wherein said hardware address identifies said customer premises data equipment.

37. A method as in claim 24, further comprising:

using said combination of said username, said password and said hardware address to determine a dynamic host configuration protocol server, said dynamic host configuration protocol server dynamically assigning said packet protocol address.

38. A method as in claim 37, further comprising:

sending a first domain name service request to a first domain name service server, said step of sending said first domain name service request being performed to identify said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

39. A method as in claim 38, further comprising:

contacting said dynamic host configuration protocol server, said customer premises data equipment contacting said dynamic host configuration protocol server once said dynamic host configuration protocol server has been identified.

40. A method as in claim 38, further comprising:

sending a second domain name service request to a second domain name service server when said first domain name service server is unable to identify said dynamic host configuration protocol server, said step of sending said second domain name service request being performed to identify said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

41. A method as in claim 40, further comprising:

contacting said dynamic host configuration protocol server, said customer premises data equipment contacting said dynamic host configuration protocol server once said dynamic host configuration protocol server has been identified.

42. A method as in claim 37, wherein said dynamic host configuration protocol server includes a billing capability.