Distributed ethernet hub

• US 6,466,572 B1
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Bedford, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc. (Marconi Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ethridge, Barry J., Gainer, James J., Whitehead, Joseph L., Kimbrough, Mahlon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUTHER, WILLIAM A
• Application Number:
  US09/325,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/400, 370/407, 370/420, 370/445, 370/446, 370/447, 370/908, 370/910, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/358, 370/901, 370/902, 370/903, 370/904, 370/905, 370/906, 370/907, 370/402, 370/403-406, 395/299, 395/730, 359/128
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• 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 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/901 Wide area network

Abstract

A technique for multiplexing high speed computed data with digitized voice signals onto a fiber optic cable for transfer to a local central office. The data packets of a number of computers are networked by way of a distributed hub that extends to residences, offices, apartments, etc. The data packets are switched outside the switching fabric of a local central office and routed to the internet or elsewhere. Command signals that are for accessing the internet are transmitted and received as 10 MHz Ethernet data packets on the distributed hub.

Claims