Integrated data centric network (IDCN)

• US 6,522,641 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Lo, Wing F., Smith, Wendy S., Nowak, Richard J., Bourlas, Yair, Siu, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US09/323,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/426, 455/422, 455/561, 455/560, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/356, 370/366, 370/310.1, 370/310.2, 370/401, 370/465, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4637 Interconnected ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5612 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/567 Frame Relay over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/04 Interfaces between hierarchically different network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A fixed wireless point-to-multipoint distribution network for providing seamless communication coverage to plurality of subscribers that includes a plurality of base stations for providing wireless access to said subscriber; each base station having connectivity to one another on a first network layer via at least one of a number of IP and/or ATM switches, called IDCN switches; each IDCN switch having connectivity to another over a second network layer via a transport ring thereby enabling one user to communicate directly with another user in said first network layer, or externally of said first network layer via one of said IDCN switches.

An integrated data centric network is provided that integrates voice, data and video services into a single network, defines user services by the end user by providing middleware to enable the end user to develop services and applications; and provides a carrier grade service with distributed networking and services.

Claims

1. A fixed wireless point-to-multipoint network for providing seamless communication coverage to a plurality of subscribers, comprising:

a plurality of base stations for providing wireless access to said subscribers;

each base station having connectivity to one another on a first network layer via at least one of a number of integrated data centric network (IDCN) switches;

each of the IDCN switches having connectivity to one another over a second network layer via a transport ring thereby enabling one user to communicate directly with another user in said first network layer via one of said IDCN switches;

a subnet controller configured to provide information and functions; and

direct connection tunneling established between the subscribers by the information and functions provided by the subnet controller whereby the network routing efficiency improves and network costs reduce.

2. A network as in claim 1, further comprising a subnet controller configured to provide information and functions;

and intelligent customer premise equipment configured to cooperate with the information and functions provided by the subnet controller to make available to a subscriber a capability of dictating when and how much bandwidth is required.

3. A network as in claim 1, wherein the first and second network layers are different from each other, each being selected from a group consisting of a transport and routing layer with multiple IDCN switches connected in a ring and star configuration, a metro distribution level and routing layer with a transport ring and local area network between base stations with connectivity to the multiple IDCN switches, an access/last mile layer with base stations communication over fixed wireless access, and a customer premise layer.

4. A method of communication through a point-to-multipoint wireless distribution network, comprising:

providing wireless access to subscribers via a plurality of base stations and a plurality of switches;

providing each of the base stations with connectivity to one another on a first network layer via at least one of the switches;

providing each of the switches with connectivity to one another over a second network layer via a transport, the transport representing any one of a ring architecture, star architecture and hybrid ring, star and mesh architecture;

communicating between subscribers directly in either the first network layer or externally of the first network layer via at least one of the switches;

providing information and functions with a subnet controller; and

establishing direct connection tunneling between the subscribers by the information and functions provided by the subnet controller whereby the network routing efficiency improves and network costs reduce.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the switches are integrated digital centric network switches.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein the communicating is carried out from providing seamless communication coverage to a plurality of the subscribers as a result of all of the providing steps.

7. A method as in claim 4, further comprising integrating voice, data and video services into the first and second layers.

8. A method as in claim 4, wherein the first and second network layers are different from each other, each being selected from a group consisting of a transport and routing layer with multiple IDCN switches connected in a ring and star configuration, a metro distribution level and routing layer with a transport ring and local area network between base stations with connectivity to the multiple IDCN switches, an access/last mile layer with base stations communication over fixed wireless access, and a customer premise layer.