Network server platform (NSP) for a hybrid coaxial/twisted pair local loop network service architecture

• US 6,542,500 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ashbourne Technologies, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Martin, Jeffrey S., Treventi, Philip Andrew, Walker, Hopeton S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US09/224,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 370/277, 370/280, 370/282, 370/285, 370/314, 370/352, 370/353-356, 370/359, 370/365, 370/389, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/395.54, 370/395.64, 370/401-405, 370/419, 370/420, 370/422, 370/442, 370/452, 370/460, 370/463, 370/493, 370/524, 370/537, 370/906, 455/406
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area 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 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• 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 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/906 Fiber data distribution interface, FDDI

Abstract

A twisted pair and/or coaxial cable fed, integrated residence gateway controlled set-top device provides a plurality of services. One service is lifeline service which may be provided over the coaxial cable via a cable modem of the integrated residence gateway or over the twisted pair facility. An integrated residence gateway is coupled to either or both of the coaxial cable or twisted pair and distributes the bandwidth facilities available over either service vehicle to customer devices including a set top box. A network service platform (NSP) is coupled to a cable facilities management platform (FNP) for providing services for cable television subscribers as well as telecommunication service subscribers such that an interexchange or telephone company would control the network services to the subscribers. The NSP architectural concept may permit the interexchange or telephone company to be the single service provider of information to subscribers on an equal basis.

Claims

1. A system for controlling subscriber terminal access a plurality of communication networks, the system comprising:

a plurality of subscriber terminals;

an intelligent multiplexer coupled to each of the plurality of subscriber terminals, the intelligent multiplexer multiplexing the plurality of services to the plurality of subscriber terminals;

a router coupled to the intelligent multiplexer through first and second lines and coupled to the plurality of communication networks, the router providing a gateway connection between each subscriber terminal and the plurality of communication networks, the plurality of communication networks providing a plurality of services including a cable television service and at least one telecommunication service, the first line being a twisted pair cable, and the second line being a coaxial cable; and

an application server apparatus coupled to the router, the application server storing information supporting operation of the system, and supporting subscriber access to the plurality of communication networks.

2. The system described in claim 1, wherein an interexchange company is a sole service provider providing cable television service telecommunication services to the plurality of subscriber terminals.

3. The system described in claim 1, wherein the applications server is coupled to the router along a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) ring.

4. The system described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of telecommunication services includes at least one of an integrated billing service, a telephone service and a private Intranet service.

5. The system described in claim 1, wherein the router is coupled to at least one of the plurality of communication networks through a trunk line.

6. The system described in claim 5, wherein the router trunk line coupling the router to at least one of the plurality of communication networks operates using a SONET protocol.

7. The system described in claim 1, wherein the trunk line coupling the router to at least one of the plurality of communication networks uses a TR303 protocol.

8. The system described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes a SS7 network.

9. The system described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes a public switched telephone network.

10. The system described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes a private Intranet.

11. The system described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes an Internet.

12. A system providing a plurality of communication services to each of a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:

an intelligent residential gateway (IRG) apparatus disposed at each user location, each intelligent residential gateway apparatus providing access to the plurality of communication services for the user location;

a facility management platform (FMP) disposed at a location that is remote from each of the plurality of user locations, the facility management platform being coupled to each intelligent residential gateway apparatus through at least two of a twisted pair cable, a coaxial cable and a wireless communication coupling; and

a network server platform (NSP) coupled to the facility management platform, the network server platform providing at least a cable television service and a plurality of telecommunication services, and including a database server storing information supporting operation of the network service platform providing each cable television service and each telecommunication service.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the database server stores user information related to the plurality of communication services.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the facility management platform being further coupled to at least one communication network through a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI).

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality communication networks include a SS7 network.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of communication networks include a public switched telephone network.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes a private Intranet.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes an Internet.

19. The system of in claim 12, wherein the plurality of telecommunication services includes at least one of an integrated billing service, a telephone service, a private Intranet service, and an Internet service.

20. A network server platform coupled to a network that provides cable television service and telecommunication service to subscribers, the network including hybrid fiber, coaxial and twisted pair facilities, the network server platform comprising:

a controller providing support operations for the network to provide the cable television service and the telecommunication service;

a memory coupled to the controller and storing information supporting operation of the network service platform and for further storing subscriber information related to the cable television service and telecommunication service; and

a facility management platform coupled to the network server platform and interfacing with the subscribers through the hybrid fiber, coaxial cable and twisted pair facilities of the network.

21. The network server platform of claim 20, wherein the subscriber information includes at least one of identity information, service information, billing information, programming information, and equipment and facility information.

22. The network server platform of claim 20, wherein the network server platform is coupled to the facility management platform through a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) ring.

23. The network server platform of claim 20, wherein the telecommunication services include at least one of an integrated billing service, a telephone service, and a private Intranet service, and an Internet services.