Coaxial cable/twisted pair cable telecommunications network architecture

• US 6,546,016 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Hopeton S., Gerszberg, Irwin, Martin, Jeffrey S., Oplinger, Thomas, Treventi, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/224,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 370/354, 370/352, 370/353, 370/468, 370/474, 370/490, 370/389, 370/390, 370/282, 370/351, 370/401, 370/400, 370/402-4, 370/465-69, 709/225, 709/223, 709/238, 709/202, 375/222, 725/74, 725/105-6, 725/111, 725/118, 725/143-4, 725/148, 725/151
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5606 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5632 Bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5639 Tariffs or charging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13012 Hybrid fiber coax, HFC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13031 Pulse code modulation, PCM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 : Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 : Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13367 : Hierarchical multiplexing, add-drop multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A sysyem architecture for bypassing a local exchange carrier comprises an intelligent terminal, a residential gateway coupled to the terminal, a cable facility management platform terminating a twisted pair or coaxial cable facility and a network service platform. The twisted pair and/or coaxial cable fed, integrated residence gateway controlled intelligent terminal or set-top device provides a plurality of enhanced services. One necessary service is lifeline service which may be provided over the coaxial cable via a cable modem of the integrated residence gateway, over the twisted pair facility or via wirelss means. The 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 the set top box.

Claims

1. A system architecture for providing enhanced services comprises an intelligent terminal for delivering said enhanced services to a user;

a residence gateway disposed near a user'"'"'s premises for multiplexing and coordinating many digital services onto one of a single twisted-pair line or coaxial cable;

a cable facilities management platform disposed remote from said user'"'"'s premises and one of remote from or in a local network office, the twisted pair line and the coaxial cable for routing data to an interexchange company network; and

a network server platform coupled to the cable facilities management platform for generating enhanced services to the user and for distinguishing services provided by the interexchange companies from those services provided by the local telephone network.

2. The system architecture as recited in claim 1 wherein said network service platform comprises a caching server downloading multicast data to a plurality of said residence gateways, each comprising a cable modem connected multiplexing device and said cable facilities management platform comprises at least one cable modem for multiplexing data and voice over a coaxial cable respectively wherein each said cable modem connected multiplexing device includes a processor functioning as a proxy server.

3. The system architecture of claim 2 wherein each cable modem connected multiplexing device includes a processor configured as a proxy server for allowing Internet browsing.

4. The system architecture of claim 1 wherein said residence gateway is coupled to a tap via a cable comprising a coaxial cable and a plurality of twisted pairs, one of said twisted pairs for providing power to said residence gateway.

5. The system architecture of claim 1 wherein said residence gateway comprises a portion of a coaxial cable tap for providing service to a plurality of subscribers, said residence gateway coupled to said intelligent terminal via a drop coaxial cable.

6. The system architecture of claim 5 wherein said residence gateway comprises a digital phone interface, a data services interface, an RF audio/visual interface and a cable/asynchronous digital subscriber loop modem.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein a band of frequencies of a cable television service spectrum is reserved for bi-directional packetized telecommunications services.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein a band of frequencies of a cable television service spectrum is reserved for bi-directional switched telecommunications services.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said switched telecommunications services band of frequencies is sized according to the number of telecommunications service subscribers served by a single fiber.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said band of frequencies comprises an integral number of cable television channels.