Local multi-point-distribution system architectures

• US 6,580,728 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jevremovic, Vladan, Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US09/266,651
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/484, 370/486, 370/487, 370/485, 370/536, 455/422, 455/426, 455/427, 455/450, 455/453, 725/64, 725/68, 725/71, 725/126, 725/138, 725/144, 348/14.02, 348/384.1, 359/109, 359/123, 359/113, 359/115
• US Class Current: 370/487
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A broadband communication system in which a central office is connected to a high speed network utilizes various LMDS architectures of the present invention to expand network capabilities. For example, LMDS architectures may extend the reach of the existing land line network, and reduce the cost of network expansion.

Claims

1. A broadband communication system comprising:

a central office connected to a high speed network and in communication with a network interface node through a connection;

a local multipoint distribution system hub connected to an antenna operative to transmit a signal;

a fiber connecting the central office to the hub to send the signal from the central office to the hub to allow the antenna to transmit the signal;

a local multipoint distribution system remote terminal operative to receive the signal and further operative to send the signal to the network interface node, wherein the received signal augments the connection between the central office and the network interface node, thereby increasing total bandwidth inflow to the node to allow additional customer subscriber lines to be connected thereto, and wherein the network interface node is operative to separate the signal into a plurality of customer signals corresponding to a plurality of customers; and

a plurality of customer digital signal lines connected to the network interface node, each customer digital signal line being operative to send a customer signal to the corresponding customer.

2. The broadband communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of customer digital signal lines are xDSL.

3. The broadband communication system of claim 1 wherein the hub and the remote terminal are configured for two-way communication between each customer digital signal line and the central office.

4. A broadband communication system comprising:

a central office connected to a high speed network and in communication with a network interface node through a connection, wherein the central office includes a local multipoint distribution system hub connected to an antenna operative to transmit a signal;

a local multipoint distribution system remote terminal operative to receive the signal and further operative to send the signal to the network interface node, wherein the received signal augments the connection between the central office and the network interface node, thereby increasing total bandwidth inflow to the node to allow additional customer subscriber lines to be connected thereto, and wherein the network interface node is operative to separate the signal into a plurality of customer signals corresponding to a plurality of customers; and

a plurality of customer digital signal lines connected to the network interface node, each customer digital signal line being operative to send a customer signal to the corresponding customer.

5. The broadband communication system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of customer digital signal lines are DS0 lines.

6. The broadband communication system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of customer digital signal lines are DS1 lines.

7. The broadband communication system of claim 4 wherein the hub and the remote terminal are configured for two-way communication between each customer digital signal line and the central office.

8. A broadband communication system comprising:

a central office connected to a high speed network and in communication with a network interface node through a connection;

a local multipoint distribution system hub including an antenna operative to transmit a signal;

a fiber connecting the central office to the hub to send the signal from the central office to the hub to allow the antenna to transmit the signal;

a local multipoint distribution system remote terminal operative to receive the signal; and

a fiber connecting the remote terminal to the network interface node, wherein the network interface node is operative to receive the signal and further operative to separate the signal into a plurality of customer signals corresponding to a plurality of customers to be delivered with a plurality of customer digital signal lines connected to the node, each customer digital signal line being operative to send a customer signal to the corresponding customer, and wherein the received signal augments the connection between the central office and the network interface node, thereby increasing total bandwidth inflow to the node to allow additional customer subscriber lines to be connected thereto.

9. A broadband communication system in which a central office is connected to a high speed network and is in communication with a network interface node through a connection, the node having a plurality of customer subscriber lines connected thereto, the system further comprising:

a local multipoint distribution system hub connected to an antenna operative to transmit a signal, the hub being connected to the central office;

a local multipoint distribution system remote terminal operative to receive the signal and further operative to send the signal to the node, wherein the received signal augments the connection between the central office and the node, thereby increasing total bandwidth inflow to the node to allow additional customer subscriber lines to be connected thereto.

10. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of customer subscriber lines are xDSL.

11. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the hub and the remote terminal are configured for two-way communication between each customer subscriber line and the central office.

12. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the antenna is operative to transmit using lower frequencies as necessary to avoid line-of-sight restrictions.

13. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of voice, data, and a combination of voice and data.

14. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein communication between the local multipoint distribution hub and the local multipoint distribution remote terminal is one-way communication, and wherein the connection between the central office and the node provides communication in an opposite direction.

15. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of customer subscriber lines are DS0 lines.

16. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of customer subscriber lines are DS1 lines.

17. The broadband communication system of claim 9, wherein the hub and the remote terminal are configured for two-way communication between each customer digital signal line and the central office.