Cable modem system using CATV transmission path

• US 6,711,742 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kishi, Tomoko, Yamamoto, Takaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMICCO, MATTHEW R
• Application Number:
  US09/469,125
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 725/111, 725/122, 725/123, 725/126, 725/119, 725/118, 370/352, 370/356, 370/401, 375/222
• US Class Current: 725/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062

Abstract

A cable modem system prevents an up-link noise from entering a cable so as to efficiently use the bandwidth of a CATV transmission path. The cable modem system performs data communication using the transmission path of a cable television system which includes a cable television station apparatus and a plurality of subscriber units connected to each other by the transmission path. A gateway apparatus receives an original data signal supplied by one of the subscriber units via a telephone network. The gateway apparatus converts the original data signal into a converted data signal so that the converted data signal complies with a protocol corresponding to a destination address included in the original data signal. The gateway apparatus sends the converted data signal to the cable television station apparatus via the transmission path. A line end terminal unit is provided in the cable television station apparatus so as to receive the converted data signal sent from the gateway apparatus. The line end terminal unit restores the converted data signal to the original data signal.

Claims

1. A cable modem system performing data communication using a transmission path of a cable television system which includes a cable television station apparatus and a plurality of subscriber units connected to each other by the transmission path, the cable modem system comprising:

a gateway apparatus receiving an original data signal supplied by one of the subscriber units via a telephone network, said gateway apparatus converting the original data signal into a converted data signal so that the converted data signal complies with a protocol corresponding to a destination address included in the original data signal, said gateway apparatus sending the converted data signal to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path; and

a line end terminal unit, provided in said cable television station apparatus, receiving the converted data signal sent from said gateway apparatus via said transmission path, said line end terminal unit restoring the converted data signal to the original data signal.

2. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gateway apparatus includes a first table unit storing information regarding dial numbers and destination addresses of the original data signal by relating to each other, the dial numbers being used when the original data signal is supplied from said one of the subscriber units via the telephone network;

and

said gateway apparatus retrieves the destination address corresponding to the dial number from said first table unit so as to convert the original data signal into the converted data signal so that the converted data signal complies with a protocol based on the destination address and send the converted data signal to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path.

3. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gateway apparatus includes:

a first line end terminal function unit receiving the original data signal supplied by one of the subscriber units via the telephone network;

a first tunneling function unit applying a process to the converted data signal to be transmitted via said transmission path of said cable television system so as to use a tunneling function; and

a cable modem function unit sending the converted data signal supplied by said first tunneling function unit to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path of said cable television system.

4. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said line end terminal unit of said cable television station apparatus comprises:

a second line end terminal function unit receiving the converted data signal sent from said gateway apparatus via said transmission path;

a second tunneling function unit applying a process to the converted data signal received from said gateway apparatus so as to restore the converted data signal from the converted data signal processed by said first tunneling function unit; and

a telco return protocol unit restoring the original data signal from the converted data signal.

5. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cable television station apparatus includes an access server performing a connection in accordance with a dial up method.

6. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said access server comprises:

a third tunneling function unit applying a process to the converted data signal received from said gateway apparatus so as to restore the converted data signal from the converted data signal processed by said first tunneling function unit; and

a protocol function unit restoring the original data signal from the converted data signal.

7. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the telephone network connecting said subscriber units to said gateway apparatus is a personal handyphone system network.

8. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cable television station apparatus includes a gate keeper unit storing the dial numbers, user names and the destination addresses by relating to each other.

9. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said gate keeper unit includes a second table unit storing the dial numbers, the user names and the destination addresses by relating to each other.

10. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 9, wherein contents of said first table unit are updated based on contents of said second table unit.

11. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the telephone network connecting said subscriber units to said gateway apparatus is a personal handyphone system network.

12. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the telephone network connecting said subscriber units to said gateway apparatus is a personal handyphone system network.

13. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first line end terminal function unit includes a PIAFS function unit for using a function according to the PHS internet access forum standard in a data transmitting operation through the telephone network connecting said one of the subscriber units to said gateway apparatus.

14. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gateway apparatus comprises:

a first line end terminal function unit receiving the original data signal from said one of the subscriber units via the telephone network;

a first H.323 function unit performing a process for using a function according to the ITU-T recommendation H.323 so as to convert the original data signal to the converted data signal; and

a cable modem function unit sending the converted data signal supplied from said first H.323 function unit to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path of said cable television system.

15. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cable television station apparatus includes a gate keeper unit so as to use the function according to the ITU-T recommendation H.323.

16. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the telephone network connecting said subscriber units to said gateway apparatus is a personal handyphone system network.

17. The cable modem system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first line end terminal function unit includes a PIAFS function unit for using a function according to the PHS internet access forum standard in a data transmitting operation through the telephone network connecting said one of the subscriber units to said gateway apparatus.

18. The gateway apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including:

a first table unit storing information regarding a dial number and a destination address of the original data signal, the dial number being used when the original data signal is supplied from said one of the subscriber units via the telephone network; and

said gateway apparatus retrieves the destination address corresponding to the dial number from said first table unit so as to convert the original data signal into the converted data signal so that the converted data signal complies with a protocol corresponding to the destination address and send the converted data signal to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path.

19. The gateway apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

a first line end terminal function unit receiving the original data signal from said one of the subscriber units via the telephone network;

a first H.323 function unit performing a process for using a function according to the ITU-T recommendation H.323 so as to convert the original data signal to the converted data signal; and

a cable modem function unit sending the converted data signal supplied from said first H.323 function unit to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path of said cable television system.

20. A gateway apparatus provided along an up-link of a cable modem system which performs data communication using a transmission path of a cable television system which includes a cable television station apparatus and a plurality of subscriber units connected to each other by the transmission path, said gateway apparatus receiving an original data signal supplied by one of the subscriber units via a telephone network, said gateway apparatus converting the original data signal into a converted data signal so that the converted data signal complies with a protocol corresponding to a destination address included in the original data signal, said gateway apparatus sending the converted data signal to said cable television station apparatus via said transmission path.