Method and apparatus for improvement in set-top box network performance

• US 6,711,743 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujimori, Takahiro, Hong, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sloan, Nathan A
• Application Number:
  US09/664,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 725/109, 725/110, 725/111, 725/124, 725/125, 725/112, 725/113, 725/131, 725/139, 725/154, 455/557
• US Class Current: 725/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44245 Monitoring the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. its availability, bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6106 specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method and apparatus of enhancing communications in a set-top box having a high speed modem and a lower speed modem. A selected one of the modems can be used, depending upon noise and speed considerations, to receive a response packet by selectively substituting the appropriate IP address as the source address in a request message.

Claims

1. A method of communication in a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, and a processor comprising:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem to a server, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a reply to the first request is greater in size than a threshold size; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem the server using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a reply to the second request over the high speed modem.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a programmed processor.

6. A method of communication in a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, and a processor comprising:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem to a sever, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem to the server using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving a reply to the second request over the high speed modem.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein the processor comprises a programmed processor.

13. A method of communication in a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, and a processor, comprising:

transmitting a first request from the high speed modem to a server, the request including an IP address for the high speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the high speed modem to the server using an IP address of the lower speed modem for the source address.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising receiving a reply to the second request over the lower speed modem.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the processor comprises a programmed processor.

20. A set-top box, comprising:

a high speed modem;

a comparatively lower speed modem;

a programmed processor controlling operation of the set-top box including the high speed modem and the comparatively lower speed lower speed modem;

program means, running on the programmed processor, for;

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining that a reply to the first request is greater in size than a threshold size; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for receiving a reply to the second request over the high speed modem.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

24. A set-top box, comprising:

a high speed modem;

a comparatively lower speed modem;

a programmed processor controlling operation of the set-top box including the high speed modem and the comparatively lower speed lower speed modem;

program means, running on the programmed processor, for;

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining that a communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising receiving a reply to the second request over the high speed modem.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the program means for determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy comprises program means for examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the program means for determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy comprises program means for examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

30. A set-top box, comprising:

a high speed modem;

a comparatively lower speed modem;

a programmed processor controlling operation of the set-top box including the high speed modem and the comparatively lower speed modem;

program means, running on the programmed processor, for;

transmitting a first request from the high speed modem, the request including an IP address for the high speed modem as a source address;

determining that a communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the high speed modem using an IP address of the lower speed modem for the source address.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising means for receiving a reply to the second request over the lower speed modem.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the high speed modem comprises a DOCSIS cable modem.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the lower speed modem comprises an out-of-band modem.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the program means for determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy comprises means for examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

35. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the program means for determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy comprises program means for examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

36. A set-top box, comprising:

a high speed DOCSIS cable modem;

a comparatively lower speed out-of-band modem;

a programmed processor controlling operation of the set-top box including the high speed DOCSIS cable modem and the comparatively lower speed out-of-band modem;

program means, running on the programmed processor, for;

determining if a request is originating from the DOCSIS cable modem;

if the request is from the DOCSIS cable modem, determining if the DOCSIS cable modem'"'"'s downstream communication channel is noisy by examining errors received on the downstream communication channel;

if the downstream communication channel is not noisy, transmitting a request over the DOCSIS cable modem using the DOCSIS cable modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address;

if the downstream communication channel is noisy, transmitting a request over the DOCSIS cable modem using the out-of-band modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address;

if the request is not from the DOCSIS cable modem, determining that the request is from the out-of-band modem and determining if a reply that is larger than a threshold size is expected;

if a reply that is larger then a threshold size is expected, transmitting a request over the out-of-band modem using the DOCSIS cable modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address;

if a reply that is larger than a threshold size is not expected determining if the out-of-band modem'"'"'s return channel is noisy by examining errors received on the out-of-band modem'"'"'s return channel;

if the out-of-band modem'"'"'s return channel is noisy, transmitting a request over the out-of-band modem using the DOCSIS cable modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address; and

if the out-of-band modem'"'"'s return channel is not noisy, transmitting a request over the out-of-band modem using the out-of-band modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein if the request is transmitted using the out-of-band modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address, further comprises receiving a reply over the out-of-band modem;

and wherein if the request is transmitted using the DOCSIS cable modem'"'"'s IP address as the source address, further comprises receiving a reply over the DOCSIS cable modem.

38. An electronic storage medium carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a reply to the first request is greater in size than a threshold size; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

39. An electronic storage medium carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

40. The electronic storage medium according to claim 39, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

41. The electronic storage medium according to claim 39, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

42. An electronic storage medium carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the high speed modem, the request including an IP address for the high speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy, and

transmitting a second request from the high speed modem using an IP address of the lower speed modem for the source address.

43. The electronic;

storage medium according to claim 42, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

44. The electronic storage medium according to claim 42, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

45. An electronic communication transport medium carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a reply to the first request is greater in size than a threshold size; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

46. An electronic communication transport medium carrying instructions which, when exerted on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the lower speed modem, the request including an IP address for the lower speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the lower speed modem using an IP address of the high speed modem for the source address.

47. The electronic communication transport medium according to claim 46, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is cared out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

48. The electronic communication transport medium according to claim 46, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the lower speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.

49. An electronic communication transport medium carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor within a set-top box having a high speed modem and a comparatively lower speed modem, carry out a process comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first request from the high speed modem, the request including an IP address for the high speed modem as a source address;

determining by the processor that a communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy; and

transmitting a second request from the high speed modem using an IP address of the lower speed modem for the source address.

50. The electronic communication transport medium according to claim 49, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for IP checksum for errors.

51. The electronic communication transport medium according to claim 49, wherein determining that the communication channel used by the high speed modem is noisy is carried out by examining a reply to the first request for MAC CRC errors.