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

• US 6,850,533 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• 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: Gerszberg, Irwin, Martin, Jeffrey S., Treventi, Philip Andrew, Walker, Hopeton S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US10/346,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 370/277, 370/280, 370/282, 370/285, 370/314, 370352-356, 370401-405, 370/428, 705/1, 705/22, 705/26, 705/30, 705/52, 705/80, 705/412, 725/46, 455/406
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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 (FMP) 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 method of automatically providing at least one of equipment, services and information to a subscriber to a network service from a network server platform, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving service usage data and user preference data from a subscriber, the service usage data and user preference data including cost and time limitation data relating to at least one of equipment, a service and information, when the service usage data and user preference data relates to equipment, the equipment being at least one of equipment used by the subscriber, equipment requested by the subscriber and equipment preferred by the subscriber, when the service usage data and user preference data relates to a service, the service being at least one of a service used by the subscriber, a service requested by a subscriber and a service preferred by a subscriber, and when the service usage data and user preference data relates to information, the information being at least one of information used by the subscriber, information requested by the subscriber and information preferred by the subscriber;

determining at least one of equipment, a service and information that is one of available and planned based on the received service usage data and user preference data; and

automatically providing to the subscriber at least one of equipment, service and information determined based on the received usage data and user preference data.