Modular home/office multi-media distribution system

• US 6,888,850 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boudhaouia, Jamal, Sweets, Tony, Perini, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/683,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/389, 370/401, 370/395.5, 370/463, 370/485, 370/486, 370/487, 370/488, 370/489, 370/490, 348/385.1, 725/105, 725/86, 725/74, 725/62, 725/63, 725/106, 725/114, 725/129, 725/138
• US Class Current: 370/486
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A Modular Residential Multi-Media Distribution System provides a single centralized interface for all external Wide Area Networks (WANs) which are received into the home/office environment. The MRMDS allows extensive modular flexibility in re-provisioning new services via changing or adding removable interfaces. Each WAN is individually connected to a distributor in the MRMDS. The MRMDS distributor interfaces the external WANs to a multiple of home/office Home Network Interfaces for distribution to a multiple of communication devices.

Claims

1. A multi-media distribution system comprising:

a distributor having a plurality of locations;

a Digital Subscriber Line external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said Digital Subscriber Line external interface operable to receive analog voice content and digital packet data content from a first Wide Area Network;

a cable service external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said cable service external interface operable to receive digital voice content and analog television content from a second Wide Area Network;

a first home network interface including a divider circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said first home network interface in communication with said Digital Subscriber Line external interface to distribute the analog voice content to at least one communication device;

a second home network interface including a Local Area Network Hub receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said second home network interface in communication with said Digital Subscriber Line external interface to distribute the analog television content to at least one communication device;

a third home network interface including a Local Area Network Hub receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said third home network interface in communication with said cable service external interface to distribute the digital voice content to at least one communication device; and

a fourth home network interface including a divider circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said third home network interface in communication with said cable service external interface to distribute the analog television content to at least one communication device.

2. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 1, furthering including:

a Direct Broadcasting Service external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said Direct Broadcasting Service external interface operable to receive digital television content from a third Wide Area Network.

3. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 1, further including a fifth home network interface including a feed through circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said fifth home network interface in communication with a Direct Broadcasting Service external interface to distribute the digital television content to at least one communication device.

4. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 1, furthering including:

a digital/analog-analog/digital converter in communication with said external interface;

a central processing unit in communication with said digital/analog-analog/digital converter; and

a peripheral bus in communication with said central processing unit to communicate said content to said home network interface.

5. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 4, wherein said peripheral bus communicates between a plurality of home network interfaces.

6. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 3, wherein the Direct Broadcasting Service comprises satellite television.

7. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one communications device is selected from the group consisting of analog phones, personal computers, digital phones, analog televisions, and digital televisions.

8. A multi-media distribution system comprising:

a distributor having a plurality of locations;

a Digital Subscriber Line external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said Digital Subscriber Line external interface operable to receive analog voice and digital packet content from a first Wide Area Network;

a Direct Broadcasting Service external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said Direct Broadcasting Service external interface operable to receive digital television content from a second Wide Area Network;

a first home network interface including a divider circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said first home network interface in communication with said Digital Subscriber Line external interface to distribute the analog voice content to at least one communication device;

a second home network interface including a Local Area Network Hub receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said second home network interface in communication with said Digital Subscriber Line external interface to distribute the analog television content to at least one communication device; and

a third home network interface including a divider circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said third home network interface in communication with said Direct Broadcasting Service external interface to distribute the digital television content to at least one communication device.

9. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 8, wherein the Direct Broadcasting Service comprises satellite television.

10. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 8, furthering including a cable service external interface receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said cable service external interface operable to receive digital voice content and analog television content from a third Wide Area Network.

11. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 10, further including a fourth home network interface including a Local Area Network Hub receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said third home network interface in communication with said cable service external interface to distribute the digital voice content to at least one communication device.

12. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 10, further including a fourth home network interface including a feed through circuit receivable within one of said plurality of locations, said fifth home network interface in communication with the cable service external interface to distribute the analog television content to at least one communication device.

13. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 8, furthering including:

a digital/analog-analog/digital converter in communication with said external interface;

a central processing unit in communication with said digital/analog-analog/digital converter; and

a peripheral bus in communication with said central processing unit to communicate said content to said home network interface.

14. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 12, wherein said peripheral bus communicates between a plurality of home network interfaces.

15. The multi-media distribution system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one communications device is selected from the group consisting of analog phones, personal computers, digital phones, analog televisions, and digital televisions.

16. A method of distributing multi-media content within a home/office environment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving DSL content from a first Wide Area Network at a Digital Subscriber Line external interface, wherein the Digital Subscriber Line external interface is receivable in one of a plurality of locations on a distributor;

receiving DBS content from a second Wide Area Network at a Direct Broadcasting Service external interface, wherein the Direct Broadcasting Service external interface is receivable in one of the plurality of locations on the distributor;

distributing the DSL content to at least one communication device with at least a first home network interface that includes a divider circuit receivable in one of the plurality of locations on the distributor, wherein the first home network interface is in communication with the Digital Subscriber Line external interface; and

distributing the DBS content to at least one communication device with at least a second home network interface that includes a divider circuit receivable in one of the plurality of locations on the distributor, wherein the first home network interface is in communication with the Direct Broadcasting Service external interface.

17. The multi-media content distribution method of claim 16, wherein the DSL content comprises analog voice content, and the distributing of the DSL content comprises distributing the analog voice content to at least one communication device with the first home network interface that includes a divider circuit receivable in one of the plurality of locations on the distributor, wherein the first home network interface is in communication with the Digital Subscriber Line external interface.

18. The multi-media content distribution method of claim 16, wherein the DSL content comprises digital packet data content, and the distributing of the DSL content comprises distributing the digital packet data content to at least one communication device with a third home network interface that includes a Local Area Network Hub receivable in one of the plurality of locations on the distributor, wherein the third home network interface is in communication with the Digital Subscriber Line external interface.

19. The multi-media content distribution method of claim 16, wherein the DBS content comprises digital television content.

20. The multi-media content distribution method of claim 16, wherein the second Wide Area Network comprises a satellite television network.