Methods for dynamically assigning link addresses and logical network addresses
First Claim
1. A method employed in a RF modem in dynamic assignment of a link address on a RF connection, the RF connection connecting the RF modem with a head end, the link address being used by the head end for forwarding of information from the head end through the RF modem to at least one host that is connected to the RF modem, the method comprising the steps performed in the RF modem of:
- receiving the link address, the link address being assigned by the head end;
selecting, based upon the link address, a message that is carried on the RF connection to be forwarded to the at least one host, wherein the link address comprises an identifier for a frequency in the RF connection, the messages being carried on the RF connection in a RF channel associated with the frequency; and
forwarding the selected message to the at least one host.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of a RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem'"'"'s hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line. It further saves IP addresses by assigning a non-unique IP address to the router for use inside the LAN. When the CATV system fails, the asymmetrical network automatically begins to use the telephone line as both the up link and the down link, and when the CATV system is restored, the asymmetrical network automatically returns to using the CATV cable as the down link and the telephone line as the up link. A further feature of the asymmetrical network is that the head end components and the RF modem have IP addresses, so that standard TCP/IP protocols can be used to control the asymmetrical network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method employed in a RF modem in dynamic assignment of a link address on a RF connection, the RF connection connecting the RF modem with a head end, the link address being used by the head end for forwarding of information from the head end through the RF modem to at least one host that is connected to the RF modem, the method comprising the steps performed in the RF modem of:
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receiving the link address, the link address being assigned by the head end;
selecting, based upon the link address, a message that is carried on the RF connection to be forwarded to the at least one host, wherein the link address comprises an identifier for a frequency in the RF connection, the messages being carried on the RF connection in a RF channel associated with the frequency; and
forwarding the selected message to the at least one host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for obtaining a dynamic assignment of a link address in a RF modem, the RF modem connected to a head end over a RF connection, the link address being used by the head end for forwarding of information from the head end through the RF modem to at least one host that is connected to the RF modem, the apparatus comprising:
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logic configured to receive the link address, the link address being assigned by the head end;
logic configured to select, based upon the link address, a message that is carried on the RF connection to be forwarded to the at least one host, wherein the link address comprises an identifier for a frequency in the RF connection, the messages being carried on the RF connection in a RF channel associated with the frequency; and
logic configured to forward the selected message to the at least one host. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification