Capacity scaling and functional element redistribution within an in-building coax cable internet access system

• US 7,036,140 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arris International, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hales, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LU, SHIRLEY
• Application Number:
  US09/933,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 725 75- 85, 725/120, 725/126, 725/127, 725/128
• US Class Current: 725/120
• 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 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A set of system configurations adapted to provide data communications to and from a set of client modems connected to one or more central modems through a tree and branch network such as exists in buildings, hotels, multiple dwelling units and the like to distribute cable television signals to individual rooms. The set of one or more central modems is connected directly or indirectly to one or more networks such as the Internet. Optionally, some components of this system can be placed at the cable television head-end for ease of access for maintenance.

Claims

1. An architecture of components within a building to distribute television signals and data over an in-building coax distribution network to provide television signals to a set of at least two televisions and to provide for two-way data communication between at least one hub and a set of at least two client modems attached at the distal ends of the in-building coax distribution network, the architecture comprising:

a) A network connection connecting the building to an external network, the cable carrying data pertaining to communications with the set of at least two client modems;

b) A cable carrying television signals in a first frequency band;

c) At least one signal amplifier for amplifying television signals in the first frequency band from the cable calming television signals, the output of the at least one signal amplifier provided to at least one diplexer, the downstream leg of the at least one diplexer connected to the in-building coax distribution network;

d) at least one hub connected to the in-building coax distribution network through the at least one diplexer, the hub;

1. comprising at least one central modem for transmitting Internet Protocol data downstream to the set of client modems and for receiving upstream transmissions of Internet Protocol data from individual client modems, the upstream and downstream transmissions—

occurring in frequency bands above the first frequency band,

2. buffering the upstream and downstream communications for the in-building coax distribution network;

3. controlling the use of the upstream channel on the in-building coax distribution network by the set of at least two client modems; and

4. acting as a proxy server for the at least two client modems; and

e) at least one network access device for

1. transmitting data upstream to the external network from one of the at least one hubs, the hub having received the data transmission from one of the client modems and the client modem having received the data from a device downstream of a particular client modem, and

2. receiving downstream transmissions of data from the external network for conveying to the at least one hubs which in turn conveys the data to the client modems for use by at least one device downstream of a particular client modem.

2. The architecture of claim 1 further comprising a joiner device with a first downstream leg connected to the network connection, a second downstream leg connected to the cable carrying television signals in the first frequency band, and with an upstream leg connected to an upstream cable carrying both television signals and data pertaining to communications with the set of at least two client modems.

3. The architecture of claim 1 wherein a first network access device is in communication with a first central modem which is in communication with a first diplexer and a second diplexer, the first diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a first distribution network with a first set of client modems, the second diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a second distribution network with a second set of client modems.

4. The architecture of claim 1 wherein a first network access device is in communication with:

a) a first central modem which is connected to a first diplexer, the first diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a first distribution network with a first set of client modems; and

b) a second central modem which is connected to a second diplexer, the second diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a second distribution network with a second set of client modems.

5. The architecture of claim 4 wherein the first network access device and the second network access device are cable modems which access the Internet through a connection located at a cable head-end.

6. The architecture of claim 1 wherein one network access device is in communication with a the hub;

wherein the hub further comprises a central server, the central server is in communication with;

a) a first central modem which is connected to a first diplexer, the first diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a first distribution network with a first set of client modems; and

b) a second central modem which is connected to a second diplexer, the second diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a second distribution network with a second set of client modems;

such that one central server serves at least two distribution networks.

7. The architecture of claim 6 wherein the central server acts as a proxy server in order to connect the set of at least two client modems to the one network access device.

8. The architecture of claim 1 wherein the hub converts downstream data into a frame format in accordance with a recognized standard for encoding video signals for transmission over communications networks.

9. The architecture of claim 8 wherein the hub converts downstream data into MPEG2/DVB frames and uses MPEG Packet Identification codes to indicate whether the frame carries digital video.

10. The architecture of claim 1 wherein at least two network access devices are connected to a first router, the first router is connected to a second router, and the second router is connected to:

a) a first hub which is connected to a first diplexer, the first diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a first distribution network with a first set of client modems; and

b) a second hub which is connected to a second diplexer, the second diplexer connected to an output of one of the at least one signal amplifiers and to a second distribution network with a second set of client modems.

11. The architecture of claim 10 wherein the first network access device is connected to a first external network and the second network access device is connected to a second network.

12. The architecture of claim 1 wherein the hub adds a control field to data sent downstream targeted for a specific client, the control field indicating the strength of a previous upstream transmission from the targeted client modem.

13. The architecture of claim 1 wherein the hub adds local value-add functions so that the in-building local coax distribution network is provided television signals, Internet Protocol data from the external network, and local value-add functions.

14. The architecture of claim 13 wherein the local value-add functions are services selected from the group consisting of digital video on demand services and telephony services.