Packet network interface device and systems and methods for its use

• US 7,180,988 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I., Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M., Brodigan, Donald L., Campbell, Kurt A., Wang, Qi
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/356,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.07, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/90.01, 379/93.08, 379/399.01
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as systems and methods for using them. For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, a network interface device can comprise an isolation device, which can be configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that operational changes to the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium, and operational changes to the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium.

Claims

1. A network interface device, comprising:

an isolation device configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that changes to a type of media used by the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium and changes to a type of media used by the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium, and wherein the external transport medium is capable of transmitting voice signals and data;

a discrimination device configured to separate the voice signals from the data transmitted by the external transport medium;

a first interface coupled to the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, wherein the external transport medium is in communication with a distribution point; and

a second interface coupled to the isolation device, wherein the second interface is adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium and configured to allow the simultaneous transmission of voice signals and data signals across the internal transport medium.

2. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is adapted to be fixedly attached to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

3. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the external transport medium is maintained by a telecommunication service provider associated with the distribution point, and wherein and the internal transport medium is maintained by a customer of the telecommunication service provider.

4. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the external transport medium is a first external transport medium, the network interface device further comprising:

a third interface coupled to the isolation device and adapted to communicate with a second external transport medium.

5. The network interface device of claim 4, wherein the distribution point is a first distribution point associated with a first telecommunication service provider, and wherein the second external transport medium is in communication with a second distribution point associated with a second telecommunication service provider.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first telecommunication service provider and the second telecommunication service provider are the same telecommunication service provider.

7. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the isolation device is further configured to mediate the flow of telecommunication information between the external transport medium and the internal transport medium, wherein mediating the flow of telecommunication information comprises an operation selected from the group consisting of:

filtering the signals sent from one transport medium to the other;

filtering the frequencies sent from one transport medium to the other; and

filtering the information sent from one transport medium to the other.

8. The network interface device of claim 7, wherein the telecommunication infonnation is selected from the group consisting of voice signals, Internet Protocol data, audio signals, data representing encoded audio signals, video signals, and data representing encoded video signals.

9. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the isolation device.

10. The network interface device of claim 9, wherein the power supply receives electrical current from a source selected from the group consisting of the external transport medium and the internal transport medium.

11. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the external transport medium is a telecommunication service provider'"'"'s local loop.

12. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the second interface is selected from the group consisting of an Ethernet interface, an RJ11 interface, a coaxial cable interface, a universal serial bus interface, and a fiber-optic interface.

13. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the internal transport medium comprises a set of existing telephone wiring at a customer premises.

14. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the isolation device incorporates the functionality of at least one of the first interface and the second interface.

15. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the isolation device incorporates the functionality of the discrimination device.

16. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a processing system in communication with the isolation device, wherein the processing system is adapted to transfer a set of telecommunication information from one of the interfaces to the other interface, and wherein the processing system processes at least some of the transferred information.

17. The network interface device of claim 16, wherein the processing system incorporates the functionality of the isolation device.

18. The network interface device of claim 16, wherein the processing system incorporates the functionality of the discrimination device.

19. The network interface device of claim 18, wherein the processing system is adapted to accept configuration information from a control point.

20. The network interface device of claim 19, wherein the control point is associated with a distribution point coupled to the external transport medium.

21. The network interface device of claim 19, wherein the processing system comprises an application programming interface for receiving configuration information from the control point.

22. The network interface device of claim 19, wherein the processing system is capable of receiving configuration information from a web browser.

23. A system for providing at least one telecommunication service to a customer premises, the system comprising:

a distribution point associated with a telecommunication service provider;

an external transport medium in communication with the distribution point, wherein the external transport medium is capable of transmitting voice signals and data; and

a network interface device comprising a first interface, a second interface, an isolation device, and a discrimination device, wherein;

the second interface is adapted to communicate with an internal transport medium and configured to allow the simultaneous transmission of voice signals and data signals across the internal transport medium;

the isolation device is configured to isolate the internal transport medium from the external transport medium, such that changes to a protocol used by the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium and changes to a protocol used by the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium; and

the discrimination device is configured to separate the voice signals from the data transmitted by the external transport medium.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the isolation device is further configured to mediate the flow of telecommunication information between the external transport medium and the internal transport medium, wherein mediating the flow of telecommunication information comprises an operation selected from the group consisting of:

filtering the signals sent from one transport medium to the other;

filtering the frequencies sent from one transport medium to the other;

filtering the information sent from one transport medium to the other.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the network interface device further comprises a processing system in communication with the isolation device, wherein the processing system is adapted to transfer a set of telecommunication information from one of the interfaces to an other interface, and wherein the processing system processes at least some of the transferred information.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the external transport medium is a first external transport medium, the system further comprising:

a second external transport medium, wherein the network interface device comprises a third interface in communication with the second external transport medium and coupled to the isolation device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first external transport medium is associated with the first telecommunication service provider and the second external transport medium is associated with a second telecommunication service provider.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first and second telecommunication service providers are the same telecommunication service provider.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first external transport medium transports a first set of telecommunication information associated with a first telecommunication service, and wherein the second external transport medium transports a second set of telecommunication information associated with a second telecommunication service.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the network interface device is adapted to be attached to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

31. A method of providing telecommunication services, the method comprising:

providing a network interface device, wherein the network interface device comprises;

an isolation device capable of isolating an external transport medium from an internal transport medium, such that changes in a type of media used by the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium and changes in a type of media used by the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium; and

a discrimination device configured to separate voice signals from data signals transmitted by the external transport medium;

transmitting, across the external transport medium, voice signals and data signals from at least one distribution point to the network interface device; and

transmitting simultaneously, across the internal transport medium, voice signals and data signals across the internal transport medium from the network interface device.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving at the distribution point a set of telecommunication information from the network interface device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one distribution point is a plurality of distribution points.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of distribution points is associated with a different telecommunication service provider.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of distribution points are associated with the same telecommunication service provider.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

attaching the network interface device to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving the at least one set of telecommunication information from a telecommunication information provider.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing an interface in the network interface device to allow a third party to transmit at least one additional set of telecommunication information to the network interface device.