Wide area communication networking

• US 7,525,990 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neumann, Jeffrey, Tisiker, Michael, Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley Jr., Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Pickard, Michael Steven, Kagan, Denise Violetta, Gorman, Michael George, Halling, Dale Brian, Goering, Scott Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US11/670,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/468
• 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 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13099 Loop multiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 : Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 : Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits

Abstract

A wide area communications network or simply a communications network is includes a broadband communication line having a first voice channel and a second voice channel, wherein the first and second voice channels are derived channels. The communications network further includes a residential gateway in communication with the broadband communication line. The residential gateway includes a network switch, a network interface device in communication with the network switch wherein the network switch is configured to select at least one of the first or second voice channels for voice communication over the broadband communication line.

Claims

1. A communications network comprising:

a broadband communication line comprising;

a first voice channel; and

a second voice channel, wherein the first and second voice channels are derived channels, and wherein the first and second voice channels are determined based on an available bandwidth associated with the broadband communication line; and

a residential gateway in communication with the broadband communication line, the residential gateway comprising;

a switch;

a network interface device in communication with the switch; and

wherein the switch is configured to select at least one of the first or second voice channels for voice communication over the broadband communication line, and wherein the at least one of the first or second voice channels is selected as a function of the available bandwidth.

2. The network of claim 1 further comprising an ATM network, the ATM network in communication with the residential gateway via the network interface device.

3. The network of claim 2 further comprising a telephony network, the telephony network in communication with the residential gateway via the network interface device.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the residential gateway is configured to communicate with a local area network via the broadband communication line.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the broadband communication line is configured to carry at least one digital voice communication and at least one digital data communication.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is configured for communications with the broadband communication line via a broadband cable connection.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is configured for communications with the broadband communication line via a broadband digital subscriber line connection.

8. The network of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is configured to receive a video signal from a television service provider selected from the group consisting of:

a cable provider and a satellite provider.

9. A communications network comprising:

a broadband communication service provided by a cable connection, the broadband communication service comprising;

a first voice channel; and

a second voice channel, wherein the first and second voice channels are derived channels, and wherein the first and second voice channels are provided based on an available bandwidth associated with the broadband communication service; and

a residential gateway comprising;

a router;

a network interface device in communication with the router; and

wherein the router is configured to select at least one of the first or second voice channels for voice communication over the cable connection,

and wherein the at least one of the first or second voice channels is selected as a function of the available bandwidth.

10. The network of claim 9 further comprising an ATM network, the ATM network in communication with the residential gateway via the network interface device.

11. The network of claim 10 further comprising a telephony network, the telephony network in communication with the residential gateway via the network interface device.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the residential gateway is configured to communicate with a local area network via the router.

13. The network of claim 9, wherein the cable connection is configured to carry at least one digital voice communication and at least one digital data communication.

14. The network of claim 9, wherein the cable connection is provided via a broadband digital subscriber line connection.

15. The network of claim 9, wherein the network interface device is configured to receive a video signal from the cable connection.

16. A method of communicating via a network comprising:

establishing a broadband communication service on a cable connection, wherein establishing the broadband communication service comprises;

deriving a first voice channel, wherein the first voice channel is configured to cooperate with a residential gateway; and

deriving a second voice channel, wherein the second voice channel is configured to cooperate with the residential gateway;

wherein the first and second voice channels are determined based on an available bandwidth associated with the broadband communication service; and

configuring the residential gateway, wherein configuring the residential gateway comprises;

coupling a network interface device to a router to establish communications therewith; and

selecting between at least one of the first or second voice channels for voice communications over the cable connection, wherein the at least one of the first or second voice channels is selected as a function of the available bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

communicatively coupling an ATM network to the residential gateway via the network interface device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

communicatively coupling a telephony network to the residential gateway via the network interface device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the residential gateway includes communicatively coupling a local area network via the router.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the broadband communication service includes establishing at least one digital voice communication and at least one digital data communication.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the network interface device includes configuring the network interface device to receive a video signal from the cable connection.