Premises gateway apparatus and methods for use in a content-based network

• US 8,438,607 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cholas, Chris, Helms, William L., Williamson, Louis D., Markley, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US13/118,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 725/34, 725/44, 725/112, 725/114
• US Class Current: 725/114
• 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 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/438 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway.

Claims

1. A premises gateway device for use in a content distribution network, comprising:

first apparatus configured to receive first video content signals encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP) and packetized using a first packetization protocol, then transmitted over a first transport via said network;

second apparatus configured to receive second video content signals transmitted over a second transport via said network,

a third apparatus configured to transmit third signals over a third transport; and

at least one interface to at least one consumer premises device;

wherein said at least one consumer premises device utilizes said premises gateway device as a communications proxy for transmission of said third signals via said third transport, and is not capable of communication over said third transport directly without said premises gateway device.

2. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein said first transport comprises a first frequency band of said network, and said second transport comprises a second, different frequency band of said network.

3. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein said at least one consumer premises device comprises at least two devices generating respective ones of signals, and said third signals comprise said respective ones of said signals that have been consolidated.

4. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein said first and said second video content signals comprise the same video content, and said gateway device is configured to receive both substantially in parallel, such that the same video content is received as both IP encapsulated content and non-IP encapsulated content.

5. The gateway device of claim 4, wherein said second video content signals comprise in-band downstream signals received over a hybrid fiber network, and said third signals comprise out-of-band upstream signals.

6. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein said at least one consumer premises device comprises a set-top box.

7. The gateway device of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for enforcing a trusted domain (TD) to maintain at least one security policy within said premises gateway device and one or more other consumer premises devices in data communication with said gateway device.

8. A consumer premises gateway device configured to communicate upstream signals from first and second Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled consumer premises devices to at least one network device of a content distribution network, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive at least first and second upstream signals from said first and said second consumer premises devices, respectively; and

a transceiver configured to;

aggregate said first and second upstream signals; and

transmit said aggregated signals upstream to said at least one network device over a first frequency band via said network

wherein said transmission of said aggregated signals upstream enables said transceiver to act as a communications proxy for said first and second consumer premises devices for communication of said upstream signals; and

wherein said first and second consumer premises devices are not capable of communication over said first frequency band directly without said consumer premises gateway device.

9. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 8, further comprising a second interface configured to receive IP signals and deliver said IP signals to at least said first and second IP-enabled consumer premises devices received over said content distribution network, thereby enabling said gateway device to act as a communications proxy for said first and second consumer premises devices for communication of said received signals.

10. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 9, wherein said IP signals comprise video content signals encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP) and packetized using an MPEG-based packetization protocol, and transmitted over a second frequency band via said network.

11. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 10, further comprising an interface configured to receive second video content signals transmitted over a third frequency band via said network, said second video content signals being received substantially in parallel with said IP signals.

12. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 8, wherein said content distribution network comprises a hybrid fiber network, and said first frequency band comprises a band nominally used for one of:

(i) out-of-band (00B) signaling, or (ii) modem operations.

13. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 8, wherein said content distribution network comprises a hybrid fiber network, and said first consumer premises device comprises a set-top box (STB), and said second consumer premises device comprises a digital video recorder (DVR), said STB and said DVR having only tuners configured to receive signals only on frequency bands of said network other than said first frequency band.

14. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 8, wherein said transceiver comprises a DOCSIS compliant cable modem with media access controller (MAC).

15. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 8, further comprising a transcoder apparatus adapted to encode a signal encoded according to a first format into a second format different from said first format.

16. A method of delivering video services over a network, comprising:

receiving video content signals encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP) and packetized using a packetization protocol, at a first network interface of a first device at a first location;

receiving data signals at a second network interface of said first device;

delivering said data signals and said video content signals to individual ones of a plurality of second devices in communication with said first device;

receiving upstream data signals from respective ones of said plurality of second devices at said first device;

consolidating said plurality of upstream data signals; and

sending said consolidated upstream data signals destined for a network entity from said first device via said second network interface;

wherein at least one of said plurality of second devices comprising a mobile device having a wireless interface, and said first device comprises a wireless interface compatible with that of said mobile device; and

wherein said mobile device and first device are configured to communicate at least one of said video signals and upstream data signals via said compatible wireless interfaces.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first device comprises a premises gateway device, and said plurality of second devices comprise at least one set-top box and/or at least one digital video recorder (DVR).

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, at said first device, downstream signals from said network entity, said signals destined for a particular one of said plurality of second devices.

19. Consumer premises apparatus configured to deliver video content received over a network to said premises, said apparatus comprising:

a first interface for receiving video content signals encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP) and packetized using a packetization protocol from said network;

a second interface for receiving data signals from said network at said apparatus;

a third interface configured to;

deliver said data signals and said video content signals to individual ones of a plurality of devices in communication with said consumer premises apparatus; and

receive upstream data signals from said plurality of devices at said consumer premises apparatus; and

apparatus configured to consolidate said plurality of upstream data signals when needed and send said consolidated upstream data signals destined for a network entity from said consumer premises apparatus via at least one of said first and second interfaces;

wherein at least one of said individual ones of said plurality of devices comprise mobile devices having a wireless interface, and said consumer premises apparatus comprises a compatible wireless interface, said mobile device and consumer premises apparatus configured to communicate at least one of said video content signals and upstream data signals via said compatible wireless interfaces.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said apparatus comprises a premises gateway device, and said plurality of devices comprise at least one set-top box and/or at least one digital video recorder (DVR).

21. A method of delivering video services over a content distribution network, comprising:

receiving at a premises gateway device video content signals transmitted over a first transport first from said network, said first video content signals being encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP) and packetized using a first packetization protocol;

receiving at said premises gateway device second video content signals transmitted over a second transport from said network;

receiving at said premises gateway device third signals from at least one consumer premises device; and

transmitting said third signals from said premises gateway device to said network over a third transport, said premises gateway device thereby acting as a proxy for said at least one consumer premises device, said at least one consumer premises device not capable of communication over said third transport directly.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving at said premises gateway device third signals from at least one second consumer premises device; and

consolidating said third signals from said at least one consumer premises device and said at least one second consumer premises device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said act of receiving said video content signals transmitted over said first transport first from said network comprises receiving an IP-encapsulated version of first video content;

and said act of receiving said second video content signals transmitted over said second transport comprises receiving a non-IP encapsulated version of said first video content.