Configurable network interface device and systems and methods for its use

• US 8,537,814 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• 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: Phillips, Bruce A., Campbell, Kurt A., Casey, Steven M., Cook, Charles I., Brodigan, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ansari, Najeebuddin
• Application Number:
  US10/356,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,882 Days
• Field of Search: 370/359, 370/104, 370/353, 709/223, 709/238, 709/203, 709/217, 359/125, 359/167, 379/399.01, 379/413.02, 379/413.03, 379/413.04
• US Class Current: 370/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• 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

Embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices and systems and methods for using them. For instance, a system in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention comprises a network interface device adapted to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information (telecommunication can include, inter alia, voice signals, Internet Protocol data, audio signals, data representing encoded audio signals, video signals and data representing encoded video signals) and distribute at least one of the plurality to a customer premises. The system can further include a control point operable to transmit configuration information to the network interface device. The configuration information can be operable to configure the behavior of the network interface device with respect to one or more of the information sets.

Claims

1. A system for providing telecommunication services to a customer premises, the system comprising:

a network interface device located at the customer premises and coupled to a communication network, the communications network comprising an external transport medium external to the customer premises, to receive a plurality of telecommunication information sets via the communication network and to distribute at least one of the plurality of information sets to the customer premises; and

a control point coupled to the network interface device via the communication network to transmit configuration information to the network interface device, wherein the network interface device uses the configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with at least one telecommunication device;

wherein;

the network interface device comprises a processing system that serves as a termination point for the external transport medium and an isolation device configured to isolate an internal transport medium from the 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;

the plurality of telecommunication information sets comprises a first telecommunication information set associated with a first telecommunication service provided by a first telecommunication provider and a second telecommunication information set associated with a second telecommunication service provided by a second telecommunication provider;

the control point receives first configuration information for the network interface device from the first telecommunication provider, receives second configuration information for the network interface device from the second telecommunication provider, and transmits the first and second configuration information to the network interface device; and

the network interface device uses the first configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with the at least one telecommunication device associated with the first telecommunication service and uses the second configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with at least one telecommunication device associated with the second telecommunication service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication information 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.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device in communication with the network interface device, and wherein the control point instructs the network interface device to store at least a portion of one of the plurality of information sets on the storage device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface device comprises:

a first communication interface with the external transport medium;

a discrimination device to separate information sets received on the first communication interface;

a second interface with communication wires in the customer premises.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the network interface device further comprises an aggregator coupled to the discrimination device to enable additional information sets to be transmitted and received through the second interface.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the discrimination device and the aggregator:

separate the telecommunication information sets into a set of POTS telecommunication information and a set of non-POTS telecommunication information; and

route the non-POTS telecommunication information to the processing system.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the discrimination device and the aggregator serve as an isolation device for intermediating between an external transport medium and the communication wires in the customer premises.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a line driver coupled to the processing system and aggregator to allow conversion between various network formats and media.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply powered by electrical current carried on an external transport medium.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microserver, and wherein the microserver implements a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the microserver routes information sets received via transport medium according to the information sets.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an application server; and

a set top box;

and wherein the microserver manages connections between the application server, the set top box, and one or more transport media.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is remote from the network interface device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is located at the customer premises.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point is located at a distribution point and wherein the distribution point is in communication with the network interface device via an external transport medium.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point communicates with the network interface device via a TCP/IP protocol.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the protocol is the simple network management protocol.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point communicates with the network interface device through an application programming interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control point comprises a web browser.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is capable of submitting to the control point a request for at least one telecommunication service.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control point is capable of transmitting to the network interface device configuration information responsive to the submitted request.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the control point is capable of forwarding the submitted request to a telecommunication information provider.

23. A network interface device located at a customer premises coupled to a communication network to receive a plurality of telecommunication information sets via the communication network, to receive configuration transmitted by a control point via the telecommunication network, and to distribute at least one of the plurality of information sets to a customer premises, wherein the network interface device uses the configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with the at least one telecommunication device, wherein the communication network comprises an external transport medium external to the customer premises, wherein:

the network interface device comprises a processing system that serves as a termination point for the external transport medium and an isolation device configured to isolate an internal transport medium from the 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;

the plurality of telecommunication information sets comprises a first telecommunication information set associated with a first telecommunication service provided by a first telecommunication provider and a second telecommunication information set associated with a second telecommunication service provided by a second telecommunication provider;

the control point receives first configuration information for the network interface device from the first telecommunication provider, receives second configuration information for the network interface device from the second telecommunication provider, and transmits the first and second configuration information to the network interface device; and

the network interface device uses the first configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with the at least one telecommunication device associated with the first telecommunication service and uses the second configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with at least one telecommunication device associated with the second telecommunication service.

24. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the network interface device comprises:

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 adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium.

25. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the network interface device comprises:

a first communication interface with the external transport medium;

a discrimination device to separate information sets received on the first communication interface; and

a second interface with communication wires in the customer premises.

26. The network interface device of claim 25, wherein the network interface device further comprises an aggregator coupled to the discrimination device to enable additional information sets to be transmitted and received through the second interface.

27. The network interface device of claim 26 wherein the discrimination device and the aggregator:

separate the telecommunication information sets into a set of POTS telecommunication information and a set of non-POTS telecommunication information; and

route the non-POTS telecommunication information to the processing system.

28. The network interface device of claim 23, further comprising a line driver coupled to the processing system and aggregator to allow conversion between various network formats and media.

29. The network interface of claim 23, further comprising a power supply powered by electrical current carried on an external transport medium.

30. The network interface device of claim 23, further comprising a microserver, and wherein the microserver implements a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server.

31. The network interface device of claim 30, wherein the microserver routes information sets received via transport medium according to the information sets.

32. The network interface device of claim 23, further comprising:

an application server; and

a set top box;

and wherein the microserver manages connections between the application server, the set top box, and one or more transport media.

33. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the network interface device is capable of receiving configuration information from a control point remote from the network interface device.

34. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the network interface device is capable of receiving configuration information from a web browser.

35. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the network interface device further comprises an application programming interface capable of receiving configuration information.

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

receiving, in a network interface device located at a customer premises, a plurality of sets of telecommunication information via communication network, the communication network comprising an external transport medium external to the customer premises, at least one of the sets of telecommunication information comprising configuration information transmitted from a control point via the communication network; and

configuring a behavior of the network interface device with respect to at least one of the plurality of sets of telecommunication information, based at least in part on the configuration information;

wherein;

the network interface device comprises a processing system that serves as a termination point for the external transport medium and an isolation device configured to isolate an internal transport medium from the 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;

the plurality of telecommunication information sets comprises a first telecommunication information set associated with a first telecommunication service provided by a first telecommunication provider and a second telecommunication information set associated with a second telecommunication service provided by a second telecommunication provider;

the control point receives first configuration information for the network interface device from the first telecommunication provider, receives second configuration information for the network interface device from the second telecommunication provider, and transmits the first and second configuration information to the network interface device; and

the network interface device uses the first configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with the at least one telecommunication device associated with the first telecommunication service and uses the second configuration information to configure the behavior of the network interface device in interacting with at least one telecommunication device associated with the second telecommunication service.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

separating the telecommunication information sets into a set of POTS telecommunication information and a set of non-POTS telecommunication information; and

routing the non-POTS telecommunication information to a processing system.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising intermediating between an external transport medium and the communication wires in the customer premises.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising receiving a configuration request from a customer.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

forwarding the request to a telecommunication information provider.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the transmitted configuration information is responsive to the configuration request.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the configuration request is selected from the group consisting of:

an electronic mail request,

a web request,

a telephone request,

a written request, and

a request from the network interface device.