Broadband communications device

• US 8,861,349 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Competitive Access Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Delangis
• Inventors: DeLangis, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHO, HONG SOL
• Application Number:
  US13/531,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20120258673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 370230-235, 370/278, 370/282, 370/328, 370/338, 370/468, 370/477
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/54 Organization of routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/821 Prioritising resource allocation or reservation requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/60 related to security aspects in telephonic communication systems network architectures or network communication protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/007 Access interface units for simultaneous transmission of speech and data, e.g. digital subscriber line [DSL] access interface units DSL access multiplexers H04Q11/0478, and H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The Residential Communications Gateway (RCG) is a broadband communications device that combines all voice, data and video communications to and from a typical residence or small business for transmission over a single, or a plurality of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines separately or in conjunction with, a wireless broadband backbone. The RCG does this by employing packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies. A key consideration to the design of the RCG is that no additional or special transmission equipment must be installed at the Central Office or anywhere else in the network to enable new calling features provided by the RCG as is the case with DSL and Cable systems. By eliminating the requirement for costly infrastructure enhancements, ubiquitous high speed communications and services can be deployed to every POTS subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for increasing bandwidth and data throughput comprising the steps of:

sending a multilink request from a first device to a second device to join a multilink connection, the first device being connected at a first location to a network, the second device being connected at a second location to the network, the second location being geographically separate from the first location, the first device and the second device being configured for accessing the network; and

when the multilink request is accepted by the second device, receiving at the first device first data from the network at the first location and during the multilink connection, concurrently receiving second data over a wireless connection from the second device, the second data being received at the second location from the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location and the second location are physically isolated from each other.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of aggregating the second data received over the wireless connection and the first data received over the connection at the first location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a connection at the first location and a connection at the second location are network connection points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are consumer networking devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending another multilink request from the first device to a third device, the third device being connected at a third location to the network, the third location being geographically different than the first location and the second location; and

when the another multilink request is accepted by the third device, concurrently receiving third data during the multilink connection over a second wireless connection between the first device and the third device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of aggregating the first data, the second data and the third data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data are received as data packets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is a wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is one or a combination of a cable network, a telecommunication network, an optical network and a communications network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is a cellular connection, a satellite connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a WiMax connection or a Bluetooth connection.

13. A device comprising:

an interface that establishes a network connection at a first location to a first network and receives first data packets over the network connection;

a wireless interface that is configured to establish a wireless connection to a remote communications device, the remote communications device being connected at a second location to a second network; and

a processor that sends a multilink request over the wireless interface to the remote communications device to join the multilink connection, receives from the interface the first data packets from the first network and when the multilink request is accepted by the remote communications device, concurrently receives from the wireless interface second data packets from the second network, the second data packets being received at the second location from the second network.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is one of a modem, cellular phone, a router, a computer, hotspot device and a tablet.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is part of a home-based network system.

16. A method for providing broadband communications services, comprising:

sending to a remote host an inquiry in whether the remote host is able to support a multilink connection;

receiving first data packets over a first connection to the Internet;

when the remote host indicates that the multilink connection is supported, receiving second data packets over a second connection, the first data packets being concurrently received with the second data packets during the multilink connection; and

wherein the first data packets create a first data stream and the second data packets create a second data stream.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first data packets are received at a home-based network system, and wherein the second packets are received over the second connection at the home-based network system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first data packets are received by a consumer-based network system, and wherein the second packets are received over the second connection at the consumer-based network system.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

during the multilink connection, receiving data packets over a plurality of wireless connections, the data packets being concurrently received with the first data packets; and

aggregating the first data packets with the data packets.

20. A method for increasing bandwidth and data throughput comprising the steps of:

sending a multilink request from a first device to a second device to join a multilink connection the first device being connected at a first location to a first network, the wireless device being connected at a second location to the first network or a second network, the second location being geographically separate from the first location; and

when the multilink request is accepted by the second device, receiving at the first device first data from the first network at the first location and during the multilink connection, concurrently receiving second data over a wireless connection from the wireless device, the second data being received at the second location from the first network or the second network.