PREMISES GATEWAY APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE IN A CONTENT-BASED NETWORK

• US 20110296481A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• 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: Williamson, Louis D., Cholas, Chris, Helms, William L., Markley, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,438,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• 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

1-55. -55. (canceled)

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

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

a third apparatus adapted to transmit third signals over a third transport also via said network; and

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

wherein said at least one consumer premises device utilizes said second apparatus as a communications proxy for transmitting said third signals via said third transmit.

57. The gateway device of claim 56, 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.

58. The gateway device of claim 56, 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.

59. The gateway device of claim 56, 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.

60. The gateway device of claim 59, 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.

61. The gateway device of claim 56, wherein said at least one consumer premises device comprises a set-top box not capable of communicating over said third frequency band directly without said gateway device.

62. The gateway device of claim 56, further comprising 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.

63. A consumer premises gateway device capable of communicating 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 the communication of said upstream signals.

64. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 63, further comprising a first 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 the communication of said received signals.

65. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 64, 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.

66. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 65, 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.

67. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 63, wherein said network comprises a hybrid fiber network, and said first frequency band comprises a band nominally used for one of:

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

68. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 63, wherein said content-based 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.

69. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 63, wherein said transceiver comprises a DOCSIS compliant cable modem with media access controller (MAC).

70. The consumer premises gateway device of claim 63, further comprising a transcoder apparatus adapted to encode a signal encoded according to a first format into a second format different from the first.

71. 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.

72. The method of claim 71, 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).

73. The method of claim 71, 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.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein said plurality of second devices comprise at least one mobile device having a wireless interface, and said first device comprises a wireless interface compatible with that of said mobile device, said mobile device and first device communicating at least one of said video signals and upstream data signals via said compatible wireless interfaces.

75. Consumer premises apparatus capable of delivering video content received over a network to said premises, the 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 first device; and

receive upstream data signals from said plurality of devices at said first device; and

apparatus configured to consolidating said plurality of upstream data signals when needed and send said consolidated upstream data signals destined for a network entity from said first device via at least one of said first and second interfaces.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, 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).

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said plurality of devices comprise at least one mobile device having a wireless interface, and said apparatus comprises a wireless interface compatible with that of said mobile device, said mobile device and apparatus communicating at least one of said video signals and upstream data signals via said compatible wireless interfaces.