Universal access multimedia data network

• US 5,790,548 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sistanizadeh, Kamran, Sims, Wendell, Ghafari, Edward, Amin-Salehi, Bahman
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/634,544
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/408, 370/410, 395/200, 364/242.94, 364/242.96, 364/242.95
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2883 ATM DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A system and method for providing Internet access via a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) using full time asymmetric digital subscriber line connections between subscriber premises processor terminals and a local area network (LAN) node and router gateway on Telco premises connected to a Telco digital packet network connected to Internet service providers and Internet information providers. A domain name server (DNS) and a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server are connected to the router to provide domain name to IP address translations and temporary assignment of IP addresses to said customer premises processor terminal. The customer or subscriber going on-line communicates with the DHCP using encryption and preferably public/private key encryption to both authenticate the customer and the DHCP. The DHCP updates the database in the DNS to maintain freshness. The digital packets in the network use several protocols with a TCP/IP payload encapsulated therein without the need for translation or conversion.

Claims

1. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a router connected by asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) to said customer premises processor terminals;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCI/IP protocol within said switched data network and in connecting to said customer premises processor terminals;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line.

2. A network according to claim 1 wherein said other protocol encapsulates said TCP/IP protocol intact.

3. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network and in connecting to said customer premises processor terminals through said LAN;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line.

4. A data network according to claim 3 wherein said node comprises an Ethernet switch.

5. A data network according to claim 3 wherein said connections between said node and said customer premises processor terminals are dedicated connections.

6. A data network according to claim 3 wherein said customer premises processor terminals create internetwork protocol (IP) packets with IP addresses encapsulated within a media access control (MAC) protocol layer with a MAC address and send such packets to said node.

7. A data network according to claim 6 wherein said node recognizes the MAC layer address and sends said packets to said router.

8. A data network according to claim 7 wherein said router recognizes said IP address and directs such packets to said switched data network pursuant to said IP address.

9. A data network according to claim 8 wherein said router encapsulates said IP packet in a protocol layer and address which corresponding to the protocol used in said switched data network, said last named address directing the encapsulated packet to the same destination as indicated by said IP address.

10. A data network according to claim 9 including a second router which strips said switched data network protocol from said IP packet prior to delivery of said packet to its IP address.

11. A data network according to claim 10 wherein said IP packet remains intact in transmission from said consumers premises processor terminal to its destination as indicated by its IP address.

12. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

13. A network according to claim 12 wherein said other protocol encapsulates said TCP/IP protocol intact.

14. A data network according to claim 12 wherein said connections between said node and said customer premises processor terminals are full time connections.

15. A data network according to claim 12 wherein said customer premises processor terminals create internetwork protocol (IP) packets with IP addresses encapsulated within a media access control (MAC) protocol layer with a MAC address and send such packets to said node.

16. A data network according to claim 15 wherein said node recognizes the MAC layer address and sends said packets to said router.

17. A data network according to claim 16 wherein said router recognizes said IP address and directs such packets to said switched data network pursuant to said IP address.

18. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

19. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than said TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations following authentication.

20. A data network according to claim 19 wherein said authentication includes public/private key encryption between said customer premise terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

21. A data network according to claim 19 wherein said telephone Internet service provider network includes multiple domain name service servers connected to said router and multiple storages of domain name to Internet address translation tables, said storages being associated with said domain name service servers, said domain service servers accessing said storages seriatim for the sought domain name to provide said translation.

22. A data network according to claim 19 wherein said authentication includes delivery of identification signals by said customer premises processor terminals to said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

23. A data network according to claim 22 wherein said signals correspond to a password.

24. A data network according to claim 22 wherein said signals correspond to a name and a password.

25. A data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet;

a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server;

a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers;

said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network;

said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations and updating said storage of said storage of domain name to Internet address translations when an assignment of an Internet address is accepted.

26. A method of establishing connection from a customer premises processor terminal to an Internet connected information service provider via a switched wired telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

establishing a dedicated asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) connection from said customer premises processor terminal to a node on premises of said telecommunications network;

requesting assignment of a temporary Internet address;

assigning a temporary Internet address to the requesting entity;

translating a domain name for said Internet connected information service provider to an Internet address; and

using said translated Internet address to connect said customer premises processor terminal to said Internet connected service provider via said dedicated asymmetric digital subscriber line connection from said customer premises processor terminal to said node on premises of said telecommunications network and via a telephone Internet service provider network in said telecommunications network.

27. In a data network comprising:

a wide area data internetwork (Internet);

a plurality of customer premises processor terminals;

a plurality of hosts connected to said Internet;

a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said hosts;

said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes;

a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN;

a router connected to said node;

a domain name service server connected to said router;

a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router;

a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server;

a switched data network connecting said router to said hosts;

a method comprising the steps of;

requesting from said dynamic host configuration protocol server with one of said customer premises processor terminals an Internet connection;

responding to an authentication request by inputting to said customer premises processor terminal the requested authentication;

responding to an Internet address offered by said dynamic host configuration protocol server with an acceptance;

updating said domain name service server from said dynamic host configuration protocol server to reflect the assignment of said accepted Internet address to said customer premises processor terminal;

requesting from said customer premises processor terminal to said domain name service server connection to said host; and

connecting said customer premises processor terminal to said host.

28. A method according to claim 27 including the steps of using public/private password encryption between said customer premises processor terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server for the steps of:

responding to said authentication request by inputting to said customer premises processor terminal the requested authentication; and

said Internet address offer by said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

29. A method of establishing connection from a customer premises processor terminal to an Internet connected information service provider via a switched wired telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

establishing a digital subscriber line connection from said customer premises processor terminal to a node on premises of said telecommunications network;

requesting assignment of a temporary Internet address from a dynamic host configuration protocol server via said node;

requesting authentication from said dynamic host configuration protocol server to said customer premises processor terminal via said node;

transmitting said authentication from said customer premises processor terminal to said dynamic host configuration protocol server via said node;

assigning a temporary Internet address to the requesting customer premises processor terminal;

requesting information from said customer premises processor terminal to said host via said node.

30. A method according to claim 29 including the steps of using public/private password encryption between said customer premises processor terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server for the steps of:

transmitting said authentication from said customer premises processor terminal to said dynamic host configuration protocol server via said node;

assigning a temporary Internet address to the requesting customer premises processor terminal.