Fiber optic internet protocol network interface device and methods and systems for using the same

• US 7,099,443 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• 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., Casey, Steven M., Brodigan, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/715,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 379 9305- 9307, 379/90.01, 370466-467
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A network interface device located at a customer'"'"'s premises includes an external interface that receives a plurality of telecommunication services via a fiber optic connection from a telecommunication service provider. The services are received using Internet Protocol. The network interface device also includes at least two distinct internal interfaces that distribute the plurality of telecommunication services to at least two distinct internal transport media. The network interface device also includes a processor that is programmed to receive combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from the external interface, process the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services, and map each of the separate signals to separate ones of the at least two distinct internal interfaces for distribution at the customer'"'"'s premises via the internal transport media.

Claims

1. A network interface device located at a customer'"'"'s premises, comprising:

an external interface that receives a plurality of telecommunication services via a fiber optic connection from a telecommunication service provider, wherein the services are received using Internet Protocol;

at least two distinct internal interfaces that distribute the plurality of telecommunication services to at least two distinct internal transport media; and

a processor programmed to;

receive a control signal to modify the configuration of the external interface, the control signal initiated remotely by the telecommunication service provider;

receive combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from the external interface;

process the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services; and

map each of the separate signals to separate ones of the at least two distinct internal interfaces for distribution at the customer'"'"'s premises via the internal transport media, wherein one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is allocated at least a specified amount of bandwidth available through the fiber optic connection.

2. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the external interface is further configured to direct signals relating to the telecommunication services to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber connection using Internet Protocol.

3. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is configured to receive signals relating to one of the telecommunication services from one of the internal transport media.

4. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive separate signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media;

process the separate signals into a combined signal; and

direct the combined signal to the external interface for distribution to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber optic connection using Internet Protocol.

5. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a signal integrator in communication with the at least two distinct internal interfaces, wherein the signal integrator is operable to integrate signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media into a combined information set.

6. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a coaxial cable.

7. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a twisted pair cable.

8. The network interface device of claim 7, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises existing telephone wiring at the customer premises.

9. The network interface device of claim 7, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises an Ethernet cable.

10. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a single-strand fiber optic connection capable of providing two-way communication.

11. The network interface device of claim 10, wherein the single-strand fiber optic connection uses either or both of wave-division multiplexing and time-division multiplexing.

12. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a multi-strand fiber optic connection.

13. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the external interface comprises at least one multiplexer.

14. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication services comprise one or more selections from the group consisting of video, data, and voice.

15. The network interface device of claim 14, wherein different telecommunication services are transported in different frequency ranges.

16. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the internal interfaces comprise a selection from the group consisting of IEEE 1394, RG6, RG59, wireless interface, 802.11, LMDS, Ethernet, twisted pair, category 3, category 4, category 5, category 6, category 7, and coaxial.

17. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein signals are transported on the internal transport media using a protocol selected from the group consisting of HPNA, HPNA+, and Home Plug.

18. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of telecommunication services originate from a plurality of telecommunication service providers.

19. The network interface device of claim 1, the network interface device further comprising:

a customer area physically accessible to the customer; and

a network area physically accessible only to the telecommunication service provider, wherein the processor is located in the network area.

20. The network interface device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically request updated configuration information.

21. A system for providing telecommunication services to a customer'"'"'s premises, comprising:

an external transport medium comprising a fiber optic distribution system that uses Internet protocol to deliver the telecommunication services to the customer'"'"'s premises; and

a network interface device at the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the network interface device comprises;

an external interface that receives a plurality of telecommunication services via the external transport medium;

at least two distinct internal interfaces that distribute the plurality of telecommunication services to at least two distinct internal transport media; and

a processor programmed to;

receive a control signal to modify the configuration of the external interface, the control signal initiated remotely by the telecommunication service provider;

receive combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from the external interface;

process the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services; and

map each of the separate signals to separate ones of the at least two distinct internal interfaces for distribution at the customer'"'"'s premises via the internal transport media, wherein one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is allocated at least a specified amount of downstream bandwidth available through the fiber optic connection.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the external interface is further configured to direct signals relating to the telecommunication services to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber connection using Internet Protocol.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is configured to receive signals relating to one of the telecommunication services from one of the internal transport media.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive separate signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media;

process the separate signals into a combined signal; and

direct the combined signal to the external interface for distribution to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber optic connection using Internet Protocol, wherein one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is allocated at least a specified amount of upstream bandwidth available through the fiber optic connection.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is allocated a limited portion of the bandwidth available through the combined signal.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising a signal integrator in communication with the at least two distinct internal interfaces, wherein the signal integrator is operable to integrate signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media into a combined information set.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a coaxial cable.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a twisted pair cable.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises existing telephone wiring at the customer premises.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises an Ethernet cable.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a single-strand fiber optic connection capable of providing two-way communication.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the single-strand fiber optic connection uses wave-division multiplexing and time-division multiplexing.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein different telecommunication services are transported in different frequency ranges.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a multi-strand fiber optic connection.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the external interface comprises at least one multiplexer.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein the internal interfaces comprise a selection from the group consisting of IEEE 1394, RG6, RG59, wireless interface, 802.11, LMDS, Ethernet, twisted pair, category 3, category 4, category 5, category 6, category 7, and coaxial.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein signals are transported on the internal transport media using a protocol selected from the group consisting of HPNA, HPNA+, and Home Plug.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of telecommunication services originate from a plurality of telecommunication service providers.

39. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is programmed to provide one of a plurality of Quality of Service (QoS) levels for each of the at least two distinct internal transport media.

40. A method of delivering a plurality of telecommunication services to a customer'"'"'s premises, comprising:

receiving combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from a telecommunication service provider via an external interface to a fiber optic connection, wherein the services are received using Internet Protocol;

processing the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services; and

mapping each of the separate signals to separate ones of at least two distinct internal interfaces to at least two distinct internal transport media for distribution at the customer'"'"'s premises via the internal transport media, wherein one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is allocated at least a specified amount of downstream bandwidth available through the fiber optic connection.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the external interface is further configured to direct signals relating to the telecommunication services to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber connection using Internet Protocol.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the at least two distinct internal interfaces is configured to receive signals relating to one of the telecommunication services from one of the internal transport media.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving separate signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media;

processing the separate signals into a combined signal; and

directing the combined signal to the external interface for distribution to the telecommunication service provider via the fiber optic connection using Internet Protocol.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising integrating signals from the at least two distinct internal transport media into a combined information set.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a coaxial cable.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the internal transport media comprises a twisted pair cable.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises existing telephone wiring at the customer premises.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the twisted pair cable comprises an Ethernet cable.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a single-strand fiber optic connection capable of providing two-way communication.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein the fiber optic connection comprises a multi-strand fiber optic connection.

51. The method of claim 40, wherein the external interface comprises at least one multiplexer.

52. The method of claim 40, wherein the telecommunication services comprise one or more selections from the group consisting of video, data, and voice.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein different telecommunication services are transported in different frequency ranges.

54. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of telecommunication services originate from a plurality of telecommunication service providers.