Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Bell Communications Research, Inc.

Verizon Services Corporation

Bahman Amin-Salehi

Kamran Sistanizadeh

Regina S Lightfoot

John A Bigham

Ulric E Arthur

Edward C Mihm

Wendell N Sims

Edward Ghafari

Bill Goodman

Dave Little

Douglas P Clark

Alpna Jain

Greg Brenner

William David Goodman

Amos Lucas

John W Darr, Jr

Lisa M Conoscenti

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.

Universal access multimedia data network

A video distribution network having an architecture that distributes video services over a greater serving area. The broadcast consolidation section receives broadband data from a plurality of information providers, preferably as compressed, digital signals using asynchronous transfer mode ATM transport. The broadcast consolidation section combines the ATM streams from different information providers and outputs a consolidated signal onto a transport ring. The broadcast ring supplies the consolidated broadcast signal to a plurality of video network hubs, each of which downloads the consolidated broadcast data, converts the consolidated broadcast data to motion picture experts group MPEG data on an RF carrier, and combines the RF signal with other RF signals before transmission by optical fiber to a plurality of local video access nodes. Each local video access node combines the RF broadcast data from the corresponding video network hub with downstream interactive multimedia television IMTV traffic supplied by an ATM backbone subnetwork. The combined RF signals are output from the local video access nodes to the access subnetwork servicing these subscribers. The architecture of the present invention provides sufficient allocation of resources, while at the same time providing efficient transport of signaling traffic and interactive data. In addition, the network control is centralized for more efficient management of resources.

Full service network having distributed architecture

An access subnetwork provides broadcast access transport as well as selective allocation of resources for interactive communications sessions dedicated to individual end users. The access subnetwork has specified broadcast and interactive service interfaces, both for communications to and from an information provider and for communication to and from customer premises equipment. An Access Subnetwork Controller provides a single point of control contact within the access subnetwork. Any other subnetwork (typically an element of a higher level control subnetwork) needing a control function in the access subnetwork always sends the request for that function to the Access Subnetwork Controller. The primary responsibility of the Access Subnetwork Controller is to control resources, provide requested resources and monitor the use of resources within in the realm of the access subnetwork. The Access Subnetwork Controller functions essentially in a similar manner to provide every type of requested connection, whether the connection is for broadcast, pay-per-view or IMTV. Specifically, the Access Subnetwork Controller reserves and enables access subnetwork resources for a particular user connection and reports connections back to higher level control elements.

Access subnetwork controller for video dial tone networks

An access subnetwork provides broadcast access transport as well as selective allocation of resources for interactive communications sessions dedicated to individual end users. The access subnetwork has specified broadcast and interactive service interfaces, both for communications to and from an information provider and for communication to and from customer premises equipment. An Access Subnetwork Controller provides a single point of control contact within the access subnetwork. Any other subnetwork (typically an element of a higher level control subnetwork) needing a control function in the access subnetwork always sends the request for that function to the Access Subnetwork Controller. The primary responsibility of the Access Subnetwork Controller is to control resources, provide requested resources and monitor the use of resources within in the realm of the access subnetwork. The Access Subnetwork Controller functions essentially in a similar manner to provide every type of requested connection, whether the connection is for broadcast, pay-per-view or Interactive Multimedia Television (IMTV). Specifically, the Access Subnetwork Controller reserves and enables access subnetwork resources for a particular user connection and reports connections back to higher level control elements.

In advanced digital networks for providing selective point-to-point communications between subscribers terminals and broadband server equipment operated by a plurality of independent information service providers, routing through the network is controlled by functionality identified as a Level 1 Gateway. In an enhanced video dial tone network additionally providing an array of broadcast services from multiple providers, the Level 1 Gateway also provides high level control over at least some of the broadcast services. The Level 1 Gateway will perform a variety of functions including communications port management of transmissions of information between subscribers and servers, processing of billing information and session management. The Level 1 Gateway generates menus of providers and broadcast services, either as a function of providers and services available through a particular portion of the network or in a customized fashion specified by individual subscribers. The Level 1 Gateway may also provide a PIN number functionality, e.g. to permit parents to limit which providers and broadcast services that their children can access. The Level 1 Gateway is itself an interactive device in that subscribers can input information and receive display information from the Gateway to define or modify their own video dial tone service through the network.

Level 1 gateway controlling broadband communications for video dial tone

An arrangement for transporting digital broadband data output in Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell streams from a plurality of video information service providers (VIPs) to a plurality of subscribers. A digital broadband network is adapted to receive a plurality of ATM streams from VIPs via optical fibers having a predetermined capacity. A plurality of receivers corresponding to the optical fibers output ATM cells from the optical fibers having active ATM cell streams to an ATM edge device having input ports corresponding to the predetermined capacity of the optical fibers. The ATM edge device grooms the ATM cells by rejecting unauthorized cells and idle cells that do not carry information, and maps the remaining ATM cells to output ports having a lower predetermined capacity than the plurality of optical fibers coupled to the receivers. The mapped ATM cells are assigned translated VPI/VCI identifers and are combined onto common signal paths for transport via optical fibers, thereby maximizing the capacity and efficiency of the network. The network also enables subscribers to set up fully interactive broadband sessions with selected VIPs via level 1 and level 2 gateways between the subscriber and the selected VIP.

Full service network using asynchronous transfer mode multiplexing

In advanced digital networks for providing selective point-to-point communications between subscriber's terminals and broadband server's equipment operated by a plurality of independent information service providers, routing through the network is controlled by functionality identified as a Level 1 Gateway. In an enhanced video dial tone network additionally providing an array of broadcast services from multiple providers, the Level 1 Gateway also provides high level control over at least some of the broadcast services. The Level 1 Gateway will perform a variety of functions including communications port management of transmissions of information between subscribers and servers, processing of billing information and session management. The Level 1 Gateway generates menus of providers and broadcast services, either as a function of providers and services available through a particular portion of the network or in a customized fashion specified by individual subscribers. The Level 1 Gateway may also provide a PIN number functionality. The Level 1 Gateway is itself an interactive device in that subscribers can input information and receive display information from the Gateway to define or modify their own video dial tone service through the network.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, DC, United States of America

Bahman Amin-Salehi