Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Bell Communications Research, Inc.

Edward C Mihm

Kamran Sistanizadeh

Bahman Amin-Salehi

Regina S Lightfoot

John A Bigham

Ulric E Arthur

Dave Little

Alpna Jain

William David Goodman

Douglas P Clark

Bill Goodman

Greg Brenner

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.

Growing community of inventors

Warminster, PA, United States of America

Edward C Mihm