Arris International, Inc.

Com21, Inc.

Malay M Thaker

Alireza Raissinia

Sanford L Helton

Mark E Laubach

Michael John Sabin

Kathleen Nichols

Paul Gordon

Paul A Gordon

Kathleen M Nichols

A two-way cable network offering high-speed broadband communications delivered via virtual private networks over a multi-channel shared media system. Bi-directional transmission of packet to ATM cell based communications is established between a head end communication controller and a number of subscriber terminal units, whereby individual cells are prioritized and routed according to a virtual connection. Virtual connections are organized to support multiple virtual private networks in a shared media CATV system. The virtual private network to which a particular STU belongs is user selectable and has the flexibility of handling multi up/downstream channels with different MAC domains. The present invention can also handle non-ATM MAC domains via the same common ATM switch. To overcome the limited number of addresses inherent to common ATM switches, a mapping/remapping function is implemented in the port cards. Furthermore, downstream as well as upstream traffic are filtered at each STU. In one embodiment, information pertaining to downstream traffic is used to implement predictive scheduling in order to improve the timing associated with the request/grant cycle. In another embodiment, a user has the ability to select a quality of service that best suits the needs of the current application. In a further embodiment, the scheduling function is associated with each of the receivers in order to provide improved scalability.

Multi-channel support for virtual private networks in a packet to ATM cell cable system

Bi-directional communications system in a CATV network utilizing cell-based Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) transmissions. Packet data existing in any one of several different formats are first converted into ATM cells by a headend controller. Individual cells are then assigned a virtual connection by the headend controller. Based on the virtual connection, the cells can be prioritized and routed to their intended destinations. The cells are transmitted in a shared radio frequency spectrum over a standard cable TV network. A subscriber terminal unit demodulates the received RF signal and processes the cells for use in a computer. Likewise, computers may transmit packet data to their respective subscriber terminal units which are sent to the headend controller over the same CATV network. Hence, the present invention offers a flexible, effective, economic, and fully integrated multimedia bearer system granting immediate support for Internet services, traditional voice telephony, and digital video services over a CATV network.

Prioritized virtual connection transmissions in a packet to ATM cell

Growing community of inventors

Campbell, CA, United States of America

Malay M Thaker