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`WARNING: The information disclosed herein may be restrictedi Unauthorized disclosure may be prohibited
`by the United States Code TING 35, Sections 122. 181 and 368. Possession outslde the US,
`Patent & Trademark Office is restricted to authorized employees and cmntractors only.
`/
`
`/
`
`,
`
`Form PTO—438A
`(Rev. 5/92)
`
`BENEDICT v. mum gm;
`PRIMARY EXAMINER
`GROUP 263
`
`BATCH
`,
`Primary Examiner NUMBER
`
`(FACE)
`
`.
`
`\
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 1
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 1
`
`

`

`[13/ 276534 {m089425
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`APPROVED FOR LICENSE El
`INITIALS i...-...—......—.___
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 2
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 2
`
`

`

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`Elam
`
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`SEARCH NOTES
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`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 3
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 3
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 4
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 4
`
`

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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 5
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 5
`
`

`

`lllllllllllllllll||||||||I|||||||||||||llllllllllllHlllllllllllllllllillll
`U8005563883A
`
`[19]
`United States Patent
`5,563,883
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent: Oct. 8,. 1996
`Cheng
`
`[54] DYNAMIC CHANNEL MANAGEMENT AND
`SIGNALLING METHOD AND APPARATUS
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Alexander L. Cheng, ll Sprindale
`Ave, White Plains, NY. 10604
`
`[21] App}. No.: 276,534
`[22] Filed:
`Jul. 18, 1994
`[51]
`Int. Cl.‘5 ....................................................... 1104}! 1/04
`[52] Us. Cl. ............................. 370/73; 348/12; 370/857;
`370/858; 455/42; 455/51
`[58] Field of Search ............................... 348/6, 9, 12, 13;
`455/11, 4.2. 5.1, 6.1, 34.1; 379/71. 73,
`76, 80, 85.3, 85.7, 85.8, 95.1. 95.2
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,573,206
`.. 45534.1
`211986 Grauelet a].
`5.132.680
`7/1992 Tezuka et al.
`370/853
`5,224,097
`611993 Kaneshima ..
`370/853
`
`5,331,316
`711994- Mestdagh
`370l85.7
`370185.13
`5,355,375 1011994 Christensen.
`
`5.374.952 1211994 Flohr
`.
`5,434,611
`711995 Tamuni
`
`Primary Examiner—Benedict V. Safourek
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`There is provided a dynamic and adaptable method and
`apparatus to support two-way mulLi-media communication
`
`services on a multiple access communication system, which
`comprises a central controller. a shared transmission media
`and a plurality of remote terminals dispersed throughout the
`network. The central controller comprises switch and con-
`trol apparatus and a pool of transmitters and receivers. The
`communication channels between the central controller and
`remote terminals are arranged for signalling data and traific
`bearer channels in the forward and reverse directions. The
`number of signalling data channels is adjusted to satisfy the
`traffic requirements and for redundancy purposes, The for-
`ward and reverse signalling data channels are coupled in
`diEerent mappings to support terminal grouping. Multiple
`access of the remote terminals for the upstream trafiic are
`mitigated by separating remote terminals in groups via the
`channel allocation and the tenninal assignment process.
`Communication between the central controller and the
`remote terminals follows a multiple access scheme con—
`trolled by the central controller via polling procedure on
`each of the forward signalling data channels independently.
`In case ofcollision, the central controller engages the remote
`terminals in a selective polling process to resolve Ilie con-
`tention. The overlapping polling method of the controlled
`access scheme increases the utilization of the signalling
`channel and reduces the time required to gain access to the
`shared uansmission media. By dynamically adjusting the
`load on signalling data channels, the signalling process is
`greatly improved for eificiency and redundancy against
`anomalies with the added benefit of improved flexibility and
`extensibility. The system is especially useful in a two-way
`CATV network.
`
`20 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 6
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 6
`
`

`

`18
`remote
`
`18
`
`18
`
`
`
`centralcontroller
`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`18
`
`18
`
`terminals
`
`Figure
`
`2
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 7
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`RD
`FD
`h—k
`
`i--—l
`
`J—m
`Figure
`
`3a
`
`FD
`n
`
`RD
`o
`
`p
`
`q
`
`Figure
`
`3b
`
`RD
`u
`
`FD
`r
`
`s
`
`t
`Figure
`
`3c
`
`controller
`
`
`initialization
`
`
`
`
`response
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 8
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`
`
`
`ICSPODSC
`
`C011 DI
`
`
`
`exceeded
`
`terminal
`failure
`
`processing
`
`
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 9
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 16 '
`
`5,563,883
`
`
`terminal
`
`request
`
`
`
`polling
`cycle
`
`
` registration
`message
`
`signalling
`
`processing
`
`registering
`terminal
`
`reassign
`ment
`
`temiinal
`
`disable
`
`
`available
`
`capacity
`
`on other
`channel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`assignment
`
`
`
`terminal
`
`Figure
`
`6
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 10
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`set x and x'
`
`channel
`assignment
`
`terminal
`disable
`
`Figure 7
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 11
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`controller
`
`poll or
`command
`
`response
`
`tx.
`
`requrred
`
`controller
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 12
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`Signalling data frame in the forward
`direction sent by central controller:
`3
`I
`
`Signalling data frame in the reverse
`direction sent by remote terminals:
`I
`1
`3
`1
`EEI-— FCS I
`
`bytes
`
`preamble (PMB)
`0 sequence to indicate the start of message frame transmission and aid detection of
`collision
`Terminal IDentifier (TID)
`-
`terminal identifier for command
`-
`lower TID of the range for the selective poll
`- 0 (hexadecimal 00) is an invalid TID used for disabling terminal during the
`registration process (SAT/SRT contains the serial number)
`- 255 (hex FF) for registration process (SAT/SRT contains the serial number)
`Signalling Action Type (SAT)
`serial number of the remote terminal for channel assignment during registration
`process
`selective poll including higher TID of the range (used also for general/specific poll)
`selective poll with collision alert including higher range (used also for specific poll)
`in—coming call command on the indicated channel number
`release command
`disable command
`test command
`channel rte-assignment command
`Signalling Request Type (SRT)
`serial number of the remote terminal for terminal registration process
`on—hook
`off-hook
`switch-hook
`ringing
`release
`dial-digits
`incoming call blocking
`incoming call unblocking
`feature code (e.g., conference)
`test report
`alarm message (fault and fraud)
`multiple channel request (bandwidth-on—demand)
`- channelized services (sub-rate & multiple channels)
`Frame Check Sequence (FCS)
`' protection, which covers TID and SAT/SRT fields, against transmission error or
`collision
`
`Figure 9
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 13
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`1
`
`ranges of remote terminals
`
`level of
`halving
`0th
`
`lst
`
`2nd
`
`3rd
`Figure 11
`
`CO
`lines
`
`central
`controller
`
`remote
`terminals
`
`119
`
`120
`
`121
`
`122
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 14
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`next poll
`range r12
`
`processing res-
`ponse from r12
`
`
`
`tx. error
`
`processin :4
`
`
`polling
`cycle
`
`
`
`
`
`
`range r21
`
`@138
`response YES
`
`
`next poll
`
`next poll
`range r23
`
`
`
`nem poll
`range r31l
`
`
`
`
`
`next poll
`range r24
`
`
`.
`
`continued in
`continued in
`
`Figure 1 2b
`Figure 13b
`
`
`
`Figure 1 2a
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 15
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`from
`Figure 120
`
`from
`Figure 1211
`
`
`
`
`response
`
`from r31
`
`processing res—
`ponse from r3]
`
`processing res-
`ponse from r35
`
`
`
`Figure
`
`12b
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 16
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 16.
`
`5,563,883
`
`
`
`time——-———-——————>
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`130
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`2
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`Figure
`
`13a
`
`Figure
`
`13b
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 17
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`selective
`
`
`
`polling
`
`first poll
`range rll
`
`
`
`repeated
`collisio
`
`IX. error
`
`processing
`
`polling
`cycle
`
`next poll
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
` YES
`response
`
`
`from 112
`
`
`polling
`cycle
`
`'
`continued In
`Figure 14b
`
`processing res—
`ponse from r11
`
`next poll
`range 121
`
`polling
`cycle
`
`a
`continued in:
`Figure 14b
`
`Figure
`
`14a
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 18
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 13 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`from
`Figure 14a
`
`from
`Figure 14a
`
`next pol
`range r37
`
`
`
`M)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`respons -
`rom r2
`
`next poll
`range r36
`
`Figure 14b
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 19
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 16‘
`
`5,563,883
`
`146
`
`147
`
`time
`
`IEIEI’EIL A *7
`
`-I
`
`
`
`
` A F
` I
`
` A!
` F
`
`
`
`El
`controller
`terminals
`remote
`central
`
`Figure
`
`15
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 20
`
`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 15 of 16
`
`5,563,883
`
`_—>
`
`
`
`
`switching
`matrix
`
`—-|
`
`
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 21
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 21
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 3, 1996
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`Sheet 16 of 16
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`5,563,883
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`telephone
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`Figure
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 22
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 22
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`1
`DYNAMIC CHANNEL MANAGENIENT AND
`SIGNALLING METHOD AND APPARATUS
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`5,563,883
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention pertains generally to methods and
`apparatus for facilitating the two-way multi-media commu-
`nication based on a shared transmission media such as
`coaxial cable-TV network, and more specifically to methods
`and apparatus for signalling channel management and pro-
`tocol.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A multiple access communication system comprises a
`central controller, a shared transmission media and a plu-
`rality of remote terminals dispersed geographically. To pro-
`vide the means for multiple access is a classical problem in
`communication systems with a shared common transmission
`media. Some of the well known schemes are frequency
`division multiple acCess or FDMA, time division multiple
`access or TDMA, and code division multiple access or
`CDMA. These multiple access schemes deal with the tech-
`niques of separating the communication bandwidth into
`traflic»bearing channels. In a FDMA scheme, the continu-
`nication bandwidth is divided into the frequency bands. The
`TDMA scheme separates the communication bandwidth into
`time slots. The trafiic is encoded and then decoded using
`difi‘erent code in a CDMA scheme.
`In all these multiple access schemes the contention for
`access is resolved through signalling protocols on a pre-
`detemiincd and fixed signalling channel. There are propos-
`als to dynamically allocate traffic—bearing channels to meet
`the service requirements in terms of lower blocking prob-
`ability. However, in addition to availability, bandwidth and
`delay of the traflic—bearing channel, the trafiic requirements
`should include responsiveness of the signalling process and
`the quality of the transmission means.
`The signalling protocols for multiple access communica-
`tion systems fall in two general categories for resolving the
`possible contention: scheduled access via polling or other
`means, and random access contention. In radiotelephony and
`Iocal—area—network (CSMAICD) environment, the conten-
`tion is resolved by monitoring the signal during transmis-
`sion, which requires synchronization and/or means to moni-
`tor activities arnongst all remote terminals and the central
`controller. In the CATV network, remote terminals have
`different distance from the central controller making syn-
`chronization diflicult. It is also not feasible to detect colli-
`sion, i.e., multiple remote terminals transmit at the same
`time, on the CATV network since the remote terminals are
`attached to difi'erent branches of the network. The poll and
`response method is often used to schedule the multiple
`access from plurality of remote terminals, but it has the
`disadvantage of inefiiciency due to wasteful interaction with
`remote terminals that are not in need of servicing.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`There are many proposals of means for dynamically
`adjusting the number of traflic-bearing channels according
`to varying trafiic demands or the transmission quality in the
`radio telephony environment, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,134,709,
`5,235,631 and 5,276,908. In addition US. Pat. No. 4,868,
`811 discusses the protocol over the common signalling
`channel for allocation of traffic-bearing channels. U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,870,408 proposes a process of re-assigning subscriber
`
`2
`units to balance the [radio load over the available channels.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,329 discloses a method for dynamically
`grouping terminals in blocks for which the central unit
`performs block polling on a common data channel. The
`present invention presents a method to dynamically allocate
`both signalling data and traflic-bearing channels and to
`dynamically assign remote terminals to these channels.
`The polling scheme is commonly used to resolve conten-
`tion in a multiple access system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,314
`proposes a system to sequentially poll all terminals. Due to
`the inherent inefliciency with sequential polling method,
`some proposals with the following variations for perfor-
`mance improvement have been presented. U.S. Pat. No.
`4,754,426 proposes a two-level polling scheme with. distrib-
`uted control. U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,297 proposes use of a high
`priority group. U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,816 proposes a binary
`polling scheme, similar to the polling scheme in the present
`invention, with terminal address in each poll. U.S. Pat. No.
`4,924,461 proposes a method to register other pending
`request on a second channel to interrupt sequential polling,
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,572 proposes a dual rate polling method
`using pseudo random sequence at high rate to poll all
`terminals resulting possibly in contention with a small
`number of terminals, and following the high rate poll by
`specific poll at lower rate in case of collision. This invention
`difiers from the prior art in that multiple access is controlled
`through overlapping polling sequence executing on multiple
`channels in a parallel fashion. Only when collision occurs,
`this method will enter a selective polling sequence for
`contention resolution. The added benefit of this method is
`efliciency and redundancy against anomalies such as inten
`ferenee and component failure.
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
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`To overcome the problems mentioned above, the objec‘
`tive of the present invention is to present
`A flexible and extensible method for signalling; channel
`management;
`A flexible and extensible method for assigning remote
`terminals to the signalling channels;
`An efficient asynchronous signalling protocol.
`In the present invention, a dynamic process is disclosed to
`adjust the number of signalling channels to meet the require-
`ments of varying traffic demand and the system growth. This
`is important in carrying mold-media traflic with diiferent
`requirements in both the traffic-bearing channel bandwidth
`and the time required to setup a trafiebearing channel. This
`dynamic signalling channel allocation and terminal assign
`ment method also aids in system redundancy for anomalies
`such as interference and component failure. Integrated with
`the channel allocation and terminal assignment process, the
`present invention also presents an eificient controlled mul-
`tiple access method The beads] controller initiates the
`general polling on each signalling data channel in parallel to
`solicit request from all temtinals assigned to the signalling
`data channel. Only when collision is detected, the central
`controller starts to poll selectively for resolution.
`Further objects and advantages of my invention will
`become apparent from considerations of the drawings and
`ensuing description thereof.
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The multiple access communication system architecture
`depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of remote terminals,
`11 common shared transmission media, a central controller
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 23
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 23
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`3
`and interface to wide area networks. There are provided a
`number of communication channels (L) to the wide area
`networks, a number of communication channels (M) for
`supporting a plurality of remote terminals (N). The M
`number of channels to support communication between the
`central controller and the remote terminals are separated into
`four categories as depicted in FIG. 2, for carrying signalling
`data and user naiic in the forward and reverse directions,
`i.e., forward signalling data or FD channel, forward traffic
`bearer or PE channel, reverse signalling data or RD channel,
`and reverse trafiic bearer or RB channel. All communication
`signals between the central controller and the remote tenni-
`nals are multiplexed onto the shared transmission media.
`The remote temrinals are equipment supporting the users'
`communication need and are distributed throughout
`the
`network. For simplicity reason,
`the surmning device for
`signals from remote terminals are shown as a single device
`in FIG. 1. Each of the remote terminals has one RF data
`demodulator capable of receiving data on the assigned FD
`channel, one frequency agile receiver capable of tuning to
`the assigned FE channel, one RF data modulator capable of
`transmitting data on the assigned RD channel, and one
`frequency agile transmitter capable of tuning to the assigned
`RB channel. The central controller comprises a switch and
`control mechanism, and a pool of transmitters and receivers
`for the communication channels. The central controller
`provides concentration and control function to meet the
`communication demand of the remote terminals much the
`same way as a Private Automated Branch eXchange or
`PABX. The central controller also translates the signalling
`information according to the requirement of the network.
`There are two levels of concentrations provided with this
`system: contention in the shared transmission media via the
`signalling protocol. and through the switching matrix of the
`central controller.
`The signalling channels are dynamically adjusted for
`eificiency and redundancy. This also adds to the extensibility
`of the system for the increasing traflic load and system
`growth. The downstream traflic on these channels are sched-
`uled by the central controller. Multiple access of the remote
`terminals for the upstream trafiic are mitigated by separating
`remote terminals in groups via the channel allocation and the
`terminal assignment process. Prompted by the remote ter-
`minals at startup. or through the failure recovery procedure,
`or deemed necessary by the central controller, the channel
`allocation and terminal assignment process are initiated and
`controlled by the central controller. Through the registration
`process, the central controller assigns the remote terminal to
`a group supported by coupling of the specific forward and
`reverse signalling data channels. Afterwards, the communi-
`cation between the central controller and the remote termi-
`nals follows a two-phase process. The controlled multiple
`access method is used, on each forward signalling data
`channel in parallel, for sporadic user data transfer or sig-
`nalling purpose. The central controller either sends com-
`mand to a specific remote terminal or solicits requests via a
`general poll from remote temtinals assigned to the forward
`signalling data channel. The remote terminals respond to the
`controller's poll to request services. The selective polling
`process is used to identify the remote temu'nals involved in
`case of collision. The natfic bearer channel is used once the
`circuit is established via signalling protocol over the signal-
`ling data channels. The oontrolled multiple access scheme
`using overlapping polling method represents an eflicient
`asynchronous signalling method and the decision process is
`designed to improve the efl’ectiveness of the selective poll-
`ing coverage during the contention resolution process.
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`Accordingly the achieved benefits of the present invention
`are:
`General communication channels management architec-
`ture;
`Flexible and extensible scheme for signalling channel
`management;
`Flexible and extensible scheme for assigning remote
`terminals to the signalling channels;
`Flexible and extensible scheme for supporting system
`growth and new services requirements;
`Improved system redundancy;
`Eflicient asynchronous signalling protocol.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Other objects, features and advantages of the invention
`will be apparent from the following Description of the
`Preferred Embodiment taken together with the accompany-
`ing drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a illustration ofa multiple access communication
`system architecture with interconnections between the
`remote temrinals, the central controller which. comprises the
`switch and control module and a number of transmitters and
`receivers, and the wide-area network
`FIG. 2 shows the channelization of the communication
`bandwidth of the shared transmission media between the
`central controller and the remote terminals for diflerent
`functions.
`FIG. 3 depicts the possible mappings of forward and
`reverse signalling data channels.
`FIG. 4 depicts the logic flow diagram for polling and
`registration process at the central controller.
`FIG. 5 depicts the logic flow diagram for command
`process at the central controller.
`FIG. 6 is the logic flow diagram for registration, terminal
`reassignment. channel allocation, and terminal assignment
`process at the central controller.
`FIG. 7 depicts the logic flow diagram for registration
`process at the remote terminals.
`FIG. 8 depicts the logic flow diagram for signalling
`process at the remote terminals.
`FIG. 9 details the message format for the signalling
`protocol between the central controller and the remote
`terminals.
`FIG. 10 shows the ranges ofremote terminals for selective
`polling during the contention resolution process.
`FIG. 11 is a message exchange diagram for signalling
`protocol between the central controller and the remote
`terminals illustrating a scenario of collision and its resolu
`tion.
`FIG. 12 is the decision graph for contention resolution
`process using polling ranges as defined in FIG. 10 using the
`regular polling method.
`FIG. 13 contains signalling message exchange diagrams
`for comparison of two methods using the regular and the
`overlapping polling cycle.
`FIG. 14 is the decision graph for contention resolution
`process using polling ranges as defined in FIG. 10 using the
`overlapping polling method.
`FIG. 15 is a message exchange diagram using the over-
`lapping polling method for signalling protocol between the
`central controller and the remote terminals illustrating a
`scenario of collision and its resolution.
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 24
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`Petitioner Cisco Systems - Exhibit 1003 - Page 24
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`5
`FIG. 16 is the system block diagram of the central
`controller for supporting telephone services.
`FIG. 17 is the system block diagram of a remote terminal
`for supporting telephone services.
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`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The multiple access communication system architecture
`as depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a central controller 10, a
`shared transmission media 12, and plurality of remote ter-
`minals l4 dispersed geographically throughout the network.
`A pool of communication channels 16 (L) are provided to
`the wide area networks 18, a pool of communication chan-
`nels 20 (M) for supporting a plurality ofremote terminals 14
`(N). The M number of channels to support communication
`between the central controller 10 and the remote terminals
`1.4 are separated into four categories for carrying signalling
`data and user traffic in the forward and reverse directions,
`i.e., forward signalling data or FD channel 22, forward traffic
`bearer or F3 channel 24. reverse signalling data or RD
`channel 26, and reverse trafiic bearer or RB channel 28. All
`communication signals between the central controller 10 and
`the remote temrinals 14 are multiplexed onto the shared
`transmission media 12. All remote terminals 14 are equip-
`ment supporting the users’ communication need and are
`distributed throughout the network. For simplicity reason,
`the summing device 30 for signals from remote terminals are
`shown as a single device in FIG. 1. In a CATV network. this
`summing device 30 represents the splitters and taps con-
`necting the branches that make up the network.
`The central controller 10 comprises a switch and control
`' mechanism 32, and a pool of transmitters, called forward
`signalling data channel (FD) 22 and forward tradie bearer
`channel (FB) M. and a pool of receivers, called reverse
`signalling data channel (RD) 26 and reverse traflic bearer
`channel (RB) 28. The central controller provides concentra-
`tion and control
`function to meet
`the communication
`demand of the remote terminals much the same way as a
`Private Automated Branch exchange or PABX. The central
`controller also translates the signalling information accord-
`ing to the requirement of the network. In addition to con-
`centration provided through the switching matrix of the
`central controller, contention in the shared transmission
`media via the signalling protocol provides another level of
`concentration with this system.
`Each of the remote terminals has one radio frequency
`(RF) agile data demodulator capable of receiving on the
`assigned FD channel 34, one RF agile receiver tuned to the
`assigned FE channel 36, one RF agile data modulator
`capable of transmitting on the assigned RD charmel 38, and
`one RF agile transmitter tuned to the assigned RB channel
`40.
`Although the present invention is useful for interworking
`with a variety of different wide area networks, the telephone
`network will be used hereinafter to illustrate the present
`invention.
`As depicted in FIG. 2, the bandwidth is channelized for
`carrying trafic in the forward and the reverse direction. Data
`channels are used for carrying signalling or data traffic while
`bearer channels are used for carrying user traffic similar to
`circuits in telephony. Therefore. there are altogether 4 types
`of channels as depicted in FIG. 2. FD-x is the signalling data
`channel in the forward direction 44, i.e., from the central
`controller to the remote terminals. numbered from 1 to a.
`FB-y is traflic bearer channel 46 in the forward direction
`numbered from 1 to b. RD-x’ is signalling data channel 48
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`in the reverse direction, i.e., from the remote terminals to the
`central controller, numbered from 1 to c. RB-y' is traflic
`bearer channel 50 in the reverse direction numbered from 1
`to d. A guard band 42 is also shown to separate the signals
`traveling in the forward and the reverse directions it‘ they are
`to be put side-by—side. As explained later a and c should be
`greater than or equal to 2 for redundancy reason. Note that
`if the channels are of equal size, then a+b and r.:+d shall
`remain constant if all channels are available free of inter—
`ference problem, i.e., there are a pool of channels from the
`central controller to the remote terminals, and a separate
`pool of channels from the remote terminals to the. central
`controller. These pools are set aside for a flexible allocation
`scheme to be described in detail later.
`Although it is not necessary to have all channel to have
`equal bandwidth, the communication process can he man-
`aged more easily if the channels have simplified structure
`with equal bandwidth. In case ofequal size of the FT) and FE
`channels, the management scheme can relocate the FD to a
`channel that is better suited for data transmission while FB
`channel carrying normal voice communication cart tolerate
`a considerable more noisy channel than FD channel is able
`to. Similarly, the management process can take advantage of
`the flexibility afl'orded by the equal size of the RD and RB
`charmels. If the bandwidth of the communication channels
`to the wide area network is equivalent to the channels of the
`shared transmission media, the number L is less than or
`equal to the number M, which in turn is less than or equal
`to the number N. in case of channels with diflerent sizes the
`central controller needs to have the additional intelligence
`for managing these channels efiiciently, and to