I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008908699B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Karaoguz et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`*Dec. 9, 2014
`
`(54) PROVIDING AUTOMATIC FORMAT
`CONVERSION VIA AN ACCESS GATEWAY IN
`A HOME
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, Irvine, CA (US);
`Marc Abrams, Aliso Viejo, CA (US);
`Nambirajan Seshadri, Irvine, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 2043 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/093,323
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 30, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0232284 Al
`
`Oct. 20, 2005
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 60/563,894, filed on Apr.
`16, 2004.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2011.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04L 12166
`H04N21/41
`H04L 29108
`U.S.Cl.
`CPC ............ H04L 12166 (2013.01); H04N 2114126
`(2013.01); H04L 6712823 (2013.01)
`USPC ........................................... 370/401; 370/466
`Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`12/2002 Eames et al.
`6,493,875 Bl
`7,177,944 Bl*
`212007 Chen et al. .................... 709/237
`7,257,122 Bl*
`8/2007 Keturi ........................... 370/401
`7,394,761 B2 *
`712008 Foster et al.
`.................. 370/227
`7,519,042 B2 *
`412009 Gorday et al.
`................ 370/347
`412009 Karaoguz et al.
`7,522,549 B2
`7,620,427 B2 * 1112009 Shanahan ..................... 455/567
`7,688,764 B2 *
`3/2010 Dorenbosch et al. ......... 370/260
`8/2011 Karaoguz et al.
`8,009,608 B2
`8/2013 Karaoguz et al.
`8,520,662 B2
`212002 Moore, Jr. et al.
`2002/0021465 Al
`2002/0038459 Al*
`3/2002 Talmola et al.
`................. 725/81
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`19831169 Bl
`1/2000
`DE
`10208094 B2
`9/2003
`Primary Examiner - Rhonda Murphy
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Brinks Gilson & Liane
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A system and method supporting the automatic conversion of
`multimedia information from a first format to a second format
`in a broadband access gateway and/or network-based server
`are disclosed. The broadband access gateway and/ or network(cid:173)
`based server may convert multimedia information that is in a
`format that an access device is not capable of processing. The
`gateway and/or server may automatically detect the format
`incompatibility, and may automatically convert or arrange for
`conversion of the multimedia information to a format that is
`compatible with the access device, based upon compatibility
`information associated with the access device. The conver(cid:173)
`sion may be based upon a set of user-defined quality of
`service criteria, and may be subject to the control of digital
`rights management parameters associated with the requested
`multimedia information. The user of the access device may be
`prompted when the conversion is expected to impact the
`quality of the multimedia information being played, and the
`user may be offered options that permit the user to minimize
`the impact upon the user.
`20 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`Receive identification information
`from access device
`
`Receive information indicating
`multime:~smcfe~:~!ity from
`
`Accept request for multimedia
`information
`
`Convert format of requested
`multimedia information to be
`compatible with access device
`
`Transfer multimedia information
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 1
`
`

`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2002/0191635 Al* 12/2002 Chow et al. ................... 370/463
`2003/0051041 Al*
`3/2003 Kalavade et al.
`............. 7091229
`2003/0112335 Al*
`6/2003 Strandwitz et al. ........ 348/211.2
`200410017788 Al*
`1/2004 Shmueli et al ................ 370/328
`
`2005/0064860 Al*
`2005/0188076 Al*
`2005/0239445 Al
`2005/0241004 Al*
`2009/0285204 Al*
`
`3/2005
`8/2005
`10/2005
`10/2005
`1112009
`
`DeLine ......................... 455/420
`Rayburn et al. ............... 709/224
`Karaoguz et al.
`Pyhalannni ..................... 726129
`Gallant et al.
`. ............... 370/352
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 2
`
`

`
`100~
`
`108
`
`106
`
`140
`
`132
`
`Broadband
`Access Provider
`(e.g., DSL, cable, satellite)
`
`FIG. 1
`
`114b
`
`114e
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`....
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 3
`
`

`
`106
`
`100 ,
`
`160
`
`Broadband
`Access Provider
`(e.g., DSL, cable, satellite)
`
`130
`
`132
`
`105~
`......
`
`~~103
`
`._ , ...... -----1--------<;I
`
`117 Wireless
`~,......
`lnterface(s)
`
`. . , , 119
`
`120
`
`124
`
`102
`
`FIG. 2
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`0 .....
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`N
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9, 2014
`
`Sheet 3of9
`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`<O
`.....
`
`ex>
`
`0
`N
`.....
`
`'iii"
`~
`~
`2
`.5
`
`"' "' Q)
`~ s:
`
`•
`
`(!) -LL
`
`,.._
`.....
`
`..... I
`
`~ .
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 9, 2014
`
`Sheet 4of9
`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`....
`
`0
`
`E
`II)
`"CJ
`0
`::i!
`
`m
`M
`•
`(!) -LL
`
`0
`N
`
`"' "'
`
`"CJ
`II)
`~en-~
`w 0 Q:;
`',!o·E
`u
`II)
`UJ
`::::i
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 6
`
`

`
`User-Defined
`QoS
`Criteria
`
`Digital
`Rights
`Mgmt
`
`,K'
`
`,K'
`
`124
`
`Wireless lnterface(s)
`
`Digital
`Rights
`Mgmt
`
`User-Defined
`QoS
`Criteria
`
`155
`
`120
`
`156
`
`Gateway
`(GW)
`
`151
`
`Multimedia 11 User-Defined
`QoS
`Format
`Conversion
`Criteria
`
`Digital
`Rights
`Mgmt
`
`116 .I
`
`Modem ~ 107
`
`FIG. 3C
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`
`1J1 =-('D
`.....
`Ul
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 7
`
`

`
`412
`
`410
`
`435
`
`431
`432
`433
`
`420
`
`om
`
`436
`
`437
`
`Criterion
`Picture Resolution
`Delivery Cost
`Access Delay
`
`Priori
`High
`Medium
`Low
`
`1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.l
`Wed, Sep 08
`2:50PM
`
`)
`
`400
`
`FIG. 4
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`O'I
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 8
`
`

`
`512
`
`510
`
`534
`535
`536
`
`1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:..-------------:
`l
`:
`'
`'
`!
`j
`i
`
`The selection you requested must be converted to a
`form compatible with your device. Would you like to:
`
`:
`
`1) Reduce the picture resolution (now 160x240)? ~
`(2) Pay an additional charge of $0.03/min?
`:
`(3) Receive the audio portion in monaural sound ?
`
`Click to select 1
`
`Click to select 2
`
`Click to select 3
`
`i
`
`--- -- - ----- ------ -- ----- -- --- ----------- ---- --------------------------- ------------- _______________ .J
`
`2:50PM
`
`) 531
`
`500
`
`532
`
`533
`
`FIG. 5
`
`522
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`0 .....
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`-....J
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 9
`
`

`
`600
`
`610
`
`START
`
`612 ~ J
`
`Receive identification information
`from access device
`
`614
`
`616
`
`618
`
`Receive information indicating
`multimedia compatibility from
`access device
`
`Accept request for multimedia
`information
`
`Determine format of requested
`multimedia information
`
`620
`
`622
`
`NO
`
`Convert format of requested
`multimedia information to be
`compatible with access device
`
`624
`
`Transfer multimedia information
`
`FIG. 6
`
`626
`
`END
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`.i;...
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`
`('D
`('D
`
`QO
`
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 10
`
`

`
`700
`
`710~
`
`712
`
`714
`
`716
`
`718
`
`Receive identification information
`from access device
`
`Receive information indicating
`multimedia compatibility from
`access device
`
`Accept request for multimedia
`information
`
`Determine format of requested
`multimedia information
`
`720
`
`NO
`
`Notify user and offer conversion to
`other possible compatible formats
`
`YES
`
`724
`
`User selects format
`
`Convert format of requested
`multimedia information to be
`compatible with access device
`
`FIG. 7
`
`728
`
`Transfer multimedia information
`
`730~
`
`~
`00 .
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`c ('D
`
`~
`~v::i
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`.i;...
`
`722
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`v::i
`0 .....
`v::i
`
`d
`rJl
`00
`
`\c = 00 °" \C
`\C = N
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 11
`
`

`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`1
`PROVIDING AUTOMATIC FORMAT
`CONVERSION VIA AN ACCESS GATEWAY IN
`A HOME
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`10
`
`The present application makes reference to, claims priority
`to, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
`Ser. No. 60/563,894, entitled "Method And System For Han(cid:173)
`dling And Backhauling Traffic From A Wired And/Or Wire(cid:173)
`less WAN, LAN, And/Or PAN Using A Broadband Access
`Gateway", filed Apr. 16, 2004, the complete subject matter of
`which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its
`entirety.
`The present application makes reference to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/021,294, entitled "Method And Sys(cid:173)
`tem For Extended Network Access Services Advertising Via
`A Broadband Access Gateway", filed Dec. 23, 2004, the
`complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated
`herein by reference, in its entirety.
`The present application also makes reference to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/039,020, entitled "Method And Sys(cid:173)
`tem For Providing Registration, Authentication, And Access
`Via A Broadband Access Gateway", filed Jan. 18, 2005, the
`complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated 25
`herein by reference, in its entirety.
`The present application also makes reference to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/095,842, entitled "Registering Access
`Device Multimedia Content Via a Broadband Access Gate(cid:173)
`way", filed Mar. 30, 2005, the complete subject matter of 30
`which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its
`entirety.
`The present application also makes reference to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/095,188, entitled "Location-Aware
`Application Based Quality of Service (QoS) Via A Broad- 35
`band Access Gateway", filed Mar. 30, 2005, the complete
`subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by
`reference, in its entirety.
`
`2
`new handheld devices needed to provide increasing levels of
`mobile multimedia communication functionality.
`Although the formation of alliances and partnerships
`between cellular service providers and landline service pro(cid:173)
`viders may help to ward off competition, such alliances and
`partnerships are faced with other problems. For example, the
`erection of cellular infrastructure such as cellular towers may
`be an expensive venture since this may require acquisition of
`real estate, whether in the form of outright purchases or
`through leasing. Cellular infrastructure also requires the
`establishment of one or more expensive backbone links to
`handle core network traffic. Another cellular-related problem
`is that the cellular signals do not penetrate and propagate in
`15 buildings such as homes and offices very well. This is espe(cid:173)
`cially true with the frequencies that are typically utilized in
`the United States, which may vary between 800 MHz and
`1900 MHz or 1.9 GHz.
`The use of digital media is growing at an extremely rapid
`20 pace. Most consumers today have a variety of devices that
`gather, store, process, generate, communicate, play back,
`and/or display information electronically, in a digital form.
`Examples of such devices include digital still and video cam-
`eras, personal digital assistants (PDAs ), laptop and desktop
`personal computer (PC) systems, video cassette recorders
`(VCRs), personal video recorders (PVRs), document and
`photo scanners, digital and high definition television sets,
`stereo audio equipment, and mobile multimedia handsets, to
`name only a few. Access to streaming (real-time) multimedia
`programming generally requires that the user be aware of the
`capabilities of the device being used for access, and may
`require that the user specifically access multimedia informa(cid:173)
`tion content that has been prepared with the capabilities of the
`access device in mind.
`Multimedia information may be encoded and transferred
`using a number of protocols and formats. The standards used
`for the encoding and storage of multimedia information have
`proliferated, and a consumer now has the daunting task of
`40 finding ways to enjoy multimedia content in formats for
`which they do not have compatible equipment. Encoding and
`transmission protocols are being promulgated by a variety of
`manufacturers of hardware and software products. Due to
`business strategies, competing manufacturers frequently do
`45 not support standards originated by others. This may place the
`consumer in the uncomfortable and frustrating position in
`which they are unable to exchange electronic imagery and
`audio with their entire collection of family and friends. Some
`software tools do exist that enable the conversion between
`50 multimedia formats, but the complexities of their use may act
`as an impediment to many consumers who may otherwise be
`able to navigate the use of digital multimedia equipment such
`as video cameras and audio devices.
`Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
`55 traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in
`the art, through comparison of such systems with some
`aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of
`the present application with reference to the drawings.
`
`FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR
`DEVELOPMENT
`
`[Not Applicable]
`
`MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
`
`[Not Applicable]
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`One major common problem faced by cellular and landline
`service providers is market competition. In today's climate of
`competitive markets, cellular service providers have found
`that one way for them to grow market share and defend their
`businesses is to be proactive and form alliances, and to partner
`with landline service providers. In addition, cellular service
`providers seek to differentiate their service offerings, and to
`capture the largest portion of market revenue by meeting an
`ever increasing demand for access to a wide range of media
`forms such as MP3 encoded audio, still and video imaging, 60
`data, instant messaging, and email. In a similar manner, the
`landline service providers have found that to grow market
`share and ward off competition, they too must be proactive
`and form alliances, and to partner with cellular service pro(cid:173)
`viders. Support for broad economical access to these converg- 65
`ing forms of communication is needed to enable unfettered
`market growth, and to support the development and use of
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A system and method providing automatic format conver(cid:173)
`sion of multimedia information, substantially as shown in
`and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures,
`as set forth more completely in the claims.
`These and other advantages, aspects, and novel features of
`the present invention, as well as details of illustrated embodi-
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 12
`
`

`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`3
`ments, thereof, will be more fully understood from the fol(cid:173)
`lowing description and drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF
`THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`tion content, depending upon the nature of the multimedia
`information, the access device used for media consumption,
`and the communications path used by the access device. The
`management of quality of service may be performed by a
`broadband access gateway that may permit broadband net(cid:173)
`work access via, for example, a personal cellular microcell, a
`personal area network (PAN), a wired or wireless wide area
`network (WAN), wireless local area network (WLAN) or
`other type of network located within a premises such as, for
`10 example, a home, office, business, or the like. Services that
`may be available via such a broadband gateway connection
`include, for example, access to the public switched telephone
`network (PSTN); Internet protocol (IP) phone access;
`extended access to commercial cellular and PCS networks
`such as, for example, TDMA, CDMA, and GSM; and access
`to and/or control of a variety of multimedia access devices or
`networked resources capable of providing streams of images,
`still pictures, video, and audio; to name only a few. Examples
`of multimedia information include streaming video, broad-
`cast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized
`still images, digitized video, and digitized music. The merg-
`ing of these various types of networks may enable transparent
`communication of all types of media between access devices,
`which may be coupled in a wired or wireless fashion to one or
`25 more of these networks. In an embodiment of the present
`invention, access to services available through a wireless
`broadband gateway may be simplified, permitting theiruse by
`a wider group of users of access devices in, for example,
`homes, offices, and businesses.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of an
`exemplary communications system in which a representative
`embodiment of the present invention may be practiced. Refer(cid:173)
`ring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first location 102, a second
`location 104, a broadband access provider (BAP) 106, public
`35 switched telephone network (PSTN) 108, a transport network
`110, wireless networks including CDMA network 112 and
`GSM network 114, and access devices 126and128. The first
`location 102 comprises a gateway 118 having a modem 116,
`a wireless interface(s) block 120, and the access devices 122,
`40 124. The access devices 122, 124, 126, 128 may comprise, for
`example, a mobile multimedia handset having a high level of
`functionality such as, for example, that of one or more of a
`digital video or still camera, a portable audio (MP3) player, a
`personal digital assistant, and a voice handset. The access
`45 devices 122, 124, 126, 128 may be capable of operating using,
`for example, a personal area network and/or wireless local
`area network compliant with, for example, Bluetooth, IEEE
`802.11 a/b/g/n, and/or IEEE 802.15.3a ultra-wideband stan(cid:173)
`dards. The second location 104 comprises a router 130 having
`50 a modem 132, and a plurality of wireless access devices. The
`plurality of wireless access devices at the second location 104
`may comprise a personal computer (PC) 138, a laptop 136
`and a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) 134. A periph(cid:173)
`eral such as a digital camera 142 may be coupled to the
`55 personal computer 138. Other peripherals such as printers,
`digital scarmers, speakers, and the like, which are not shown,
`may also be coupled to the personal computer 138 and/or
`laptop 136. The wireless interface block 120 may comprise a
`plurality of interfaces such as a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE
`60 802.15.3a ultra-wideband interface, and any combination of
`an IEEE 802.11 a, b, g and/or n interface.
`FIG. 1 also comprises an "other broadband access pro(cid:173)
`vider" block 144, an "other cellular/PCS service provider"
`block 146, a central control and management block 148, and
`65 content provider 150. The "other broadband access provider
`block 144" may be, for example, a cable, DSL, or other type
`of broadband access provider. The central control and man-
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of an
`exemplary communications system in which a representative
`embodiment of the present invention may be practiced.
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
`communication system, in accordance with a representative
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3A is a block diagram ofa portion of the communi(cid:173)
`cation system of FIG. 2, showing an exemplary broadband
`access gateway that may correspond, for example, to the 15
`gateway of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the gateway supports
`automatic format conversion of multimedia information, in
`accordance with a representative embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a portion of the communi- 20
`cation system of FIG. 2, showing an exemplary broadband
`access gateway that may correspond, for example, to the
`gateway of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the gateway supports
`automatic format conversion of multimedia information
`using quality of service information, in accordance with a
`representative embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3C is a block diagram of a portion of the communi(cid:173)
`cation system of FIG. 2, showing an exemplary broadband
`access gateway that may correspond, for example, to the
`gateway of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the broadband access 30
`gateway support digital rights management based conversion
`of multimedia information, in accordance with a representa(cid:173)
`tive embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 shows exemplary quality of service setup informa(cid:173)
`tion within a display area of an access device that may corre(cid:173)
`spond, for example, to the access device or the wireless PDA
`ofFIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with a representative embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 shows an exemplary pop-up message in the display
`area of an access device that may correspond, for example, to
`the access device or the wireless PDA of FIGS. 1 and 2, in
`accordance with a representative embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating
`a broadband access gateway that may correspond, for
`example, to the gateway or the router of FIGS. 1 and 2, in
`which the gateway supports automatic format conversion of
`multimedia information, in accordance with a representative
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating
`a broadband access gateway that may correspond, for
`example, to the gateway or the router of FIGS. I and 2, in
`which the gateway supports automatic format conversion of
`multimedia information and notification of a user, in accor(cid:173)
`dance with a representative embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Aspects of the present invention relate to the seamless
`merging of wide area networks, from any kind of wired and/or
`wireless wide area networks, to pockets of wired and/or wire(cid:173)
`less local area networks and personal area networks, which
`may be located in homes or other environment such as an
`office or business. More specifically, aspects of the present
`invention relate to automatic management of the quality of
`service (QoS) provided a user accessing multimedia informa-
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 13
`
`

`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`5
`agement block 148 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry
`and/or code that may be adapted to handle content delivery
`and security functions such as authentication, validation, key
`or certificate management, and authorization. The central
`control and management block 148 may also be adapted to
`handle provisioning and service management. In a represen(cid:173)
`tative embodiment of the present invention, the central con(cid:173)
`trol and management block 148 may establish communica(cid:173)
`tions links with, for example, the gateway 118, the broadband
`access provider 106, the other broadband access provider
`144, the other cellular/PCS service provider 146, the CDMA
`network 112, and the GSM network 114 using actual or
`virtual connections.
`The broadband access provider 106 may be, for example, a
`cable operator, telephone company, or satellite operator pro- 15
`viding Internet access along with other communication ser(cid:173)
`vices. In instances where BAP 106 is a telephone company,
`broadband service to locations 102, 104 may be provided via
`DSL or other broadband access technology. Accordingly, the
`modems 116, 132 may be DSL modems. In instances where 20
`BAP 106 is a cable operator, broadband service to locations
`102, 104 may be provided via cable. Accordingly, the
`modems 116, 132 may be DOCS IS compliant orother type of
`cable modem. Given the rapid decrease in the cost of leased
`telephone lines over the past decade or more, the connection 25
`to the location 102, 104 may also be Tl orT3 connections. For
`example, a switch located at a central office (CO) (not shown)
`may be utilized to couple a Tl or T3 connection between the
`second location 104 and the PSTN 108.
`The gateway 118 may comprise an integrated DSL modem,
`cable modem or other high-speed modem that may be
`required for handling a connection such as a Tl or T3 con(cid:173)
`nection. Alternatively, the gateway 118 may be coupled to an
`external DSL modem, cable modem or other high-speed
`modem that may be capable of handling connections such as
`a Tl or a T3 connection. The gateway 118 may be adapted so
`that it has access to protocol stack information that may be
`related to the GSM and/or CDMA networks 114, 112, respec(cid:173)
`tively. The gateway 118 may also be adapted to provide
`protocol support for communication with "other cellular/PCS
`service provider" block 146.
`Each of the CDMA and GSM networks 112, 114 may
`comprise a plurality of cell sites ( a/k/a cellular towers) that
`are located in geographical cells within each of the networks.
`Within the GSM network 114, each of the cell sites such as, 45
`for example, cell site 114a may comprise a base transceiver
`station (BTS), and one or more base transceiver stations
`(BTSs) may be coupled to wireless carrier central office 114b.
`The wireless carrier central office 114b may comprise a base
`station controller/radio network controller (BSC/RNC) such 50
`as BSC/RNC 114d. One or more base station controllers/
`radio network controllers (BSCs/RNCs) may be coupled to
`the core network 114e, that comprises a network edge switch
`called a mobile switching center (MSC), such as MSC 114g,
`and a serving GPRS support node (SGSN)/packet data serv(cid:173)
`ing node (PDSN) 114{, of the GSM network 114. The mobile
`switching center may be coupled to, for example, the PSTN
`108 via the transport network 110. As an access device moves
`out of range of a first cell site to within range of a second cell
`site, the decrease signal power received from the first cell site 60
`and the increase in signal power received from the second cell
`site causes initiation ofhandoff of a call from the first cell site
`to the second cell site. In cases where there is no second cell
`site to handoffto, the call may be maintained by the first cell
`site power until it is attenuated to a threshold where it is no
`longer feasible to maintain the call. At the point where the
`power reaches or falls below this threshold, the call may drop
`
`6
`and any related call resources may be relinquished. In a home
`and/or office environment, it may be desirable to have a
`second network to which the call may be handed off to.
`As an illustration, a user may be on their way home and as
`the user approaches their home, the signal may fall below a
`minimum signal power threshold that is required to maintain
`a call. However, instead of dropping the call, the call may be
`handed off to, for example, a PAN or a wireless local area
`network (WLAN) that may be located within the user's home
`10 or an unlicensed wireless access system that may be located in
`the user's home. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, as
`access device 126 migrates from the vicinity of the serving
`cell site 114a in GSM network 114 towards the wireless
`interface 120 in the first location 102, the call may be handed
`off from the cell site 114a GSM network 114 to the wireless
`interface 120 coupled to the gateway (GW) 118 at the first
`location 102. Accordingly, instead of the call being dropped,
`the call has been seamlessly handed off and is now being
`handled by the gateway 118 via the wireless interface 120.
`The resulting wireless data may then be communicated to the
`GSM network 114 via the broadband connection to the BAP
`106 which is connected to the broadband wireless local area
`network controller (BWC) 114c.
`In this illustration, the user is handed off to their PAN,
`WLAN, or other network located within their home. How(cid:173)
`ever, the user could also have been handed off to another
`network system such as a neighbor's network. In any case, a
`gateway coupled to the wireless interface which is providing
`service to the user may communicate at least a portion of the
`30 data to, for example, the cable or DSL BAP 106, the GSM
`network 114, CDMA network 112, other broadband access
`service provider 144, other cellular/PCS service provider 146
`and central control andmanagement block 148. The user may
`be provided with a notification that indicates the presence of
`35 the PAN, WLAN, or other unlicensed network. For example,
`an icon representative of a personal area network may be
`displayed on the screen of the access device 126 once a soft or
`hard handoff is achieved from a serving cell site in GSM
`network 114 to the wireless interface 120 at the first location
`40 102.A special tone or other audio alert may also be utilized to
`indicate that the call has switched to the wireless interface
`120.
`In instances where the gateway 118 detects a compatible
`access device that may be within the range of the wireless
`interface 120, the gateway 118 may immediately advertise its
`available services to the access device. In this regard, the
`gateway 118 may be adapted to transmit service advertise(cid:173)
`ments to the access device in order to alert a user of the access
`device of the types of services that are being offered by the
`gateway 118. Signals containing icons representative of the
`services may be transmitted to and displayed on a screen of
`the access device and/or audio alerts may be utilized to notify
`the user of these services.
`In another embodiment of the invention, quality of service
`55 (QoS) may also be advertised by the gateway 118. For
`example, when a user is being serviced by the wireless inter(cid:173)
`face 120, the gateway 118 may advertise that stereo audio is
`available.
`Access devices may be pre-registered so that when they are
`within the range of the wireless interface 120, the gateway
`118 may automatically recognize them. For the pre-registra(cid:173)
`tion, an administrator of the gateway 118 at the first location
`102 may register access devices that are allowed to access the
`gateway 118 when they are within the range of the wireless
`interface 120. Pre-registration may be done prior to the access
`device accessing the gateway 118. During pre-registration, an
`administrator or owner of the gateway 118 may enter regis-
`
`65
`
`DISH, Exh. 1006, p. 14
`
`

`
`US 8,908,699 B2
`
`7
`tration or configuration information such as device IDs of
`access devices belonging to friends and/or family member's
`into a registration database associated with the gateway 118.
`As a result, these devices will be allowed to access at least a
`portion of the services offered by the gateway 118 whenever
`they attempt to access the gateway 118 by pressing a single
`button, for example. Opportunistic registration permits a user
`of an access device to register with the gateway 118 automati(cid:173)
`cally with little or no effort on the part of the user. In this
`regard, registration information may be sent to the gateway
`118 from an access device during an initial access and the
`gateway 118 may chose to accept or deny the registration. The
`registration information may be automatically or manually
`sent to the gateway 118.
`In certain instances, an access device may not have been
`pre-registered to access the network. In this case, one button
`access may be provided. A single button such as a hard coded
`button or software-enabled button on an access device may be
`programmed to transmit identifying information from the
`access device to the gateway 118. The gateway 118 may
`utilize this transmitted identifying information to grant or
`deny access to its services. For example, one button may be
`programmed to contain access device identifying information
`related to accessing the services provided by gateway 118 at
`the first location 102. The gateway 118 may also be adapted to
`utilize digital certificates to authenticate access devices.
`An interactive process may also be provided, whereby the
`gateway 118 may prompt or request particu