(12) United States Patent
`Gerszberg et al.
`
`USOO6452923B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,452,923 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`(54) CABLE CONNECTED WAN
`INTERCONNECTIVITY SERVICES FOR
`CORPORATE TELECOMMUTERS
`
`(75) Inventors: Irwin Gerszberg, Kendell Park; Jeffrey
`S. Martin, Dover; Philip Andrew
`Treventi, Murray Hill; Hopeton S.
`Walker, Haledon; Edward L. Wallace,
`South Orange, all of NJ (US)
`(73) Assignee: AT&T Corp, New York, NY (US)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/224,288
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 31, 1998
`7
`(51) Int. Cl." ............................. H04L 12/66; HO4J 3/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 370/352; 370/466; 370/468;
`379/11421
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/230, 235,
`370/270, 276, 352, 389, 400, 401, 466,
`468, 467; 725/31, 82, 103, 114; 379/219,
`114.03, 11405, 114.21; 707/250, 220, 229;
`705/8, 9, 10
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,654.868 A 3/1987 Shelley
`5,475,740 A 12/1995 Biggs, Jr. et al.
`5,610,910 A 3/1997 Focsaneanu et al.
`5,758,288 A 5/1998 Dunn et al.
`5,774,802. A
`6/1998 Tell et al.
`5,953,344 A * 9/1999 Dail et al. .................. 370/443
`5.999,207 A 12/1999 Rodriguez et al.
`
`5.999,612 A * 12/1999 Dunn et al. ................. 379/212
`6,012,100 A * 1/2000 Frailong et al. ............ 709/250
`6,026,158 A 2/2000 Bayless et al.
`6,028,918 A
`2/2000 Lehmacher et al. ........ 379/114
`6,240,091 B1 * 5/2001 Ginzaboorg et al. ........ 370/401
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Alpus H. Hsu
`ASSistant Examiner-Duc Ho
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A twisted pair and/or coaxial cable fed, integrated residence
`gateway controlled set-top device provides a plurality of
`services. One service is lifeline service which may be
`provided over the coaxial cable via a cable modem of the
`integrated residence gatewav or over the twisted pair facilitv.
`An Red E. es is coupled to R O
`of the coaxial cable or twisted pair and distributes the
`bandwidth facilities available over either service vehicle to
`customer devices including a Set top box. For corporate
`telecommuters who work from home, a greater variety of
`services is available. The greater bandwidth of the cable
`network allows for the faster eXchange of information
`between home and office, allowing the employee working at
`home to function as if he or she were actually at the office.
`Individual pieces of equipment connected to the telecom
`muter's home may be addressed, So that phone and message
`forwarding may be properly forwarded to the telecommut
`er's home. Dynamic allocation of the bandwidth available
`O the cable network allows cable head ends to provide
`multiple tiers, or levels, of Service Such that the higher
`service tiers are less likely to lose bandwidth when traffic
`increases. Advanced billing options automatically bill the
`employer for costs associated with telephone calls placed
`from the telecommuter's home.
`
`13 Claims, 34 Drawing Sheets
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 34
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
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`Sheet 4 of 34
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`FIG. 1D
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 8 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
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`FIG. 3B
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`US. Patent
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`Sep.17,2002
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 10 of 34
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`186
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
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`Sheet 11 of 34
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 12 of 34
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`FIG EA
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
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`Sheet 17 of 34
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 17, 2002
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`US 6,452,923 B1
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`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 20 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.17,2002
`
`Sheet 21 of 34
`Sheet21 0f34
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`US 6,452,923 B1
`US 6,452,923 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 22 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG 16
`
`
`
`AC OR DC POWER
`
`INTELLIGENT
`SERVICES
`DIRECTOR (ISD) (IRG)
`
`
`
`
`
`SET TOP
`DEVICE
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`131
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`DEVICE
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`TSE/ COAXIAL M
`PAIRS / CABLE
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`VIDEO
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`AND SCREEN
`DISPLAYS
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`22
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`4.08
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`
`
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`402
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`410
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`RF
`
`TUNER/MPEG
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`TRANSMITTER
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`IR
`RECEIVER
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`RF
`ANTENNA
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`422
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`414
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`132
`
`23
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 23 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 17
`
`
`
`FIG. 18
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 24 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`222
`in
`
`ANTENNA
`
`508
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`USER
`INTERFACE
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`516
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`RECEIVER
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`TRANSMITTERS
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`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
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`506
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`25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 25 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`
`
`900
`
`FIG. 21
`VIDEO PHONE
`
`800 PAGES
`
`WHITE PAGES
`
`YELLOWPAGES
`
`902
`
`CASH S
`OPERATOR
`CUSTOMER
`COUPON
`SERVICES
`CARE
`E-MAIL N--
`910
`
`26
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 26 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`800
`
`FIG. 22
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INCOMING CALL
`
`804
`
`WOL
`TV
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`
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`912
`1
`
`808
`CALLER WIDEO y
`810
`PHONE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`802
`
`CALLER ID
`
`STORE
`NUMBER
`
`FIG. 23
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`820
`
`OUTGOING CALL
`
`WOL
`TV
`
`822N-CALL
`DURATION
`
`VIDEO OF
`RECIPIENT
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`24
`PHONE
`
`826
`
`
`
`NUMBER DIALED
`
`DIRECTORY
`
`RESPONSE TO ADVERTISING
`
`FIG. 24
`
`ADVERTISEMENT
`
`832
`
`NUMBER TO CALL
`
`27
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`pS
`
`72
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`US 6,452,923 B1
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 28 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 26
`
`CABLE NETWORK ADDRESS
`
`LOCAL ADDRESS
`
`SENDER ADDRESS INFO
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 27
`
`CPE
`WORK PHONE
`WORK FAX
`WORK COMPUTER
`PERSONAL COMPUTER
`
`CODE
`10
`20
`30
`40
`
`29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 29 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 2BA
`
`FIG. 2BB
`
`FIG. 2BC
`
`FIG. 2BD
`
`30
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 30 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`
`
`Third Party Billing:
`x 1) ACMe (215) 555-1234
`2) Bob Jones (310) 555-3333
`
`3) Other
`
`REVERSE
`CHARGES
`
`BILL THIRD
`PARTY
`
`2906
`
`31
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 31 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 30
`
`EMPLOYEE PRESSES
`"BILL3RD PARTY
`
`3001
`
`
`
`
`
`IRG SENDS PACKET
`TO HEAD END
`
`3002
`
`
`
`3004
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`HAS
`CALLED PARTY
`AGREED TO PAY FOR
`CALLS FROM THIS
`IRG?
`
`BILL COSTS OF
`CALL TO EMPLOYER
`
`
`
`BILL COSTS OF
`CALL TO EMPLOYEE
`
`3005
`
`32
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 32 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`
`
`?E
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 33 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 32
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCOUnt Report
`Date
`Time
`12121
`11:13
`1212
`12:30
`12122
`1:00
`
`x
`
`2124
`12125
`
`2:47
`3:30
`
`Connection TO
`(2O2)555-4321
`(202) 555-4532
`(301) 555-4403
`Cable Network CPE
`(301) 555-1223
`(101) 555-0988
`
`Duration (Min.)
`21.2
`0.3
`10.4
`
`1.0
`7.3
`
`REVERSE CHARGE |
`
`BILL THIRD PARTY
`
`EXIT
`
`
`
`3203
`
`3204
`
`3205
`
`/\-3202
`
`34
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2002
`
`Sheet 34 of 34
`
`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`FIG. 33
`
`EMPLOYEE
`PRESSES "BILL
`THIRD PARTY"
`
`3301
`
`EMPLOYEE IDENTIFIES-330°
`PARTY TO BE BILLED
`
`IRG SENDS PACKET / 330
`TO HEAD END
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3305
`
`YES
`
`HAS
`THE PARTY TO
`BE BILLED AGREED
`TO PAY FOR SUCH
`CALLS
`
`
`
`BILL COSTS OF CALL
`TO THIRD PARTY
`
`
`
`
`
`BILL COSTS OF
`CALL TO EMPLOYEE
`
`3306
`
`35
`
`

`

`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`1
`CABLE CONNECTED WAN
`INTERCONNECTIVITY SERVICES FOR
`CORPORATE TELECOMMUTERS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates generally to telephone communica
`tion Systems and, more particularly, to a local house or
`feeder to a house network architecture using a hybrid optical
`fiber and twisted pair and/or coaxial cable connected mul
`tiplexing device. The invention relates more specifically to
`a System and method for providing additional Services and
`Security for governments, corporations, law firms, and oth
`ers who employ individuals wishing to conduct busineSS
`from home.
`
`15
`
`2
`“ISD Wireless Network”, it was suggested to provide a
`wireleSS integrated Service director for communicating with
`wireless subscriber apparatus. Also, from other U.S. Patent
`applications, for example, in “Circuit-Switched Switching
`System” U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,370, issued Nov. 2, 1999, it is
`known to provide Satellite or other wireleSS connections
`directly to the local Subscriber, thus bypassing the local
`network and the local telephone company.
`Yet another opportunity for bypassing the local telephone
`company is the provision of telecommunications Services
`over known coaxial cable or hybrid optical fiber coaxial
`cable television transmission Systems utilizing cable televi
`Sion spectrum in the downstream (toward the Subscriber)
`and upstream (toward the cable television headend) paths for
`Such Services. For example, Times Warner has been experi
`menting with the provision of telecommunications Services
`to and among cable television Service Subscribers in various
`geographic regions of the country with marginal Success.
`AS part of this System, there is a need for improved
`architectures, Services and equipment utilized to distinguish
`the interexchange companies products and Services.
`Additionally, the previous dependence on local telephone
`eXchanges for communication connectivity is a hinderance
`to employees who work from home, or “telecommuter'.
`Typically, an employee's telephone Service is connected via
`a twisted pair connection, which offers limited bandwidth
`and places dependence upon the telephone companies. The
`telephone company “middleman' and limited bandwidth
`Significantly reduce the amount of data that can be trans
`mitted to the employee at any one time, and as Such, it is
`impossible for the employee at home to function with the
`Same efficiency as at work. Therefore, there is a need for
`connectivity between a user (i.e., an employee) and an
`external Server (i.e., an office server) that can provide greater
`bandwidth for a more Seamless connection between home
`and office. With the greater bandwidth, it would be possible
`to offer the employee numerous Services that would allow
`the employee to function as if he or she were located at the
`office.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In order to provide an improved network, it is desirable
`for the interexchange companies to have access to at least
`one of the twisted-pair lines, coaxial cable, hybrid fiber
`facilities with either twisted pair or coaxial cable or alternate
`wireleSS facility connecting each of the individual users to
`the local cable television or toll telephone or hybrid network
`before the lines are routed through the conventional local
`telephone network equipment. It is preferable to have access
`to these lines in a manner Such that the interexchange
`companies can offer customized Services Such that the
`companies may differentiate their Services. For example, an
`interexchange company may provide higher bandwidth,
`improved capabilities of the customer premises equipment,
`and lowered overall System costs to the customer by pro
`Viding competitive Service alternatives.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the interex
`change carrier may obtain access to the coaxial cable feed
`ing Subscribers to existing cable television Services, for
`example, at a Subscriber tap, in and/or after a fiber/coaxial
`cable hub or node in a hybrid fiber coaxial cable television
`distribution plant. Alternatively, the interexchange carrier
`may ultimately provide Services via the optical fiber leaving
`the cable television headend. The cable television set top
`terminal may comprise a telecommunications apparatus
`plain old telephone Services, high Speed Internet Services,
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND
`AS deregulation of the telephone industry continues and
`as companies prepare to enter the local telephone acceSS
`market, there is a need to offer new and innovative, high
`bandwidth Services that distinguish common carriers from
`their competitors. This cannot be accomplished without
`introducing new local access network architectures that will
`be able to Support these new and innovative Services.
`Conventionally, customer premises telephone and/or data
`connections contain splitters for Separating analog voice
`calls from other data Services Such as Ethernet transported
`over digital subscriber line (DSL) modems. Voice band data
`and Voice Signals are Sent through a communications Switch
`in a central or local office to an interexchange carrier or
`Internet Service provider. DSL data is sent through a digital
`subscriber loop asynchronous mode (DSLAM) switch
`which may include a router. The DSLAM Switch connects
`many lines and routes the digital data to a telephone com
`pany's digital Switch.
`35
`A major problem with this configuration is that interex
`change carriers attempting to penetrate the local telephone
`company's territory must lease trunk lines from the local
`telephone company Switch to the interexchange carrier com
`pany's network for digital traffic. Furthermore, the Internet
`40
`Service provider must lease a modem from the local phone
`company in the DSLAM switch and route its data through
`the local phone company's digital Switch. Thus, the local
`phone company leases and/or provides a significant amount
`of equipment, driving up the cost of entry for any other
`company trying to provide local telephone Services and
`making it difficult for the interexchange companies to dif
`ferentiate their services. Furthermore, since DSL modem
`technology is not Standardized, in order to ensure
`compatibility, the DSL modem provided by the local tele
`phone company must also be provided to the end user in the
`customer premises equipment (CPE). Additionally, since the
`network is not completely controlled by the interexchange
`companies, it is difficult for the interexchange companies to
`provide data at committed delivery rates. Any performance
`improvements implemented by the interexchange compa
`nies may not be realized by their customers, because the
`capabilities of the local telephone company equipment may
`or may not meet their performance needs. Thus, it is difficult
`for the interexchange companies to convince potential cus
`tomers to Switch to their equipment or to use their Services.
`These factors ensure the continued market presence of the
`local telephone company.
`Another opportunity is for the interexchange carrier to
`employ wireleSS means of reaching the local telecommuni
`cations Service Subscriber. In copending U.S. patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 09/001,363, filed Dec. 31, 1997, entitled
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`36
`
`

`

`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`3
`Video conference Services, directory Services, multimedia
`Services or other digital Services depending on Subscriber
`requirements and capabilities. Alternatively, a separate cable
`modem connected intelligent terminal may provide these
`Services and capabilities.
`A new architecture for providing Such Services may utilize
`a Video phone and/or other devices to provide new Services
`to an end user; a residence gateway which may be an
`integrated residence gateway (IRG) disposed near the cus
`tomer's premises for multiplexing and coordinating many
`digital Services onto a single twisted-pair line or coaxial
`cable (or both); a cable facilities management platform
`(C-FMP) disposed remote from or in the local telephone
`network's central office, the Subscriber loop or the coaxial
`cable distribution plant for routing data to an appropriate
`interexchange company network, and a network Server
`platform (NSP) coupled to the C-FMP for providing new
`and innovative Services to the customer and for distinguish
`ing Services provided by the interexchange companies from
`those Services provided by the local telephone network.
`Aspects of the invention is the greater array of features
`available to the employee who wishes to work from home.
`By using a cable network connection, it is possible for the
`employee to bypass the local telephone exchange in con
`necting to the office Server, as well as take advantage of the
`greater bandwidth available on the cable network. Dynamic
`allocation of the bandwidth on the cable network provides
`greater flexibility in the range of services offered by the head
`end, and may allow corporate telecommuters to purchase
`guaranteed bandwidth to ensure a quality connection even
`during peak periods of use. The System used to implement
`and control this available bandwidth also allows for a new
`and exciting variety of services which will allow the tele
`commuters to more Seamlessly work from home. Such
`Services include individual addressability of pieces of equip
`ment connected to the telecommuters's home, call and
`message forwarding to Specific pieces of equipment, and
`automatic billing So that costs incurred while working from
`home are automatically billed to the employer.
`While an exemplary cable architecture is shown, it will be
`understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the
`embodiments disclosed in this application and the other
`applications herein incorporated by reference. Modifications
`may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light
`of the teachings contained herein. It is, therefore, intended
`that the appended claims cover any Such modifications
`which incorporate the features of these invention or encom
`pass the true Spirit and Scope of the invention. For example,
`each of the elements and/or Steps of described in the
`aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in
`combination with other elements and/or Steps from other
`embodiments.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The foregoing Summary of the invention, as well as the
`following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is
`better understood when read in conjunction with the accom
`panying drawings, which are included by way of example,
`and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed
`invention.
`FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of a hybrid fiber
`twisted pair local loop architecture.
`FIG. 1B illustrates alternative arrangements wherein an
`interexchange carrier may access a Subscriber premises via
`an inter-exchange carrier owned or another cable television
`company.
`
`4
`FIG. 1C illustrates an embodiment of FIG. 1B where an
`integrated residence gateway and coaxial cable facilities
`management platform (C-FMP) provide enhanced residence
`services via hybrid fiber coaxial cable distribution plant
`CCCSS.
`FIG. 1D illustrates an embodiment of a hybrid fiber
`coaxial cable local loop architecture that shows when the
`C-FMP may connect within the architecture of FIG. 1B or
`FIG. 1 C.
`FIG. 1E illustrates an expanded view of a residence
`architecture for enhanced CATV/telephony services.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an
`integrated residence gateway consistent with the architec
`ture shown in FIG.'s 1A through 1E.
`FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of a video
`phone consistent with the architecture shown in FIG. 1A
`through 1E.
`FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an embodiment of a
`facilities management platform consistent with the architec
`ture shown in FIG. 1A through 1E.
`FIG. 4B illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of
`a network Server platform consistent with the architecture
`shown in FIG. 1A through 1E.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the
`ISD/IRG.
`FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams of various frame
`Structures which may be used to communicate between the
`ISD/IRG and the FMP/C-FMP.
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are examples of one signaling structure
`which may be used to initiate a call.
`FIGS. 8-10 are various embodiments of the ISD/IRG.
`FIG. 11 is an example of one protocol stack for use with
`the ISD/IRD.
`FIG. 12 is a one exemplary embodiment of a form factor
`for the ISD/IRG.
`FIG. 13 is an exemplary embodiment of a local house
`network using the ISD/IRG.
`FIGS. 14, 15A, 15B show various implementations of
`tunneling for use with the ISD/IRG.
`FIG. 16 shows a plurality of ISD/IRG connected settops
`in a network 500, the ISD/IRG being connected to either or
`both of a twisted pair or coaxial cable facility.
`FIGS. 17-18 show a remote control for use in the above
`Systems.
`FIG. 19 shows an exemplary architecture of a settop.
`FIG. 20 shows an exemplary architecture of a remote
`control.
`FIGS. 21-24 show exemplary architectures of video
`Screens output by a Settop.
`FIG. 25 shows an exemplary overall architecture on
`which corporate telecommuter features may be imple
`mented.
`FIG. 26 shows an example of a packet Structure for use on
`a cable network.
`FIG. 27 shows an example of a table of predefined
`categories of equipment connectable to the ISD/IRG.
`FIGS. 28a-d show exemplary bandwidth allocations that
`may be used with the ISD/IRG.
`FIG. 29 shows an exemplary telephone of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary
`process that occurs when the “Reverse Charges' button on
`the telephone in FIG. 29 is pressed.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`37
`
`

`

`US 6,452,923 B1
`
`S
`FIG. 31 shows an exemplary database entry for billing
`features.
`FIG. 32 shows an exemplary user interface for redirection
`of connection charges.
`FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary
`process that occurs when the “Bill 3rd Party” button on the
`telephone in FIG. 29 is pressed.
`
`6
`fiber-optic network) Such as an asynchronous transfer mode
`(ATM) switching network. The analog POTS data may be
`output directly to a public Switch telephone network (PSTN)
`46, and/or it may be digitized, routed through the high Speed
`backbone network, and then output to the PSTN 46. The
`digitization of the POTS data may occur in the ISD/IRG
`and/or elsewhere in the network Such as at the head-end. It
`may be preferable to digitize the data at the ISD/IRG 22,
`transmit the data over the connection 30 to the head-end,
`route the data to the appropriate port at the head-end, and
`then either directly or indirectly to a PSTN. In some con
`figurations it may be desirable to convert the data back to
`analog form before outputting it to the PSTN. However, by
`properly encoding the data, it is possible to configure the
`digital data such that it may be input directly into the PSTN
`network such as when telephony over ATM is utilized.
`AS will be discussed in connection with FIGS. 1 B-1E,
`alternate configurations of the above architectures are dis
`cussed particularly with regard to the applicability of the
`present architectures to hybrid fiber/twisted pair facilities is
`via hybrid fiber/coaxial cable facilities of a cable television
`Service provider. Such an arrangement may bypass the local
`Subscriber loop and the local telephone Switching central
`office or wire center 34 altogether. There are several varieties
`of hybrid fiber coaxial cable distribution facilities. In one
`embodiment, optical fiber is provided to curb, that is, the
`optical fiber reaches the Subscriber tap where from the tap,
`coaxial cable is “dropped' or provided via an underground
`pedestal to the customer premises. In another embodiment,
`fiber reaches an active amplifier chain for providing down
`Stream Services to Several thousand Subscribers, which may
`receive Service via fiber, twisted pair, and/or fiber intercon
`nections. In yet another embodiment, fiber reaches a plural
`ity of microcells of customer premises which can be served
`by passive (rather than active) devices. Referring briefly to
`FIGS. 1-C and 1-D, a cable facilities management platform
`(C-FMP) e.g., 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, in such alternative
`embodiments, may be located at the telephone central office,
`a cable television headend (as per FIG. 1-B) or in the cable
`television signal distribution plant, for example, at a fiber/
`coaX node, hub, or tap.
`Referring again to FIG. 1A, the FMP/C-FMP 32 may
`process data and/or analog/digitized Voice between cus
`tomer premise equipment (CPE) 10 and any number of
`networks. For example, the FMP/C-FMP 32 may be inter
`connected with a synchronous optical network (SONET) 42
`for interconnection to any number of additional networks
`such as an InterSpan backbone 48, the PSTN 46, a public
`Switch Switching network (e.g. call setup SS7-type network
`44), and/or a network server platform (NSP) 36.
`Alternatively, the FMP 32 may be directly connected to any
`of these networks. One or more FMPs 32 may be connected
`directly to the high speed backbone network (e.g., direct
`fiber connection with the SONET network 42) or they may
`be linked via a trunk line (e.g., trunks 40 or 42) to one or
`more additional networks. Similarly, referring to FIG. 1C,
`remote C-FMP 32-2, C-FMP 32-1 and a network server
`platform 36 may be connected to SONET, for example,
`using an OC48 ring 42 with ports 40 for connection to
`telephony out-of-band signaling SS7 network 44, ATM
`cloud 76 or Internet network 78, frame relay networks,
`interworked networks and/or other networks (not shown).
`In either FIG. 1A or FIG. 1C, the NSP36 may provide a
`massive cache Storage for various information that may be
`provided across the SONET net 42 to the FMP32 of C-FMP
`32-1 and out to the ISD/IRG 22 (FIG. 1A) or residential
`gateways 22-1 or 22-2 FIG. 1-B). The NSP 36 and the
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Referring to FIG. 1A, a first exemplary communication
`network architecture employing a hybrid fiber, twisted-pair
`(HFTP) local loop 1 architecture is shown. This network and
`an intelligent Service direct