111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007149474Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Mikhak
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,149,474 Bl
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`(54) WIRELESS CABLE REPLACEMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Alahyar Alan Mikhak, Calabasas, CA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1143 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/706,360
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 2, 2000
`(Under 37 CFR 1.47)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/236,374, filed on Sep.
`28, 2000, provisional application No. 60/236,222,
`filed on Sep. 28, 2000, provisional application No.
`60/163,399, filed on Nov. 4, 1999, provisional appli(cid:173)
`cation No. 60/163,171, filed on Nov. 2, 1999.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04B 7100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................. 455/41.2; 455/424; 455/426.2;
`455/557; 455/556.1; 370/259; 370/337
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 455/41.2,
`455/424, 445, 425, 500, 414.1, 426.2, 436,
`455/426.1; 370/346,466,436,401,330,
`370/337, 232; 375/222, 322, 133
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,259,891 B1 * 7/2001 Allen ........................ 455/3.02
`
`2002/0008145 A1 *
`1/2002 Walsh eta!. ........... 235/462.46
`2002/0073254 A1 * 6/2002 Bertsch ...................... 710/100
`2004/0057393 A1 * 3/2004 Bianchi et al.
`. ............ 370/312
`2004/0151212 A1 * 8/2004 Gerszberg eta!. .......... 370/535
`2004/0253924 A1 * 12/2004 Acampora ................. 455/41.2
`2005/0164684 A1 * 7/2005 Chen eta!. .............. 455/414.1
`2006/0129656 A1 * 6/2006 Cianciarulo eta!. ........ 709/217
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`wo
`wo
`
`0878936
`W098/49850
`W099/53680
`
`1111998
`1111998
`10/1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Haartsen J: "Bluetooth-The Universal Radio Interface for AD
`HOC, Wireless Connectivity" Ericsson Review, Ericsson,
`Stockholm, SE, No. 3, 1998, pp. 110-117, XP000783249 ISSN:
`0014-0171.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Temica Beamer
`Assistant Examiner-Joy Coutee
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McAndrews, Held &
`Malloy, Ltd.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireless cable replacement system. A personal area net(cid:173)
`work, comprising a device having a first wireless trans(cid:173)
`ceiver, and an adapter having a second wireless transceiver
`in communication with the first wireless transceiver, and a
`plug capable of mating to a jack coupled to a local backbone.
`
`82 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
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`Roku EX1023
`U.S. Patent No. 7,589,642
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
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`US 7,149,474 Bl
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`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 7,149,474 Bl
`US 7,149,474 B1
`
`
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`

`US 7,149,474 Bl
`
`1
`WIRELESS CABLE REPLACEMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application No. 60/163,171, filed Nov. 2, 1999; U.S.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/163,399, filed Nov. 4,
`1999; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/236,222,
`filed Sep. 28, 2000; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application
`No. 60/236,374, filed Sep. 28, 2000; the contents of which
`are hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A local-area network (LAN) is a group of computing and
`telecommunications devices which are
`interconnected
`through a physical medium to facilitate the sharing of
`applications, data and peripherals. Local-area networks are
`generally confined to a single building. Ethernet is an
`exemplary local-area network which has enjoyed consider(cid:173)
`able success in the office enviroument. Typically, an Ether(cid:173)
`net includes a local backbone with any number of access
`points to connect the computing and telecommunications
`devices. Each of these devices are wired to an access point
`using a coaxial cable that plugs into an Ethernet jack. The
`use of these cables to interconnect the computing and
`telecommunications devices is costly and labor intense.
`Accordingly, it would be desirable to connect a wide range
`of devices to a local area network easily and simply, without
`the need to purchase, store or connect cables. A wireless
`solution that readily interfaces with existing devices and
`local-area networks infrastructure would also be very con-
`venient.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`2
`In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a device
`dongle includes a plug capable of mating to a jack coupled
`to a device, an interface coupled to the plug, and a wireless
`transceiver coupled to the interface.
`In still a further aspect of the present invention, a method
`of interfacing a wireless communication medium to a device
`includes using a device dongle to exchange information with
`an external device over a wireless medium, the device
`dongle having an adapter plugged into a jack coupled to the
`device, and communicating at least a portion of the infor(cid:173)
`mation between the device dongle and the device.
`In another aspect of the present invention, a communica(cid:173)
`tions network includes a device having a first wireless
`15 transceiver, a second wireless transceiver in communication
`with the first wireless transceiver, a local backbone coupled
`to the second wireless transceiver, and an Internet gateway
`coupled to the local backbone.
`In yet another aspect of the present invention, a commu-
`nications network includes a plurality of devices each hav(cid:173)
`ing a wireless transceiver, a local backbone, an access point
`to the local backbone, the access point having an access
`wireless transceiver in communication with the wireless
`transceiver for each of the devices, and an Internet gateway
`coupled to the local backbone.
`In still another aspect of the present invention, a method
`of communication includes exchanging information over a
`wireless medium between a device and an access point to a
`local backbone, communicating at least a portion of the
`information between the access point and the local back-
`bone, and coupling the communicated information between
`the local backbone and an Internet gateway.
`It is understood that other embodiments of the present
`invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in
`the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is
`shown and described only embodiments of the invention by
`way of illustration of the best modes contemplated for
`carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention
`is capable of other and different embodiments and its several
`details are capable of modification in various other respects,
`all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
`invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed descrip(cid:173)
`tion are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
`restrictive.
`
`In one aspect of the present invention, a personal area
`network includes a device having a first wireless transceiver,
`and an adapter having a second wireless transceiver in
`communication with the first wireless transceiver, and a plug
`capable of mating to a jack coupled to a local backbone.
`In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
`communication includes exchanging information over a
`wireless medium between a device and an adapter having a 45
`plug mated to a jack coupled to a local backbone, and
`communicating at least a portion of the information between
`the adapter and the local backbone.
`In yet another aspect of the present invention, a personal
`area network includes a device having a first complementary 50
`metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) wireless transceiver,
`and an adapter having a second CMOS wireless transceiver
`in communication with the first CMOS wireless transceiver,
`and an interface to interface the second CMOS wireless
`transceiver to the local backbone.
`In still another aspect of the present invention, a wall
`dongle includes a plug capable of mating to a jack coupled
`to a local backbone, an interface coupled to the plug, and a
`wireless transceiver coupled to the interface.
`In a further aspect of the present invention, a method of
`interfacing a wireless communication medium to a local
`backbone includes using a wall dongle to exchange infor(cid:173)
`mation with an external device over a wireless medium, the
`wall dongle having an adapter plugged into a jack coupled
`to a local backbone, and communicating at least a portion of 65
`the information between the wall dongle adapter and the
`local backbone.
`
`40
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`These and other features and advantages of the present
`invention will be better understood from the following
`detailed description read in light of the accompanying
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cable replacement system
`utilized in a LAN and coupled to an Internet via a gateway;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of
`a DOCSIS compliant cable modem utilized as a residential
`gateway;
`FIG. 3 presents a data flow diagram that describes the
`flow of transport packets in the residential gateway;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an adapter embodiment that
`interfaces with the exemplary cable modem MAC via the
`gateway bus;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a transceiver and network
`interface;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a transceiver in accordance
`with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
`
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`US 7,149,474 Bl
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`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the transceiver blocks
`including a receiver, transmitter and local oscillator in
`accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a wall dongle;
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a device dongle; and
`FIG. 10 is a representation of the physical construction of
`a dongle.
`Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in
`the accompanying drawings.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`A wireless cable replacement system is typically utilized
`in a networked environment. The cable replacement system
`allows wiring to be replaced with more flexible connectivity
`as supplied via one or more wireless links. A typical envi(cid:173)
`ronment where a wireless cable replacement system would
`be utilized includes a home network, or a local area network
`(LAN). Home networks are typically utilized to allow appli(cid:173)
`ances, computers, telephones, televisions and other devices
`equipped with suitable interfaces to communicate through(cid:173)
`out the home and to an external Internet. A LAN typically
`interconnects, or networks, business equipment such as
`faxes, telephones, and computers together and to an external
`Internet. Typical communications protocols include HPNA
`in a home environment and ethernet in a business environ-
`ment.
`Integration of the various devices being networked is
`typically accomplished in a gateway device. The gateway
`provides signal processing to allow data from the various
`devices coupled to a backbone to be packetized in a suitable
`format for transmission over an Intranet and/or an Internet.
`Processing of a signal for transmission is typically imple- 35
`mented in a layered structure as is known to those skilled in
`the art. In particular digital signal processing (DSP) methods
`are utilized to allow multiple devices to communicate over
`a packet based network through the layered structure.
`A gateway provides an interface in the architecture of a
`packetized data transmission system between networks hav(cid:173)
`ing differing characteristics. The embodiments of a wireless
`cable replacement are applicable to any type of network
`separated by one or more gateways, including residential
`gateways or other types of gateways known to those skilled 45
`in the art. A residential gateway is typically a gateway that
`is suitable for use in interfacing a home or office network
`typically utilizing telephone circuits for Intranet intercon(cid:173)
`nections to an Intranet, typically utilizing a cable television
`(CATV) network, or public switched telephone network 50
`(PSTN) via a digital subscriber line (DSL) to access an
`Internet.
`In the exemplary residential gateway DSP techniques are
`utilized to allow multiple channel of data supplied by
`differing devices such as computers, appliances and tele- 55
`phones present on the Internet to be individually packetized
`and transferred between networks such as an Internet and
`Intranet.
`Special packetization procedures are typically utilized to
`allow for the various communication capabilities of the
`coupled devices and the transmission capabilities of the
`wiring in the Intranet. The telephone wiring typically found
`in a home and utilized in an Intranet, or home network, is not
`an optimum way to transfer data. Signal processing that
`effectively accommodates the characteristics of the wired
`network coupled to is typically present in the hardware and
`software of the particular gateway.
`
`4
`Gateway functions, including residential gateway func(cid:173)
`tions, are provided in a variety of hardware configurations
`including a personal computer, a set top box or the exem(cid:173)
`plary set top box that is described in the following para(cid:173)
`graphs.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cable replacement system
`utilized in a LAN 102 and coupled to an Internet 116 via a
`gateway 112. An embodiment of the present invention is
`directed to a system and technique to deliver services in the
`10 home using existing wire pairs, and wireless cable replace(cid:173)
`ment systems already installed in the home all while not
`disrupting existing services provided on the existing wire
`pair.
`A series of adapters 101 are provided to establish a
`15 wireless link through a wireless medium such as RF or
`infrared 108. Adapters present in the client devices 132, and
`coupled to a local backbone 110 make up a portion of the
`wireless cable replacement system. The local backbone
`includes all of the wiring interconnecting the individual
`20 client devices 132 to a main wiring bus emanating from the
`residential gateway.
`In addition an adapter is shown as part of the residential
`gateway 112. This embodiment couples signals from the bus
`of a cable modem MAC (not shown) included in the
`25 residential gateway to the adapter.
`A residential gateway may be installed at a location inside
`or outside the home. The residential gateway accepts inputs
`from an IP network on one side that is capable of delivering
`IP (Internet Protocol) services to the home. The other side of
`30 the residential gateway 112 can be the interface to the in
`home wiring that previously delivered POTS. The exem(cid:173)
`plary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has two wire pairs, one
`pair continues to deliver POTS the other wire pair delivers
`POTS and other services to a local area network (LAN).
`The residential gateway provides a means to convert the
`physical media and protocols used for the IP network to the
`physical media and protocols (typically HomePNA) used on
`the in home wire pairs. The in home wire pairs that couple
`client devices 132 to the residential gateway 112 are termed
`40 a local backbone 110. In alternative embodiments the resi-
`dential gateway provides a means to convert the physical
`media and protocols used for the IP network to the physical
`media and protocols used on the LAN backbone (typically
`Ethernet, ADSL and IDSL) In the described exemplary
`embodiment, a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface
`Specification) network is used for delivery of IP services
`over the IP network (an HFC network coupled to a CATV
`network). A consequence of this choice is that the residential
`gateway includes a cable modem. In alternative embodi(cid:173)
`ments a modem may be provided that is coupled to the
`PSTN via digital subscriber line technology.
`The described exemplary embodiment uses two well-
`known protocols for delivery of in home services. The first
`protocol is a base band protocol to deliver POTS. This
`protocol is described by Bellcore (now Telcordia) in TR(cid:173)
`NWT-000057. The second protocol is HomePNA (Home
`Phoneline Network Alliance) as described in the Version 2.0
`specification.
`The function of the residential gateway can be divided
`60 into three components along service delivery lines. The first
`is delivery of broadband data services. This function is the
`primary function of the cable modem as described by the
`CableLabs DOCSIS specification. Data service is delivered
`using Ethernet as specified by CableLabs in the DOCSIS
`65 specification, and alternatively by HPNA.
`The second function is the POTS interface. The gateway
`contains the high voltage circuits and the processing ele-
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`US 7,149,474 Bl
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`5
`ments necessary to convert packetized voice delivered over
`IP streams to the continuous analog voltages required for the
`POTS interface.
`The third function is a proxy for the voice over HPNA
`phones 103 connected to the HPNAnetwork 102. The Proxy 5
`performs an interface conversion function at two levels, first
`is a transport packet conversion and the second is the
`signaling protocol conversion.
`Two POTS phones are shown 103. Both of these are
`traditional telephones connected to the residential gateway 10
`for telephone service. As described above, for installations
`where only a single wire pair is available in the home as a
`local backbone, only one phone line is used, that would be
`the phone attached to the HomePNAnetwork. Not shown in
`this drawing is the possibility of bridging additional POTS 15
`telephones on the wire pair, or local backbone 110. In this
`system, these bridged phones will behave as a bridged phone
`on a traditional POTS line. All bridged telephones are
`assigned to the same phone number and the ring/dial tone
`behavior is as described in TR-NWT-000057.
`Home appliance control is represented by an appliance
`block 106. The concept here is to allow appliance controllers
`on the network to access control information for connected
`client devices 132. For example, a connected personal
`computer 104 might control the start time for an appliance
`106, such as a coffee maker.
`Another possible client device 132, is a connected printer
`device. This can be any type of computer peripheral that
`permits resource sharing from any of multiple personal
`computers or other control devices connected to the Home(cid:173)
`PNA network.
`The HomePNA phone 103 shown is a telephone that
`integrates the function of the HomePNA adapter and the
`telephone. This phone looks and works just like any tradi(cid:173)
`tional telephone, the difference is that it uses the HPNA
`interface to accomplish the voice transport and signaling
`functions instead of the POTS interface.
`Also shown is the connection of two personal computers
`104 running application software such as Netscape. Any
`application can be substituted here, the important feature of 40
`these applications is that they connect to the world wide net
`116 (or Internet) through the residential gateway 112.
`An additional appliance 106 that may be connected to the
`HomePNA network is a television. This can be used to
`display television programming streamed from the external 45
`IP network or spooled from memory systems of an attached
`video server. This video server could be a dedicated device
`for this purpose or specialized programming on one of the
`attached personal computers.
`A cable modem provides an access point for a home 50
`network or Intranet to an Internet via a CATV connection.
`Equivalently a DSL capable modem supplies the capabilities
`for coupling a home network, or Intranet to an Internet via
`a DSL line and the PSTN. Those skilled in the art will realize
`that any number of gateway configurations may be utilized
`in a system utilizing a wireless cable replacement system. In
`particular a cable modem utilized as a gateway processes
`packetized data for transmittal over the CATV network in
`compliance with a transmission standard known as DOC(cid:173)
`SIS.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of
`a DOCSIS compliant cable modem utilized as a residential
`gateway. The gateway includes adapter circuitry 101 that is
`coupled to the cable modem MAC 1112. The described
`exemplary embodiment may provide a highly integrated 65
`solution implemented single chip that is compliant with the
`(DOCSIS). DOCSIS was developed to ensure that cable
`
`6
`modem equipment built by a variety of manufacturers is
`compatible, as is the case with traditional dial-up modems.
`The described exemplary embodiment can provide inte-
`grated functions for communicating with the CMTS. For
`example, a QPSK upstream modulator 1102 transmits data
`to the far end data terminating device, a QAM downstream
`demodulator 1100 receives data from the far end data
`terminating device via a CMTS, and a QPSK out of band
`downstream demodulator 1106 receives out of band
`MPEG-2 encoded messages from the CMTS.
`In addition, the described exemplary embodiment can
`support multiple inputs in accordance with a variety of
`protocols. For example, a universal serial bus transceiver
`1104 provides transparent bi-directional IP traffic between
`devices operating on a USB such as for example a PC
`workstation, server printer or other similar devices and the
`far end data terminating device. Additionally, an I.E.E.E.
`802.3 compliant media independent interface (Mil) 110 in
`conjunction with an Ethernet MAC 1134 also provide bi-
`20 directional data exchange between devices such as, for
`example a number ofPCs and or Ethernet phones and the far
`end data terminating device. A voice and data processor
`1160 is used for processing and exchanging voice, as well as
`fax and modem data between packet based networks and
`25 telephony devices.
`The QAM downstream demodulator 1100 may utilize
`either 64 QAM or 256 QAM in the 54 to 860 MHZ
`bandwidth to interface with the CMTS. The QAM down(cid:173)
`stream demodulator 1100 accepts an analog signal centered
`30 at the standard television IF frequencies, amplifies and
`digitizes the signal with an integrated programable gain
`amplifier and AID converter. The digitized signal is demodu(cid:173)
`lated with recovered clock and carrier timing. Matched
`filters and then adaptive filters remove multi-path propaga-
`35 tion effects and narrowband co-channel interference. Soft
`decisions are then passed off to an ITU-T J .83 Annex AlBIC
`compatible decoder. The integrated decoder performs error
`correction and forwards the processed received data, in
`either parallel or serial MPEG-2 format to a DOCS IS Media
`Access Controller (MAC) 1112.
`The output of the downstream demodulator 1100 is
`coupled to the DOCSIS MAC 1112. The DOCSIS MAC
`1112 may include baseline privacy encryption and decryp(cid:173)
`tion as well as robust frame acquisition and multiplexing
`with MPEG2-TS compliant video and audio streams. The
`DOCSIS MAC 1112 implements the downstream portions
`of the DOCSIS protocol. The DOCSIS MAC 1112 extracts
`DOCSIS MAC frames from MPEG-2 frames, processes
`MAC headers, and filters and processes messages and data.
`Downstream data packets and message packets may be
`then placed in system memory 1114 by a SDRAM interface
`1116 via the internal system bus 1118. The SDRAM inter(cid:173)
`face 1116 preferably interfaces to a number of off the shelf
`SDRAMs which are provided to support the high bandwidth
`55 requirements of the Ethernet MAC 1112 and other periph(cid:173)
`erals. The SDRAM interface 1116 may support multiple
`combinations of 8, 116 or 32 bit wide SDRAMs, allowing
`for external data storage in the range of about 2 to 32
`MBytes. The DOCSIS MAC 1112 includes a number of
`60 direct memory access (DMA) channels for fast data access
`to and from the system memory 1114 via the internal system
`bus 1118.
`The upstream modulator 1102 provides an interface with
`the CMTS. The upstream modulator 1102 may be configured
`to operate with numerous modulation schemes including
`QPSK and 16-QAM. The upstream modulator 1102 supports
`bursts or continuous data, provides forward error correction
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`(FEC) encoding and pre-equalization, filters and modulates
`the data stream and provides a direct 0--65 MHZ analog
`output.
`The DOCSIS MAC 1112 can also
`implement the
`upstream portions of the DOCS IS protocol before transmis-
`sian by the upstream modulator 1102. The DOCSIS MAC
`1112 receives data from one of the DMA channels, requests
`bandwidth and frames the data for TDMA with other
`modems on the same upstream frequency.
`The DOCSIS MAC interfaces with the MIPS core 1128 10
`via the ISB 1118. An exemplary embodiment of the MIPS
`core 1128 includes a high performance CPU operating at a
`speed of at least 80 MHZ with 32-bit address and data paths.
`The MIPS core includes two way set associative instruction
`and data caches on the order of about 4 kbytes each. The
`MIPS core 1128 can provide standard EJTAG support with
`debug mode, run control, single step and software break(cid:173)
`point instruction as well as additional optional EJTAG
`features.
`The upstream modulator 1102 and the downstream
`demodulator 1100 are controlled by the MIPS core 1128 via
`a serial interface which is compatible with a subset of the
`Motorola M-Bus and the Philips 12C bus. The interface
`consists of two signals, serial data (SDA) and serial clock
`(SCL), which may control a plurality of devices on a
`common bus. The addressing of the different devices may be
`accomplished in accordance with an established protocol on
`the two wire interface.
`The described exemplary embodiment of the network
`gateway includes a full-speed universal serial bus (USB)
`transceiver 1104 and USB MAC 1122 which is compliant
`with the USB 1.1 specification. The USB MAC 1122 pro(cid:173)
`vide concurrent operation of control, bulk, isochronous and
`interrupt endpoints. The USB MAC 1122 also can support
`standard USB commands as well as class/vendor specific
`commands. The USB MAC 1122 include integrated RAM
`which allows flexible configuration of the device. Two way
`communication of information to a device operating on a
`USB can be provided, such as for example a PC on a USB
`1.1 compliant twisted pair. The USB MAC 1122 can be
`arranged for hardware fragmentation of higher layer packets
`from USB packets with automatic generation and detection
`of zero length USB packets. The USB MAC 1122 may
`include DMA channels which are used to communicate
`received data to the system memory 1114 via the internal
`system bus 1118. Data stored in system memory 1114 may
`then be processed and communicated to the cable modem
`termination system (not shown) via the DOCSIS MAC 1112
`and the upstream modulator 1102. Similarly data received
`from the cable modem termination system and processed by
`the downstream demodulator 1100 and sto