United States Patent (19
`Rudrapatna et al.
`
`54 BROADBAND WIRELESS SYSTEMAND
`NETWORKARCHITECTURE PROVIDING
`BROADBAND/NARROWBAND SERVICE
`WITH OPTIMAL STATIC AND DYNAMIC
`BANDWDTH/CHANNEL ALLOCATION
`75) Inventors: Ashok N. Rudrapatna, Basking Ridge;
`Gopal K. Jaisingh, Montville; Robert
`R. Miller, II, Morris Township, Morris
`County; Jesse E. Russell, Piscataway;
`Robert E. Schroeder, Morris
`Township, Morris County, all of N.J.
`73) Assignee: AT&T, Holmdel, N.J.
`
`Appl. No.: 361,355
`(21
`22 Filed:
`Dec. 21, 1994
`(51) Int. Cl." ................... H04J 3/26; H04L 5/22
`52 U.S. Cl. ................................. 370/320, 348/7; 348/12;
`348/13; 375/200; 370/468; 370/477; 370/907
`58) Field of Search .................................. 370/18, 26, 32,
`370/35, 38, 45, 50, 91, 85.13, 85.14, 95.1,
`95.3, 118, 60, 60.1, 94.1, 94.2; 375/200,
`201, 202, 205, 211, 212, 348/6, 7, 12, 13,
`5.5
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,351,240 9/1994 Highsmith ................................. 370/84
`
`
`
`NATIONAL
`
`III IIHII
`US00559247OA
`5,592,470
`11
`Patent Number:
`Jan. 7, 1997
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,371,734 12/1994 Fischer ...................................... 370/8
`5,384,777
`1/1995 Ahmadi et al. .....
`... 370/85.2
`5,442,659 8/1995 Bauchot et al. ........................ 375/202
`
`Primary Examiner-Alpus H. Hsu
`Assistant Examiner-Ricky Q. Ngo
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A. G. Steinmetz
`
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A wireless broadband communication system architecture is
`structured to provide an array of narrowband and broadband
`services to an end user on demand. The bandwidth of
`delivery is dynamically adjusted to deliver and satisfy
`service requirements by utilizing the appropriate bandwidth
`on demand. Bandwidth-on-demand is provided in accord
`with the invention by rearranging spectrum allocations so
`that a particular band spectrum is convertibly used to
`accomplish different purposes depending on present alloca
`tions and active applications of the system. The communi
`cations system is designed to utilize wireless communication
`for end point delivery to both fixed and potable terminals.
`The system supplies basic telephone service, wireless ISDN
`service, wireless data service, wireless multimedia service
`and various other wireless broadband service including
`types of interactive and broadcast video.
`
`28 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`110
`
`
`
`
`
`213
`
`BILLING/
`AME
`SECURITY
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`SERVER
`SIGNALLING1 An ivors.
`SERVER
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`ALLOCATION
`SERVER
`SERVICE
`SERVER
`PROFILE
`SERVER
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`
`102
`
`216
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`INTELLIGENT
`MICROPORT/
`ACCESS
`ANTENNA
`
`ACCESS
`DIRECTOR/
`WIRELESS
`
`
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan.7,1997
`
`Sheet]_of8
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`5,592,470
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`Google Ex. 1026, p. 2
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
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`5,592,470
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`Google Ex. 1026, p. 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`5,592,470
`
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`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`5,592,470
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Retus
`PROCESS
`
`TRAFFIC PATTERNS ACROSS TIME-OF-DAY/
`DAY OF WEEK / HOLIDAYS / SPECIAL EVENTS
`
`
`
`TIME OF DAY/DAY OF WEEK/
`HOLIDAYS/SPECIAL EVENTS
`SERVICE CLASS CHANNEL
`ALLOCATION SCHEMA
`(i.e., AT TIME t TRANSFER Csisi CHANNELS
`FROM SERVICE CLASS S, TOS, FOR ALL AND j)R. 401
`TO
`FIG.5
`IS IT
`Q REALOCATION TIME
`BOUNDRY
`
`
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`REAL-TIME
`- PROCESS
`
`
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`REALLOCATE CHANNELS,
`i.e., TRANSFER Csis CHANNELS FROM SERVICE CLASS
`S, TO SFOR ALLij = 1 TON
`(lj, Csisj=-Csis)
`
`405
`
`
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`FIG. 6
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`5,592,470
`
`FROM FIG, 4
`U 502
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`FROM FIG, 4.
`2-500
`
`ALLOCATE CHANNELS TO SERVICE CLASSES
`(Cs i = 1 TON)
`
`501
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`TRAFFIC
`VARIATIONS
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`505
`
`/
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`DOES THE AVERAGE IDLE CAPACITY
`(OVER A SPECIFIED PERIOD,t)AND MEASURE
`IN NUMBER OF CHANNELS ASSIGNED TO INCUMBENT
`SERVICE CLASSES (S) EXCEED (BY A SPECIFIED THRESHOLD, C)
`A MINIMUM BLOCK OF CHANNELS THAT CAN
`BE ASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE
`SERVICE CLASS (S)?
`YE S
`IS THERE BLOCKING ON CHANNELS
`ASSIGNED TO CANDIDATE SERVICES OVER THE
`SAME PERIOD SPECIFIED ABOVE (t)
`ES Y
`REASSIGN CHANNELS BY TRANSFERRING
`Csis CHANNELS FROM SERVICE CLASS STOS,
`509
`classists" to N, -)NONE".'
`
`ARE ALL SERVICE
`
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`511
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`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`5,592,470
`
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`Google EX. 1026, p. 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`5,592.47 O
`
`
`
`as or run
`
`9ch
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`on run----------------------------
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`9Ch
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`
`INTERACTIVE BROADCAST
`
`VIDEO (IY SERVICES
`(SECTORIZED OMNI
`DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS)
`
`INTERACTIVE WIDEO-ON-DEMAND
`3ch's
`(VOD)SERVICES
`(THREESECTORED ANTENNAS)
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`0 (THREE SECTORED ANTENNAS)
`2ch's
`
`
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`5,592,470
`
`FIG. 8
`
`
`
`
`
`0 0 to 8 O
`
`8 s 3 & 8
`
`M CONDUITS
`
`
`
`CHANNELS
`Y-Y-N-1
`LOW BIT RATE
`MEDIUM BIT RATE
`HIGH BIT RATE
`CHANNELS
`CHANNELS
`CHANNELS
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 9
`
`

`

`5,592,470
`
`1.
`BROADBAND WIRELESS SYSTEMAND
`NETWORKARCHITECTURE PROVIDING
`BROADBAND/NARROWBAND SERVICE
`WITH OPTMAL STATIC AND DYNAMIC
`BANDWIDTH/CHANNEL ALLOCATION
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to communication system architec
`tures and to a particular network architecture for providing
`narrowband/broadband two-way point-to-multipoint ser
`vices to fixed and portable terminals in high teledensity
`areas. It is specifically concerned with a communication
`system that utilizes wireless transmission and dynamically
`allocates channels/bandwidth for specific present applica
`tions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Telecommunication systems provide numerous services
`requiting both broadband and narrowband capabilities to the
`corporate and individual subscriber. These services normally
`require that each customer be provided with wide bandwidth
`communications transmission media (e.g., cable or fiber) for
`broadband services and with narrowband transmission
`media (e.g., twisted pair) for narrowband services if all
`needed services are to be accommodated. This hard-wired
`physical media-based capability is expensive to install and
`maintain and the associated capital may be unrecoverable if
`the end user decides to change the service provider after
`installation. These same costs may also limit system deploy
`ment if these costs become prohibitive and fail to yield
`profitable life cycle economics.
`However, wireless systems have inherent flexibility
`because of their untethered nature. If the end user changes
`carriers, no capital is stranded, since the wireless termination
`device can be recovered and redeployed.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`2
`form to an average throughput. In yet another aspect, service
`bandwidth requirements are matched to channels that are
`divided into high, medium and low bandwidth in order to
`achieve spectral efficiency.
`In a particular scenario making use of the invention, the
`communication system provides bandwidth on demand by
`utilizing a combination of spread spectrum technique
`(CDMA) and time division multiplexing (TDM) operating
`over a broadband spectrum that is allocated to specific
`channels on demand. The CDMA/TDM signal is transmitted
`between the system network and to a customer premise
`dynamic access director station. The use of CDMA/TDM
`along with signal compression techniques allows the use of
`spectrum that up until now has only supplied a few channels
`for a small subset of services.
`Spectral efficiency is enhanced by allocating/sharing the
`same bandwidth/channels to differing services based on a
`demand schedule matched to demand patterns. In another
`scenario using the interface, channels are allocated to ser
`vices on a demand-driven basis.
`In addition the network architecture provides for a set of
`network servers, and signaling/control means between the
`servers and end user devices for providing integrated ser
`vices on an end-to-end network basis.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic of a broadband wireless
`network topology embodying the principles of the inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a functional schematic of a broadband wireless
`network architecture embodying the principles of the inven
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a graph of illustrative spectrum allocation in
`accord with the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of static
`channel assignment to meet predictable service demand
`variations;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of dynamic
`channel assignment to meet service demands;
`FIG. 6 is a graphical depiction of the distribution of
`procedures to implement static and dynamic channel assign
`ments;
`FIG. 7 is a graph of an incremental channel reassignment
`process across service classes;
`FIG. 8 shows how the spectrum is partitioned into chan
`nels and conduits; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates a subchannel assignment scheme for
`servicing broadband (i.e., video) services.
`
`DETALED DESCRIPTION
`
`System Network Topology For Wireless Network
`With Spectrum Allocation
`FIG. 1 illustrates one version of a network topology of a
`broadband wireless networkembodying the principles of the
`invention. An ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network
`101 and a STM (synchronous transfer mode) network 102
`are shown connected to a service node 103 coupled in turn
`to a fiber based SONET/SDH access ring 104. The use of a
`fiber based SONET/SDH ring for access and link purposes
`is for illustrative purposes and is not essential for the
`disclosed Illustrative network. A star network using non
`fiber transmission, including point-to-point microwave and/
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A wireless broadband communication system architecture
`is structured to provide an array of narrowband and broad
`band services on demand to an end user. The system
`embodied by this invention maximizes frequency reuse by a
`judicious combination of spread spectrum techniques and
`time division multiplexing, and matching service require
`ments with appropriate sectoring of radiant signaling energy.
`The bandwidth of delivery is dynamically adjusted to satisfy
`service requirements by providing the appropriate band
`width needed. Bandwidth-on-demand is provided in accord
`with the invention by rearranging (i.e. remapping) spectrum
`allocation to simultaneously achieve two objectives: (1)
`assign users channels matched to their requirements, and (2)
`rearrange channel assignments to maximize spectrum utili
`zation. The communications system is designed to utilize
`wireless communication for end point delivery to fixed site
`customer areas and portable customer terminals. The system
`supplies basic telephone service, wireless ISDN service,
`wireless data service, wireless multimedia service, and vari
`ous other wireless broadband services including interactive
`video and broadcast video. Furthermore, the system pro
`vides signaling capability in support of all the services.
`Efficient use of spectrum is achieved at various levels of
`the system. At one level, channel assignmentis performed in
`response to varying demand for different classes of service.
`In another aspect, conduits (which are subdivisions of chan
`nels) are varied in bit rate to accommodate service band
`width requirements as long as the channels' conduits con
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 10
`
`

`

`5,592,470
`
`3
`or infrared communication could just as easily be used.
`Access nodes 105-1 to 105-4 couple the SONET/SDH
`access ring 104 to a plurality of access antennas or intelli
`gent microports (IMP) 106-1 to 106-4. The intelligent
`microport 106-2 is shown connected by wireless to an access
`director or wireless repeater 107 at a residential customer
`premise. This access director/wireless repeater contains a
`plurality of equipment functionality including a telephone,
`ISDN terminals data communication devices (e.g., PC),
`signaling devices/adjuncts, television/set-top boxes, multi
`media worksataions, etc) supplying a broad array of nar
`rowband/broadband services, each of which requires differ
`ing bandwidth capability. The microport 106-2 is also shown
`as directly serving a wireless handset 108 external to the
`customer premise. A microport 106-4 is shown coupling
`service to an industrial/office site in a manner similar to that
`of the residence premises. A satellite ground station 109 is
`shown connecting the SONET/SDH access ring 104 to a
`satellite 110 via access node 105-4. Communication
`between the SONET/SDH access ring 104 and the end user
`recipients is by wireless, permitting the spectrum to be
`partitioned into multiple channels of sufficient bandwidth as
`required by a particular service or application.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`4
`The service node 103 performs traffic grooming (e.g.
`aligning radio frequency/access lines to land line trunks and
`to channels in low, medium and high arrays to sub-channels
`with low, medium and high bit rate services) and further
`performs circuit/synchronous transfer mode (STM) and cell/
`asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching. It is also a
`control for feature invocation and execution. The national
`headend 201 originates video/multimedia broadcast infor
`mation for national distribution. A local headend 211 or the
`access director 107 receives the video/multimedia informa
`tion for local distribution. The access node 105-N adds and
`drops trunks to the ring/access links and provides multiplex
`ing and demultiplexing capability. The intelligent microport
`106-N implements both narrowband and broadband services
`by supporting a variety of multiple air interfaces. It provides
`both static and dynamic channel allocation to meet changing
`service demands by providing bandwidth on demand. The
`access director 107 is a gateway/repeater providing a link
`between the microport and customer premises equipment
`(both wireless 108 and wired). The neighborhood wireless
`terminal 108, supports a broad array of services including
`wireless multimedia services.
`
`Spectrum Allocation and Partitioning
`Allocation or partitioning of available spectrum in accord
`with the principles of the invention is shown in the FIG. 3.
`A service channel map shows how various channels may be
`apportioned to various illustrative service classes. Blocks of
`channels each enabling a 6 or 10 MHz bandwidth are shown
`arranged linearly. Two channels 301 are shown distinct and
`isolated from the main array. These channels are dedicated
`to signaling for set up of connections and control of inter
`active commands. They also convey data useful in provi
`sioning, billing/OAM&P, and maintaining services to end
`users on an end-to-end basis across all services in an
`integrated manner. This data communicated between the end
`user terminals and the network servers (213 through 222 in
`FIG. 2) include user identity, destination address, authenti
`cation service request codes, billing options, OAM&P mes
`sages, security/encryption code, service priority, location,
`grades of service requested, etc. This data is used by the
`network servers to provide services to end users in accor
`dance with service requests. Channels 301 are wireless
`packet signaling channels in this embodiment and are com
`prised of two 6 MHz channels. In addition to utilizing
`channel 301, channel 308 (auxiliary packet response chan
`nel) could be used for this signaling and control messages,
`based on the amount that such messages need to be sup
`ported. Finally in addition to the dedicated channels (301,
`308) these messages could also be exchanged via the same
`channels (303-307) use for the bearer services.
`The total array of bearer channels covers a span of 198
`MHz in this illustrative array. Channels 303 are narrowband
`service class access downlink channels. Channels 304 are
`downlink broadcast video service channels. Channels 305
`are downlink interactive video on demand channels. The
`channels designated 306 provide guard spectrum for duplex
`filters/attenuation rolloff used in the network. Channels 307
`are uplink narrowband service class access channels. Chan
`nel 308 is an auxiliary packet response channel. In the
`illustrative embodiment, channels designated 301 are
`bounded between 2150 MHz and 2162 MHz, and channels
`designated 303 through 308 are bounded between 2500
`MHz and 2690 MHz. In this embodiment, both the frequen
`cies and the bandwidth of the channels can be adapted to
`meet different requirements.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Functional Partitioning of the Network to Achieve
`Optimal Spectral Implementation
`An architecture suitable for the broadband wireless net
`work is shown in the FIG. 2 in terms of the communication
`of the network to a particular end user. A channel allocation
`server 222 is provided to identify and store information
`regarding uses of different services over time to control
`static and dynamic reallocations of spectrum to individual
`services.
`A signaling server 213 provides signaling services to end
`user devices: Acting as a gateway between end user devices
`and the network's internal signaling system, distributing
`control data to other servers, such as billing/OAM&P
`(operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning)
`data to billing/OAM&P server; etc. IVOD server 214 sup
`ports IVOD services, enhancements to normal video; (e.g.,
`pause, rewind etc. interactivity), menu driven user interface,
`etc. Billing/OAM&P server 215 provides for integrated
`billing/OAM&P to end users across all services taking into
`account any special service options and plans (e.g., 60
`minutes of any program per month for a fixed fee). Security
`server 218 provides for security authentication and fraud
`prevention services to service providers and to end users.
`Customer service profile server 216 stores end user data
`including subscriber server preferences, etc. Location and
`user registration server 217, contains real time data on a
`user's current location and service area related data.
`Signaling server 213, IVOD server 214, security server
`218, billing/OAM&P server 215, customer service profile
`server 216, location and user registration server 217 and the
`55
`channel allocation server 222 are coupled to the ATM
`network 101, STM network 102, and/or the service node
`103. The ATM network 101 and STM network 102 are
`connected to a service node 103 which is in turn connected
`to an access node 105-N. A national headend 201 is con
`nected to the local headend 211 via a satellite 110 and
`satellite ground station 109. The local headend 211 is also
`connected to an access node 105-N. An intelligent microport
`(access antenna) 106-N provides the air interface to the
`access director 107, which is in turn connected to the
`premise equipment or neighborhood wireless terminal 108
`by either internal wiring or by a short air interface.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Google Ex. 1026, p. 11
`
`

`

`5,592,470
`
`S
`Static Channel Assignment Process
`FIG. 4 flowcharts a process of static channel assignment.
`This process is repeated periodically to conform to the
`channel reassignments to known customer demands at speci-.
`fied intervals. The process assigns channels and bandwidth
`on the basis of established traffic patterns on specific days
`and at specific times of day. The instructions of the first
`process block 401 monitor the time of day and the day of the
`week and identify the occurrences of special days that are
`relevant to traffic demands. The traffic demands are catego
`rized as to specific services and are evaluated with an
`allocation algorithm to specify channel transfers at time T.
`according to: C. from service class si to service class sj. A
`subsequent decision block 403 evaluates the data of block
`15
`401 to determine if static channel allocation is necessary. If
`it is not the flow proceeds, via terminal 409, to a dynamic
`allocation flow process shown in the FIG. 5. If a static
`allocation is needed the flow proceeds to instruction block
`405 which specifies the reallocation of channels to meet the
`expected traffic demands. In the process the channel C is
`transferred from service class si to service class sj for all i
`andjwhere j=1 to N and i does not equalj and C-C,
`The flow then proceeds to the process of FIG. 5, via terminal
`411.
`
`5
`
`O
`
`20
`
`25
`
`6
`Network Distribution of Spectrum Allocation
`Functions
`The procedures of channel assignment are distributed
`within the network system, as shown in FIG. 6, with
`instruction block 601 being performed in the service node to
`measure channel occupancy data. The flow proceeds to
`decision block 605 in the channel allocation server which in
`process block 603 estimates the blocking probabilities in
`each service classes. The flow proceeds within the channel
`allocation server to decision block 605, which determines if
`it is necessary to reallocate channel assignments due to
`changes in static or dynamic conditions. The process con
`tinuously recycles in this block if there is no need to
`reallocate spectrum. If there is a need to reallocate spectrum,
`the flow proceeds to instruction block 607 which identifies
`the channels C, that are to be moved from si to sj service
`classes according to the defined static and dynamic assign
`ment processes as described in the flow charts of FIGS. 4
`and 5.
`The flow proceeds to instruction blocks 609, 611, 613 and
`615 located in the service node, the access node, the intel
`ligent microport and the access director, respectively.
`Instructions of block 609 assign network trunks to the access
`trunks. The instructions of block 611 demultiplex/multiples
`channels or combine/split channels to align mapping of
`blocks of channels. Instructions of block 613 associate wired
`channels with RF channels and instructions of block 615
`assign channels to conform with assignments in the intelli
`gent microport.
`
`Spectrum Transfer Increments Illustrated
`A graphical depiction of incremental channel reassign
`ment in the system across service classes is illustrated in the
`FIG. 7 in which three circular charts 701, 702 and 703 each
`define a different category of service classes. Each channel
`in the illustrative embodiment has a plurality of conduits of
`different bandwidth, with the conduits in each channel
`totaling 6 or 10 MHz. These conduits may be joined or
`separated and varied in bandwidth to form channels for
`specific service requirements. Each conduit or group of
`conduits is associated with supporting a specific service.
`These conduits are time slots in some applications (TDM)
`and are part of the shared spectrum band in other applica
`tions (CDMA).
`The initial disk representation of disk 701, in the illus
`trative embodiment, represents nine channels normally
`assigned to interactive broadcast video services. Disk 701 is
`sectorized into three 120 degree sectors each of which uses
`the same nine channels (i.e., a sectorized omni approach). A
`sectorized approach is used in place of omni radio signal
`radiation in order to use a single antenna for all services, to
`minimize power requirements, and minimize heat loads on
`the intelligent microport. Channels that are so sectorized are
`in effect omnidirectional, so that channel sectorization is
`designed to improve signal reception quality and limit
`geographical area covered to the requesting subscriber. The
`chosen sectorization scheme represents a single sectorized
`antenna that will support all the service classes depicted by
`the three representational graphical discs 701, 702 and 703.
`The channels depicted on disk 702 are normally dedicated
`to interactive video services and include three sectors each
`of which includes three channels. It is apparent that the
`minimum increment of channels that can be transferred
`between the interactive broadcast video disc 701 and the
`interactive video-on-demand disc 702 is three channels total.
`
`Dynamic Channel Allocation Process
`The process of dynamic assignments is described in the
`flowchart shown in FIG. 5. It begins in terminal 500 which
`proceeds from the process shown in FIG. 4. The initial
`instruction block 501 defines an existing allocation of chan
`nels and bandwidth to services. The flow process begins in
`response to a handoff from the static process of FIG. 4, via
`terminal 502, at the entry to decision block 503. The
`instruction for block 503 determines idle channel capacity
`and compares the number of idle channels assigned to an
`incumbent service class (i.e. existing service assignments)
`over a specified time interval with a threshold of a minimum
`number of channel blocks A C that may within the the
`system be assigned to a different candidate service S. This
`minimum number corresponds to the transfer increment AC
`discussed herein below with reference to FIG. 7. If the
`available idle capacity does not exceed this threshold, the
`process recycles to reevaluate the number of idle channels
`available for such purposes.
`If it is determined that a sufficient number of channels
`exist to satisfy the threshold requirement, the subsequent
`decision block 505 determines if there is blocking on
`channels assigned to the candidate services over the same
`period investigated in the evaluation of the block 503. If no
`such blocking exists the flow returns to the input in block
`503.
`If such blocking is found to exist the process flow
`proceeds to instruction block 507 which controls the assign
`ment of channels to transfer channels from service class si
`to service class sj. At the time of transfer it is determined if
`all service classes si to sj have been checked and evaluated.
`If it has the flow proceeds to instruction block 509 which
`halts the flow for a specified time interval. Instruction block
`509 then returns the process to the input of block 503 where
`the dynamic assignment process resumes.
`If all such service classes have not been evaluated, the
`flow proceeds to instruction block 511 which increments ior
`j and the flow returns to the input of block 503 where the
`dynamic assignment process resumes.
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`7
`The first and second discs 701 and 702 are one way
`broadcast only signals from the intelligent micro port to the
`access antenna of the end user.
`The third disk 703 depicts the collection of ISDN, voice
`and data services with four channels, paired to support
`duplex operations (e.g. two pairs related to each of the three
`sectors). The transfer increment between disk 702 and 703
`is two channels persector. All the channels on the discs 702
`and 703 in the original set up are different in frequency from
`one another. The transfer increment between the first disk
`701 and the third disc 703 is six channels total.
`Intelligence for executing this transfer of channels pref
`erably (though not necessarily) appears at the intelligent
`microport at the network access point. For example, a
`change of application of channels from disk 701 to disk 703
`would require a minimum of six channels total to be
`transferred from disk 701 to the application defined by disk
`703. These channels would be filled to accommodate the
`new application, conduit by conduit, until the recipient
`channels were filled. Then additional channels (if available)
`would be transferred to the service requiring additional
`capacity.
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`8
`standard, that operates over a broad range of encoding rates
`(aproximately 1.544-9 Mbps). Different program content is
`encoded optimally at different rates (e.g., movies at lower
`rates, sports at higher rates). Decoding MPEG II sources at
`variables rates is automatically handled in the MPEG II
`standard. Some channels are allocated for lower rate encod
`ing, some for medium rate encoding and some for higher
`rate encoding. The number of channels assigned to each of
`these program types is based on the program mix required at
`that time. Such allocations can be preset for static allocation
`based on time of day and day of week or for dynamic
`allocation on a real time basis as program content changes
`are required without prior arrangement. Video programs
`may be groomed (i.e., channeled) to appropriate channels
`based on bandwidth requirements. As video programs are
`reassigned to different channels and conduits (i.e. channel X
`and conduity) that information is conveyed to the access
`director by the IMP. In one illustrative embodiment it is
`conveyed as a mapping table.
`Within a bitrate video service type, programs are encoded
`at variable rates (within a narrow range around the base
`average rate specified for the channel based on the program
`content requirements (e.g., based on the amount of motion
`in the video picture) in a manner that balances bit rate
`assignments across all the programs within that channel
`(e.g., in the 3Mbps video channel type, one program may be
`given 2.7 Mbps and another one 3.3 Mbps at one time, and
`perhaps reversed later, keeping the average across programs
`to 3 Mbps at all times). To facilitate such an approach, a
`packetized scheme (i.e., ATM or another packet arrange
`ment) is used because of its inherent bandwidth on demand
`capability.
`The benefit of assigning programs in this manner i.e.,
`higher rates for some programs and simultaneously lower
`rates for others by both techniques described here, viz; by
`grooming techniques according to encoding rate require
`ments and variable rate coding within the same encoding
`rate levels, is that this ensures a uniform and a more
`manageable program quality across the channels while
`simultaneously maximizing utilization of spectrum across
`the channels.
`
`Definitions of Terms
`The following definitions define terms used in the above
`specification:
`Channel: A block of continuous spectrum assigned to a
`particular class of service. A channel is comprised of a
`plurality of conduits.
`Conduit: Subportion of a channel assigned to a single user
`or program, for one direction of a duplex communication.
`More than one conduit may be combined to provide a wider
`band unidirectional transmission.
`Sub-Channel A set of channels assigned to video services
`belonging to a particular rate of encoding (i.e., low, medium
`and high).
`Interactive Broadcast Video (IBV) (TDM): This service is
`comprised of two parts: 1. Scheduled video content provided
`on a broadband (i.e., 1.5 Mbps to 6 Mbps) broadcast
`downlink basis potentially to all users 2. A narrowband
`uplink signal (<2.4 Kbps, via wireless data signaling or
`ISDND channel) for service request, payment authorization,
`etc. IBV is provided to support services such as wireless
`CATV, Enhanced Pay-per-View, electronic shopping, elec
`tronic software distribution, instructional and educational
`
`Efficient Packing of Spectrum Into Slots For
`Selective Assignment
`The graph in FIG. 8 depicts a frequency spectrum divided
`into channels and conduits. A band of frequency which in
`this particular example is chosen to be 198 MHz and is
`shown divided into a number of contiguous frequency
`channels 801-1 to 801-N. One of the channels 801-X is
`shown in an exploded view to comprise several conduits
`802-1 to 802-M which are smaller frequency bands dividing
`a channel. The frequency band of each channel 801 in the
`illustrative embodiment is either six or ten MHz. Since the
`ban