`
`1111111111111111111111fIll!!1,1141111111111111111111111111111
`
`United States Patent [19]
`Thacker
`
`[n] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,011,548
`Jan. 4, 2000
`
`[54]
`
`SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING
`SATELLITE
`BOARDBAND DATA DISTRIBUTED
`OVER A
`CABLE TV NETWORK
`WITH LEGACY
`CORPORATE LOCAL AREA
`NETWORKS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: John C. Thacker,
`
`Los Altos, Calif.
`
`[73]
`
`Assignee: CyberStar, L.P.,
`
`Palo Alto, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/148,569
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 4, 1998
`
`[51] Int. C1.7
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`
`HO4N 7/00; H04N 7/14;
`H04H 1/100
`345/327; 348/12; 348/13;
`348/10; 455/3.2; 455/3.1; 455/5.1
`395/200.47; 345/327;
`[58] Field of Search
`348/12, 13, 6, 10; 455/3.2, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1,
`6.2, 6.3; H04N 7/10, 7/14; H04H 1/100
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1996 Schiller et al.
`5,499,046
`1/1997 Dawson et al.
`5,594,490
`5,687,194 11/1997 Paneth et al.
`5,822,324 10/1998 Kostresti et al.
`5,870,134
`2/1999 Laubach et al.
`5,893,024
`4/1999 Sanders et al.
`5,923,379
`7/1999 Patterson
`
`348/12
`348/12
`455/33.1
`370/487
`348/12
`348/12
`348/565
`
`Primary Examiner—Nathan J. Flynn
`Assistant Examiner—Vivek Srivastava
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kenneth W.
`
`Float
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`system that inte-
`A broadband multimedia data distribution
`grates satellite broadband data derived
`from a satellite feed
`that is distributed over a cable TV
`network with a legacy
`corporate local area network. The system
`provides a broad-
`band network overlay with satellite data
`delivery that inte-
`grates with currently available cable
`television transmission
`media. The system thus integrates
`broadband multimedia
`data distribution, cable TV network
`distribution, and the
`legacy network to expand corporate
`information services.
`The system thus expands existing network capabilities and
`avoids replacement or upgrade costs.
`
`5,019,910
`5,130,803
`
`5/1991 Filmer
`7/1992 Kurita et al.
`
`455/185
`455/182
`
`9 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`50
`Nk
`
`SATELLITE
`FEED
`
`56
`
`RF/DVB
`DEMOD
`
`51-
`
`52
`
`ENTERPRISE
`SERVER
`
`53-
`
`NETWORK
`MANAGEMENT
`SERVER
`
`54
`
`55-
`
`FTP, MAIL,
`HTTP SERVER
`
`CACHING
`SERVER
`
`FAST
`ETHERNET
`SWITCH
`I
`
`6
`
`6
`
`CMTS
`
`411--
`
`-41-
`
`• •
`
`UPCONVERTER
`(OPTIONAL)
`
`• • VIDEO
`
`•
`
`COMBINER
`
`63-
`
`DIPLEX
`FILTER
`
`64-
`
`67
`
`CABLE
`MODEM
`
`65-
`
`ROUTER
`
`NETWORK
`
`58
`
`57
`
`60
`
`66
`
`CABLE
`CLIENT
`
`LG Ex. 1008
`LG Electronics Inc. v. ParkerVision, Inc.
`IPR2022-00246
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`Z Jo 1 lamIS
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`Fig. 1
`
`35
`
`EQUIPMENT
`CUSTOMER
`
`—38
`
`MODEM
`CABLE
`
`•
`
`I
`
`47
`
`RETURN
`TELCO
`33
`NODE
`O:E
`
`34
`
`46 37
`
`waled °S'Il
`
`10
`
`NODE
`O:E
`
`NODE
`O:E
`
`3
`3/
`
`TX
`
`31
`
`/RX
`32 7- 36
`
`SPLITTER
`UPSTREAM
`
`BANK
`FILTER
`
`AND
`
`DATA
`
`(-4 45
`
`DEMOD
`
`MOD
`
`\
`COMBINER
`
`DATA
`
`VIDEO 2 —
`VIDEO 1
`
`CONTROLLER
`AND ACCESS
`
`SECURITY
`
`26
`
`28
`
`42
`
`-17
`
`FACILITY
`SERVER
`REMOTE
`
`WAN
`
`18b
`
`-16
`
`FACILITY
`SERVER
`LOCAL
`
`NETWORK
`BACKBONE
`
`25
`
`24
`
`23
`
`TERMINATION
`
`NETWORK
`
`22
`
`15 41
`
`TRANSPORT
`BACKBONE
`SWITCH OR
`HEADEND
`GENERIC
`
`ADAPTER
`
`18a
`
`WAN
`
`12
`
`13-
`
`27
`
`SPECIFICATION
`
`CMCI
`
`DISTRIBUTION HUB
`
`OR HEADEND
`
`43
`
`SUPPORT SYSTEM
`
`OPERATIONS
`
`21
`
`SERVER -14
`ACCESS
`(DIAL-UP)
`REMOTE
`
`DS3
`OR
`DS1
`
`PSTN
`
`IPR2022-00246 Page 00002
`
`

`

`waled °S11
`
`Z Jo Z lamIS
`
`CLIENT
`CABLE
`
`66
`
`_,
`
`Fig. 2
`
`58
`
`1-60
`
`57
`
`NETWORK
`
`ROUTER
`
`•
`
`•
`
`MODEM
`CABLE
`
`67-
`
`65-
`
`FILTER
`DIPLEX
`
`64-
`
`63-COMBINER
`
`i
`
`VIDEO
`
`• •
`
`UPCONVERTER
`
`(OPTIONAL)
`
`• •
`
`CMTS
`
`6
`
`6
`
`r
`
`551 CACHING
`
`SERVER
`
`HTTP SERVER
`
`FTP, MAIL,
`
`54-
`
`MANAGEMENT
`
`NETWORK
`
`SERVER
`
`53-
`
`ENTERPRISE
`
`SERVER
`
`52
`
`SWITCH
`
`ETHERNET
`
`FAST
`
`56
`
`DEMOD
`RF/DVB
`
`FEED 1
`
`SATELLITE
`
`51-
`
`Nk
`
`50
`
`IPR2022-00246 Page 00003
`
`

`

`6,011,548
`
`1
`SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING SATELLITE
`BOARDBAND DATA DISTRIBUTED OVER A
`CABLE TV NETWORK WITH LEGACY
`CORPORATE LOCAL AREA NETWORKS
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`5
`
`2
`tocol (IP) data. Although the MCNS media access control is
`based on packets and the IEEE specifies fixed ATM cells,
`both cable modem solutions specify a 10 Base-T Ethernet
`connection from the cable modem to the PC.
`It would be desirable to have a multimedia data distribu-
`tion system and method that overcomes limitations of the
`Multimedia Cable Networking Standards architecture.
`Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to
`provide for broadband multimedia data distribution system
`10 apparatus for integrating satellite broadband data distributed
`over a cable TV network with legacy corporate local area
`networks.
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`To meet the above and other objectives, the present
`invention provides for a broadband multimedia data distri-
`bution system that integrates satellite broadband data dis-
`tributed over a cable TV network with a legacy corporate
`local area network (LAN). The present invention provides a
`20 broadband network overlay with satellite data delivery that
`integrates with currently available cable television transmis-
`sion media The present invention thus integrates broadband
`multimedia data distribution, cable TV network distribution,
`and the legacy network to expand corporate information
`25 services. The present invention thus expands existing net-
`work capabilities and avoids replacement or upgrade costs.
`More particularly, the broadband multimedia data distri-
`bution system comprises a satellite receiver that receives a
`satellite feed whose output is coupled to an enterprise server
`30 for distributing broadband data content derived from the
`satellite feed. Network switching equipment is coupled to
`the enterprise server whose output is coupled by way of a
`router to a local area network. Headend equipment is
`coupled to the network switching equipment that comprises
`35 a cable modem terminating system, one or more
`upconverters, a combiner, and a diplexer. A bidirectional
`cable transmission system interconnects the diplex filter and
`a cable modem, and a personal computer is coupled to the
`cable modem.
`Client and server software provided on the enterprise
`server and on the personal computer provides for access to
`broadband content, broadband network services provided by
`the satellite receiver and enterprise server, and network
`services provided by the local area network.
`45 Unique aspects of the present invention include the pro-
`vision for satellite broadband data delivery and the inter-
`connection of a "data over cable TV" network with an
`existing corporate LAN using router (layer 3) networking
`equipment and server software and client/server software
`5° used to integrate the services of the broadband receiver and
`server and the existing corporate LAN.
`
`40
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The various features and advantages of the present inven-
`55 tion may be more readily understood with reference to the
`following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals
`represent like structural elements, and in which
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the architecture
`60 of a Multimedia Cable Networking Standards system; and
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a broadband
`multimedia data distribution system in accordance with the
`principles of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Referring to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 is a block
`diagram that illustrates the architecture of a Multimedia
`
`The present invention relates generally to broadband
`multimedia data distribution systems, and more particularly,
`to apparatus for integrating satellite broadband data distrib-
`uted over a cable TV network with legacy corporate local
`area networks.
`Legacy corporate local area networks (LANs) can become
`congested under user demand for broadband multimedia
`data and other data services. These legacy networks are
`costly to replace or upgrade to meet the increasing demand
`for multimedia data. It would be desirable to have the ability
`to expand existing legacy network capabilities and avoid
`replacement or upgrade costs.
`Currently available technology relating to the present
`invention includes a Multimedia Cable Networking Stan-
`dards (MCNS) compliant "data over cable TV" architecture.
`By way of background, the Institute of Electronic and
`Electrical Engineering's (IEEE) 802.14 Cable TV Media
`Access Control and Physical Protocol Working Group was
`formed in 1994 to develop international standards for data
`communications over cable. The goal was to submit a cable
`modem Media Access Control and Physical Protocol stan-
`dard to the IEEE in December 1995, but the delivery date
`slipped to late 1997.
`Because of the delay in finalizing the IEEE 802.14
`standard, certain cable operators, operating under a limited
`partnership dubbed Multimedia Cable Network System
`Partners Ltd. (MCNS), proceeded to research and publish
`their own set of interface specifications for high-speed cable
`data services. MCNS released its Data Over Cable System
`Interface Specification (DOCSIS) for cable modem products
`to vendors in March 1997. Many vendors have announced
`plans to build products based on the MCNS DOCSIS
`standard.
`The differing cable modem specifications advocated by
`IEEE 802.14 and MCNS reflect the priorities of each orga-
`nization. The 802.14 group focused on creating a future-
`proof standard based on industrial-strength technology. The
`members of MCNS, on the other hand, were concerned with
`mnimizing product costs and time to market. To achieve its
`objectives, MCNS sought to minimize technical complexity
`and develop a technology solution that was adequate for its
`members' needs.
`At the physical layer, which defines modulation formats
`for digital signals, the IEEE and MCNS specifications are
`similar. The 802.14 specification supports the International
`Telecommunications Union's (ITU) J.83 Annex A, B and C
`standards for 64/256 QAM modulation, providing a maxi-
`mum 36 Mbps of downstream throughput per 6 MHz
`television channel. The Annex A implementation of 64/256
`QAM is the European DVB/DAVIC standard, Annex B is
`the North American standard supported by MCNS, while
`Annex C is the Japanese specification. The proposed 802.14
`upstream modulation standard is based on QPSK
`(quadrature phase shift keying) and 16QAM, virtually the
`same as MCNS.
`As for media access control, which sets the rules for
`network access by users, 802.14 specified Asynchronous
`Transfer Mode (ATM) as its default solution from the 65
`headend to the cable modem. MCNS uses a scheme based on
`variable-length packets that favors delivery of Internet Pro-
`
`IPR2022-00246 Page 00004
`
`

`

`6,011,548
`
`3
`Cable Networking Standards (MCNS) system 10. As is
`shown in FIG. 1, the MCNS system 10 includes a public
`service telephone network (PSTN) 11 that is connected to a
`distribution hub 13 or headend equipment 13 by way of a
`local exchange carrier digital subscriber service Ha (DS 1
`at 1.544 Mbps or DS3at 44.736 Mbps). The public service
`telephone network 11 is connected to a remote access server
`14 or dial-up server 14 that is part of the distribution hub 13.
`The distribution hub 13 also includes a headend switch 15
`or backbone transport adapter 15 that is coupled to the
`remote access server 14. The headend switch 15 or backbone
`transport adapter 15 is coupled to a backbone network 12 by
`way of a wide area network 18a. The headend switch 15 or
`backbone transport adapter 15 is also coupled to a local
`sever facility 16. A remote sever facility 17 is also coupled
`to the backbone network 12 by way of a wide area network
`18b.
`The headend switch 15 or backbone transport adapter 15
`is connected by way of a cable modem termination system
`network side interface 41 to a network termination 23 of a
`cable modem termination system 22. The network termina-
`tion 23 is coupled to a modulator (MOD) 24 and to a
`demodulator (DEMOD) 25. The output of the modulator 24
`is coupled by way of a cable modem termination system
`downstream RF side interface 44 to a data input of a
`combiner 27. The combiner 27 also receives video inputs for
`distribution. The combiner 27 is coupled to a transmitter
`(TX) 31 which communicates over a fiber link 36 to a
`plurality of 0:E nodes (optical/electrical node) 33.
`Each node 33 is coupled, through a coaxial cable plant, by
`way of a cable modem to RF interface 46 to an input of a
`cable modem 34. The cable plant may have a spectrum of
`from about 50 MHz to about 750 MHz. The cable modem 34
`is coupled by way of a cable modem to customer equipment
`interface 48 to customer equipment 35, such as a personal
`computer 35. A telephone company return (Telco return) is
`provided from the cable modem 34 to the telephone com-
`pany by way of a cable modem to telephone company
`interface 47.
`Each node 33 is also coupled by way of a fiber link 36 to
`a receiver (RX) 32. The receiver 3 is coupled to an upstream
`splitter and filter bank 28. Data outputs of the upstream
`splitter and filter bank 28 are coupled by way of a cable
`modem termination system upstream RF side interface 45 to
`the demodulator (DEMOD) 25. The demodulator (DEMOD)
`25 is coupled to the network termination 23.
`An operations support system 21 is coupled by way of a
`data over cable system OSS interface 43 to the cable modem
`termination system 22. The data over cable system OSS
`interface 43 meets a CMCI (cable modem computer
`interface) specification. A security and access controller 26
`is coupled to the cable modem termination system 22 by way
`of a security management interface 42.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, it is a block diagram that
`illustrates a broadband multimedia data distribution system
`50 in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`The broadband multimedia data distribution system 50
`requires installation of cable media, RF headend (primary
`sending and receiving transmission equipment), cable
`modem terminating equipment, and cable modems, similar
`to equipment that is used in the MCNS system 10.
`The broadband multimedia data distribution system 50
`comprises a satellite receiver 51 for receiving a satellite
`feed. The satellite receiver 51 includes a receive antenna, a
`low noise block down converter and RF and digital video
`broadcast (DVB) demodulators. The satellite receiver 51 is
`
`5
`
`25
`
`4
`coupled to an enterprise server 52 that provides for distri-
`bution of broadband data content. The satellite receiver 51
`and enterprise server 52 form a broadband subnetwork 50a
`of the system 10. The enterprise server 52 is coupled to a
`first input of a network switching equipment 56, such as a
`fast Ethernet switch 56, that is used to interconnect the
`various network elements of the system 10.
`A plurality of additional network servers may be coupled
`to the fast Ethernet switch 56 that provide for any number of
`10 standard services. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates the use of
`a network management server 53 that is coupled to a second
`input of the fast Ethernet switch 56. Also shown is an ftp,
`mail and http server 54 that is coupled to a third input of the
`fast Ethernet switch 56. A caching server 55 may also be
`15 coupled to a fourth input of the fast Ethernet switch 56.
`The fast Ethernet switch 56 is coupled by way of a router
`57 (layer 3 data distribution equipment) to an existing
`(legacy) local area network (LAN) 58. The fast Ethernet
`switch 56 is also coupled to headend equipment 60. The
`20 headend equipment 60 comprises a cable modem terminat-
`ing system (CMTS) 61, appropriate upconverters 62, a
`combiner 63, and a diplexer 64.
`The cable modem terminating system 61 is capable of
`providing one or more 6 Mz data channels over the same
`cable plant. Each 6 MHz data channel provides a data rate
`of approximately 30 Mbps depending on the modulation that
`is used (64/256 QAM). Given that the cable plant has a
`spectrum of from 50 MHz to 750 MHz, the present system
`provides for transmission of a large amount of broadband
`30 data
`The cable modem terminating system 61 is coupled to one
`or more upconverters (optional), one for each 6 MHz data
`channel. Outputs of the upconverters 62 are coupled to
`35 inputs of a combiner 63. The output of the combiner 63 is
`coupled to the diplexer 64, or diplex filter 64. The diplex
`filter 64 is coupled by way of a cable system 67 to a cable
`modem 65. The cable system 67 is capable of providing
`two-way transmission. Each cable modem is capable of
`40 transmitting data originating at the user computer to the head
`end, on frequencies consistent with a two-way cable system.
`The diplexer 64 or diplex filter 64 is also coupled to the cable
`modem terminating system 61, terminating one or more
`cable modem transmission channels. The cable modem 65 is
`45 coupled to a personal computer 66 of a cable client.
`To integrate the various components of the system 10,
`client and server software is provided on the various servers
`52, 53, 54, 55 and on the personal computer 66 of the cable
`client to access the broadband content, network services
`so provided on the broadband subnetwork 51a, and network
`services provided by the existing local area network (LAN)
`58.
`The enterprise server acts as the primary manager of the
`services provided over the network. Enterprise channel/
`55 server software acts as a proxy for the servers 53, 54, 55
`directly attached to the network and for services existing on
`the local area network (LAN) 58. The enterprise client/
`server thus directs requests for services which it cannot
`provide otherwise. The enterprise client/server software
`60 provides the only means of accessing broadband information
`transferred via satellite. The servers 53, 54, 55 are used for
`illustrative purposes only to demonstrate the alternatives
`available in providing integrated broadband services. The
`enterprise client/server software is readily constructed using
`65 http server, proxy server, and browser technologies.
`Thus, apparatus for integrating satellite broadband data
`distributed over a cable TV network with legacy corporate
`
`IPR2022-00246 Page 00005
`
`

`

`6,011,548
`
`5
`local area networks has been disclosed. It is to be understood
`that the described embodiment is merely illustrative of some
`of the many specific embodiments which represent applica-
`tions of the principles of the present invention. Clearly,
`numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by
`those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of
`the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A broadband multimedia data distribution system com-
`prising:
`a satellite receiver for receiving a satellite feed and that
`includes RF and digital video broadcast demodulators;
`an enterprise server coupled to the satellite receiver for
`distributing broadband data content derived from the
`satellite feed and that forms a broadband subnetwork
`51a;
`network switching equipment coupled to the enterprise
`server;
`a router interconnecting the network switching equipment
`to a local area network;
`headend equipment coupled to the network switching
`equipment that comprises a cable modem terminating
`system, one or more upconverters coupled to the cable
`modem terminating system, a combiner coupled to the
`one or more upconverters, and a diplexer coupled to the
`combiner;
`a bidirectional cable transmission system interconnected
`between the diplex filter and a cable modem;
`
`10
`
`5
`
`6
`a personal computer coupled to the cable modem; and
`client and server software disposed on the enterprise
`server and personal computer that provide for access to
`broadband content, network services provided on the
`broadband subnetwork, and network services provided
`by the local area network.
`2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the network
`switching equipment comprises a fast Ethernet switch.
`3. The system 5 recited in claim 2 further comprising one
`or more additional network servers coupled to the network
`switching equipment.
`4. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more
`additional network servers comprises a network manage-
`is ment server.
`5. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more
`additional network servers comprises an ftp, mail and http
`server.
`6. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more
`20 additional network servers comprises a caching server.
`7. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the diplexer is
`coupled to the cable modem terminating system.
`8. The system 5 recited in claim 1 which provides one or
`more downstream data channels and one or more upstream
`25 return data channels over the cable transmission system.
`9. The system recited in claim 8 wherein the downstream
`data channels are approximately 6 MHz data channels.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`IPR2022-00246 Page 00006
`
`