`Thacker
`
`US00601-1548A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,011,548
`Jan. 4, 2000
`
`54 SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING SATELLITE
`BOARDBAND DATA DISTRIBUTED OVERA
`CABLE TV NETWORK WITH LEGACY
`CORPORATE LOCAL AREANETWORKS
`
`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. Cl." ............................... H04N 7/00; H04N 7/14;
`HO4H 1/100
`52 U.S. Cl. .............................. 345/327; 348/12; 348/13;
`348/10; 455/3.2; 455/3.1; 455/5.1
`58 Field of Search ....................... 395/200.47; 345/327;
`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
`
`5,499,046 3/1996 Schiller et al. ........................... 348/12
`5,594,490
`1/1997 Dawson et al. .
`... 348/12
`53 R.C.E."
`O.S:
`2Y-112
`OSCSI C al. .......................
`5,870,134 2/1999 Laubach et al. .......................... 348/12
`5,893,024 4/1999 Sanders et al. ........................... 348/12
`5,923,379 7/1999 Patterson ................................. 34.8/565
`Primary Examiner Nathan J. Flynn
`ASSistant Examiner Vivek Srivastava
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Kenneth W. Float
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A broadband multimedia data distribution system that inte
`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 5/1991 Filmer ..................................... 455/185
`5,130,803
`7/1992 Kurita et al...
`... 455/182
`
`9 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`50
`Ya
`
`SATELLITE
`FEED
`
`56
`
`ROUTER
`
`NETWORK
`
`57
`
`58
`
`FAST
`ETHERNET
`SWITCH
`
`
`
`UPCONVERTER
`(OPTIONAL)
`
`62
`
`
`
`COMBINER
`
`51
`
`RF/DVB
`DEMOD
`
`52 ENTERPRISE
`SERVER
`
`53- NETWORK
`MANAGEMENT
`SERVER
`
`54
`
`FTP, MAIL,
`HTTP SERVER
`
`CACHING
`SERVER
`
`67
`
`66
`
`CABLE
`CLIENT
`
`MEDIATEK EX. 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 4, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 2
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`6,011,548
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`MEDIATEKEX. 1008
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`MEDIATEK EX. 1008
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
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`6,011,548
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`6,011,548
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`1
`SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING SATELLITE
`BOARDBAND DATA DISTRIBUTED OVERA
`CABLE TV NETWORK WITH LEGACY
`CORPORATE LOCAL AREANETWORKS
`
`15
`
`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
`apparatus for integrating Satellite broadband data distributed
`over a cable TV network with legacy corporate local area
`networks.
`
`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
`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
`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
`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
`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.
`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
`used to integrate the Services of the broadband receiver and
`Server and the existing corporate LAN.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The various features and advantages of the present inven
`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
`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
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND
`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
`minimizing 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
`55
`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
`60
`(quadrature phase shift keying) and 16OAM, 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
`headend to the cable modem. MCNS uses a scheme based on
`variable-length packets that favors delivery of Internet Pro
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`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 11a (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 O: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
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`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
`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
`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
`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
`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
`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
`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
`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
`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/
`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
`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
`http Server, proxy server, and browser technologies.
`Thus, apparatus for integrating Satellite broadband data
`distributed over a cable TV network with legacy corporate
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`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. Abroadband 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
`
`1O
`
`15
`
`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;
`
`25
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`6,011,548
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`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
`ment SerVer.
`5. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more
`additional network Servers comprises an ftp, mail and http
`SCWC.
`6. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more
`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
`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.
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