Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2003-10-28
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S217000, C370S353000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06640239
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to Computer and communication networks and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for an intelligent scalable switching network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The explosive growth of the Internet and the world wide web's increasing multimedia content is placing great demand on the telco local loop infrastructure. The advent of Internet telephony coupled with the increasing need for video services, such as video conferencing, video mail, video on demand, and Television over IP, promises to grow into an unprecedented market opportunity An integrated telecommunications device capable of supporting Internet telephony, high speed Internet access, next generation video services, and data communications is urgently needed to expand broadband residential and remote services. The present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing an intelligent scalable switching network. In one aspect, the present invention is an apparatus comprising a unified Internet portal server (UIP Server) having multi-line capability, and a unified Internet portal client (UIP Client) incorporating functionality of a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) DSL Modem, wherein the UIP Client is capable of communicating with the UIP Server via a network to provide a service to a subscriber using the UIP Client. According to the invention, the UIP server comprises a single server chassis incorporating all of a plurality of processing elements. In addition, the UIP Server is located remote from a Subscriber Location (SL) and is capable of providing a plurality of services using a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). The UIP Client is located at the SL and is capable of deploying DSL capability.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing an intelligent scalable network. According to the invention, the method comprises (a) providing, at a location remote from a Subscriber Location (SL), a unified Internet portal server (UIP Server) having multi-line switching capability, wherein the UIP Server is capable of providing a plurality of services using a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL); (b) incorporating all of a plurality of processing elements within a single UIP Server chassis; (c) providing, at a Subscriber Location (SL), a unified Internet portal client (UIP Client), wherein the UIP Client is capable of deploying DSL capability; (d) incorporating functionality of a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) DSL Modem in the UIP Client; and (e) providing for communication of the UIP Client to the UIP Server via a network, whereby the UIP Server is capable of providing a service to a subscriber using the UIP Client.
As discussed more fully below, use of the present invention allows for many features and advantages, depending on the configuration of the various embodiments of the present invention.
1. Incorporation of a Digital Cross Connect Functionality Within a Single Server Chassis
One of the innovative characteristics of an embodiment of the present invention is that a multi-line switching capability is incorporated. The incorporation of the multi-line switching capability gives this embodiment the capability of effecting a digital cross connect functionality within a single server chassis of the present invention. The digital cross connect functionality enables it to statistically multiplex the subscriber side interface in an efficient manner.
The digital cross connect capability relies on the principal that only a few subscribers need to actively be on the network at a given time, whereas a larger number of subscribers would at some time like to have connectivity to the network. The advantage of the over-subscription due to the digital cross connect is that the service provider is able to provide dial up connectivity to the network for a larger pool of subscribers, then he would be able to achieve with a dedicated connection methodology.
2. Multi-DSL per Line Capability
Embodiments of the present invention incorporate a multi-DSL configurational capability on a per line basis. A number of different types of DSL exist including but not limited to, SDSL which is Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, ADSL which is Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, IDSL which is ISDN based Digital Subscriber Line. Each of these different DSL technologies have different characteristics, such as what bandwidth they can sustain, what reach they are able to accomplish DSL, and what line coding methodologies they use. For example, HDSL is a high bit rate DSL. VDSL is a higher speed based DSL. Each different DSL type addresses different requirements for different subscribers. One of the advantages of having a per line multi-DSL architecture is that the service provider is able to provide a wider selection of services to a broader customer base and thereby increase his own business viability.
Prior art methodology deploys multi-DSL capability within a chassis framework only. Within prior art there is a common chassis based connectivity and different line cards capable of supporting different DSL standards, such as SDSL, ADSL, VDSL, HDSL or IDSL, plug into the chassis on a line card basis. A given line card supports either a specific DSL standard or may support more than one DSL standard. The innovation within the current invention is that the Multi-DSL support is on a per line basis, thus unlike the prior art, a given subscribers line interface can be configured for any of the DSL standards under software configurational control.
In the prior art, a given line is configured for only one of the DSL standards. Therefore, prior art chasses steer the data from the various line cards to achieve a Multi-DSL capability on a chassis basis. One of the limitations of the prior art architectural design is that multiple types of linecards are required to deploy multiple services. Another limitation is that the multi-DSL capability is not a per line Multi-DSL in that a given subscriber line is specifically configured to the a single DSL flavor. Another limitation of the prior-art architectural design is that since a subscriber is either a SDSL, or an ADSL or another DSL standard so that re-provisioning to the subscribers DSL Standard requires service provider intervention.
The present invention deploys Multi-DSL capability on a per line basis. The present invention accomplishes the per line Multi-DSL by utilizing a more flexible front end that is simultaneously capable of addressing the needs of a number of DSL types. One specific embodiment of the current invention supports three specific DSL standards, namely, SDSL, ADSL, and IDSL. The current invention can then re-provision the line in a dynamic manner as required by the subscriber to any of the three DSL standards. The architecture of the present invention enables the subscriber to be able to deploy, for example, SDSL during the day, when perhaps its business needs require symmetric bandwidth, and, in the evening switch over to ADSL, when perhaps its requirements are asymmetric such as video on demand, broadcast TV type of applications. Another advantage of the per line basis multi-DSL capability of the present invention is that no service provider intervention is required for the dynamic provisioning and that this service capability can be re-provisioned by the subscriber based on his own changing needs and requirements.
3. Self Strapping in System Architecture
The architecture of one embodiment of the present invention is designed to be a self strapping architecture. One embodiment of the current invention incorporates a storage element, either in the form of a hard drive, semiconductor memory, or any other similar storage device. The storage element can either reside at the service provider premises or can alternatively reside remotely from the service provider premises by use of a wide area storage area network. The storage element holds the configurational capabilities and the initialization parameters for the operation of the present
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Garuda Network Corporation
Maung Zarni
LandOfFree
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