Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-03-06
Olms, Douglas W. (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198744
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication systems and methods for providing video and data services.
BACKGROUND ART
In a very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system, an existing information provider, which may be a video information provider, a data information provider, or a video and data information provider, typically connects to a central office with a direct connection: Typically, a bidirectional connection is needed for the data traffic between the information provider and the central office and two unidirectional connections are needed for the video traffic from the information provider to the central office. For the information provider to provide services to multiple central offices, additional direct connections to the additional central offices must be provided.
Because each information provider, with existing techniques, must arrange to have their own physical connections to each central office that service is provided to, it becomes difficult and expensive for an information provider to serve a lot of different central offices over a wide area.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a VDSL communication system and associated method that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system and associated method that uses an optical ring as a point of entry for an information provider.
In carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate subscriber line (VDSL) communication system. The communication system includes an optical ring having a plurality of multiplexers. An information provider is connected to the optical ring via a first one of the multiplexers. The information provider includes an ATM core switch operable with the first one of the multiplexers for transmitting data and video signals on to the optical ring and for receiving data signals from the optical ring. A central office is connected to the optical ring via a second one of the multiplexers. The central office includes an ATM edge switch operable with the second one of the multiplexers for receiving data and video signals from the information provider via the optical ring and for transmitting data signals to the information provider via the optical ring.
Preferably, the central office further includes a plurality of host digital terminals connected to the ATM edge switch for receiving video and data signals from the information provider and for transmitting data signals to the information provider. The ATM edge switch demultiplexes a data signal received from the optical ring via the second one of the multiplexers into multiple data signals and then provides a respective data signal to each one of the plurality of host digital terminals. Each one of the plurality of host digital terminals provides a data signal to the ATM edge switch. The ATM edge switch statistically multiplexes the data signals from the plurality of host digital terminals into a single data signal and then provides the single data signal to the second one of the multiplexers for transmission of the single data signal through the optical ring to the information provider.
Preferably, the central office further includes an optical splitter operable with the second one of the multiplexers for connecting the central office to the optical ring. The optical splitter splits a video signal received from the optical ring into multiple video signals and then provides a respective video signal to each one of the plurality of host digital terminals.
Preferably, the central office further includes a public, education, and government (PEG) video channel generator for generating a PEG video signal. The ATM edge switch receives a video signal from the optical ring and then integrates the PEG video signal into the received video signal. The ATM edge switch provides the integrated video signal to the optical splitter which splits the video signal received from the ATM edge switch into multiple video signals and then provides a respective video signal to each one of the plurality of host digital terminals.
Further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides another ATM based VDSL communication system. This communication system includes an optical ring having a plurality of multiplexers. An information provider is connected to the optical ring via a first one of the multiplexers. The information provider includes an ATM core switch operable with the first one of the multiplexers, for transmitting data and video signals on to the optical ring and for receiving data signals from the optical ring. Each of a plurality of central offices is connected to the optical ring via a respective one of the multiplexers. Each of the plurality of central offices includes an ATM edge switch operable with the respective one of the multiplexers for receiving video and data signals from the information provider via the optical ring and for transmitting data signals to the information provider via the optical ring.
Still further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides a method for using an ATM based VDSL communication system. The method includes connecting a plurality of multiplexers to an optical ring. An information provider is then connected to the optical ring via a first one of the multiplexers to transmit data and video signals on to the optical ring via an ATM core switch and to receive data signals from the optical ring via the ATM core switch. An ATM edge switch of each of a plurality of central offices is then connected to the optical ring via a respective one of the plurality of multiplexers to receive video and data signals from the information provider via the optical ring and to transmit data signals to the information provider via the optical ring.
The advantages of the present invention are numerous. For instance, embodiments of the present invention allow an information provider to communicate with a plurality of central offices through a single optical ring. The central offices are configured to transform video and data signals from the information provider into multiple signals for use by host digital terminals. The central offices are also configured to statistically multiplex, i.e., concentrate, multiple data signals from the host digital terminals into a single data signal for transmission to the information provider via the optical ring. The central offices are further configured to integrate a local public, educational, and government video signal into a video signal received from the information provider for use by the host digital terminals.
Further, embodiments of the present invention allow multicasting from an information provider to the central offices. Utilization of multicasting allows for the transmission of a single source, such as a video source, to multiple destinations via the optical ring. Embodiments of the present invention may be configured to provide switched virtual connections. Switched virtual connections allow a customer connected to a host digital terminal to select video information in real time, and may even be configured with features such as pause, rewind, and fast forward.
Still further, embodiments of the present invention may be configured to allow the ATM edge switches at the central offices to statistically multiplex data signals received from the host digital terminals for transmission to the optical ring. Similarly, the ATM core switch at the information provider may be configured to statistically demultiplex data signals for transmission to the optical ring. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous in that the optical ring may be used to define a point of entry into an ATM network for information
Campbell Kurt
Cave Clinton L.
Huggins Joseph P.
Nevelle James W.
Phillips Bruce A.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Olms Douglas W.
Qwest Communications International Inc.
Vanderpuye Ken
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