Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Computer network access regulating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-09-11
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Computer network access regulating
C709S238000, C713S152000, C348S086000, C714S712000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289381
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to communication systems for providing video and/or data services.
BACKGROUND ART
An existing service provider, which may be a video information provider, a data service provider, or a video and data provider, has a central office from which information is communicated to a network interface. For example, a coaxial cable may run from the office through a neighborhood, and have numerous physical drops that run into customer houses. The network interface, at the end of a physical drop, connects to a set top box that is used by the end user to select desired items for reception as video or data items.
In these existing systems, the provider's entire bandwidth of information is sent from the office, and is present at each physical drop. As such, the set top box or selection device has access to all of the bandwidth, and if desired may be programmed to allow or forbid access to certain portions of the entire bandwidth of information.
Although these existing systems have been employed in many video and/or data communication systems that have been commercially successful, there are inherent disadvantages in these types of systems. For example, because these systems send the entire bandwidth of information to each network interface, the provider may have to limit the amount of video and/or data available due to physical limitations of the physical drops. Further, because the entire bandwidth of information from the provider is available at the network interface, it may become difficult for the provider to prevent an end user from accessing information items such as, for example, pay-view channels, without paying. Still further, in addition to the disadvantages mentioned above, another disadvantage associated with these existing systems is that when an end user is unable to receive information over the network, it may be very difficult to isolate the source of the problem. That is, the problem may be at the central office, or anywhere along the communication path from the office to the network interface.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved video and data communication system that overcomes the problems and limitations of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a broadband communications system that utilizes profiles corresponding to the network interfaces such that a request for information at the network interface is checked against the corresponding profile to verify entitlement to the requested information.
In carrying out the above object, other objects, and features of the present invention, a broadband communication system is provided. The communication system comprises a broadband host digital terminal and a network interface. The host digital terminal connects to a network that is connected to at least one information source that sends information over the network to the host digital terminal. The network interface communicates with the host digital terminal to receive information therefrom. The network interface is configured such that a selection device may be connected to the network interface for selecting a desired information item for reception. The host digital terminal has a profile corresponding to the network interface. The profile indicates a limited set of entitled information items that the network interface is entitled to receive. The host digital terminal sends the desired information item to the network interface, upon request, when the desired information item is within the set of entitled information items.
Preferably, the host digital terminal forbids the desired information item when the desired information item is without the set of entitled information items. Still further, a preferred embodiment of the system further comprises a network unit between the host digital terminal and the network interface. The network interface is connected to the network unit. At least one additional network interface is connected to the network unit. As such, the host digital terminal has at least one additional profile corresponding to the at least one additional network interface.
In a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a test information source for connecting to the network to deliver test information to the host digital terminal. The test information is in the set of entitled information indicated by the profile that corresponds to the network interface. A testing selection device is capable of requesting the desired information item for reception as the test information. The test information may be video test information or data test information.
Further, in carrying out the present invention, a testing selection device for use in a broadband communications system is provided. The testing selection device is configured to connect to the network interface and is capable of requesting a desired information item from a test information source for reception at the network interface. The host digital terminal has a profile corresponding to the network interface. The profile is indicative of a limited set of entitled information items that the network interface is entitled to receive. The limited set includes information from the test information source and may further include information from an information source such as a video and/or data provider. The host digital terminal sends the desired information item to the network interface with the desired information item is within the set of entitled information items. As such, the testing selection device allows an end user to access information from the test information source to help isolate any existing problems that may be occurring.
Still further, in carrying out the present invention, a method for managing a communication system including a broadband host digital terminal in communication with at least one information source is provided. A network interface in communication with the host digital terminal receives information therefrom. A selection device may be connected to the network interface for requesting a desired item for reception. The method comprises establishing a profile at the host digital terminal, and upon receiving a request for a desired information item, sending the desired information item to the network interface when the desired information item is within a limited set of entitled information items. The profile corresponds to the network interface and is indicative of the limited set of entitled information items that the network interface is entitled to receive. Preferably, the limited set includes information from the at least one information source and information from a test information source. A standard selection device may be connected to the network interface for requesting a desired information item from the at least one information source for reception. Preferably, the method further comprises providing a testing selection device configured to connect to the network interface and capable of requesting a desired information item from the test information source for reception at the network interface.
The advantages associated with the embodiments of the present invention are numerous. For example, embodiments of the present invention utilize profiles corresponding to the network interfaces so that information need only be sent to the network interface upon request thereof. Further, the requested information may be checked against the profile corresponding to the particular network interface prior to sending the requested information to the network interface. Because embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need to have the entire bandwidth of a provider available at the network interface, an end user may have increased options for selecting different providers and services. Further, preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize video and data test information sources configured as their own service providers separate from the video information providers and data service providers such that problems with receiving informa
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Dinh Dung C.
Qwest Communications International Inc.
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