Patent US5956338A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5956338A
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Protocol for broadband data communication over a shared medium
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-09
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2016-07-09
Abstract
Abstract Network architectures and data communication protocols for supporting both downstream and upstream transport of digital data between a headend facility and multiple downstream network terminals over a shared communication medium include downstream framing protocols compatible with DVB modem transmission framing synchronization and FEC standards at the physical layer, which support a full range of 16 to 256 QAM transmission rates in both 6 MHz and 8 MHz channels. The downstream data frames are formed by one or more repeating pairs of DVB compatible frame slots, wherein each downstream frame is transmitted over the same interval, e.g., 250 usec in preferred formats, regardless of the number of DVB slot pairs it contains. All downstream frame rates are supported by a single upstream data rate. Upstream bandwidth is allocated based on a selected set of operating criteria and service type priorities, based on both a polling basis and a contention basis, on one or more in-band RF subcarrier channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Gihad Ghaibeh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2801; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5604; H04L2012/5606; H04L2012/5672
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; and a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by a shared communication medium, wherein the headend transmits successive DVB compatible downstream data frames over the shared communication medium, each downstream data frame including a bandwidth permit associated with a first upstream RF carrier channel ("first channel permit"), wherein the downstream data frames each comprise one or more pairs of DVB slots each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; and a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by a shared communication medium, wherein the headend transmits successive DVB compatible downstream data frames over the shared communication medium, each downstream data frame including a bandwidth permit associated with a first upstream RF carrier channel ("first channel permit"), wherein the downstream data frames each comprise one or more pairs of DVB slots each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication network of claim 1, wherein a first ATM cell comprises an expansion MAC channel, the expansion channel including the first channel permit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communication network of claim 2, wherein the expansion MAC channel further comprises collision indicator information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication network of claim 1, wherein downstream data frames are serially transmitted by the headend in successive 250 usec intervals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication network of claim 1, wherein each downstream data frame comprises two pairs of DVB slots, the two pairs of DVB slots collectively comprising a first plurality of MAC control bytes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The communication network of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of MAC control bytes include the first channel permit, the first channel permit having a permit type field, a call ID field and a permit ID field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication network of claim 6, wherein the plurality of MAC control bytes alternately further comprise a first OAM data field or a collision indicator data field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The communication network of claim 7, wherein each downstream data frame further comprises a third pair of DVB slots which collectively comprise a second plurality of MAC control bytes, the second plurality of MAC control bytes alternately comprising a second OAM data field or a bandwidth permit associated with a second upstream RF carrier channel ("second channel permit"), the second channel permit includes a permit type field, a call ID field and a permit ID field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The communication network of claim 8, wherein each downstream data frame further comprises a fourth pair of DVB slots which collectively comprise a third plurality of MAC control bytes, the third plurality of MAC control bytes alternately comprising a third OAM data field or a bandwidth permit associated with a third upstream RF carrier channel ("third channel permit"), the third channel permit including a permit type field, a call ID field and a permit ID field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The communication network of claim 1, wherein one or more of the network terminals periodically transmits upstream data over the shared medium, each upstream data transmission including a response from the respective network terminal to a received upstream bandwidth permit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication network of claim 10, wherein a respective network terminal response periodically comprises a request for further upstream communication bandwidth over a selected RF carrier channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication network of claim 10, wherein upstream data transmissions from one or more network terminals form successive upstream data frames received by the headend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication network of claim 10, wherein upstream data frames are received serially by the headend in successive 250 usec intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; a shared communication medium; a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by the shared communication medium, wherein DVB compatible downstream data frames are serially transmitted by the headend over the shared communication medium every 250 usec, each downstream data frame comprising two or more pairs of DVB slots, each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data, the collective MAC control data of each downstream data frame carrying at least one upstream bandwidth permit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; a shared communication medium; a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by the shared communication medium, wherein DVB compatible downstream data frames are serially transmitted by the headend over the shared communication medium every 250 usec, each downstream data frame comprising two or more pairs of DVB slots, each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data, the collective MAC control data of each downstream data frame carrying at least one upstream bandwidth permit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The communication network of claim 14, wherein one or more of the network terminals periodically transmits upstream data over the shared medium, with upstream data transmissions from one or more network terminals form successive upstream data frames received by the headend.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication network of claim 15, wherein upstream data frames are received serially by the headend in successive 250 usec intervals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communication network of claim 14 wherein the shared communication comprises a coaxial distribution network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication network of claim 14, wherein a first ATM cell comprises an expansion MAC channel, the expansion channel including an upstream bandwidth permit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; a shared communication medium; a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by the shared communication medium, wherein downstream data frames are serially transmitted by the headend over the shared communication medium every 250 usec, each downstream data frame comprising two or more pairs of 204 byte DVB slots, each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of 53 byte ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data, the collective MAC control data of each downstream data frame carrying at least one upstream bandwidth permit, and wherein one or more of the network terminals periodically transmits upstream data over the shared medium, with upstream data transmissions from one or more network terminals form successive 68 byte upstream data frames serially received by the headend every 250 usec.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
134 words
A communication network, comprising: a headend; a shared communication medium; a plurality of network terminals connected to the headend by the shared communication medium, wherein downstream data frames are serially transmitted by the headend over the shared communication medium every 250 usec, each downstream data frame comprising two or more pairs of 204 byte DVB slots, each DVB slot pair comprising a plurality of 53 byte ATM data cells and also comprising MAC control data, the collective MAC control data of each downstream data frame carrying at least one upstream bandwidth permit, and wherein one or more of the network terminals periodically transmits upstream data over the shared medium, with upstream data transmissions from one or more network terminals form successive 68 byte upstream data frames serially received by the headend every 250 usec.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |