Dynamic channel assignment for TCP/IP data transmitted via cable television channels by managing the channels as a single sub network

#The invention relates to data communication and more particularly to data communication via cable television systems.

#One known high-speed data communication system capable of data rates of 10 Mega bits per second is the asymmetric system of Moura et al. described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,304, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The system of Moura et al. transmits digital information in the form of packets to any remote location such as a home, school, or office using standard cable television practices and components. FIG. 1 shows such a system 100 that has an end user PC 104 with an IEEE 802.2 interface 106 connected to the Remote Link Adapter (RLA) 108 via coaxial cable 110. RLA 108 acts as a router for the PC 104. The RLA 108 supports a coaxial connection 112 for downstream data delivery to PC 104 and a telephone modem connection 114 for upstream user signaling and control. As shown in FIG. 1, data packets addressed to PC 104 are routed to a network router 120, where the data packets are transformed into a 6 MHz RF carrier signal compatible with NTSC television standards. The data is then distributed over a conventional cable network. However, this known asymmetric system 100 is for a single user system and a data rate that did not require more than a single cable channel having a maximum of 6 Mhz.

#The system of Moura et al is not readily expandable to provide service to multiple users both from a bandwidth point of view and from an address point of view. Further, simply providing each of multiple users with a channel assignment and a unique internet protocol address typically leads to needless duplication of routing and related hardware and inefficient allocation of bandwidth among multiple channels. If a channel is actually assigned more users than it can service at one time, at a heavy usage time a user that is pre-assigned to one channel may not be allowed access to that channel because of usage, while a second channel may actually be under utilized. Thus, there is a need in the art for a multiple user high speed data system that does not require duplication of hardware and which can load share among multiple channels to use bandwidth efficiently.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a known data delivery system.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data delivery system with dynamic channel assignment and management according to the present invention.

#Referring now to FIG. 2, a data delivery system 200 is shown. The system 200 connects data service providers 300.sub.1 -300.sub.N to single user data units 230.sub.1 -230.sub.m, which are end users. The data service providers 300.sub.1 -300.sub.N may be providing online data services such as text, stock quotes, multimedia, video games, etc.

#Data service providers 300.sub.1 -300.sub.n, are connected to an internet protocol (IP) network 204 and can send and receive data packets thereby. Also connected to internet protocol network 204 is a multiplexing platform 210. Multiplexing platform 210 receives data packets in internet protocol and multiplexes and modulates them into one of a number of frequency channels. In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiplexing platform 210 modulates the data packets received from the IP network 204 into one of two or more 6 megahertz wide television compatible channels. The modulation used is compatible with existing television signal equipment, so the modulated data packets are distributed using the same equipment as cable or free space broadcast television signals. Three channels 212, 213, and 214 are shown, but any number greater than two is considered within the scope of the invention. Channels 212, 213, and 214 are transported via a common media 216, such as CATV cable, optical fiber, or even free space.

#Common media 216 is connected to remote link adapters (RLAs)220.sub.1 -220.sub.M, which may be independent units such as 220.sub.1, or may be part of another unit. Each RLA 220.sub.1 -220.sub.M demodulates and demultiplexes the data packets on the one of the channels 212, 213, or 214 to which it is tuned. Each RLA 220.sub.1 -220.sub.M is channel agile and may be tuned in response to a signal from the head end bandwidth manager 240 to any channel 212, 213, or 214. RLA 220.sub.1 converts the demodulated data packets into a IEEE 802.2 protocol data packets and forwards the data packets to the single user data unit 230.sub.1, which may be a data terminal, a work station, a personal computer, or some other type of data equipment. The RLAs 220.sub.2 -220.sub.M are part of single user data units 230.sub.2 -230.sub.M, thus RLAs 220.sub.2 -220.sub.M demodulate and demultiplex data packets on their respective channels and transmit these packets directly to single user data units 230.sub.2 -230.sub.M via respective internal buses. Different RLAs may be dynamically configured to use different amounts of channel bandwidth, e.g., 150 kbps, 300 bps, etc. Once the data packets reach their respective single user data units 230.sub.1 -230.sub.M, the data packets may be treated as any other data packet. So, to a great extent, the intermediate stages between data service providers 300.sub.1 -300.sub.N and single user data units 230.sub.1 -230.sub.M are transparent to the data packets.