Access subnetwork controller for video dial tone networks

In a network comprising:

• a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband information;
• an access subnetwork for distributing broadcast information signals to the user terminals;
• a method comprising:
• receiving a request to provide a connection for one broadcast information signal through the access subnetwork;
• allocating resources of the access subnetwork to the broadcast connection to broadcast the one broadcast information signal through at least a portion of the access subnetwork;
• receiving a request to add a predetermined one of the user terminals to the broadcast connection;
• in response to the request to add the predetermined user terminal, providing an instruction to at least one component of the access subnetwork to enable reception of the one broadcast information signal by the predetermined user terminal.

A method for controlling an access subnetwork comprising:

• receiving a request for communication with one of a plurality of user terminals;
• determining the availability of resources within an access subnetwork serving the user terminals for the requested communication and controlled by the access subnetwork controller;
• reserving available resources within the access subnetwork for the requested communication with the one user terminal;
• transmitting a reply message indicating that the resources are available for the requested communication with the one user terminal;
• and
• transmitting an instruction to at least one component of the access subnetwork to enable communication with the one user terminal through the reserved resources.

A network comprising:

• a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband information;
• an access subnetwork for distributing broadcast information signals to the user terminals;
• and
• an access subnetwork controller for:
• receiving a request to provide a connection for one broadcast information signal through the access subnetwork;
• allocating resources of the access subnetwork to the broadcast connection;
• receiving a request to add a predetermined one of the user terminals to the broadcast connection;
• in response to the request to add the predetermined user terminal, providing an instruction to at least one component of the access subnetwork to enable reception of the one broadcast information signal by the predetermined user terminal.

In a network comprising:

• a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband information;
• a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point communication sessions;
• an access subnetwork receiving broadcast information signals and distributing the broadcast information signals to authorized ones of the user terminals;
• an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork;
• and
• a gateway providing high level network control,
• a method, comprising:
• receiving a request for a dedicated communication with one of the user terminals at the access subnetwork controller from the gateway;
• determining the availability of resources within the access subnetwork for the requested communication;
• reserving available resources within the access subnetwork for the requested communication with the one user terminal;
• transmitting a reply message indicating that the resources are available for the requested communication with the one user terminal to the gateway, the reply message including at least one identifier associated with the reserved resources;
• receiving downstream transmissions from the gateway at an interface of the access subnetwork to a point-to-point connection with the backbone subnetwork;
• and
• transmitting an instruction to at least one component of the access subnetwork to enable transport of the downstream transmissions to the one user terminal through the reserved resources.

In a network comprising:

• a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband information;
• a plurality of information provider systems;
• a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point communication sessions;
• an access subnetwork receiving broadcast information signals and distributing the broadcast information signals to authorized ones of the user terminals;
• an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork;
• and
• a gateway providing high level network control,
• a method, comprising:
• receiving a request for a dedicated communication with one of the user terminals at the access subnetwork controller from the gateway;
• determining the availability of resources within the access subnetwork for the requested communication;
• reserving available resources within the access subnetwork for the requested communication with the one user terminal;
• transmitting a reply message indicating that the resources are available for the requested communication with the one user terminal to the gateway, the reply message including at least one identifier associated with the reserved resources;
• receiving downstream transmissions from one of the information provider systems at an interface of the access subnetwork to a point-to-point connection with the backbone subnetwork;
• transmitting an instruction to at least one component of the access subnetwork to enable transport of the downstream transmissions to the one user terminal through the reserved resources.