System, method, and apparatus for bidirectional transport of digital data between a digital network and a plurality of devices
AssigneeNext Level Communications
InventorsThomas R. Eames, Kenneth M. Buckland, Lac X. Trinh, Steven D. Warwick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Digital data is transported bidirectionally between a broadband network unit and devices. The data is transmitted in a series of frame intervals that include request slots and cell slots for transmission of ATM data. The request slots may be used by a device to request one or more cell slots. The broadband network unit determines which requests to grant. If the request is granted, the device may use the cell slot to transmit ATM data. In addition, the request slot can accommodate Time Division Multiplex data such as digital telephony.
Claims48
A system for bidirectional transport of digital services between a digital network and at least one network interface module, said system comprising:
- a broadband digital terminal attached to the network and capable of transferring data to and from the network;
- a broadband network unit attached to the broadband digital terminal and capable of transferring data to and from the broadband digital terminal, said broadband network unit comprising:
- means for accepting an upstream signal including a plurality of frame intervals, each frame interval configured to contain a plurality of request slots and a cell slot, with each network interface module being representable in at least one request slot and each request slot being capable of indicating a request for a cell slot without prior authorization from the broadband network for such a request;
- means for decoding the request;
- means for determining whether to grant the request;
- means for providing a downstream signal capable of indicating to the broadband digital terminal that the request is granted;
- and
- means for transferring data in response to the downstream signal.
In a bidirectional data transport system having a broadband digital terminal connected to a broadband digital network unit via a fiber optic connection, network interface devices and a shared media, wherein said network interface devices are connected to said broadband digital network unit via said shared media, and downstream and upstream frame intervals on said shared media containing at least one cell slot, wherein said downstream and upstream frame intervals have a fixed temporal relationship, a method for granting access to upstream cell slots within said upstream frame intervals comprising:
- transmitting a request for upstream data transport from one of said network interface devices over said shared media in a pre-allocated time slot in an upstream frame interval;
- receiving said request for upstream data transport at said broadband digital network unit;
- issuing a flow of grants in said downstream frame intervals wherein each of said grants controls use of an upstream cell slot by one of said network interface devices in a subsequent frame interval;
- and
- transferring data to said broadband digital network unit in response to said grants.
A bidirectional fiber-to-the-curb transport system for the transport of digital data comprising:
- a broadband digital terminal connected to a broadband digital network unit via a fiber optic connection;
- a shared media;
- network interface devices connected to said broadband digital network unit via said shared media;
- downstream and upstream frame intervals on said shared media containing at least one cell slot, wherein said downstream and upstream frame intervals have a fixed temporal relationship;
- means for transmitting a request for upstream data transport from one of said network interface devices over said shared media in a pre-allocated time slot in an upstream frame interval;
- means for receiving said request for upstream data transport at said broadband digital network unit;
- means for granting access to upstream cell slots within said upstream frame intervals by issuing grants in said downstream frame intervals, wherein each of said grants controls use of an upstream cell slot by one of said network interface devices in a subsequent upstream frame interval.
In a bidirectional fiber-to-the-curb transport system having a shared media, devices connected to said shared media, downstream and upstream frame intervals containing at least one cell slot, wherein said upstream and downstream frame intervals have a fixed temporal relationship, a system for granting access to upstream cell slots within said upstream frame intervals characterized by issuing grants in said downstream frame intervals wherein each of said grants controls use of a predetermined upstream cell slot by one of said devices in a subsequent upstream frame interval, said system comprising:
- means for encoding grants for transmission access to said upstream cell slot wherein said grants represent the type of access to said upstream cell slots;
- means for issuing grants in said downstream frame intervals wherein each grant corresponds to a predetermined upstream cell slot in a subsequent upstream frame interval;
- means for transmitting information from one of said devices in said predetermined upstream cell slot;
- means for receiving said information transmitted in said upstream cell slot;
- and
- means for acknowledging successful reception of said information transmitted in said upstream cell slot in an acknowledgement field contained within a subsequent grant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.