US 6,208,656 B1 · Methods for dynamically assigning link addresses and logical network addresses

Abstract

An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line. It further saves IP addresses by assigning a non-unique IP address to the router for use inside the LAN. When the CATV system fails, the asymmetrical network automatically begins to use the telephone line as both the up link and the down link, and when the CATV system is restored, the asymmetrical network automatically returns to using the CATV cable as the down link and the telephone line as the up link. A further feature of the asymmetrical network is that the head end components and the RF modem have IP addresses, so that standard TCP/IP protocols can be used to control the asymmetrical network.

Claims68

Dependent claims

A method employed in an RF (radio frequency) modem for dynamically assigning a link address on an RF cable connection for said RF modem, the link address being used for communication of messages on said RF cable connection, the method comprising the steps performed in said RF modem of:

requesting assignment via a bidirectional link for said link address by sending information including at least one specifier for said RF cable connection to a head end;
and
receiving from said head end via the bidirectional link information including said link address, said link address uniquely identifying said RF modem within said RF cable connection.

A method employed in a first RF (radio frequency) modem, the method for obtaining an automated, dynamic assignment of a first link address, the method comprising the steps performed in the first RF modem of:

requesting assignment of the first link address for the first RF modem, the assignment request made by sending first information to at least one server, the first RF modem being one of a plurality of RF modems that are connected to a data network, the data network comprising an RF cable connection, the plurality of RF modems being connected to the RF cable connection, the first link address being one of a plurality of link addresses for the RF cable connection, each RF modem of the plurality of RF modems being uniquely identified in the RF cable connection responsive to being associated with at least one link address of the plurality of link addresses for the RF cable connection;
and
receiving second information from the at least one server, the second information comprising the first link address, the first RF modem being associated with the first link address to uniquely identify the first RF modem in the RF cable connection.

An apparatus for obtaining an automated, dynamic assignment of a first link address for a first RF (radio frequency) modem, the apparatus comprising:

logic configured to request assignment of the first link address for the first RF modem, the assignment request made by sending first information to at least one server, the first RF modem being one of a plurality of RF modems that are connected to a data network, the data network comprising an RF cable connection, the plurality of RF modems being connected to the RF cable connection, the first link address being one of a plurality of link addresses for the RF cable connection, each RF modem of the plurality of RF modems being uniquely identified in the RF cable connection responsive to being associated with at least one link address of the plurality of link addresses for the RF cable connection;
and
logic configured to receive second information from the at least one server, the second information comprising the first link address, the first RF modem being associated with the first link address to uniquely identify the first RF modem in the RF cable connection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for dynamically assigning link addresses and logical network addresses

Life of this patent

Methods for dynamically assigning link addresses and logical network addresses

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims68