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AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsMichael F Grant, Igor K Czajkowski, Brian M Unitt
Estimating the term…
A communication system (10) supports the provision of a plurality of dedicated communication resources (50–64), such as copper drops, RF links and optical fibers, to dedicated home-gateway devices (44–48) or distribution points (124). The communication resources (50–64) support broadband interconnection (104) between the dedicated home-gateway devices (44–48) or distribution points (124) and an access multiplexor (30) in a network (12). Each gateway device (44–48) or distribution point (124) generally includes a local RF transceiver (84) and associated control logic (80–82) that allows local communication (86) between gateway devices (44–48) and hence statistically multiplexed access (60–64, 89) to multiple communication resources, thereby providing increased bandwidth in uplink and/or downlink directions. With the control logic (80) operable to provide a routing and prioritisation/arbitration function, each gateway (44–48) is able to selectively engage use of supplemental, non-reserved communication resources usually associated with a dedicated ono-to-one connection between the access network (12) and at least one secondary gateway. Physical layer access to information routed via a secondary gateway within a virtual neighborhood network (90–92) comprising several gateways is restricted through an end-to-end encryption algorithm between an originating gateway and, at least, the access multilpexor (30).
A communication system comprising a core network coupled over multiple isolated connections to a plurality of distribution gateways each providing network access capacity to local data devices serviceable thereby, at least some of the plurality of distribution gateways interconnected through communication resources and wherein said interconnected distribution gateways each includes:
A virtual neighbourhood network comprising a plurality of interconnected distribution gateways each providing network access capacity to associated data equipment via a combined communication resource, at least some of the plurality of interconnected distribution gateways coupled, in use, to a core network through an isolated connection and wherein each of said interconnected distribution gateways has:
A method of providing broadband access to a core network coupled over multiple isolated connections to a plurality of distribution gateways each providing network access capacity to associated data equipment, the method comprising:
A home-gateway providing network access, in use, to at least one of an associated local area network and an associated data device, the home-gateway being connectable, in use, to at least one other home-gateway having access to a core network via a first isolated connection, the home-gateway comprising:
A computer program product for a home-gateway that controls broadband connection to a core network over isolated communication resources, the computer program product comprising:
A method of generating a charge against a subscriber obtaining broadband access to a core network through isolated connections between a plurality of interconnected distribution gateways each supporting data equipment, the subscriber being affiliated with a particular distribution gateway, and wherein the method comprises:
A computer program product generating a charge against a subscriber obtaining broadband access to a core network through isolated connections between a plurality of interconnected distribution gateways able to support data communication devices, the subscriber being affiliated with a particular distribution gateway, the computer program product comprising:
Network control equipment responsive to multiple isolated connections to a plurality of home-gateways each providing network access capacity to local data devices serviceable thereby, at least some of the plurality of home-gateways interconnected through communication resources and wherein said interconnected home-gateways each secure network access via multiple isolated connections, the network control equipment comprising:
A method of communicating data packets between a network that is coupled to a plurality of distribution gateways through multiple isolated connections, each of the plurality of distribution gateways providing network access capacity to local data devices serviceable thereby, at least some of the plurality of distribution gateways interconnected through communication resources and wherein said interconnected distribution gateways secure network access via multiple isolated connections, the method comprising:
A method of generating a charge for provisioning network access to a first subscriber in a communication system in which a plurality of subscribers are able to obtain broadband access of varying bandwidth to a core network using multiple isolated connections between a plurality of interconnected distribution gateways and the network, the first subscriber being affiliated with a first distribution gateway interconnected to at least one other distribution gateway such that a combined broadband access capacity supported by the first distribution gateway and the at least one other distribution gateway can be shared therebetween, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.