Method and apparatus enabling synchronous transfer mode and packet mode access for multiple services on a broadband communication network
US5570355A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/6486
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
STM traffic, e.g. voice and video telephony (VT), as well as packet mode (e.g. ATM) traffic, e.g. broadcast digital video, interactive television, and data, are transmitted via a multiple access broadband fiber/coaxial cable network. Customer premises equipment (CPE) at stations, and a bandwidth controller, which may be at a head end or central office, with which all stations communicate, work together to adapt to the changing demands of the traffic mix, and efficiently allocate bandwidth to a variety of bursty and isochronous traffic sources. The bandwidth allocation defines two types of time slots, STM and ATM, and divides each frame into two corresponding STM and ATM regions. The boundary between the regions can be changed dynamically. A contention access signaling channel is provided in the STM region, for call control and set-up requests. Within the STM region, the time slots can be of variable length and be allocated on a per call basis; the length of the time slots is proportional to the bandwidth requirement of STM calls. Within the ATM region, the time slots are of fixed length, each capable of accommodating one ATM cell. Further, the fixed length ATM time slots may be res…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.