Scalable multimedia network
US5864542A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/6489
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Scalable Multimedia Network providing integrated networking of data, voice, video and image services over a variety of access facilities including metallic loops, fiber/coax or digital fiber is disclosed herein. The SMN provides a broadcast switch using a tiered system of buses. Channel units are made to interface to a bus of any tier depending on bandwidth requirements of the particular channel units. The SMN is based on a distributed switching platform that enables carriers to economically provide service to a small number of customers and add capacity incrementally as the customer base increases. The platform has a protocol adaptation capability which permits communications between customer premises equipment and potentially incompatible backbone networks or network servers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.