Control data over a ring network
US6570880B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/433
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A telecommunications network is provided. The network uses a ring of ring switches to provide a transport mechanism for data packets that is transparent to the data and protocols contained in the data packets. This transport mechanism is simple and low cost to implement. Such networks can carry, for example, control data between a primary site and secondary sites of a cable network to set up and deliver pay per view, video on demand or near video on demand programming. The network can also be used, in other embodiments, to provide remote access to utility meters, to centralize network management of the cable network, and other appropriate monitoring and control functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.