Multi-channel support for virtual private networks in a packet to ATM cell cable system
US6917614B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5664
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A two-way cable network offering high-speed broadband communications delivered via virtual private networks over a multi-channel shared media system. Bi-directional transmission of packet to ATM cell based communications is established between a head end communication controller and a number of subscriber terminal units, whereby individual cells are prioritized and routed according to a virtual connection. Virtual connections are organized to support multiple virtual private networks in a shared media CATV system. The virtual private network to which a particular STU belongs is user selectable and has the flexibility of handling multi up/downstream channels with different MAC domains. The present invention can also handle non-ATM MAC domains via the same common ATM switch. To overcome the limited number of addresses inherent to common ATM switches, a mapping/remapping function is implemented in the port cards. Furthermore, downstream as well as upstream traffic are filtered at each STU. In one embodiment, information pertaining to downstream traffic is used to implement predictive scheduling in order to improve the timing associated with the request/grant cycle. In another embodime…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.