US5608447A — Full service network

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, and one or more video bridging devices which provide duplicate copies of output signals from said one or more sources of video information to a plurality of distribution components.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, and one or more video bridging devices which provide duplicate copies of output signals from said one or more sources of video information to a plurality of distribution components.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 97 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 97 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The network of claim 2 in which said ATM video switch includes a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) controller controlled by said gateway.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The network of claim 3 in which the first gateway means initiates a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber by communicating with said PVC controller.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 98 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which said subscriber interface comprises an optical network unit (ONU).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 98 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which said subscriber interface comprises an optical network unit (ONU).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The network of claim 5 in which the optical network unit is connected to said distribution component by one or more optical fibers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The network of claim 6 in which the optical fibers operate in accordance with SONET standards.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The network of claim 5 in which data is sent from said distribution component to said ONU, and the data is synchronous data in ATM cell format.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The network of claim 5 in which data is sent from said distribution component to said optical network unit in one or more dedicated time slots for each subscriber end device serviced by the ONU.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The network of claim 5 in which a connection between the ONU and a subscriber is coaxial cable or twisted pair or both.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The network of claim 5 in which a power source at the ONU powers the ONU and subscriber end devices.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The network of claim 9 in which the subscriber end device is a digital entertainment terminal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The network of claim 9 in which the ONU services a wireless network node.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The network of claim 13 in which the wireless network node is a personal communication service network node.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 121 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more information servers; an ATM video switch; one or more optical network units; one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said optical network units; one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective ones of said optical network units; a level 1 gateway, with a port on said ATM switch; and a signalling network connecting digital entertainment terminals to the level 1 gateway via respective optical network units; whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway to obtain services of the information servers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 121 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more information servers; an ATM video switch; one or more optical network units; one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said optical network units; one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective ones of said optical network units; a level 1 gateway, with a port on said ATM switch; and a signalling network connecting digital entertainment terminals to the level 1 gateway via respective optical network units; whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway to obtain services of the information servers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The network of claim 15 in which said distribution switch is a digital cross-connect switch.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 80 words

A network for distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of digitized video information; a distribution component providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting said one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface providing each subscriber a communication connection to said distribution means; means authorizing establishment of connection between a source of video information and a subscriber interface through said distribution component.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 80 words

A network for distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of digitized video information; a distribution component providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting said one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface providing each subscriber a communication connection to said distribution means; means authorizing establishment of connection between a source of video information and a subscriber interface through said distribution component.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The network of claim 17 wherein the means authorizing establishment of a connection further includes a signalling network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The network of claim 17 in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 121 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more information servers; an ATM video switch; one or more subscriber interface units; one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said subscriber interface units; one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective ones of said subscriber interface units; a level 1 gateway, with a port on said ATM switch; and a signalling network connecting digital entertainment terminals to the level 1 gateway via respective subscriber interface units; whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway to obtain services of the information servers.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 121 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more information servers; an ATM video switch; one or more subscriber interface units; one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said subscriber interface units; one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective ones of said subscriber interface units; a level 1 gateway, with a port on said ATM switch; and a signalling network connecting digital entertainment terminals to the level 1 gateway via respective subscriber interface units; whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway to obtain services of the information servers.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 122 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch, and in which a PVC controller is connected via a level 1 gateway to a signalling network capable of transmitting signalling to the PVC controller.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 122 words

A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of video information; one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means; a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway, in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch, and in which a PVC controller is connected via a level 1 gateway to a signalling network capable of transmitting signalling to the PVC controller.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 13 words

The network of claim 21 in which the signalling network is X.25 network.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 93 words

A network for distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of digitized and compressed video information; a distribution component providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting said one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface providing each subscriber a communication connection to said distribution means; means authorizing establishment of connection between a source of video information and a subscriber interface through said distribution component, in which the source interface includes a network of ATM switches.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 93 words

A network for distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising: one or more sources of digitized and compressed video information; a distribution component providing the information to a plurality of subscribers; a source interface for connecting said one or more sources of video information to said distribution component; a subscriber interface providing each subscriber a communication connection to said distribution means; means authorizing establishment of connection between a source of video information and a subscriber interface through said distribution component, in which the source interface includes a network of ATM switches.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 35 words

The network of claim 23 in which the subscriber interface receives channel selection signals from the subscriber and extracts data from the distribution component which corresponds to the channel selected for transmission to the subscriber.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system of claim 24, further comprising: a second source of digitized video information; means for formatting digitized video information from said second source and as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells; and means for controlling said ATM network so as to selectively route information from said first source to a first one of the digital entertainment terminals and to selectively route information from said second source to a second one of the digital entertainment terminals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-03-03	2000-09-02	2001-03-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-03-03	2004-09-02	2005-03-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-03-03	2008-09-02	2009-03-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Full service network

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