US5651005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and methods for supplying continuous media data over an ATM public network
Assignee: Adeia Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1996-03-15
•
Granted: 1997-07-22
•
Expires: 2016-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Described herein is an ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to a public ATM network and to a plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is configured to supply respective portions of a continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network. To request a particular continuous data stream, an end-point device sends a request to a controller associated with the data handlers, rather to each of the individual data handlers. The controller in the preferred embodiment is a dedicated computer, although it is also possible to designate one of the data handlers to perform the functions of the controller. In response to receiving a request from an end-point device, the controller establishes a multipoint-to-point virtual connection between the end-point device and the data handlers which will supply portions of the requested continuous data stream. The switch port selected to establish the virtual connection with the end-point device is configured as the user side of a standard ATM user-to-network interface (UNI), and its ATM address is used as the calling party address in establishing the virtual connection with the end-point device. Once the connections are established, the data handlers begin supplying their data portions. The ATM switch merges these data portions into a single data stream and supplies it to the requesting end-point device through the single virtual connection between the ATM switch and the end-point device.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy C. Kwok
- 👤 Yoram Bernet
- 👤 John R. Douceur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/30; H04L49/25; H04L49/253; H04L49/3081; H04L49/35; H04L49/355; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5614; H04L2012/5616
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request: establishing respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers to the ATM switch; establishing a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected one of the switch ports of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in establishing the single ATM virtual connection; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from individual data handlers over the respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers; merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request: establishing respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers to the ATM switch; establishing a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected one of the switch ports of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in establishing the single ATM virtual connection; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from individual data handlers over the respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers; merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1 and further comprising selecting the selected one of the switch ports based on its available bandwidth relative to other switch ports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, the selected switch port implementing the user side of a standard ATM public user-to-network interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing respective ATM virtual connections comprises sending individual requests to the ATM switch corresponding to the respective data handlers.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
277 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request from the requesting end-point device, sending one or more multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response: selecting one of the switch ports from among the plurality of switch ports of the ATM switch; sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from the selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; establishing respective ATM virtual connections from individual data handlers to the ATM switch; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from the individual data handlers over said respective ATM virtual connections; the ATM switch merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
277 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request from the requesting end-point device, sending one or more multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response: selecting one of the switch ports from among the plurality of switch ports of the ATM switch; sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from the selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; establishing respective ATM virtual connections from individual data handlers to the ATM switch; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from the individual data handlers over said respective ATM virtual connections; the ATM switch merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of selecting the switch port is based on the available bandwidth of the switch port relative to other switch ports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of selecting the switch port is performed by the ATM switch based on the available bandwidth of the switch port relative to other switch ports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating the selected switch port in at least one of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 5, the selected switch port implementing the user side of a standard ATM public user-to-network interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating a requested cell rate in at least one of multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating a requested cell rate and a derating factor in at least one of multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating in each of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages a requested cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating in each of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages a requested peak cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating in each of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages a requested sustainable cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating in each of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages a requested peak cell rate and a requested sustainable cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers, the requested sustainable cell rate being less than the requested peak cell rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising designating in each of the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages the ATM addresses of the data handlers, the ATM switch performing the step of establishing the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers to the ATM switch.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
383 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request from the requesting end-point device, signaling individual data handlers to supply their respective portions of the individual data stream to the requesting end-point device; in response to said signaling, each data handler sending a multipoint-to-point connection setup message to the ATM switch, said connection setup message specifying an ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response to each such message: establishing an ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the ATM switch; if the specified virtual connection to the requesting end point device is not yet established, sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; establishing an ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the ATM switch; mapping the established ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the established ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device; sending respective portions of the continuous data stream from the sending data handlers to the ATM switch over the ATM virtual connections from the sending data handlers; merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports, the virtual connection to the end-point device appearing to the end-point device as a standard ATM point-to-point connection from a single ATM end-point.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
383 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers and to a public ATM network, each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a data request at a single ATM address from a requesting end-point device, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to receiving said data request from the requesting end-point device, signaling individual data handlers to supply their respective portions of the individual data stream to the requesting end-point device; in response to said signaling, each data handler sending a multipoint-to-point connection setup message to the ATM switch, said connection setup message specifying an ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response to each such message: establishing an ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the ATM switch; if the specified virtual connection to the requesting end point device is not yet established, sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; establishing an ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the ATM switch; mapping the established ATM virtual connection from the sending data handler to the established ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device; sending respective portions of the continuous data stream from the sending data handlers to the ATM switch over the ATM virtual connections from the sending data handlers; merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports, the virtual connection to the end-point device appearing to the end-point device as a standard ATM point-to-point connection from a single ATM end-point.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 17 and further comprising selecting said selected switch port of the ATM switch based on the available bandwidth of the switch port relative to other switch ports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 17 and further comprising selecting said selected switch port of the ATM switch to balance the loads of the respective switch ports.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 17 and further comprising selecting said selected switch port of the ATM switch by determining which of the switch ports has the lowest loading.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 17, said selected switch port of the ATM switch implementing the user side of a standard ATM public user-to-network interface.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers, to a controller associated with the data handlers, and to a public ATM network; each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: sending a data request from a requesting end-point device to the controller, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to said data request, sending one or more multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch, the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages specifying the ATM addresses of the individual data handlers and the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response: establishing respective ATM virtual connections from individual data handlers to the ATM switch; selecting one of the switch ports from among the plurality of switch ports of the ATM switch; sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from the selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from the individual data handlers over said respective ATM virtual connections; the ATM switch merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports, the virtual connection to the end-point device appearing to the end-point device as a standard ATM point-to-point connection from a single ATM end-point.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of supplying a continuous data stream from a plurality of data handlers through an ATM switch, the ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the data handlers, to a controller associated with the data handlers, and to a public ATM network; each data handler being configured to supply respective portions of the continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network, the method comprising the following steps: sending a data request from a requesting end-point device to the controller, said data request including the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; in response to said data request, sending one or more multipoint-to-point connection setup messages to the ATM switch, the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages specifying the ATM addresses of the individual data handlers and the ATM address of the requesting end-point device; the ATM switch receiving the multipoint-to-point connection setup messages and in response: establishing respective ATM virtual connections from individual data handlers to the ATM switch; selecting one of the switch ports from among the plurality of switch ports of the ATM switch; sending a connection setup message to establish a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from the selected switch port of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in the connection setup message; sending respective portions of a continuous data stream from the individual data handlers over said respective ATM virtual connections; the ATM switch merging the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the requesting end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports, the virtual connection to the end-point device appearing to the end-point device as a standard ATM point-to-point connection from a single ATM end-point.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein the step of selecting the switch port is performed based on the available bandwidth of the switch port relative to other switch ports.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein the step of selecting the switch port is performed to balance the loads of the respective switch ports.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein the step of selecting the switch port selecting is performed by determining which of the switch ports has the lowest loading.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 22, the selected switch port implementing the user side of a standard ATM public user-to-network interface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising designating in the multipoint-to-point connection setup message a requested peak cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising designating in the multipoint-to-point connection setup message a requested peak cell rate and a requested sustainable cell rate for the respective ATM virtual connections from the individual data handlers, the requested sustainable cell rate being less than the requested peak cell rate.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for supplying a continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through a public ATM network, comprising: an ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the public ATM network; a plurality of data handlers that cooperate to supply the continuous data stream, each data handler being connected to communicate through the ATM switch; a controller connected to communicate with the public ATM network, the controller having an ATM address; the controller being configured to receive a data request directed to the ATM address of the controller from the requesting end-point device, wherein in response to receiving said data request the controller (a) establishes respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers to the ATM switch; and (b) establishes a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected one of the switch ports of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in establishing the single ATM virtual connection; the ATM switch being configured to merge the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for supplying a continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through a public ATM network, comprising: an ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to the public ATM network; a plurality of data handlers that cooperate to supply the continuous data stream, each data handler being connected to communicate through the ATM switch; a controller connected to communicate with the public ATM network, the controller having an ATM address; the controller being configured to receive a data request directed to the ATM address of the controller from the requesting end-point device, wherein in response to receiving said data request the controller (a) establishes respective ATM virtual connections from the data handlers to the ATM switch; and (b) establishes a single point-to-point ATM virtual connection from a selected one of the switch ports of the ATM switch to the requesting end-point device, said selected switch port having its own ATM address which is used as the calling party address in establishing the single ATM virtual connection; the ATM switch being configured to merge the respective virtual connections from the data handlers into the single point-to-point ATM virtual connection to the end-point device, wherein the requesting end-point device receives the single continuous data stream over the single ATM virtual connection from the selected one of the switch ports.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 29 wherein one of the data handlers is configured to function as the controller.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the controller is external to the ATM switch.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to choose the selected switch port based on the available bandwidth of the switch port relative to other switch ports.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the selected switch port implements the user side of a standard ATM public user-to-network interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |