US6560221B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication path control device, communication path control method, and communication path control unit
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1998-03-06
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Granted: 2003-05-06
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Expires: 2018-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A data path control device with a first interface section for connecting to a LAN, second interface section for connecting to an external network through a small transmission capacity two-way line such as a telephone line, and third interface section for receiving a large capacity data from a large transmission capacity one-way line such as a satellite broadcast line. The data path control device changes the sender address of the data transmitted from a computer to a network based on a previously set correspondent relationship, thereby controls the path so that the large capacity data from the network is transmitted through the large transmission capacity one-way line. A path of the reply data from a network responsive to the request data from a computer outputted to an external network is selected by the computer side, and in the case that the reply data is composed of large capacity data, a satellite line having a large transmission capacity can be selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Hara
- 👤 Ichiro Kubota
- 👤 Yasuaki Yamagishi
- 👤 Noboru Fujii
- 👤 Akihiro Uetake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/25; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18578; H04B7/1858; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5691; H04L12/5692; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/161; H04L69/163; H04L69/166; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42607; H04N21/42615; H04N21/42623; H04N21/43; H04N21/436; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6137; H04N21/6143; H04N21/6156; H04N21/6187; H04N21/63; H04N21/64; H04N21/6402; H04N21/643; H04N21/64322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A communication path control device for controlling communication paths between a first network and a second network comprising: a first interface section for connecting to said first network, wherein said first network is a local area network; a second interface section for connecting to a first communication path for two-way data transfer with said second network, wherein said second network includes an internet; a third interface section for connecting to a second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path for one-way data transmission from said second network to said first network; and control means for selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for reply data responsive to an internet protocol packet transmitted from said first network to said second network through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and said control means selects data to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A communication path control device for controlling communication paths between a first network and a second network comprising: a first interface section for connecting to said first network, wherein said first network is a local area network; a second interface section for connecting to a first communication path for two-way data transfer with said second network, wherein said second network includes an internet; a third interface section for connecting to a second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path for one-way data transmission from said second network to said first network; and control means for selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for reply data responsive to an internet protocol packet transmitted from said first network to said second network through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and said control means selects data to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second communication path is a satellite broadcast line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second communication path is a cable television broadcast line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication path is a telephone line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control means selects said return path of said reply data by changing a sender address in said internet protocol packet transmitted from said local area network to a different address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising control information memory means for storing a previously set relationship between address information of said local area network and port number information, and between address information of said internet and said port number information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said different address is selected based on said sender address and stored address information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said different address is selected based on a port number of transmission control protocol/user data gram protocol of a sender and previously set port number information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said different address is selected based on said sender address and previously set address information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication path control device as claimed claim 5 , wherein said different address is selected based on a port number of transmission control protocol/user data gram protocol of a destination address and previously set port number information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said return path of said reply data is selected by changing a sender address in said internet protocol packet transmitted from said local area network and a port number of transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol to a different address and a different port number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising descrambling means for decoding scrambled multiplexed data by using a specific key.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication path control device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said specific key is specific to said communication path control device which releases said scrambled multiplexed data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
215 words
A communication path control method for controlling communication paths between a first network and a second network, comprising the steps of: transferring an internet protocol packet inputted from said first network through a first interface section to a second interface section, wherein said first network is a local area network; transferring said internet protocol packet from said second interface section to a first communication path formed for two-way data transmission with said second network, wherein said second network included an internet; outputting reply data responsive to said internet protocol packet to a third interface section through a second communication path formed for one-way transmission of data from said second network to said first network, said second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path; and selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for said reply data responsive to said internet protocol packet transmitted from said first network to said second network through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and data is selected to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
215 words
A communication path control method for controlling communication paths between a first network and a second network, comprising the steps of: transferring an internet protocol packet inputted from said first network through a first interface section to a second interface section, wherein said first network is a local area network; transferring said internet protocol packet from said second interface section to a first communication path formed for two-way data transmission with said second network, wherein said second network included an internet; outputting reply data responsive to said internet protocol packet to a third interface section through a second communication path formed for one-way transmission of data from said second network to said first network, said second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path; and selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for said reply data responsive to said internet protocol packet transmitted from said first network to said second network through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and data is selected to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the step of selecting said return path of said reply data by changing a sender address of said internet protocol packet to a different address.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising the step of selecting said different address based on said sender address and previously set address information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising the step of selecting said different address based on a port number of transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol of a sender and previously set port number information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising the step of selecting said different address based on a destination address and previously set address information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising the step of selecting said different address based on a port number of transmission control protocol/user data gram protocol of a destination and previously set port number information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The communication path control method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the step of selecting said return path of said reply data by changing a sender address in said internet protocol packet transmitted from said first network and a port number of transmission control protocol/user data gram protocol of a sender to another address and another port number respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
232 words
A communication path control unit for controlling communication paths between a local area network and an internet comprising: a first interface section having a first connection section for connecting to said local area network; a second interface section having a second connection section for connecting to a first communication path for two-way data transmission with said internet; a third interface section having a third connection section for connecting to a second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path for one-way data transmission from said internet to said local area network; reception means for receiving satellite broadcast data inputted to said third interface section; control information memory means for storing a previously set relationship between address information of said local area network and port number information, and between address information of said internet and port number information; and control means for selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for reply data responsive to an internet protocol packet transmitted from said local area network to said internet through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and said control means selects data to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
232 words
A communication path control unit for controlling communication paths between a local area network and an internet comprising: a first interface section having a first connection section for connecting to said local area network; a second interface section having a second connection section for connecting to a first communication path for two-way data transmission with said internet; a third interface section having a third connection section for connecting to a second communication path having a transmission capacity larger than said first communication path for one-way data transmission from said internet to said local area network; reception means for receiving satellite broadcast data inputted to said third interface section; control information memory means for storing a previously set relationship between address information of said local area network and port number information, and between address information of said internet and port number information; and control means for selecting one of said first communication path and said second communication path as a return path for reply data responsive to an internet protocol packet transmitted from said local area network to said internet through said first communication path, wherein data transferred from said second network through said second communication path is data generated by multiplexing a plurality of data addressed to a plurality of destinations, and said control means selects data to be received with reference to a destination address in a packet of multiplexed data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said second communication path is a satellite broadcast line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said second communication path is a cable television broadcast line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said first communication path is a telephone line.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said control means selects said return path of said reply data by changing a sender address in said internet protocol packet transmitted from said local area network to a different address based on said previously set relationship between said address information of said local area network and said port number information, and between said address information of said internet and said port number information stored in said control information memory means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said first connection section and said second connection section are connectable to a telephone line, and said third connection section is connectable to a coaxial cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising a fourth connection section for connecting external setting means for setting an external setting terminal means to change a setting of said control information memory means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said internet protocol address of a computer connected to said local area network is set using a dynamic host configuration protocol.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The communication path control unit as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said control means sets a reception frequency and a packet identifier for a signal inputted from a satellite line through said third connection section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |