U.S. patent number 5,650,994 [Application Number 08/441,590] was granted by the patent office on 1997-07-22 for operation support system for service creation and network provisioning for video dial tone networks.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kathleen Daley.
United States Patent |
5,650,994 |
Daley |
July 22, 1997 |
Operation support system for service creation and network
provisioning for video dial tone networks
Abstract
An operational support system includes service creation, service
activation and service control functions to provide on-line service
activation for video information providers (VIPs) and video
information users (VIUs) on a video dial tone network. The
operational support system provides an open interface for VIPs to
remotely provision network resources by remotely accessing and
requesting changes in corresponding VIP profiles, stored in the
operational support system, in order to add/delete VIP subscribers,
update event schedules, and/or to download billing and usage
statistics. The operational support system processes the remote
request by verifying the request data with internal subscriber
databases, comparing the request with available network inventory,
and provisioning network resources by generating requests to
network elements to establish the new service. The operational
support system also is adapted to perform network creation
functions including initial network configuration, logical
assignment of network elements, initializing network element
systems, assignment of work orders for physical interconnections,
and performance verification of installed systems.
Inventors: |
Daley; Kathleen (Manassass,
VA) |
Assignee: |
Bell Atlantic Network Services,
Inc. (Arlington, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
23753496 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/441,590 |
Filed: |
May 16, 1995 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/259;
348/E7.071; 370/401; 709/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
49/201 (20130101); H04L 49/206 (20130101); H04L
49/3081 (20130101); H04L 49/355 (20130101); H04N
7/17318 (20130101); H04L 65/605 (20130101); H04L
65/4076 (20130101); H04L 29/06027 (20130101); H04L
49/253 (20130101); H04L 2012/5605 (20130101); H04L
2012/5606 (20130101); H04L 2012/561 (20130101); H04L
2012/5619 (20130101); H04L 2012/563 (20130101); H04L
2012/5642 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
12/56 (20060101); H04N 7/173 (20060101); H04L
29/06 (20060101); H04L 012/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;370/259,271,395,401
;348/6,7,9,10,12,13,434,435,465,467,468 ;364/514A ;395/200.1
;455/3.1,4.1,4.2,5.1,6.3,15 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Marcelo; Melvin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lowe, Price, LeBlanc &
Becker
Claims
I claim:
1. A communication network for transporting information for
subscribers including a plurality of information providers and a
plurality of information users, the communication network
comprising:
a backbone subnetwork capable of providing point-to-point two-way
communication for interactive data along assigned virtual
paths;
an access subnetwork for distributing interactive and broadcast
information to said information users, comprising:
(a) a plurality of node hubs, each receiving a consolidated
broadcast signal and comprising first means for integrating said
received broadcast signal with a corresponding local-source
broadcast signal in accordance with first provisioning data and
outputting a localized broadcast signal,
(b) a plurality of end offices arranged in groups, each of said
groups receiving said localized broadcast signal from a
corresponding one of said node hubs, each one of said end offices
comprising second means for integrating said received localized
broadcast signal with interactive data designated for a specified
subscriber served by said corresponding end office and being
supplied to said one end office by said backbone subnetwork, said
second means outputting said designated interactive data on an
assigned local transmission path corresponding to said specified
subscriber, said integrated localized broadcast signal and said
designated interactive data on said assigned local transmission
path being output as a local distribution signal generated in
accordance with end office provisioning data,
(c) means for distributing said local distribution signal including
said designated interactive data to terminal devices of said
information users served by said one end office, and
(d) an access subnetwork controller controlling routing of said
integrated localized broadcast signal and said designated
interactive data throughout said access subnetwork, said access
subnetwork controller assigning said assigned local transmission
path in response to a session request and in accordance with access
subnetwork provisioning data including said first provisioning data
and said end office provisioning data;
a broadcast subnetwork comprising:
(1) a broadcast consolidation section for consolidating incoming
data streams from respective information providers, in accordance
with a translation table, into the consolidated broadcast signal,
and
(2) fiber optic means for transporting said consolidated broadcast
signal to said node hubs;
a control subnetwork for controlling said transport of said
information for said subscribers in accordance with said
provisioning of network resources, said control subnetwork
outputting control signals to said access subnetwork controller and
said backbone subnetwork in response to subscriber service
requests; and
an operational support system, interfaced at least to the control
subnetwork, for provisioning network resources in accordance with
activation requests from said subscribers to obtain said assigned
virtual paths, said first provisioning data, said subnetwork
provisioning data, and said translation table.
2. A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said backbone
subnetwork comprises a PVC controller storing data defining said
assigned virtual paths, said assigned virtual paths comprising
dedicated virtual paths to each of said node hubs, each of said end
offices, said access subnetwork controller, said broadcast
consolidation section and said control subnetwork, said dedicated
virtual paths being provisioned by said operational support
system.
3. A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said operational
support system generates a profile of each of said subscribers in
response to corresponding service requests.
4. A network as recited in claim 3, wherein said operational
support system comprises a subscriber interface adapted to receive
remote provisioning information from said subscribers, said
operational support system updating said corresponding subscriber
profile in response to said remote provisioning information.
5. A network as recited in claim 4, wherein said operational
support system downloads at least a portion of said subscriber
profile to said control subnetwork.
6. A network as recited in claim 5, wherein said control subnetwork
generates an information provider selection menu in accordance with
said downloaded portion of said subscriber profile.
7. A network as recited in claim 6, wherein said downloaded portion
of said subscriber profile comprises an events schedule listing
future events broadcast by said information providers.
8. A network as recited in claim 7, wherein said control subnetwork
outputs an access control setup message to said access subnetwork
controller in accordance with said events schedule, said access
subnetwork controller in response thereto supplying to said control
subnetwork an access acknowledgement signal including connection
block descriptors.
9. A network as recited in claim 8, wherein said control subnetwork
updates said events schedule with said connection block descriptors
and outputs to said operational support system an event setup
acknowledgement signal including said connection block descriptors,
said operational support system updating said subscriber profile
for said information provider with said events schedule including
said connection block descriptors.
10. A network as recited in claim 9, wherein said subscriber
interface enables access to said profile of said information
provider by said information provider to retrieve said connection
block descriptors.
11. A network as recited in claim 5, wherein said downloaded
portion of said subscriber profile comprises an events schedule
listing future events broadcast by said information providers.
12. A network as recited in claim 11, wherein said control
subnetwork outputs an access control setup message to said access
subnetwork controller in accordance with said events schedule, said
access subnetwork controller in response thereto supplying to said
control subnetwork an access acknowledgement signal including
connection block descriptors.
13. A network as recited in claim 12, wherein said control
subnetwork updates said events schedule with said connection block
descriptors and outputs to said operational support system an event
setup acknowledgement signal including said connection block
descriptors, said operational support system updating said
subscriber profile for said information provider with said events
schedule including said connection block descriptors.
14. A network as recited in claim 13, wherein said subscriber
interface enables access to said profile of said information
provider by said information provider to retrieve said connection
block descriptors.
15. A network as recited in claim 12, wherein said access
subnetwork further comprises encryption means, said access
subnetwork controller outputting a user decryption signal in
response to said access control setup message, said encryption
means in response thereto downloading decryption keys to a group of
said information users authorized to receive said future events,
respectively.
16. A network as recited in claim 11, wherein said downloaded
portion of said subscriber profile further comprises an information
user profile.
17. A network as recited in claim 16, wherein said information user
profile comprises a network address, a digital entertainment
terminal address, and subscription information identifying at least
one of the information providers.
18. A network as recited in claim 16, wherein said information user
profile is updated in response to an on-line service request by
said corresponding information user to subscribe to a new
information provider, said control subnetwork in response thereto
uploading said updated user profile to said operational support
system.
19. A network as recited in claim 18, wherein said operational
support system supplies said updated user profile to said new
information provider via said subscriber interface.
20. A network as recited in claim 4, wherein said control
subnetwork uploads billing and usage statistics to said operational
support system, said operational support system supplying said
billing and usage statistics to said corresponding information
providers via said subscriber interface.
21. A network for transporting broadband data for subscribers
including a plurality of information providers and plurality of
information users each having digital entertainment terminals,
comprising:
a control subnetwork for controlling setup and tear-down of
broadband communication paths, said control subnetwork adapted to
access a level 2 gateway to provide connection requests to said
information providers;
a backbone subnetwork for providing point-to-point, two-way
communication sessions for broadband interactive multimedia
communications signals throughout said network, said backbone
subnetwork adapted to provide said broadband communication sessions
between at least one of said information users and said level 2
gateway, said backbone subnetwork comprising a virtual circuit
controller for maintaining communication paths during said
communication sessions;
a broadcast subnetwork for consolidating a plurality of broadcast
information signals from information providers and distributing
said consolidated broadcast information signals throughout a
serving area of said network;
an access subnetwork receiving said consolidated broadcast
information signals from said broadcast subnetwork and said
broadband interactive multimedia communications signals from said
backbone subnetwork for transmission to said digital entertainment
terminals, and transmitting signals from said digital entertainment
terminals to said backbone subnetwork, said access subnetwork
comprising an access subnetwork controller controlling the access
subnetwork in response to an access control message from said
control subnetwork, to provide two-way communications between said
at least one information user and said level 2 gateway and to
control access by the digital entertainment terminals to the
consolidated broadcast information signals; and
a service creation and activation system outputting network
creation messages for said control subnetwork, said backbone
subnetwork, said broadcast subnetwork, and said access subnetwork,
said service creation and activation system generating an
assignable inventory database in accordance with acknowledgements
of said network creation messages, said service creation and
activation system provisioning network resources from said
inventory database in response to a service activation request for
a subscriber.
22. A network as recited in claim 21, wherein said virtual circuit
controller stores data defining said assigned virtual paths, said
assigned virtual paths comprising dedicated virtual paths to said
access subnetwork controller, said broadcast subnetwork and said
control subnetwork, said dedicated virtual paths being provisioned
by said service creation and activation system.
23. A network as recited in claim 21, wherein said service creation
and activation system comprises a subscriber database storing a
profile of each of said subscribers in generated by provisioning of
said network resources from said inventory database in response to
corresponding service requests.
24. A network as recited in claim 23, wherein said service creation
and activation system comprises a subscriber interface adapted to
receive remote provisioning information from said subscribers, said
operational support system comprising means for updating said
corresponding subscriber profile in response to said remote
provisioning information.
25. A network as recited in claim 24, wherein said service creation
and activation system downloads at least a portion of said
subscriber profile to said control subnetwork via said backbone
subnetwork.
26. A network as recited in claim 25, wherein said downloaded
portion of said subscriber profile comprises an events schedule
listing future events broadcast by said information providers.
27. A network as recited in claim 26, wherein said control
subnetwork outputs an access control setup message to said access
subnetwork controller in accordance with said events schedule, said
access subnetwork controller in response thereto supplying to said
control subnetwork an access acknowledgement signal including
connection block descriptors.
28. A network as recited in claim 27, wherein said control
subnetwork updates said events schedule with said connection block
descriptors and outputs to said service creation and activation
system an event setup acknowledgement signal including said
connection block descriptors, said service creation and activation
system updating said subscriber profile for said information
provider with said events schedule including said connection block
descriptors.
29. A network as recited in claim 28, wherein said subscriber
interface enables access to said profile of said information
provider by said information provider to retrieve said connection
block descriptors.
30. A network as recited in claim 26, wherein said downloaded
portion of said subscriber profile further comprises an information
user profile.
31. A network as recited in claim 30, wherein said information user
profile comprises a network address, a digital entertainment
terminal address, and subscription information identifying at least
one of the information providers.
32. A network as recited in claim 30, wherein said information user
profile is updated in response to an on-line service request by
said corresponding information user to subscribe to a new
information provider, said control subnetwork in response thereto
uploading said updated user profile to said subscriber database
stored in said service creation and activation system.
33. A network as recited in claim 32, wherein said service creation
and activation system supplies said updated user profile to said
new information provider via said subscriber interface.
34. In a network serving a plurality of subscribers including
information providers and information users having digital
entertainment terminals, wherein the network comprises:
a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point communication
sessions and having a virtual circuit controller controlling
establishment of said sessions throughout the backbone
subnetwork,
a broadcast subnetwork distributing broadband data from information
providers throughout a serving area of said network,
an access subnetwork receiving said broadband data from said
broadcast subnetwork and downstream signals of said sessions and
distributing said received broadband data and downstream signals to
said digital entertainment terminals of said information users, and
receiving upstream signals from said digital entertainment
terminals and supplying to said backbone subnetwork, said access
subnetwork comprising an access subnetwork controller controlling
said access subnetwork,
a control subnetwork controlling data transport throughout said
network, and
an operational support system comprising an assignable inventory
database;
a method comprising the steps of:
(1) receiving at said operational support system a subscriber
activation request;
(2) establishing a connection between the network and a subscriber
at a network interface;
(3) assigning a logical address to said connection;
(4) provisioning bandwidth on at least one digital channel from
said assignable inventory database in accordance with said
subscriber activation request and generating corresponding
bandwidth assignment information;
(5) outputting from said operational support system an activation
request, comprising said logical address and said bandwidth
assignment information, to said control subnetwork;
(6) outputting from said control subnetwork connection said
bandwidth assignment information to said access subnetwork
controller;
(7) defining within said access subnetwork controller connection
paths throughout said access subnetwork in accordance with said
bandwidth assignment information and outputting connection block
descriptors from said access subnetwork controller to said control
subnetwork, said connection block descriptors identifying said
connection paths;
(8) outputting from said operational support system broadcast
provisioning data to said broadcast subnetwork controller in
accordance with said subscriber activation request;
(9) returning acknowledgement messages to said operational support
system;
(10) creating a subscriber profile in said operational support
system in response to said acknowledgement messages; and
(11) outputting from said operational support system a subscription
acknowledgement to said subscriber.
35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said step (5)
comprises the steps of:
receiving transport information from said subscriber identifying a
new video information user subscribing to said subscriber;
establishing a video information user profile comprising a video
information user address; and
outputting at least a part of said video information user profile
to said control subnetwork including said video information user
address, wherein said bandwidth assignment information includes
user-assigned bandwidth.
36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein said user-assigned
bandwidth comprises upstream signaling channel bandwidth,
downstream signaling channel bandwidth, and broadcast channel
bandwidth, said step (7) comprising the steps of:
assigning default signaling channels for said upstream and
downstream channel bandwidth; and
outputting said assigned default signaling channels to said control
subnetwork as at least a part of said connection block
descriptors.
37. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said step (7) further
comprises the steps of:
supplying said video information user address to the digital
entertainment terminal corresponding to said new video information
user;
connecting said digital entertainment terminal corresponding to
said new video information user to said access subnetwork;
receiving from said digital entertainment terminal corresponding to
said new video information user said video information user address
via a network default signaling channel, said connection block
descriptors being output to said control subnetwork in response to
the reception of said video information user address via said
network default signaling channel.
38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
downloading from said control subnetwork to said digital
entertainment terminal corresponding to said new video information
user said assigned default signaling channels for said upstream and
downstream channel bandwidth.
39. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said subscriber
activation request comprises an event request, said step (4)
comprising the step of updating said subscriber profile with said
event request, said step (5) comprising the steps of:
receiving said event request at said control subnetwork;
updating event schedule databases in said control subnetwork with
said event request;
wherein said step (7) comprises the step of:
receiving an event access request from said control subnetwork;
establishing authorization tiers for portions of the event
corresponding to said event request; and
providing decryption keys to network interface modules
corresponding to authorized subscribers.
40. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising the steps
of:
supplying billing information corresponding to said event from said
control subnetwork to said operational support system; and
updating said subscriber profile with said billing information.
41. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said step (2)
comprises the step of receiving transport information identifying a
transport termination location at said network interface located at
said broadcast subnetwork.
42. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said step (8)
comprises the steps of:
supplying to said broadcast subnetwork point of interconnect
information identifying said connection at said network interface;
and
supplying a data stream translation table to said broadcast
subnetwork from said operational support system identifying data
stream identifiers assigned to said subscriber.
43. In a network serving a plurality of subscribers including
information providers and information users having digital
entertainment terminals, wherein the network comprises:
a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point communication
sessions,
a broadcast subnetwork distributing broadband data from information
providers throughout a serving area of said network,
an access subnetwork receiving said broadband data from said
broadcast subnetwork and downstream signals of said sessions and
distributing said received broadband data and downstream signals to
said digital entertainment terminals of said information users, and
receiving upstream signals from said digital entertainment
terminals and supplying to said backbone subnetwork, said access
subnetwork comprising an access subnetwork controller controlling
said access subnetwork,
a control subnetwork controlling data transport throughout said
network, and
an operational support system comprising an assignable inventory
database and a living unit database;
a method for activating an information user comprising the steps
of:
(1) receiving at said operational support system a user activation
request via a service provider interface, said user activation
request comprising a user identifier;
(2) accessing the living unit database to obtain a user connection
status corresponding to said user identifier;
(3) establishing a user profile including an assigned user network
address, and information from said user activation request and said
user connection status;
(4) assigning user premises installation in accordance with said
user connection status;
(5) provisioning bandwidth on at least one digital channel from
said assignable inventory database in accordance with said user
activation request and generating corresponding bandwidth
assignment information;
(6) outputting from said operational support system a user
connection request, comprising said assigned user network address
and said bandwidth assignment information, to said control
subnetwork;
(7) outputting from said control subnetwork connection said
bandwidth assignment information to said access subnetwork
controller;
(8) defining within said access subnetwork controller broadcast and
signaling paths throughout said access subnetwork in accordance
with said bandwidth assignment information and outputting
connection block descriptors from said access subnetwork controller
to said control subnetwork, said connection block descriptors
identifying said broadcast and signaling paths;
(9) returning acknowledgement messages to said operational support
system;
(10) generating in said operational support system an
acknowledgement to said user activation request.
44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said step (8)
comprises the steps of:
supplying said assigned user network address to the digital
entertainment terminal corresponding to said information user;
connecting said digital entertainment terminal corresponding to
said information user to said access subnetwork;
receiving from said digital entertainment terminal corresponding to
said information user said user network address via a network
default signaling channel, said connection block descriptors being
output to said control subnetwork in response to the reception of
said user network address via said network default signaling
channel.
45. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising the step of
downloading from said control subnetwork to said digital
entertainment terminal corresponding to said new video information
user said assigned default signaling channels for said upstream and
downstream channel bandwidth.
46. A communication network comprising:
a plurality of user terminals receiving and processing broadband
information;
a plurality of broadband information sources;
a backbone subnetwork providing point-to-point communication
sessions for interactive multimedia communications;
a backbone subnetwork controller controlling establishment of
point-to-point communication sessions through the backbone
subnetwork;
a broadcast subnetwork distributing broadband information signals
from at least one of the broadband information sources;
an access subnetwork providing dynamically allocated communications
between one of the user terminals and the backbone subnetwork, and
receiving broadcast information signals from the broadcast
subnetwork and distributing the broadcast information signals to
authorized ones of the user terminals;
an access subnetwork controller controlling the access subnetwork
to provide the communications between the one user terminal and the
backbone subnetwork and to control terminal authorizations for
reception of the broadcast information signals;
a gateway interacting with the backbone subnetwork controller, the
access subnetwork controller and the user terminals to control
set-up of at least some of the communications through the
communication network; and
an operational support system coupled to communicate with and
supply provisioning data to the backbone subnetwork controller, the
broadcast subnetwork, the access subnetwork controller and the
gateway for provisioning services through the network and
activating receipt of selected services through identified ones of
the user terminals.
47. A communication network as in claim 46, wherein the operational
support system includes means for providing an interface to a
control system of a service provider operating at least one of the
broadband information sources.
48. A communication network as in claim 46, wherein the operational
support system comprises:
a service provider database containing data relating to information
services provided by the broadband information sources;
a user database data relating to the users and specific information
services subscribed to be individual users.
49. A communication network as in claim 48, wherein the operational
support system further comprises an assignable inventory database
identifying available resources in the backbone subnetwork, the
broadcast subnetwork and access subnetwork.
50. A communication network as in claim 49, wherein the operational
support system further comprises a provisioning system for
processing data from the databases and in response thereto
supplying the provisioning data to the backbone subnetwork
controller, the broadcast subnetwork, the access subnetwork
controller and the gateway.
51. A communication network as in claim 46, wherein the operational
support system includes a backbone subnetwork interface for
providing communications links between the operational support
system and at least the access subnetwork controller and the
gateway.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to operational support systems for
use in switched information networks, such as video distribution
networks, for performing service creation and provisioning of video
dial tone services in order to provide subscribers with access to
multiple information service providers.
ACRONYMS
The written description and drawings use a large number of acronyms
to refer to various services and system components. Although
generally known, use of several of these acronyms is not strictly
standardized in the art. For purposes of this discussion, acronyms
therefore will be defined as follows:
Access Subnetwork (ASN)
Access Subnetwork Controller (ASNC)
Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL)
ATM cell Adaptation Unit (AAU)
ATM Packet Demultiplexer (APD)
Broadcast (BC)
Broadcast Consolidation Section (BCS)
Broadcast Service Area (BSA)
Carrier Access Billing System (CABS)
Cell Loss Priority (CLP) bit
Central Office (CO)
Customer Record Information System (CRIS)
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
Digital Cross-connect Switch (DCS)
Digital Entertainment Terminal (DET)
Drop and Continue (D/C)
Electrical to Optical (E/O)
Ethernet (ENET)
First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffers
Header Error Check (HEC) word
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Interactive Multimedia Television (IMTV)
Level 1 (L1)
Level 1 Gateway (L1GW)
Level 2 (L2)
Level 2 Gateway (L2GW)
Local Loop Distribution (LLD) network
Local Video Access Node (LVAN)
Media Access Control (MAC)
Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)
Network Interface Controller (NIM)
Network Interface Device (NID)
Operations and Support System (OSS)
Optical to Electrical (O/E)
Over-the-Air (OTA)
Packetized Elementary Streams (PES)
Payload Type (PT)
Pay-Per-View (PPV)
Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC)
Permanent Virtual Circuit Controller (PVCC)
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP)
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)
Point of Interconnect (POI)
Program Clock Reference (PCR)
Program Identification (PID) number
Public Access Channel (PAC)
Public Switched Network (PSN)
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
Quadrature Phase-Shift Keyed (QPSK) modulation
Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
Vestigial Sideband (VSB) modulation
Video Dial Tone (VDT)
Video Information Provider (VIP)
Video Information User (VIU)
Video Network Hub (VNH)
Video Provider Service Center (VPSC)
BACKGROUND ART
Distribution of full motion video data has evolved from early
television broadcasting to meet viewer demand. Earliest video
distribution was by point-to-point wiring between a camera and a
video monitor. This was followed by scheduled television
broadcasting of programming over the public air waves. In the
1960s, Community Antenna Television (CATV) was chartered to provide
off-air television signals to viewers in broadcast reception fringe
areas. Later, under FCC regulation, the CATV industry was required
to provide local access and original programming in addition to
off-air broadcast signal distribution.
In response, several sources of cable network programming were
established. Because of the wide bandwidth available on cable
television systems, additional channels were available for the new
programming. However, programming was generally prescheduled, with
the viewer left to tune to the designated channel at the appointed
time to view a particular program.
To increase revenues, cable television (CATV) systems have
initiated distribution of premium channels viewable only by
subscribers having appropriate descramblers. Typically, a
subscriber would telephone the CATV company and speak with a
customer service representative to order the service; a CATV
service technician would visit the subscriber's premises at an
appointed time to manually install a descrambler, after which time
the descrambler would be registered with the CATV company. Upon
activation of the descrambler, the subscriber would tune the
descrambler to receive a premium channel, descramble the video and
audio information and supply a signal capable of reception on a
standard television set. Pay-per-view programs, which evolved
later, include recently released movies, live concerts and popular
sporting events. Subscribers wishing to view a pay-per-view program
place an order with the cable operator. At the designated time, the
subscriber's descrambler is activated by some control from the
cable operator to permit viewing of the pay-per-view programming.
However, the subscriber is still restricted to viewing the
programming at the scheduled time. There is no capability of
delivering programming to a subscriber on demand, that is,
immediately or at a subscriber-specified time and date.
More recently, several different wideband digital distribution
networks have been proposed for offering subscribers an array of
video services, including true Video On Demand service. The
following U.S. Patents disclose representative examples of such
digital video distributions networks: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,275 to
Yurt et al., 5,132,992 to Yurt et al., 5,133,079 to Ballantyne et
al., 5,130,792 to Tindell et al., 5,057,932 to Lang, 4,963,995 to
Lang, 4,949,187 to Cohen, 5,027,400 to Baji et al., and 4,506,387
to Walter. In particular, Litteral et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,347
discloses a digital video distribution network providing
subscribers with access to multiple Video On Demand service
providers through the public switched telephone network, as
described in more detail below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,347 to Litteral et al., the disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated in its entirety into this disclosure by
reference, discloses an enhanced public switched telephone network
which also provides a video on demand service to subscribers over
the public switched telephone network. A menu of video programming
information is displayed at the subscriber's premises by a set-top
terminal and a TV set. The subscriber may transmit ordering
information via the public switched telephone network to the
independent video information providers. Video programming may be
accessed and transmitted to the subscriber directly from a video
information provider (VIP) or through a video buffer located at a
central office (CO) serving the subscriber.
Connectivity between the central office and the subscriber for
transmission of video data is provided by an asymmetrical digital
subscriber line (ADSL) system. ADSL interface units at the central
office multiplex digital video information with voice information
to be transmitted to the subscriber and support two-way
transmission between the subscriber's line and the X.25 packet data
network of one or more control channels. A complimentary ADSL
interface unit at the subscriber's premises separates downstream
video control signals and voice telephone signals from the line and
multiplexes upstream control signals and voice telephone signals
onto the line.
A subscriber can request transmission of video data using a
telephone instrument by dialing a Voice Response Unit (VRU) of a
video gateway device, through the voice telephone switch and
dialing in selection information. Alternatively, the user can
access the video gateway device and select a video using a remote
control device, the set-top terminal and the control signaling
channel through the network. The VIP's equipment identifies the
requested title and determines if the title is available.
If the title is found, the corresponding data file is opened and a
reserve idle communications port is identified for transmission of
the video data to an input node of a digital cross-connect switch
(DCS). The video data file is transmitted from the VIP's video
storage device, through the DCS, to the designated ADSL interfaces
for transmission to the requesting subscriber's premises. The ADSL
interface on the subscriber premises demultiplexes the broadband
program transmission off of the subscriber loop and applies the
digital data stream to a decoder unit in the set-top terminal. The
decoder unit decompresses the audio and video data, and converts
the digital audio and video to corresponding analog signals. The
decoder can supply baseband analog audio and video signals to a
television receiver, or these analog signals can be modulated to a
standard television channel frequency for use by the television
receiver.
Several recent proposals for video networks have relied on the
assumption that multiple video information providers and/or video
subscribers are already on-line as having access on the video
network. Such prior art video networks have not addressed the
manner in which the video information providers or video
subscribers are established as users of the video network. Further,
such prior art video network disclosures do not address the
procedure by which video information providers or video users are
provisioned on the network based upon existing capacity and
inventory. It would be desirable to provide a system which provides
efficient activation and provisioning techniques to establish video
information providers and video users on a video dial tone
network.
In addition, the prior art documents do not suggest an efficient
procedure for establishing new services on the network to be
supplied by video information providers, let alone accumulating the
usage data and billing for the switched network broadband
connectivity to multiple providers. Also, the prior art systems
have not addressed the need for the interactions of the end users
with the video dial tone network to be readily adaptable to end
user demands as well as the need to provide equal access to all of
the broadcast and interactive service providers available to each
end user. Thus a need clearly exists for an enhanced network
control and provisioning system, which is both efficient and highly
flexible to the needs of both the video information providers and
the video information users.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a
seamless, smooth approach for connecting video information users
(VIUs) and video information providers (VIPs) to a video dial tone
network by provisioning network resources and activating network
services for use by the VIUs and the VIPs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for
establishing a service profile for a VIP that identifies facilities
associated with providing the VIP services to a video information
user, including the access link between the VIP head end and the
video dial tone network point of interconnect (POI), the digital
broadcast channels available to the VIP within a serving area, and
the bandwidth reserved to the VIP for user-interactive
sessions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide in a video
dial tone network an operational support system (OSS) having a
common platform interface that enables VIPs to remotely provision
changes in the corresponding service profile on an as-needed basis
in order to accommodate changes in VIP services and event
scheduling. Such remote provisioning may also be used by the VIPs
to activate and deactivate video information users on the network
as authorized subscribers to the VIP services.
Another object of the present invention is to provide effective
techniques for providing billing and usage statistics to the
information service providers for the communication connectivity
services between the corresponding information service provider and
end users through a broadband network.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide efficient
techniques for informing subscribers of information service
providers available to them through the network, as well as event
schedules provided by the information service providers, and
responding to subscriber selections to establish communication
between subscribers and providers. This objective might include
development of enhanced techniques for offering subscriber menus of
available VIP's, and/or a VIP's menu of available services. In
addition, this objective might include techniques for on-line
activation of a video information user to a selected VIP, whereas
the video dial tone network includes a system to report to the
selected VIP that a video information user has been activated as a
subscriber to the VIP's services.
A further objective of the present invention is to develop enhanced
mechanisms to allow an end user to interact with a selective
connectivity broadband communication network to customize services
provided to that subscriber through the network.
Another objective of the invention is to provide enhanced control
over establishment of communications between a subscriber and a
particular information service provider, e.g. so that only
authorized subscribers of that provider can communicate and/or so
that subscribers can personally limit who can use their network
service to access a particular provider.
Another objective is to develop network provisioning means,
providing one or more of the required enhanced functionalities
discussed above, which is readily adaptable to use in a variety of
different types of video distribution networks.
The present invention provides a number of the detailed network
features needed to offer a truly effective video dial tone service.
In particular, the present invention provides a number of enhanced
network functionalities using an operational support system (OSS),
also referred to as a service creation and activation system, to
establish hardware and facilities necessary to enable user access
to a video dial tone network. Since a "user" of the video dial tone
network can be considered as either a video information provider
using the video dial tone network to transport information, or a
video information user using the video dial tone network to receive
selected information, the operational support system includes all
the functionality necessary to establish VIPs as service providers
and VIUs as information users on the network.
The operational support system is used as a common platform that
enables multiple information providers to maintain their respective
network profiles with respect to dynamic provisioning of assigned
network resources and facilities, updating VIP customer records,
establishing and maintaining event schedules for future broadcast
or IMTV events, and on-line requests for additional network
transport, e.g., purchases of additional channels. Thus, the
operational support system enables each VIP to provision changes
automatically in order to individually program the necessary
channel line-up, bit-rate, and bandwidth allocation.
The operational support system also provides billing and usage
statistics for the information providers, as well as information
regarding the video information users connected to the video dial
tone network. For example, the video dial tone network includes a
network control subnetwork comprising a Level 1 Gateway that
accumulates usage data for billing purposes. The operational
support system includes a billing system that processes the usage
data to bill the service provider for connect time for the
broadband communication links. The VIP's then bill their individual
subscribers. Alternatively, the billing system can process the
broadband usage information together with rate information from the
service providers to produce combined bills for direct billing to
the subscribers.
The operational support system includes a video provisioning system
that tracks available inventory as assignable for VIP services. The
video provisioning system receives information regarding inventory
established by network creation and tags the available inventory as
assignable inventory. In response to a service order from a video
information provider, for example during service activation, the
video provisioning system assigns a part of the assignable
inventory as equipment and/or facilities assigned to the requesting
VIP. The video provisioning system supplies the assignment
information to the Level 1 Gateway, and sends configuration
information to an Access Subnetwork Controller (ASNC) in order to
establish a communication path through the video dial tone network.
In addition, the operational support system includes means for
completing connections for requested services, so that any
requesting VIP or VIU can be connected for communication on the
video dial tone network. Thus, the operational support system
automatically activates available equipment after a VIP request in
order to automatically provide the requested video dial tone
services.
The operational support system provides equipment assignment
information to the Level 1 Gateway so that the Level 1 Gateway is
able to monitor communication paths throughout the network. The
Level 1 Gateway receives notification of the status of broadband
communications links as they are being set up and during ongoing
communications through those links. As a result, the Level 1
Gateway can inform a subscriber when a requested session can not be
set up with a selected service provider, i.e. because the
provider's server ports are all busy or because the subscriber is
not registered with the particular provider or due to some
technical problem. The Level 1 Gateway also recognizes when an
established link develops a fault or is interrupted and can stop
accumulating usage or billing data regarding that link. The Gateway
can also notify the OSS of the failure, so that the OSS may make
any reassignment of equipment to compensate for the failure.
The remote provisioning feature of the operational support system
enables a VIP to provision assigned network facilities for
predetermined broadcast services, also referred to as event loading
or event scheduling. For example, a VIP may arrange assigned
network facilities in order to accommodate advance order upcoming
broadcast pay-per-view events. The operational support system
acknowledges the VIP provisioning request and downloads
corresponding assignment information to the Level 1 Gateway and the
Access Subnetwork Controller that controls the signal paths through
the access subnetwork. At the time the event is to begin, the Level
1 Gateway will transmit appropriate notice to the ordering
subscriber's terminal. In response, the terminal may display the
notice to the subscriber or the terminal may automatically turn on
and/or tune to the appropriate communication link through the
broadcast network to obtain the ordered event. The interactive
features of the Level 1 Gateway also permit subscribers to specify
limitations they wish to place on their broadcast services, e.g.
total number of hours of usage within some defined interval and/or
time of day/week of permitted usage. The Level 1 Gateway will then
control the broadcast network and/or download the control
information to the subscriber's terminal, in accord with the limits
defined by the subscriber, to implement the specified
limitations.
The preferred video dial tone network serviced by the operational
support system provides an enhanced video dial tone capability,
allowing users to select services from an array of broadcast
services, as well as for point-to-point interactive services as
offered by multiple providers. The preferred network architecture
comprises a backbone subnetwork, a network control subnetwork, and
an access subnetwork. The backbone subnetwork provides
point-to-point two-way communication sessions for broadband
interactive multimedia communications signals with a selected one
of the information providers. The access subnetwork receives
digital broadband information signals from the selected information
provider, via the backbone subnetwork, for transmission to one of
the digital entertainment terminals. The access subnetwork also
supplies control signals from the one digital entertainment
terminal to the backbone subnetwork for transmission to the
selected information provider. The access subnetwork also provides
broadcast transport. Specifically, the access subnetwork receives
broadcast digital broadband information signals for selective
distribution to the digital entertainment terminals. The network
control subnetwork controls service requests for network services.
In the preferred network architecture, the network control
subnetwork comprises the Level 1 Gateway that interacts with the
respective subnetwork controllers to activate various broadcast
services through the network and to set-up and tear down two-way
communication sessions.
In the preferred implementation of this enhanced video dial tone
network, the backbone subnetwork comprises one or more asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) switches. A permanent virtual circuit (PVC)
controller serves as the ATM backbone subnetwork controller. The
access subnetwork utilizes RF broadcast transport of both digital
and analog information signals. The preferred implementation of the
access subnetwork comprises hubs which convert ATM streams into
digital packet streams for RF broadcast and a number of local video
access nodes connected to each hub. The local video access nodes
convert ATM streams for interactive services, as received from the
ATM switch, into digital packet streams for RF transmission
together with the RF broadcast signals from the hub.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention
will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in
part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a first Video Dial Tone
network utilizing an operational support system of the present
invention to control a wide range of broadcast and interactive
multi-media services.
FIG. 2 presents a high-level overview of the control functions of a
network of the type shown in FIG. 1 and delineates those functions
performed by the operational support system from those performed by
other network components.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a distributed network architecture for
the preferred implementation of the broadband data full service
type video dial tone network utilizing the operational support
system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one of the video network hub offices
shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one of the local video access node
type end offices shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one local loop distribution system
portion of the network shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the ATM backbone network and the
control systems for the network shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 illustrates, in simplified form, the flow of messages
between various components of the network of FIGS. 3-7 during
provisioning of broadcast channels.
FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate, in simplified form, the flow of
messages between various components of the network of FIGS. 3-7
during activation of broadcast services to a new video information
provider and a video information user, respectively.
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate, in simplified form, the flow of
messages between various components of the network of FIGS. 3-7
during set-up of an upcoming pay-per-view event.
FIG. 11 illustrates, in simplified form, the flow of messages
between various components of the network of FIGS. 3-7 during event
loading for a video information provider.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary operational support
system according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The operational support system of the present invention is useable
in a variety of different broadband distribution networks which
offer subscriber's selective communication with a plurality of
broadband or video information service providers. FIG. 1 depicts a
simplified block diagram of one such network, referred to as a
Video Dial Tone Network, designed to provide broadcast and
interactive broadband data to a plurality of subscribers using at
least one of a plurality of access technologies. For ease of
understanding, an overview of the Video Dial Tone network is set
forth below, followed by a more detailed description of the
preferred network architecture and a discussion of the operational
support systems in the context of the preferred network
architecture.
NETWORK OVERVIEW
FIG. 1 is a high level functional diagram of a video dial tone
network providing broadcast and interactive broadband services from
a plurality of video information providers (VIPs) to a plurality of
video information users (VIUs). In the preferred architecture, the
video dial tone network 10 includes an operational support system
(OSS) 12, a control subnetwork 14, and three transport subnetworks,
namely, a broadcast subnetwork 16, a backbone subnetwork 18, and an
access subnetwork 20. The broadcast subnetwork 16 receives
broadcast signals from different broadcast sources and distributes
the received signals to the access subnetwork 20 for transport to
video information users. The backbone subnetwork 18, preferably an
ATM switch network and also referred to as an ATM subnetwork,
provides point-to-point connectivity for interactive services.
Thus, the backbone subnetwork 18 provides two-way communications
between IMTV service VIPs and nodes of the access subnetwork 20.
The access subnetwork 20 provides local loop distribution of
broadcast signals and interactive service signals from the backbone
subnetwork. Thus, the access subnetwork 20 distributes broadcast
programming to customer premises devices 22 and dynamically
provides transport for interactive service related signals to and
from the customer premises devices 22. The control subnetwork 14,
which comprises a Level 1 Gateway 14a, preferably conducts
signaling communications with the customer premises devices 22, a
Level 2 Gateway 24 (L2GW) serving a plurality of VIPs 25, and one
or more controllers of the subnetworks through the backbone
subnetwork.
The preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9 and discussed
later utilizes asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport in the
backbone network and RF transport technology for local loop
distribution to the subscriber's terminal through the access
subnetwork. The functionality provided by the operational support
system of the present invention, however, applies to other
broadband networks using other transport technologies in the
backbone network and the access subnetwork. FIG. 1 thus provides a
generic illustration of the video dial tone (VDT) transport network
10.
The operational support system (OSS) 12 is responsible for all
service creation and activation for network services based upon the
inventory of available facilities and office equipment (OE) for
network use. The OSS includes a video provisioning system (shown in
FIG. 12) that tracks available inventory as assignable for network
services. The video provisioning system receives information
regarding inventory established by network creation and tags the
available inventory as assignable inventory. In response to a
service order from a video information provider, for example during
service activation, the video provisioning system assigns a part of
the assignable inventory as equipment and/or facilities assigned to
the requesting VIP. The video provisioning system supplies the
assignment information to the Level 1 Gateway 14a, and sends
configuration information to an Access Subnetwork Controller (ASNC)
within the access subnetwork 20 in order to establish a
communication path through the video dial tone network. However,
the OS-2 interface may also be used to directly provide
configuration information to the ASNC; in such a case, the Level 1
Gateway receives a portion of the configuration information that
would otherwise be necessary.
The OSS 12 supplies assignment and provisioning information
throughout the network 10 via operational support (OS) interface
paths. For example, the OSS 12 supplies assignment information to
the Level 1 Gateway 14a in the control subnetwork 14 via an OS-1
interface path. The ASNC within the access subnetwork 20 receives
facilities and routing information from the OSS 12 via an OS-2
interface path. Similarly, the OSS 12 supplies assignment
information for assigned virtual paths for IMTV communications to a
controller of the backbone subnetwork 18 via an OS-3 interface
path. Finally, the broadcast subnetwork receives assignment
information from the OSS 12 via an OS-5 interface path.
In addition, the OSS 12 is adapted to communicate with VIPs via an
open interface platform, disclosed in FIG. 1 as an OS-4 interface
path. As shown in FIG. 1, a VIP business system 26 is adapted to
communicate with the OSS 12 via the OS-4 signal path in order to
automatically order changes in the VIP's services. As discussed in
detail below, the VIP business system 26 is able to remotely
provision its corresponding VIP profile to accomodate changes in
transport requirements, such as increased capacity, etc., or to
perform event scheduling for upcoming pay-per-view, staggercast, or
IMTV events.
Certain digital program signals carried on the network may be
encrypted in the access subnetwork, using encryption technology and
key codes. Details of specific encryption algorithms and the key
codes for encrypting and decrypting the signals are well known to
those skilled in the art and familiar with the relevant patents and
literature. Preferred procedures for downloading the key codes to
the elements in the access subnetwork which encrypt the signals and
the decoders in the CPE devices will be discussed later as they
relate to aspects of service provisioning and/or activation.
The control subnetwork 14 preferably includes a Level 1 Gateway 14a
and means for storing a variety of information relating to services
provided through the network, VIPs and VIUs for use by the Level 1
Gateway 14a, either in a separate data storage system, or in
storage within the computer system serving as the Level 1 Gateway
14a. The backbone subnetwork 18 and the access subnetwork 20 each
preferably include a controller which is the single point of
contact between the Level 1 Gateway 14a and the respective
subnetwork. Thus, the backbone subnetwork 18 includes a backbone
controller, and the access subnetwork includes an access
controller.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control subnetwork 14 communicates with the
Level 2 Gateway (L2GW) 24 and the main portion 22a of the DET via
the control signal interface paths C-1 and C-2, respectively.
Similarly, the control subnetwork communicates with the backbone
subnetwork 18 and the access subnetwork via the control signal
interface paths C-5 and C-6, respectively.
An example of a simple access subnetwork is found in the network
embodiment shown in FIG. 4 of commonly assigned, copending patent
application Ser. No. 08/304,174 filed Sep. 12, 1994, the loop
distribution interface and associated hybrid-fiber-coax
distribution system constituted an access subnetwork. A control
element there identified as a video manager served as the access
subnetwork controller. The backbone network included the ATM
switch, and the backbone subnetwork controller was the permanent
virtual circuit (PVC) controller. Other types of access
subnetworks, backbone subnetworks and subnetwork controllers may be
used to construct the video dial tone network interfaced to the OSS
in accord with the present invention. For example,
fiber-to-the-home or fiber-to-the-curb architectures may be used
with the OSS of the present invention. Exemplary fiber-to-the-curb
architectures are disclosed in commonly-assigned, copending
applications Ser. No. 08/380,744, filed Jan. 31, 1995 (Attorney
Docket No. 680-109), and Ser. No. 08/380,758, filed Jan. 31, 1995
(Attorney Docket No. 680-123), the disclosures both of which are
incorporated in their entirety by reference.
In the network illustrated in instant FIG. 1, a number of broadcast
video information providers (VIPs) may operate one or more
broadcast sources that have a one-way connection (downstream) to
the broadcast subnetwork 16. The broadcast signals may be analog or
digital or a combination of both, as discussed below. In the
preferred embodiment, each digital source supplies a number of
broadcast programs to the broadcast subnetwork 16, preferably in
ATM cell form.
A source will supply the program signals, e.g. ATM cells containing
digitized broadcast information for a broadcast service, to the
network 10 at all times that the service is to be available through
the network. For video services, for example, the original source
video material is digitally encoded and compressed, and the digital
video information is packetized in ATM cells for transport through
the network 10. The ATM cells can represent service signals for
broadband services (e.g. video), audio services (e.g. radio) or
data services (e.g. text).
In the preferred embodiment, the VIU's customer premises equipment
(CPE) 22 includes a Digital Entertainment Terminal (DET) 22a which
includes a network interface module (NIM) 22b adapted to connect
the DET to the specific type of loop distribution plant servicing
the subscriber's premises. For broadcast services, the DET 22a
typically is able to select and process any digital or analog
channel broadcast through the access subnetwork 20 to which the
customer subscribes. The DET 22a is adapted to receive selected
control signals received by the access subnetwork 20 via the
control signal interface path C-2. As described in detail below,
the control subnetwork 14 also communicates NIM/DET control signals
and NIM/DET management signals to the CPE 22 via control signal
interface paths C-4a and C-4b, respectively.
For example, for premium services requiring some form of network
connection control, e.g. on-line selection of a pay-per-view event,
the subscriber's terminal or CPE device 22 sends a request signal
to the Level 1 Gateway 14a within the control subnetwork 14. In
response to the instructions from the Level 1 Gateway 14a, the
access controller causes the access subnetwork 20 to supply program
signals for the requested broadcast service to the customer's CPE
device 22. The routing functionality of the access subnetwork for
broadcast services depends on the structure thereof. In the
preferred embodiment, enabling reception of a broadcast program
requires identifying the RF channel carrying the program to the DET
and supplying certain information needed to decode the program
signals to the DET 22a and/or the NIM 22b through the relevant
control interface paths. The Level 1 Gateway 14a will store usage
data identifying the requested service in its associated database,
for billing purposes, for audience surveys, maintenance purposes,
etc. and will periodically forward such data through the OS-1
interface path to the OSS 12 for appropriate processing.
For interactive multi-media television (IMTV) type services, the
system will include a number of interactive service video
information providers (VIP's) operating the plurality of VIP
interactive systems 25. As discussed in more detail later, each
IMTV VIP operates some form of source or server for transmitting
information downstream through the network 10 to a terminal which
has requested an interactive session with the particular VIP. Each
IMTV VIP also operates a control element, such as the Level 2
Gateway 24, which provides two-way signaling communications to the
Level 1 Gateway 14a via control path C-1 and provides two-way
signaling communications through the network 10 to the CPE devices
22 corresponding to subscribers who have established interactive
sessions with the VIP. The Level 2 Gateway 24 controls operations
of the server in response to instructions from the Level 1 Gateway
14a and various information input by subscribers through their
respective CPE terminal devices 22.
The signaling communications for the IMTV VIP's may go through a
separate signaling network, such as the control path C-1 shown in
FIG. 1, but in the preferred embodiment described in detail below,
the signaling communications for those VIP's goes through the
backbone subnetwork 18. The IMTV VIP's will typically offer
broadband interactive services, such as video on demand, video
based home shopping and video games, but these VIP's may offer
other interactive services, such as interactive text services and
interactive audio services (e.g. voice mail and audio on
demand).
To establish a session with one of the interactive VIP's, a user
operates his or her terminal device 22 to interact with the Level 1
Gateway 14a to identify the particular VIP of choice. Once the
subscriber selects the VIP, the Level 1 Gateway 14a instructs the
backbone subnetwork 18 and the access subnetwork 20 to establish at
least a broadband downstream link between the VIP's server and the
particular subscriber's CPE device 22 and provides any necessary
information to the IMTV VIP's equipment.
FIG. 2 depicts a functional hierarchy stack of the software and
network operations relating to the OSS and the Level 1 Gateway in
the preferred network implementation. As shown in FIG. 2, the
network functionality can be conceptually divided into eight block
elements: service creation functions, service activation functions,
OSS service control functions, service data functions, service
control functions (Level 1 Gateway), session management functions,
connection management functions, element management functions, and
actual element functions. The service creation and service
activation functions are performed by software application modules
running in the OSS. The service control functions are shared
between application modules running in the OSS and the Level 1
Gateway as shown. The service data functions, session management
functions, and connection management functions all are performed by
software application modules running on the Level 1 Gateway
14a.
In the diagram of FIG. 2 and the following description thereof,
"VIU" refers to the video information user or subscriber.
As shown in FIG. 2, the OSS 12 is responsible for functions related
to service creation, service activation, and service control within
the network 10. With respect to the service creation functions, the
OSS maintains assignable inventory data that identifies network
facilities and office equipment (OE) that is available for use and
assignable to a service. The assignable inventory data is generated
during a network creation process and represents inventory that is
not assigned to a service and that is not under repair. In other
words, the assignable inventory represents the network equipment
that is available for service but not in use. Thus, the OSS
maintains the assignable inventory in order to provision available
equipment for a new subscriber (VIP or VIU) that requests services
from the network.
As described in detail below, the service creation function
includes provisioning network resources. Provisioning of video dial
tone network services includes forecasting demand for service,
determining additions (or changes) to the network that will be
needed, determining where and when the additions will be needed,
installing the additions, testing the additions, and logging the
additions as assignable inventory. The provisioning may be part of
a long-range forecasting plan, or may be in response to a request
for new service, whereby a request for new service (new VIP online
or new VIU requesting connection to receive services) will be
generated from a customer service center that receives the request
from the subscriber, for example a VIU calling the customer service
center managed by the network 10, or VIP business office 26 calling
the customer service center. In the latter case, the VIP business
office 26 may be processing a subscription request from a VIU
requesting specific VIP services. However, an existing VIP already
established on the network 10 may also request new service (new VIU
or additional VIP services) by online registration via the OS-4
interface shown in FIG. 1.
The service creation function also includes monitoring network
assets. Such monitoring includes comparing existing equipment and
facilities to existing and projected service demands to determine
if additional capital equipment is necessary. The monitoring of
network assets may be affected by, for example, increased usage in
specific serving areas, seasonal variations in usage (e.g.,
increased use in winter), or replacing obsolete equipment.
Thus, the OSS manages service creation functions by tracking the
existing network assets and assignable and available inventory and
provisioning of video dial tone resources to accomodate network
service requirements. The OSS performs service activation functions
in accordance with the service creation functions in order to
implement new service for requesting subscribers. The service
activation functions performed by the OSS include: assigning
inventory, assigning work orders for network connections, and
establishing VIP databases in order to enable subscribing VIPs
remote access to their respective databases for remote
provisioning.
The OSS assigns inventory in response to a request, either from the
network customer service center (NCSC) or a VIP OS-4 interface, for
new service for a subscriber. The network customer service center
may either be a functional part of the OSS or a separate office.
Specifically, the NCSC will receive a request from the VIP business
system 26 for new service in a desired area. The NCSC will identify
network resources that are available in the desired area, including
the type of access subnetwork that is implemented (hybrid-fiber
coax, optical fiber to the home, asynchronous digital subscriber
loop, etc.), and provide to the VIP a listing of homes passed in
the desired area. The term "homes passed" refers to homes within a
serving area that can be activated as online VIU subscribers within
approximately one week of an order.
For broadcast services, a VIP request for new service will include
a specified number of desired digital broadcast channels within a
targeted serving area. The OSS processes the request for new
service by validating that the desired broadcast channels are
available on the network in the targeted area, and assigning a set
of digital broadcast channels to the VIP. In response, the VIP
supplies head-end to point-of-interconnect access link information
to the OSS. In other words, the VIP is considered an interexchange
carrier, such that the VIP may establish a link directly to the
network POI, purchase a link from the network from the VIP head-end
to the POI via a separate network agreement, or in the alternative
by purchasing a link from an alternate interexchange carrier. Thus,
the VIP provides to the OSS the head-end to POI access link
information, so that the OSS can identify the location of incoming
VIP video data into the network.
In the event that a service order is needed to establish a
connection between the network and the subscriber, the OSS
generates a work order for a field technician to connect the
subscriber's equipment at the subscriber premises to the network.
In the case of a VIP type subscriber, the field technician may need
to route the link from the VIP to the POI; in the case of a VIU,
the field technician may need to install a drop cable from the
local loop to the subscriber premises, as shown in detail below
with respect to FIG. 6.
As part of the service activation function, the OSS also
establishes a VIP database that includes a VIP profile, based on
the OSS provisioning. The VIP database is accessible by the
corresponding VIP using the OS-4 interface in order to perform
remote provisioning, for example to add/delete digital channels or
switch one of the VIP's existing channels from digital broadcast
service to pay-per-view or premium channel service. As a result,
the OSS provides an electronic interface for a VIP to access its
specific VIP database so that the VIP has flexibility in
automatically programming a permitted set of network facilities
based upon the needs of the VIP. Since the VIP has access to only
its specific VIP database, security is ensured so that a competing
VIP cannot access another VIP's database.
The OSS also performs service control functions, including managing
remote VIP provisioning, event loading, and compiling billing and
usage data for VIPs. Specifically, the OSS reviews remote VIP
provisioning requests, and determines whether the requests are
executable. If the remote VIP provisioning requests are capable of
being performed by the OSS, the OSS provisions the network
resources in accordance with the request. If, however, the OSS
determines that the request cannot be completed, the OSS returns a
message to the VIP that the VIP request was denied. The OSS also
manages event loading, whereby the VIP updates its VIP profile for
upcoming broadcast or pay-per-view events, or IMTV ports, where
"port" refers to the routing instructions for IMTV services. In
such a case, the OSS schedules the provisioning of resources at the
desired time, and downloads the appropriate event schedules to the
Level 1 Gateway. Finally, the OSS receives billing and usage
information from the Level 1 Gateway, compiles the information on a
VIP-by-VIP basis, and supplies the compiled information to the
corresponding VIPs for billing and any usage studies.
The OSS service control functions also include receiving VIP
requests to activate new VIU's as subscribers on the network. For
example, a VIU may contact a particular VIP in response to an
advertisement. After the VIU enters into a subscription agreement
with the VIP, the VIP includes a VIU activation request as part of
the remote VIP provisioning process. The OSS reviews the request
and provisions the request as described above, and downloads the a
VIU subprofile to the Level 1 Gateway.
A detailed description of these functions of the OSS is discussed
below with respect to FIGS. 8-12.
The service data functions application module of the Level 1
Gateway provides real time access to the customer and the network.
The service data functions also include accumulation and
maintenance of service related data. In particular, the service
data includes VIP related data and VIU related data downloaded from
the OSS. The VIP related data function stores service profile
information (VIP identification code, sever port information, Level
2 Gateway signaling address, type of DET's serviced by each VIP's
equipment, etc.) for each VIP and makes that information available
to the service control functionality as needed. The VIU related
data function of the Level 1 Gateway stores subscriber service
profile information (VIU ID, type of subscribed service, NIM type,
due date for service activation, access subnetwork addresses, etc.
for each end user and makes that data available to the service
control functionality of the Level 1 Gateway as needed. The second
functional level performed by an application software module
running in the Level 1 Gateway 14a relates to the service control
functions of the network. This is the level at which most of the
interactions with the VIP and the subscriber take place. In
addition, some of these functions are shared with the OSS to the
extent that the OSS handles resource allocation, whereas the Level
1 Gateway handles ongoing network activity. As shown, these
interactions between the Level 1 Gateway and the DET include
personal options, event ordering, service activation, profile and
subscription management, CPE software management, VIP
directory/menu, authorization management and session agent.
Personal options permits a subscriber to customize certain video
dial tone related options through direct interaction with the Level
1 Gateway 14a. Examples of personal options set up and modified
through this interaction with the Level 1 Gateway include PIN
numbers, VIP menus, and hours of service. Another personal option
might allow the subscriber to specify certain times of the day or
week when the network should permit access to certain broadcast or
interactive services.
The event ordering interaction permits a subscriber to interact
with the Level 1 Gateway to specify a pay-per-view event to be
broadcast in the future which the user wants authorized in advance,
to insure on-time reception. As part of this function, the Level 1
Gateway maintains event related data for the various broadcast
VIP's and their respective events downloaded by the service control
functions of the OSS and interacts with the subscriber through the
DET to inform the subscriber of upcoming events and receive event
order inputs from the subscriber. The Level 1 Gateway 14a also
signals the DET 22a at the appropriate time to at least notify the
user and may instruct the DET to turn on and/or select the
appropriate channel and digital video slot to receive and display
the ordered event.
The service activation function permits the user to specify various
levels of broadcast service that are to be provided to the
subscriber through the subscriber's DET's. The profile and
subscription management function is similar and related to the
service activation function. The profile and subscription
management application provides an automated means for the user to
access the Level 1 Gateway to alter the user's profile and
subscription information, which is downloaded by the service
activation functions of the OSS stored in the Level 1 Gateway. This
software application submodule communicates relevant change
information to necessary systems, e.g. CPE software management,
session management and/or subnetwork management, to implement
desired changes. For example, this application submodule can be
used to change scrambling, encryption or interdiction status of a
broadcast channel for the user. As another example, through the
profile and subscription management function the Level 1 Gateway
would interact with the subscriber to add service for a new DET at
the subscriber's premises. The Level 1 Gateway would subsequently
provide the updated profile information to the OSS. The OSS would
update its service activation functions in response to the updated
profile information.
Under the CPE software management function, the Level 1 Gateway
will download software needed by the DET for a particular call, if
needed. Examples of such software downloaded from the Level 1
Gateway include broadcast channel maps, signaling protocol
versions, and complete signaling protocols. Also, if the DET 22a is
not capable of communicating with a VIP selected by the subscriber,
the Level 1 Gateway 14a can download a translation program to the
DET to convert messages compatible with the DET to and from message
formats compatible with the VIP's equipment. Depending on the type
of downloaded software, the downloading may occur only once at the
time of installation, periodically or on an as-needed basis.
The VIP directory/menu application submodule presents an interface
to the end user to navigate among video dial tone service features
offered through the network. This application submodule presents
the user with options, receives selections from the users and
translates selections into service requests for processing by the
session agent function application submodule. Options available to
the user, in an initial preferred embodiment, include: establishing
an internal session (within Level 1 Gateway) with a
profile/subscription application, establishing an internal session
(within Level 1 Gateway) with an event scheduling/ordering
application, establishing an external session (with a Level 2
Gateway) to a particular interactive VIP, help functions, terminate
a current session and resume an earlier interactive session (one of
two maximum).
The authorization management application submodule provides a
generic authorization control capability that can be re-used across
different ones of the services applications. This functionality
would be separate and in addition to the PIN number functionality
offered by the personal options. The authorization management
application software, for example, might be used to define a pass
code to permit a subscriber access to the event scheduling/ordering
application, particularly if the subscriber is paying for the
ordered event by credit card.
The session agent function or application submodule of the Level 1
Gateway actually translates a subscriber's request to communicate
with a particular VIP and that VIP's acceptance of the call from
the subscriber into a command to the next level to take actions to
set up the desired communication session. Specifically, the agent
application maintains status information for each user session,
whether the session has an external end-point to a VIP or an
internal end point within the Level 1 Gateway (e.g. to the
directory/menu application, the event scheduling/ordering
application, etc.). The session agent application responds to
various requests from the user, from the VIP, or from the
application within the Level 1 Gateway to establish, modify or
breakdown a session and provides appropriate instructions to the
session manager application to actually establish, modify or
breakdown sessions. In turn, the session agent functionality
receives feedback from the session manger as to the results of the
instructions and in response thereto provides reports to the end
users and to the VIP's. The session agent application submodule
controls which sessions are active at any time, from an end user
perspective, and which if any sessions become active upon
termination of an existing active session. For applications
internal to the Level 1 Gateway, the session agent also effectively
wakes up and terminates the relevant application. Another feature
of the session agent application is that it provides a mechanism to
notify the user of events, e.g. network failures. Finally, the
session agent functionality provides billing related information to
the billing system.
As seen from the above discussion, the service control functions
provide commands to the next lower level functionality to start
making and/or terminating the communication connections through the
network. The next lower level functionality, the session management
functions breaks down each session into each end-to-end connection
required for that session. The session management software
application module maintains addresses of the network interface
points of all of the VIP servers and each user's DET. The session
management module functionality responds to requests from the
session agent application to establish and breakdown session,
relates user and VIP identifiers to the appropriate addresses for
their respective network interface points and converts each
individual session between two network interface points into the
individual connection links needed for that session. The session
management application module then provides appropriate requests to
the network connection management functionality to establish and
break down the individual connections which make up a session, and
the session management application module receives feedback on the
results of those requests. The session management application also
monitors the entire session to maintain status information
regarding active system topologies, and this application collects
the actual usage information and passes that information to the
billing system.
The connection management application module also has access to
addresses of the network interface points of all of the VIP servers
and each user's DET as well as the addresses of the entry and exit
points of each subnetwork. The connection management application
breaks down each end-to-end connection identified by the session
management functionality into all of the network subsystem elements
needed to complete the connection. This application coordinates
with the subnetwork controllers (backbone controller and access
controller 16) to determine availability of necessary transport
capability and issues requests with end point addresses for each
network subsystem (e.g. from an IMTV VIP and from the access
subnetwork controller) for the requisite connectivity. Using this
methodology, the connection management application module responds
to requests from the session management function to establish and
break down a connection between interface points of a VIP and an
end user by providing corresponding requests to the relevant
subnetwork controllers. The connection management application also
receives feedback from the element management functionality
applications performed by those controllers and notifies the
service management application of events, such as failures.
Each element management function maps the course or route through
the respective subnetwork and provides instructions to the relevant
network elements to produce the actual connections. In the
preferred embodiment, ATM element management is the function of the
PVC controller which corresponds to the earlier-described backbone
controller. Routing through the access subnetwork in the hybrid
fiber-coax distribution network to the individual terminal devices
22 is controlled by an access subnetwork controller, discussed in
more detail below.
In the preferred implementation, the ATM element management
functionality maintains a view of allocated ATM connections and
available resources across the ATM portion of the network. The
backbone subnetwork controller functionality responds to commands
from the connection management application of the Level 1 Gateway
to establish paths through the backbone subnetwork in accordance
with provisioning requirements provided by the OSS. In the ATM
subnetwork implementation, the PVC controller provides instructions
to the ATM switching elements to establish the connections. The
backbone subnetwork controller functionality also collects event
and status data and aggregates traffic statistics through the
backbone switching elements. Another function of the backbone
subnetwork element management application is to notify the
connection management application of events, such as failures, in
the backbone subnetwork.
The access subnetwork management applications performed by the
access subnetwork controller respond to requests from the
connection management application of the Level 1 Gateway 14a to
establish both downstream video communications and one-way or
two-way signaling communications over the hybrid fiber-coax
distribution system.
The last element of the functional hierarchy stack depicted in FIG.
2 relates to the actual element functions. For the ATM
implementation of the backbone subnetwork, this function is
preformed by the ATM switch or switches which will provide switched
ATM virtual circuits for point to point connections from VIP's
servers to ports of the access subnetwork. As part of its
operations, the PVC controller will collect traffic statistics from
the ATM switch(es) and monitor the status of the backbone switch
fabric and of individual connections. The collected statistics are
thereafter passed to the service control functionality in the OSS.
Each ATM switch receives and responds to commands from the ATM
portion of the element management function, i.e. from the PVC
controller, to establish and tear down ATM connections and provides
notice of various events (including failures) to the element
management function.
The actual element function for routing through the hybrid
fiber-coax implementation of the access subnetwork to individual
DET's is performed by allocation of channel resources and control
of the encryption and decryption operations in that subnetwork, as
discussed in more detail below with regard to FIGS. 3 to 7.
Specific Network Architecture
FIG. 3 discloses a distributed network architecture for a broadband
data full service type enhanced video dial tone network according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 to 7
provide more detailed illustrations of portions of the network of
FIG. 3.
The network of FIG. 3 includes an OSS 109, a Level 1 Gateway 108,
an ATM (backbone) subnetwork 106, a broadcast subnetwork, and an
access subnetwork. In this implementation, the broadcast subnetwork
includes at least a broadcast consolidation section (BCS) 100, and
a broadcast ring 102. The access subnetwork preferably includes a
plurality of video network hub offices (VNHs) 104, a plurality of
local video access nodes (LVANs) 112, and a plurality of local loop
distribution (LLD) networks 124 providing communications between
customer premises 126 and the serving LVAN 112. The network
interface module (NIM) portion of the user terminal preferably also
is an element of the access subnetwork. According to the preferred
embodiment, each of the video network hubs 104 will serve a
corresponding plurality of up to six (6) LVANs 112. In addition,
the preferred embodiment will provide up to sixteen (16) VNHs 104
serviced by the ring 102.
As discussed in the network overview, in the preferred network of
FIG. 3, at least the backbone subnetwork and the access subnetwork
include subnetwork controllers. For the ATM type backbone
subnetwork 106, the controller is a PVC controller 248, shown in
FIG. 7. The access subnetwork controller 240 also is shown in FIG.
7.
The OSS 109 is implemented as a facility comprising, for example,
mainframe computers and mass storage devices for storing a
plurality of databases. The OS signal paths and control (C) paths
in FIG. 1 are implemented in the network of FIG. 3 as dedicated
virtual paths through the ATM backbone subnetwork 106. The OSS 109
is adapted for two-way communications with other network control
systems, such as the Level 1 Gateway 108, PVC controller 248, and
the ASNC 240, via dedicated virtual paths in the ATM subnetwork
106. In addition, each of a plurality of VIPs 114 and 116 (both
IMTV and broadcast) may have the OS-4 signal path to the OSS 109
via a dedicated virtual path in the ATM subnetwork.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 is a UNIX based computer having adequate
processing power and data storage capacity. In this embodiment, the
Gateway 108 has an interface for two-way ATM cell based
communication through the ATM backbone subnetwork. In an initial
implementation, the Level 1 Gateway 108 has a direct data
communication interface to the PVC controller 248, as shown in FIG.
7. In that implementation, the PVC controller 248 interfaces to the
programmed control elements of the ATM hub switch 252 through an
X.25 packet data interface, although an OSI/CMISE standard
interface may also be used.
In a future implementation, the PVC controller 248 will have an ATM
interface to the hub switch 252. Through this interface, the PVC
controller 248 will transmit instructions to the hub switch 252 and
receive confirmations and various reports from the hub switch. The
Level 1 Gateway 108 will also communicate with the PVC controller
248 using ATM through the ATM subnetwork, in a manner similar to
the communications between that gateway and the access subnetwork
controller 240. The ATM interface between the PVC controller 248
and the hub switch 252 also will permit that controller to
communicate with ATM access switches under its control.
The PVC Controller 248 and the access subnetwork controller (ASNC)
240 also are computers having the appropriate network interfaces
and software programming. The ACC 4000 is a computer system
programmed to administer encryption keys and NIM network addresses
in the hybrid-fiber-coax type access subnetwork. Computers similar
to the ACC 4000 are used today in CATV headend systems, but those
computers also run software relating to other CATV operations, e.g.
billing. In technologies such as fiber-to-the-curb or
fiber-to-the-home, the ACC 4000 may be replaced with a Video Access
Manager (VAM).
The network shown in FIG. 3 is arranged to centralize signal
processing tasks within a serving area, geographically
approximately the size of a LATA, in order to minimize hardware. At
the same time, the disclosed network provides maximum flexibility
by providing communications to local access nodes, each serving a
local loop of subscribers.
The broadcast consolidation section 100 serves as the broadcast
head-end and network POI for broadcast VIPs 114 and 116. The
broadcast consolidation section 100 is adapted to receive broadcast
video data in any format that may be convenient for the VIP.
Specifically, the broadcast consolidation section 100 includes a
digital encoder 118 to convert baseband analog video signals, for
example from VIP 116, into a digitally-compressed DS-3 signal
stream. Alternatively, the digital encoder 118 could be replaced
with an MPEG-2 encoder to provide compressed MPEG-2 packets at a
DS-3 rate.
The broadcast consolidation section 100 also includes an ATM cell
multiplexer 120, also referred to as an ATM edge device, which
performs policing and rate conversion of incoming ATM streams. The
ATM edge device 120 performs policing of ATM cell streams by
monitoring the data rate of incoming data streams from VIPs. For
example, if the VIP 114 has subscribed by contract to transmit a
data stream at 3 Mbits/s to the network, the ATM edge device 120
will prohibit or drop ATM cells that are transmitted above the
subscribed bit rate; in this case, a 6 Mbits/s stream would be
rejected as an unauthorized rate.
In order to maximize the data-carrying capacity of the ATM streams
supplied to the ATM edge multiplexer 120, the VIP 144 and the VIP
116 will preferably supply digital video signals in compressed
MPEG-2 format that are transported in ATM cells.
The MPEG-2 standard, recognized in the art, provides a standardized
format for packetizing the compressed audio and video information
and for transporting other data. Under the MPEG-2 standard,
incoming individual video signals and related audio signals are
encoded and packetized into respective Video and Audio Packetized
Elementary Streams (PES). The video and audio PES's from one or
more sources of video programming may be combined into a transport
stream for transmission or storage.
Each frame of compressed program information (audio, video or data)
is broken down into a series of transport packets. Although video
frames can vary in length, the transport packets have a fixed 188
byte size. Thus, different frames are broken down into different
numbers of MPEG transport packets. For example, for a 6 Mbits/sec
encoding system, a group of frames consisting of a total of 15
frames for one-half second of video breaks down into approximately
4000 transport packets.
Transport stream packets consist of a 4 byte header section, an
optional adaptation field and a payload section. The header
information includes, inter alia, a synchronization byte, a variety
of different flags used in reconstruction of the video frames, and
a thirteen bit program identification (PID) number. PID value 0 is
reserved as an indication that the packet includes program
association table data. PID value 1 is reserved for identification
of packets containing conditional access data, such as encryption
information. Other program identification numbers are utilized to
identify transport packets with the program source from which they
originate.
Periodically, the transport packet for each program will also
include a program clock reference (PCR) value within the optional
adaptation field. For example, the PCR may be present in only 10
out of every 4000 video transport packets.
MPEG-encoded packets can be output in a variety of data rates. For
example, the MPEG-2 compression standard is able to encode a video
program to a 6 Mbits/sec bit stream, and packetize up to four (4) 6
Mbits/sec bit streams into a single 27 Mbits/sec stream. For other
lower-rate data streams carrying text or signaling information, up
to eight (8) 3 Mbits/sec bit streams can be packetized into a
single 27 Mbits/sec stream, and up to sixteen (16) 1.5 Mbits/sec
bit streams can be packetized into a single 27 Mbits/sec stream. In
a typical implementation, 3 Mbits/sec of forward error correction
information are added to the 27 Mbits/sec of MPEG payload to form
an actual 30 Mbits/sec bit stream. Alternatively, six (6) analog
audio-video program signals can be processed in parallel to provide
six (6) 6.312 Mbits/sec MPEG-2 packets that can be output on a
single 45.736 Mbits/sec DS-3 bit stream. In addition, a synchronous
optical fiber such as SONET at 155 Mbits/sec (DL-3) can carry
twenty (20) 6 Mbits/sec MPEG streams.
Thus, each of the VIPs 114 and 116 are preferably able to compress
up to six (6) NTSC analog audio/video program signals in parallel
into a 6 Mbit/sec MPEG-2 format. The resulting six (6) MPEG-2
packet streams converted into an ATM stream before transport to the
ATM edge multiplexer 120. The ATM streams may be output at a 45
Mbits/sec (DS-3) rate for carrying up to six (6) MPEG-encoded
programs, or on an optical fiber at 155 Mbits/sec (OC-3) for
carrying up to twenty (20) MPEG-encoded programs.
Asynchronous transfer mode or "ATM" transport is an advanced,
high-speed packet switching technology. In ATM, information is
organized into cells having a fixed length and format. Each cell
includes a header, primarily for identifying cells relating to the
same virtual connection, and an information field or "payload".
According to the preferred embodiment, a 53 byte ATM cell includes
a cell header consisting of 5 bytes and a payload consisting of 48
bytes of payload data. The ATM cell header information includes a
virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier (VPI/VCI) to
identify the particular communication each cell relates to. For
example, the OSS 109 may provision VPI/VCI assignments so that the
virtual path identifier (VPI) may be used to identify a specific
VIP 114 or 116, and the virtual channel identifier (VCI) may be
used to identify a specific output port of that VIP. In such a
case, for example, VIP 114 could be assigned a VPI value of "65",
and VIP 116 could be assigned a VPI value of "66". Thus, the
VPI/VCI value of the ATM cell header could be used to identify the
source of the ATM stream.
In ATM, transfer is asynchronous in the sense that the recurrence
of cells that contain information from any particular sender is not
necessarily periodic. Each device using the ATM network submits a
cell for transfer when they have a cell to send, not when they have
an assigned or available transmission time slot. However, the ATM
cells may ride in synchronous slots on a highspeed time division
multiplexed media, such as a SONET optical fiber. ATM allows any
arbitrary information transfer rate up to the maximum supported by
the ATM network, simply by transmitting cells more often as more
bandwidth is needed.
During the ATM conversion process, the individual programs from the
MPEG packets are broken into cell payloads and VPI/VCI header
information is added to map the programs into ATM virtual circuits
in the corresponding output cell stream. As noted above, each MPEG
packet consists of 188 bytes, whereas each ATM cell includes 48
bytes of payload data. The preferred mapping scheme uses two
different adaptations. The first adaptation maps one 188 byte MPEG
packet into five ATM 48 byte cell payloads. The second adaptation
maps two 188 byte MPEG packets into eight ATM 48 byte cells
payloads.
MPEG packets of 188 bytes map efficiently into ATM cells if pairs
of packets are mapped into 8 cells. However, a delay is imposed on
mapping of a first cell while waiting for the second cell in the
pair. To minimize jitter during decoding, the packets carrying the
PCR need to be encoded and transported quickly. To avoid delaying
first packets containing a PCR while processing a second packet,
the ATM multiplexer 215 maps first packets containing a PCR
immediately, using the five cell adaptation procedure. As noted
above, the PCR is typically present in only 10 out of every 4000
packets. Also, at least some of those 10 packets likely will arrive
as the second packet of a pair. Consequently, only a very small
number of packets are mapped using the less efficient 5-cell
adaptation.
As noted above, each cell of a particular stream will have a header
which contains a virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier
(VPI/VCI) to identify the virtual circuit that the cells pertain
to. All MPEG packets for a given program, whether video, audio or
data, will be mapped into ATM cells having the same VPI/VCI.
Conversely, cells having a given VPI/VCI will contain data
corresponding to only one identified program. Thus, each ATM cell
carrying video information for a specified program from a video
information provider can be identified on the basis of its
corresponding VPI/VCI.
As noted above, the VIP 114 and/or VIP 116 may transmit the ATM
cells on a SONET optical fiber at an OC-3 rate, or may transmit the
ATM cells at a DS-3 rate. The transmission of ATM cells in an
asynchronous DS-3 signal may require a common clock reference in
order to ensure frame alignment. In a preferred network
implementation, the network interface 100 receives the DS-3 signal
carrying six MPEG-2 channels in ATM cell format from the ATM VIPs
in accordance with a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP).
The PLCP is a framing structure used to ensure that ATM cells are
aligned with respect to a corresponding video frame, even though
there may exist drifting of a start and end of a typical DS-3
frame. Specifically, the PLCP references a DS-3 header and
identifies the location of each ATM cell with respect to the DS-3
header. Since the DS-3 frame contains a maximum of twelve ATM
cells, the PLCP notes the location of each of the cells 1-12 with
respect to the DS-3 header. Therefore, even though there may be
DS-3 frame drifting, the PLCP ensures alignment, from a cell
perspective, between the cell layer and the DS-3 frame so that each
of the twelve ATM cells within each DS-3 frame can be located.
The ATM edge multiplexer 120 acts as a groomer for multiple VIP
terminations to prevent extraneous data from using network
resources. The ATM streams from the VIPs 114 and 116 may arrive in
either DS-3 format or via optical fiber in OC-3 format. The ATM
edge device 226 provides a grooming function, whereby ATM cells are
analyzed, on a cell-by-cell basis, to determine if they should be
transmitted on the network. Specifically, ATM cell headers that do
not have valid data are dropped from the ATM stream. Each valid ATM
cell is mapped on the basis of its corresponding VPI/VCI header to
a OC-3 output port of the ATM edge device 120. In addition, the ATM
edge device 120 rejects the ATM idle bits containing no information
that are present in the ATM stream from the VIPs.
The ATM cell mapping is based on an ATM translation table that is
loaded from the OSS 109 into the ATM edge device 120. This ATM cell
mapping, also referred to as cell translation, enables DS-3 or
OC-3c ATM cell streams that are transmitted at less-than-full
capacity to be mapped onto at least one OC-3c stream operating at
full capacity. This is particularly effective when, for example,
optical fibers used by the VIPs 114 or 116 to transport DS-3 ATM
streams using optical fibers will not be operated at capacity,
especially when VIPs using the optical fibers have varying
bandwidth requirements over time.
The ATM edge processor 120 processes all incoming DS-3 bit streams
received thereby, and maps the DS-3 bit streams into at least one
condensed, or combined bit stream for transmission through the
network. Specifically, the incoming DS-3 and OC-3c streams are
supplied to corresponding first-in-first-out (FIFO) input buffers
internal to the 120 to supply the ATM cells to an internal
multiplexer on a cell-by-cell basis. The internal multiplexer
outputs the translated cells preferably to OC-3 output buffers for
synchronous transmission on optical fibers 121. Since the ATM cells
are output at a rate of 155 Mhz (OC-3), each of the optical fibers
121 carry up to twenty (20) MPEG programs at 6 Mbits/sec. Thus, the
ATM edge processor is able to fully load the downstream optical
fibers 121 thereby to fully load the capacity of the network. A
more detailed description of the ATM cell multiplexer 120 is found
in copending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 08/380,744,
filed Jan. 31, 1995 (attorney docket No. 680-109), the disclosure
of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
According to the preferred embodiment, the digital encoder 118
outputs a digitally encoded data stream in DS-3 format (45
Mbits/s), and the ATM edge multiplexer 120 outputs an ATM stream in
OC-3c format (155.5 Mbits/s), to a SONET multiplexer 122. The SONET
multiplexer 122 multiplexes the DS-3 and OC-3 signals from the
digital encoder 118 and the ATM edge multiplexer 120 and outputs
the consolidated broadcast data onto the unidirectional optical
fiber broadcast ring 102 operating at an OC-48 format (2488.3
Mbits/s). In other words, the SONET multiplexer 122 may receive a
plurality of OC-3 optical fibers 121, either from the ATM edge
multiplexer 120 or a plurality of such multiplexers. In addition,
the SONET multiplexer 121 may receive a plurality of DS-3 signals
from a corresponding plurality of encoders such as digital encoder
118. The SONET multiplexer 122 buffers the OC-3 and DS-3 input
signals and multiplexes the input signals together at a rate of
2488.3 Mbits/sec. An exemplary SONET multiplexer is the FT-2000,
manufactured by AT&T.
The broadcast ring 102 is arranged as a drop-and-continue (D/C)
SONET transport to service up to, for example, fifteen (15) VNHs
104. Although the broadcast ring 102 preferably has one OC-48
fiber, the broadcast ring 102 may be modified to include 2 or more
OC-48 fibers for additional traffic for redundancy purposes, or for
bidirectional traffic around the ring. As discussed below in detail
with respect to FIG. 6, each VNH 104 receives the broadcast ATM
streams from the broadcast ring 102, converts the ATM streams to
MPEG-2 streams that are transmitted on an RF carrier, and adds
local broadcast information (e.g., over-the-air access, public
access channel) before transport to the associated LVANs 112 as RF
signals, preferably via optical fibers.
Each LVAN 112 receives the consolidated broadcast data from the
corresponding VNH 104. The LVAN 112 combines the received RF
signals from the VNH 104 with any data transmitted by the ATM
backbone subnetwork 106 addressed to a subscriber served by the
LVAN 112. The resulting RF signal is transmitted via a local loop
distribution network 124 to a number of customer premises 126 (only
one shown for convenience). As discussed below with reference to
FIG. 6, the local loop distribution 124 is preferably arranged as a
hybrid fiber-coax distribution system, although an ADSL system or a
fiber-to-the-curb system may be substituted.
The equipment at the subscriber site 126 includes a network
interface device (NID) for splitting the RF signal, a network
interface module (NIM) for decoding encrypted data from the network
and routing MPEG data streams, and a digital entertainment terminal
(DET) for decoding the MPEG data streams passed by the NIM.
Additional details regarding the NIM and the DET are discussed
below with reference to FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 3, each LVAN 112 has access to the ATM backbone
subnetwork 106 in order to send and receive network signaling
information to and from the Level 1 Gateway 108 and/or the video
data control center 110. For example, a video information user
(VIU) who wishes service on the network via one of the LVAN's 112
may request the service either by calling a network business office
by telephone or by requesting a Level 1 Gateway session from his or
her customer premises 126 in order to perform on-line registration.
As discussed in detail below, the ATM backbone subnetwork 106
provides signaling information between the OSS 109, the LVAN 112
serving the VIU, the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the video data control
center 110 in order to activate the VIU on the network, or to
update the services available to the VIU.
The ATM backbone subnetwork 106 also is adapted to communicate with
the VIPs 114 and 116 in order to perform OSS account management
between the VIPs, the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the video data
control center 110. For example, the VIP 114 may supply a request
to the OSS 109 for a desired bandwidth, or may update its VIP
profile via the OS-4 interface shown in FIG. 1 in order to
broadcast a pay-per-view event at a predetermined time. The OSS 109
will advise the VIP 114 as to the appropriate VPI/VCI header to be
loaded onto the ATM stream to be supplied to the ATM edge
multiplexer 120 of the broadcast consolidation section 100. The OSS
109 will inform the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the video data control
center 110 of the scheduled event, as well as the VPI/VCI of the
video data stream. The OSS 109 will also periodically communicate
with the VIPs 114 and/or 116 via the ATM backbone subnetwork 106 in
order to maintain up-to-date lists of authorized VIUs to receive
the selected VIP services.
Finally, as discussed in detail below with respect to FIG. 7, the
VIP 116 may conduct an interactive (IMTV) session with a VIU via
the ATM backbone subnetwork 106 and the LVAN 112 servicing the
specific VIU. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the VIP 116 can conduct
IMTV sessions with a VIU using a Level 2 Gateway and an IMTV server
internal to the VIP 116. The Level 2 Gateway communicates with the
Level 1 Gateway 108 of the network, to receive and process requests
for IMTV sessions that include routing information. The IMTV server
outputs broadband data for the VIU as an ATM cell stream to the ATM
backbone subnetwork 106.
Communication between the network and the VIP 116, as well as
between the network and the VIU, is established under control the
Level 1 Gateway 108. From the VIU perspective, a user will
communicate with the network via the Level 1 Gateway 108 in order
to select the VIP 116 for an IMTV session. In a network providing
access to multiple IMTV service providers, the user wishing to
establish an IMTV session identifies the provider of choice to the
Level 1 Gateway 108 by inputting control signals to the user's DET,
which supplies the appropriate signals upstream from the customer
premises 126 to the Level 1 Gateway 108 via the corresponding LVAN
112 and the ATM backbone subnetwork 106. In response, the Level 1
Gateway 108 controls the broadband routing functionality of the
network to establish a downstream broadband communication link and
a signaling link between the provider and the user.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 receives notification of the status of
broadband communications links as they are being set up and during
ongoing communications through those links. The Level 1 Gateway 108
therefore can inform a subscriber when a requested session can not
be set up with a selected service provider, i.e. because the
provider's server ports are all busy or because the subscriber is
not registered with the particular provider or due to some
technical problem. The Level 1 Gateway 108 also recognizes when an
established link develops a fault or is interrupted and can stop
accumulating usage or billing data regarding that link. The Level 1
Gateway 108 can also notify the subscriber and/or the service
provider of the failure.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 will also store various information
relating to each subscriber's services and control service through
the network accordingly. At least some of this stored data is
accessible to the subscriber through a direct interaction with the
Level 1 Gateway 108. For example, the user can identify certain
service providers to the Level 1 Gateway 108 and define an
authorization code or identification number which must be input
before the network should provide a session with the user's
equipment 126 and the identified providers.
Many of the functions of the Level 1 Gateway 108 relate principally
to set up, monitoring and billing for point-to-point type
interactive sessions. As noted above, however, a number of the
Gateway functions also apply to broadcast services. For example,
the interaction with the Level 1 Gateway 108 can be used to advance
order upcoming broadcast pay-per-view events. At the time for the
event to begin, the Level 1 Gateway 108 will transmit appropriate
notice to the ordering subscriber's terminal. In response, the
terminal may display the notice to the subscriber or the terminal
may automatically turn on and/or tune to the appropriate
communication link through the broadcast network to obtain the
ordered event. The interactive features of the Level 1 Gateway 108
also permit subscribers to specify limitations they wish to place
on their broadcast services, e.g. total number of hours of usage
within some defined interval and/or time of day/week of permitted
usage. The Level 1 Gateway 108 will then control the broadcast
network and/or the subscriber's terminal in accord with the limits
defined by the subscriber. If necessary, the changes initiated by
the VIU subscriber are uploaded by the Level 1 Gateway 108 to the
OSS 109.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the network showing in detail a VNH
104 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, each VNH 104, also referred to as a broadcast
headend node or video access node, comprises a SONET multiplexer
130 that receives the OC-48 signal from the broadcast ring 102. The
SONET multiplexer 130 is a drop-and-continue (D/C) multiplexer that
"drops" the OC-48 signal from the broadcast ring 102 for local
processing, and outputs the OC-48 signal to "continue" on the
broadcast ring 102. The SONET multiplexer 130 converts the OC-48
signal to obtain the OC-3 ATM stream and the digitally-encoded
(DS-3) baseband video signal output by the ATM edge multiplexer 120
and the digital encoder 118, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3.
The structure of ATM cells is generally recognized in the art. The
ATM cell includes a header section and a payload section. In
addition, the ATM cell may include additional overhead sections
that provide additional vendor-proprietary features, such as
priority level assignments, or forward error correction. The first
byte of the header section includes a 4-bit GFC word which provides
access control. The first byte of the header section also includes
the lower four bits of an 8-bit virtual-path identifier (VPI). The
second byte of the header section includes the upper four bits of
the VPI and the first four bits of a 16-bit virtual channel
identifier (VCI). The third byte includes the next eight bits of
the VCI. The fourth byte of the header section includes: the last
four bits of the VCI; a 3-bit payload type (PT); and a cell loss
priority (CLP) bit. The fifth byte of the header section 410
includes an 8-bit header error check (HEC) word. The CLP bit is
used to manage traffic of ATM cells: in the event of network
congestion, cells with CLP set to 1, indicating a lower priority,
are dropped before cells with CLP set to 0.
The specific format of the ATM cell is described, for example, in
the ATM User Network Interface Specification, Version 3.0,
published by The ATM Forum, Mountain View, Calif., also published
by Prentice Hall, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its
entirety by reference. According to the ATM User Network Interface
Specification, the values 0-18 for the VCI are reserved; therefore,
any ATM cell having valid data must have a VCI value greater than
"18". Thus, prior to transmission on the network, the ATM edge
multiplexer 120 identifies ATM cells that do not have VCI values
greater than "18" as idle cells that do not carry valid data.
Referring to FIG. 4, the SONET multiplexer 130 extracts the ATM
cells by analyzing the input stream in 5-byte increments in order
to check the header/error/check (HEC) sequence for valid ATM data.
If the SONET multiplexer 130 verifies the HEC sequence, the 53-byte
ATM cell is extracted and supplied to an ATM packet demultiplexer
(APD) 134 allocated to process cells having specified VPI/VCI
values. Although FIG. 4 shows only one ATM packet demultiplexer
134, in the preferred embodiment the VNH 104 includes a plurality
of the demultiplexers.
The VNH 104 includes an analog portion that receives analog
baseband video signals from the VIPs, from a Public Access Channel
(PAC) broadcast source 135, and from Over-the-Air (OTA).
Specifically, the SONET multiplexer 130 outputs the DS-3 encoded
baseband video signal to a DS-3 analog decoder 132, which converts
the DS-3 signal back to the VIP analog baseband video signal. The
VIP analog baseband video signal is output from the analog decoder
132 to a modulator 136, which includes a tuner to mix the VIP
baseband video signal from the analog decoder 132 onto a specific 6
MHz bandwidth RF channel. The PAC Broadcast Source 135 provides
public access channel (PAC) programming related to community
activities as a PAC baseband analog video signal, preferably via an
optical fiber. A fiber optic receiver and equalizer amplifier 138
converts the optical signal from the PAC Broadcast Source 135 to a
baseband analog PAC video signal that is supplied to a modulator
136' for mixing to a specified 6 MHz channel.
The analog portion of the VNH 104 also includes a plurality of
antennas 140 that receive Over-the-Air (OTA) broadcast signals at
VHF and UHF frequencies. The OTA signals are supplied to an analog
signal processor 142, which performs signal conditioning and
modulates the OTA signals to specified 6 MHz bandwidth RF channels.
For example, the analog signal processor 142 may modulate the OTA
television channels 4, 7 and 9 to 24, 27, and 29, respectively, in
order to avoid interference with the PAC or VIP analog video
channels. The VNH 104 may also include another antenna 140' that
receives FM radio signals and supplies the FM signals to an FM
radio signal processor 143. The signal processor 143 outputs the FM
radio signal within a specified RF band, preferably the FM radio
band, to the RF combiner 144.
Thus, the video signals output by the modulator 136 and the analog
signal processor 142 are analog RF video signals at different 6 MHz
RF channel frequencies. The analog signals output from the FM radio
signal processor 143, the modulator 136 and the analog signal
processor 142 go to an RF combiner 144. The RF combiner 144 is a
passive combiner which combines the VIP, PAC and OTA analog video
signals and the FM radio signal into a single RF signal. The video
portion of the combined RF signal includes a plurality of analog 6
MHz channels. Thus, the VIP analog video signals, the PAC analog
video signals and the OTA analog video signals can be received and
viewed using a conventional television set, without the need for a
digital entertainment terminal. Thus, these analog video signals
could make up a basic video service analogous to the type offered
by contemporary cable-TV companies. A video dial tone network
subscriber can also receive FM radio broadcasts using a
conventional FM receiver.
The RF combiner 144, however, enables passive combining of
different baseband analog video signals, as opposed to known
cable-TV systems, which require a rewire of modulators whenever a
change was made in channel allocation. Thus, changes in the channel
allocation in the disclosed embodiment can be made merely by
reprogramming the modulator 136 and the analog signal processor
142. As discussed below, the RF combiner 144 is also adapted to
combine RF signals carrying the compressed digital video signals
from the VIP.
The digital portion of the VNH 104 receives the compressed VIP
digital video signals from the recovered OC-3c ATM stream output
from the SONET multiplexer 130. The OC-3c ATM stream is output from
the SONET multiplexer 130 to one of several ATM packet
demultiplexers (APD) 134 (only one shown for convenience). The APD
134 performs ATM processing and repacketizes the MPEG-2 packets on
the basis of the VPI/VCI headers of the incoming ATM streams.
Specifically, the ATM packet demultiplexer 134 buffers cells until
it finds a cell having an ATM cell Adaptation Unit (AAU) value of
"0" in its header (first cell) and another cell having an AAU value
of "1" in its header (last cell). The ATM packet demultiplexer 134
counts the number of cells from first to last to determine the type
of adaptation used to map cells.
If the ATM packet demultiplexer 134 has captured five cells, the
receiver pulls out the payload data and uses the CRC data to check
for errors. If there are no errors, the original MPEG packet is
reconstructed from the appropriate bytes of payload data from the
first four cells. Similarly, if the receiver has captured eight
cells, the receiver pulls out the payload data, does the CRC based
error check, and if there are no errors, the original pair of MPEG
packets is reconstructed from the appropriate bytes of payload data
from the eight cells.
The reconstructed MPEG packets are assigned new PID values based on
the VPI/VCI value of the ATM stream that carried the MPEG packets.
This mapping of a new PID value in response to the VPI/VCI of the
ATM stream is based upon a translation table loaded into the ATM
packet demultiplexer 134 by the access subnetwork controller 240,
via a the ATM subnetwork and a signaling path 146 (Ethernet or the
like), discussed in detail below.
In a typical example, there are at least three PID values for
packets of a particular program, a first PID value for packets
containing video, a second PID value for packets containing audio
and another PID value for a packet containing a program map. There
often are more than three PID's associated with programming from
one source. For example, there could be a data channel associated
with the program which would include data for closed captioning for
the hearing impaired and/or related control signaling information.
There could be a number of audio elementary streams, for example,
carrying respective different languages. The program map, in turn,
specifies the PID values for the various packets continuing video,
audio and/or data from the particular source.
In a combined MPEG packet stream carrying packets for two or more
programs, the PID values for each program will be unique. For
example, the program map for HBO might be found in packets
corresponding to PID 132; the program map for TMC might be found in
packets identified by PID 87 and so forth. The program map for HBO
in the packet with PID 132 would then identify the PID numbers for
the actual packetized elementary streams (PES) for the video, audio
and data (if any) channels associated with the HBO program. The
program map for TMC in the packet with PID 87 would then identify
the PID numbers for the actual packetized elementary streams (PES)
for the video, audio and data (if any) channels associated with the
TMC program.
In the received OC-3c streams received by the APD 134, the packets
carried in the ATM cells have PID values assigned by the respective
VIP's encoding equipment. The MPEG-2 standard also requires that a
packet stream containing packets relating to one or more programs
includes a program association table in a packet identified by PID
0. The program association table maps a program number (PN)
assigned to each program source with the PID value associated with
the program map related to that source. In accord with the
standard, the VIPs' encoders will construct the MPEG packet streams
for each program to include a PID 0 packet containing the program
association table. The program streams also include a packet
identified by a PID value in that table containing the program map
for that program. Thus, the APD can capture the program association
table in packet PID 0 to identify the PID value for the program map
from the source of programming and can capture the program map to
identify the PID values applied by the source encoder to identify
the data (if any), video and audio for the particular program.
Alternatively, the APDs could be preprogrammed with the relevant
PID values inserted by the VIPs' encoders. The translation table in
the APD 134 is used to map each PID value in the reconstructed
packets of a particular program into a new PID value which is
unique at least within the output stream of the particular output
port of the APD, as a function of the VPI/VCI value of the received
ATM cells.
For example, assume for convenience that the HBO program arriving
at the APD consists of video packets with a PID value of 17 and
audio packets with a PID value of 19. The program map is contained
in a packet identified by PID value 3, and the program association
table in packet PID 0 identifies PID `3` for the program map. The
APD recognizes all of the packets as originating from a single
program source based on the VPI/VCI of the ATM cells and maps the
PID values into new unique values, e.g. 27 for video and 37 for
audio. The APD also constructs a new program map containing the new
PID values for video and audio and inserts the new map in a packet
identified by PID value of 132.
The APDs provide five broadband (27 Mbits/s payload) output rails.
Assuming 6 Mbits/s programs, the APDs combine four MPEG-2 packets
streams of four such programs for output on each broadband rail.
The APDs will combine more programs into each output transport
stream if the programs use lower bit rates, e.g. 1.5 or 3 Mbits/s.
If strict compliance with the MPEG-2 standard is necessary, the
APDs can construct and insert a new PID 0 packet into each such
broadband output stream. The PID 0 packet output in each broadband
transport stream would include a new program association table for
that transport stream, i.e. mapping the unique program number into
the PID value of the program map for each of the four or more
programs contained in the broadband transport stream output.
As discussed in more detail below, reception of a particular
digital program requires that the CPE terminal device know the RF
channel transporting the program and at least one PID value
associated with the program. Preferably, the PID value is that of
the program map for the particular desired program, e.g. 132 in the
above HBO example. The transport stream may include the program
association table in packet PID 0 to insure compliance with the
standard, and a DET may user the program number and program
association table to capture that PID value. However, downloading
of the PID values for the program maps eliminates processing time
delays in channel surfing required to capture and process PID 0
packets.
The ATM packet demultiplexer 134 outputs the reconstructed MPEG
packets on one of five 27 Mbits/s payload (30 Mbits/s with forward
error correction) digital signal paths or `rails` to a
corresponding modulator/multiplexer 150. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,494 to
Wachob, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its
entirety by reference, teaches quadrature phase shift keyed (QPSK)
modulation of a plurality of video, audio and data signals into a
single data stream within a standard six Mhz channel allocation for
transmission over a CATV type distribution network. The currently
preferred implementation uses 64 QAM (quadrature amplitude
modulation) or 16 VSB (vestigial sideband) modulation techniques in
the modulators 13. Using 64 QAM, 4 channels of 6 Mbits/s or a mix
of 1.5, 3 and 6 Mbits/s encoded digital video information up to a
total of 27 Mbits/s together with 3 Mbits/s of forward error
correction information can be modulated into one 6 Mhz bandwidth
analog channel. Similarly, 256 QAM or 16 VSB would yield up to 40
Mbits/s payload of capacity (not counting bits added for forward
error correction), e.g. for 6 channels of 6 Mbits/s or mixes of the
various rate encoded digital video information modulated into one 6
Mhz bandwidth analog channel. Each RF modulator produces a 6 Mhz
bandwidth output at a different carrier frequency.
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the modulator/multiplexer
150 is a Quadrature Amplitude Modulator (QAM) operating at 64 QAM,
whereby media access control (MAC) is performed to ensure proper
timing of the resulting time-division multiple access (TDMA)
signal. Thus, each of the five 27 Mbits/s (payload) digital signals
are 64 QAM modulated and multiplexed into an IF signal, which is
upconverted into a specific 6 MHz channel. The QAM/multiplexer 150
outputs the 6 MHZ channels to the RF combiner 144 for combining
with the other 6 MHz RF signals. The RF combiner 144 thereafter
outputs the combined RF signals to a lightwave transmitter 154,
which outputs the combined RF signals on an optical fiber 156 for
transmission to the local video access nodes 112.
Although the disclosed network is designed to transport digital
broadband data for high data-rate applications such as video, the
network is also able to transport low data-rate information to be
broadcast from an information provider to the VIUs. In such a case,
the ATM packet demultiplexer 134 will determine from the VPI/VCI
that the received data is a low-rate data signal; consequently, the
ATM packet demultiplexer 134 will output the low-rate data signal
in MPEG format to a quadrature phase-shift keyed (QPSK) modulator
152, which modulates the low-rate data signal for RF transmission
after passing through the RF combinet 144. The low data rate
transmission may carry text or signaling information from a VIP in
some way relating to one or more services offered by that VIP.
Thus, the APDs 134 map ATM cells into MPEG packets for both
broadband services and narrowband information (e.g. signaling). The
APD 134 is programmed to map VPI/VCI values in the cells into
certain PID values in the resultant packets. Based on the VPI/VCI
value, the APD 134 also will route the packets to an identified one
of its outputs. The APD 134 outputs broadband related packets and
associated in-band signaling on one of five 27 (payload) Mbits/s
output rails going to one of the 64 QAM modulators 150. The APD 134
outputs packets related to downstream out of band signaling on a
separate 1.5 Mbits/s (payload) rail going to a QPSK 152.
The signaling path 146 coupled to the components of the VNH 104 is
preferably an Ethernet communication path. Although not shown in
detail, the Ethernet signaling path 146 provides signaling and
control signals to each of the components of the VNH 104. The
Ethernet signaling path 146 communicates with the video data
control center 110 via the ATM backbone subnetwork 106 in order to
provide the operating status of each of the components of the VNH
104. Specifically, the Ethernet signaling path 146 provides
upstream signaling data to an ATM router 148, which packets the
Ethernet signals in ATM cell format, provides a VPI/VCI header for
the intended destination of the Ethernet signal, and outputs the
ATM stream onto the ATM backbone subnetwork 106. The ATM backbone
subnetwork 106 routes the ATM stream from the ATM router 148 of the
VNH 104 to a corresponding ATM router 244 at the video data control
center 110 (FIG. 7). Preferably, the ATM backbone subnetwork 106
routes ATM streams between the VNH 104 and the video data control
center 110 along dedicated virtual paths. The ATM router 244 at the
video data control center 110 receives the ATM stream, reassembles
the Ethernet signals, and outputs the Ethernet signals on its local
Ethernet bus with a destination corresponding to the VPI/VCI of the
ATM stream. The ATM virtual circuit to the video data control
center 110 is a two-way circuit and carries instructions from the
video data control center 110 back to the components of the VNH
104.
FIG. 5 discloses one of the network local video access nodes (LVAN)
112 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The disclosed LVAN 112 is one of a plurality of LVANs that is
distributed throughout the network service area in order to provide
service to customers. In early implementation stages, however, it
is anticipated that the first deployed LVAN 112 may be collocated
with the VNH 104 in order to service a limited service area. Later
deployed LVANs 112 will be located remotely from the VNH 104.
One of the electrical-to-optical converters 154 in the video
network hub (VNH) 104 transmits the combined RF spectrum signal
over an optical fiber 156 to one of the local video access nodes
(LVNs) 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the LVAN 112, also referred to as a
video central office or video end office, includes an
optical-to-electrical (O/E) receiver 160 that converts the optical
RF signal from the optical fiber 156 to an electrical RF signal.
The RF signal output from the O/E receiver 160 is supplied to an
equalization amplifier 162 for signal conditioning before RF
combination by an RF combiner 164, similar to the RF combiner 144
shown in FIG. 4. The combined RF signal is output from the RF
combiner 164 and reconverted to an optical signal by the
electrical-to-optical (E/O) transmitter 166. The E/O transmitter
166 supplies the optical signal to the local loop distribution via
optical fibers 168.
If desired, the LVAN 112 may also combine the RF signal from the
VNH 104 with a local PAC broadcast signal supplied by a local PAC
source 135. In such a case, the local PAC broadcast signal is
received by a fiber optic receiver and equalizer amplifier 138',
which supplies the conditioned local PAC broadcast signal to the
modulator 136' for conversion to an RF signal at an available 6 MHz
channel before combining by the RF combiner 164.
The LVAN 112 also provides signaling traffic between the VIU and
the network, as well as broadband traffic for interactive
multimedia television (IMTV) sessions. Specifically, the LVAN 112
includes a SONET multiplexer 170 that receives optical signals
carrying ATM streams from the ATM backbone subnetwork 106 via a
unidirectional OC-48c optical fiber 172. The SONET multiplexer 170
converts the OC-48 signal into OC-3c signals carrying ATM streams.
The ATM cells transport IMTV traffic and VIU signaling traffic from
the VIPs and the network, respectively. The OC-3c signal is input
to an APD 134, which repacketizes the ATM cells into MPEG format
and assigns PID values based on the VPI/VCI value of the received
ATM cells. The APD 134 preferably is identical to the ATM packet
demultiplexer 134 in the VNH 104 and performs the packet
reconstruction and PID value mapping in the same manner as
discussed above.
The APD 174 determines from the VPI/VCI value whether the ATM cells
transport broadband data such as video, or narrowband data such as
VIU signaling information or text data. The APD 174 outputs the
broadband data in one of five 27 Mbits/s MPEG streams to one of
five 64-QAM MACMUX modulators 176. In addition, the APD 174 outputs
the narrowband data as an MPEG stream to a QPSK modulator 178,
which modulates the MPEG stream carrying narrowband data for
combining by the RF combiner 164. The 64-QAM MACMUX modulator 176
outputs the modulated broadband signal to an RF upconverter 180,
which outputs the modulated broadband signal on an available 6 MHz
RF channel for combining by the RF combiner 164. Thus, the RF
combiner outputs a combined RF stream carrying 6 MHz channels of
information to the VIUs from different sources, including broadcast
VIPs, PAC Broadcast Source 135', IMTV VIPs, and network controllers
for signaling traffic.
An additional feature of the present invention is that the
information output by the RF combiner 164 is not limited to
broadband video from broadcast or IMTV VIPs, and signaling traffic
from the network. Rather, since the VIU is able to transmit
information to the LVAN 112 via a optical fiber upstream signaling
link 184, the LVAN 112 may be adapted to transmit to the VIUs
information from any data source. For example, reference numeral
182 denotes other data sources that can use the disclosed network
for transport to the VIU: a user could remotely access a LAN source
182a using the upstream signaling link 184 for two-way
communication; the network could control power to the user's DET,
or alternatively work in conjunction with electric utilities to
read a user's electric meter using a power management controller
182b; or a reserved port 182c could be set aside for future
interactive data applications. In such a case, the data is output
from one of the sources 182 to a corresponding RF modulator 186
before combining by the RF combiner 164.
Upstream signaling from the VIU is received from the upstream
signaling link 184 by an E/O receiver 188, which outputs the
multiplexed RF signal from the VIUs to an RF splitter 190. The RF
splitter 190 splits the RF spectrum and outputs the split RF
spectrum on predetermined signal paths. For example, a
predetermined RF channel will contain signaling information to be
supplied from certain VIUs to the Level 1 Gateway 108, such as a
request for new service, or a request for an IMTV session with a
VIP via a Level 2 Gateway. This VIU signaling information will be
supplied to a demodulator 192 to demodulate the signaling
information off the RF carrier. The demodulator 192 will output the
demodulated VIU request to one of thirteen (13) network controllers
(NC) 194, each of which processes VIU requests and identifies the
destinations for the requests from a specified group of CPE
devices. The NC 194 passes each VIU request to an ATM router 196,
which receives inputs from the network controllers, packetizes the
VIU request in an ATM cell stream, adds a VPI/VCI header to
identify the destination of the request, and outputs the ATM stream
onto the ATM backbone subnetwork 106. The processing of the VIU
request is discussed in more detail below.
As discussed above, the upstream signaling link 184 may provide
upstream signaling data for the other data sources 182. For
example, the RF splitter 190 outputs an RF signal at a
predetermined band to one of the demodulators 198 corresponding to
the devices 182. The demodulators 198 remove the RF carrier signal
and output the demodulated signal to the corresponding device
182.
As discussed above with respect to FIG. 4, the VNH 104 includes an
Ethernet control network to control the components of the VNH 104.
Similarly, the LVAN 112 comprises an Ethernet system 200 for
controlling the components of the LVAN 112. As discussed in detail
below with respect to FIG. 7, the Ethernet system 200 communicates
with the network via the ATM router 196, which passes Ethernet
messages between the Ethernet system 200 and remote Ethernet
systems via the ATM backbone subnetwork 106.
FIG. 6 discloses an exemplary implementation of the local loop
distribution network 124 shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Although the local
loop distribution system 124 shown in FIG. 6 is a hybrid-fiber coax
system, one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
other local loop distribution systems may be used, such as
Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL), Fiber-to-the-Curb, or
direct fiber to the living unit. Thus, the overall network
architecture shown in FIG. 3 may use different local loop
distribution systems in different geographic areas within the
serving area. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the OSS
tracks network equipment and facilities within the network serving
area, including the facilities associated with the local loop
distribution network as shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 6, the combined RF signal output from the RF
combiner 164 is converted to an optical signal by the E/O
transmitter 166 and output to the local loop distribution 124 on
the optical fibers 168. Generally, the optical signal will be
provided to a plurality of optical fibers via an optical splitter,
preferably a maximum of four optical fibers per combiner 164. Each
optical fiber 168 carries the combined analog RF signal to a fiber
node 202. According to the preferred embodiment, each fiber node
202 serves one broadcast service area (BSA) of up to 500 homes
passed.
The fiber node 202 comprises an O/E transceiver 204 that provides
two-way conversion between optical and electrical RF signals
transmitted to and received from a plurality of terminal amplifiers
206. Each terminal amplifier 206 outputs the downstream electrical
RF signal onto a coaxial cable 208. The coaxial cable 208 is
designed to pass one hundred twenty five (125) homes. Specifically,
a tap 210 is installed along the coaxial cable 208 for each living
unit that wishes activation on the network. A coaxial drop cable
212 is wired between the 210 and the customer premises 126. Thus,
assuming each home receives a tap 210 for service on the network,
each coax cable 208 will service up to 125 homes.
As shown in FIG. 6, the customer premises 126 includes a network
interface device (NID) 214, a network interface module (NIM) 216,
and a digital entertainment terminal (DET) 218. The NID 214
receives the coax drop 212 and splits the RF signal into four coax
signal paths. Each home or living unit 126 is preferably allocated
a capacity of four digital entertainment terminals 218 (DET's).
Each coax feed is supplied to the NIM 216, which demodulates the
downstream RF signal at a user-specified channel frequency. If the
demodulated RF signal is an analog video signal from an analog
source (such as the PAC 135), the NIM 216 passes the baseband
analog video signal directly to the television set without further
processing by the DET 218.
If, however, the NIM 216 receives an MPEG encoded signal, the NIM
216 will de-encrypt at selected program elements of the 27 Mbits/s
MPEG encoded signal using a key downloaded from the network's
ACC-4000 (described in detail below). Upon de-encrypting, the NIM
216 supplies the 27 Mbits/s MPEG encoded signal to the main portion
of the DET 218 for further processing to present a selected program
to the user.
The NIM 216 also demodulates a downstream signaling channel
carrying signaling data in MPEG packets. From the signaling
channel, if the MPEG encoded signal has a PID value corresponding
to the NIM address, the NIM 214 processes the MPEG stream as NIM
signaling data. If, however, the PID value corresponds to the DET
address, the NIM 214 extracts the data from the MPEG stream and
outputs that data to the DET CPU. Alternatively, the NIM and DET
may have a single PID value address, in which case, data within the
signaling packet indicates whether the message is for the NIM or
the main portion of the DET.
The DET used in the present invention is an open interface device
in that it interacts with equipment of a large number of service
providers (often referred to as "VIPs") to offer users a wide array
of video and interactive multi-media services. The digital
entertainment terminal (DET) is a programmable device to which
different individual video information providers (VIP's) can
download applications software, and at least one VIP (the VIP
selling the DET) can download all or a part of the operating
system. In non-volatile memory (ROM and non-volatile RAM), the DET
will store a loader program and an operating system. The loader
program and operating system in the ROM and the non-volatile RAM
will include sufficient programming to control initial
communications and define interfaces and drivers, e.g. for graphics
to define the base line functionality of the DET for all service
applications the DET will run.
The NIM 216 provides the interface necessary for the DET 218 to
communicate with the local loop distribution system 124. The
structure of the NIM 216 is dependent on the local access
technology (in this case, hybrid-fiber coax), the NIM 216 provides
standardized control signals to and from the DET 218. Consequently,
the main portion of the DET 218 can be implemented as a generic
consumer product that is independent of the local access
technology, whether it is hybrid-fiber coax, ADSL, satellite
receiver, or fiber to the curb.
Although not shown in FIG. 6, the NIM 216 presents two connections
to the DET 218, a high bit rate broadband connection and a low bit
rate signaling connection. The broadband connection is a one-way
downstream only connection, but the low-bit rate signaling
connection is a two-way connection.
The NIM 216 includes a frequency agile QPSK demodulator for
processing the downstream narrowband transmissions. The demodulated
data may relate to NIM functions or to functions of the main
portion of the DET 218. The NIM also includes a frequency agile
QPSK modulator, to permit transmission of upstream signaling
information over the coaxial cable on specified RF channels not
used for downstream transport. The main portion of the DET can
supply messages to the NIM for such upstream transmissions, and
under certain circumstances, the NIM's internal control processor
can transmit upstream messages in this manner.
As discussed below, the network OSS 109 assigns each NIM 216 to a
default channel for downstream reception and a default channel for
upstream transmission. The QPSK demodulator and the QPSK modulator
within the NIM can also shift to other channels allocated on a
dynamic basis, e.g. to provide signaling for IMTV services
requiring more bandwidth than is available through the default
channels.
The main portion of the DET 218 receives selected MPEG streams from
the NIM 216, and decompresses selected MPEG packets in order to
recover the original digital signal. If the digital signal is
narrowband signaling information for the DET 218, the signaling
information is supplied to the DET microprocessor as raw data, for
appropriate processing. If the digital signal is broadband
information, the NIM 216 supplies the MPEG packet stream to the
main portion of the DET via a broadband (e.g. 27 Mbits/s)
interface. The DET determines whether the data in the broadband
MPEG packets is digital video or audio data or other broadband
data, and supplies the data through respective MPEG decoders to the
television or to the DET microprocessor, accordingly.
The DET 218 is adapted to receive and store downloaded control
software. The DET 218 can establish a link to the network via a
Level 1 Gateway session to receive operation systems code, default
channel maps, and permissions tables in order to receive broadcast
services from multiple VIPs. In some cases, the DET may also
establish a point to point link to a VIP's interactive equipment.
For broadcast services, the DET captures a cyclically broadcast
application, for example navigation software.
The DET 218 captures and processes a digital channel based on the
RF channel and the PID value associated with the program map for
the particular source program. The program map PID value may be
retrieved from the program association table (PID 0 packet) or from
information downloaded and stored in memory. As noted above, the
program map specifies the PID values for packets continuing video,
audio and/or data from the particular source. For example, HBO
might be one of four digital programs carried in RF channel 53, and
the program map for HBO might be found in packets corresponding to
PID 132. The program map for CBS in the packet with PID 132 would
then identify the PID numbers for the actual packetized elementary
streams (PES) for the data (if any), video and audio channels
associated with the HBO program.
Once the DET 218 identifies and captures the program map, the MPEG
decoder section can extract the video elementary stream, the audio
elementary stream(s) and any associated data stream for decoding of
the programming.
Within an identified video elementary stream, video sequence
headers define things like frame rate, resolution, and the
coordinates on the screen where display of the image should begin.
Such coordinates are useful, for example, in defining pictures
within a picture when multiple pictures are superimposed. In each
video stream packet, after the video header sequence, the packet
contains the actual video syntax which, in the case of MPEG,
includes the normal frames associated with video compression, such
as I frames and B frames, etc., in MPEG.
In the preferred network implementation, the NIM 216 stores the
decryption keys that are supplied from the APD 134 via the
downstream signaling channel output on the 64-QAM MACMUX modulator
176 and the RF upconverter 180 in FIG. 5. The NIM uses those keys
to decrypt selected programs before supplying the program signals
to the main portion of the DET. Thus, a user's DET 218 receives
only authorized MPEG data streams, thereby improving network
security and reducing the ability of unauthorized users to access
other video programming.
A more detailed description of the structure of the DET and NIM and
the operations thereof involved in downloading applications
software and operating system changes into the DET are disclosed in
copending application Ser. No. 08/380,755, filed Jan. 31, 1995
(attorney docket No. 680-083C), incorporated herein in its entirety
by reference.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the relation of the ATM
backbone subnetwork 106, the video data control center 110, and a
Video Dial Tone (VDT) control center including the Level 1 Gateway
108 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the video data control
center 110 includes an access subnetwork controller 240, an
ACC-4000 242, and an ATM router 244 for sending and receiving ATM
cell streams to and from the ATM backbone subnetwork 106. Although
not shown in FIG. 7, the OSS 109 is responsible for providing
provisioning and assignment information to each of the components
of FIG. 7 in accordance with the OS control signal paths disclosed
in FIG. 1.
The access subnetwork controller 240 communicates with the elements
in the VNHs 104 and the LVANs 112 via the ATM router 244, dedicated
virtual circuits through the ATM subnetwork 106 and the ATM routers
148, 196 and associated Ethernets 146, 200 in the respective
offices. The ACC 4000 242 communicates with the APDs 134, 174 in
the VNHs 104 and the LVANs 112 via the ATM router 244, dedicated
virtual circuits through the ATM subnetwork 106 and the ATM routers
148, 196 and associated Ethernets 146, 200 in the respective
offices. For example, through such communications, the access
subnetwork controller 240 downloads PID value mapping information
based on the VPI/VCI values of incoming cells to the respective
APDs, and the ACC 4000 242 downloads encryption keys to the APDs.
The ATM router 244 and the ATM backbone network 106 also permit the
access subnetwork controller 242 to communicate with the Level 1
Gateway 108 of the present invention.
The VDT Control Center 246 comprises the Level 1 Gateway 108 and a
Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) controller 248. Although not shown,
the VDT Control Center 246 includes a corresponding ATM router to
repacketize the ATM cells and supply the messages to the Level 1
Gateway.
The PVC controller 248 is the controller for the ATM subnetwork
106. The ATM subnetwork 106 includes at least one hub ATM switch
252, as shown in FIG. 7. In future implementations providing IMTV
services from larger numbers of VIPs to larger numbers of VIUs, the
ATM subnetwork 106 will include the hub switch 252 and a number of
ATM access switches (not shown). The access switches will provide
connections from the hub switch to particular nodes of the access
subnetwork.
As shown, the PVC controller 248 connects directly to the ATM hub
switch 252. In one implementation, this is an X.25 connection. When
upgraded to interact with multiple ATM switches, the PVC controller
248 has an open interface to all of the ATM switches to allow
communication with and control of switches produced by various
manufactures. In the preferred multi-switch embodiment, an ATM
signaling connection from the PVC controller 248 provides
communications with the programmed controller of the hub switch
itself and provides virtual circuit connections through the hub
switch to the programmed controllers of the various ATM access
switches. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the ATM hub switch 252 may
also provide a dedicated permanent virtual circuit for the
communications between the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the PVC
controller 248.
The PVC controller 248 interfaces to the network operations support
system (OSS) 109, the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the one or more
switches of the ATM subnetwork 106.
The PVC controller 248 stores data tables defining all possible
virtual circuits through the ATM switch network. These data tables
define the header information and the particular input port and
output port used to route cells from each interactive multimedia
(IMTV) service VIP to an input point on the access subnetwork. The
data tables thus define "permanent virtual circuits" (PVC's)
between the providers and the input ports of the access subnetwork.
The data tables within the PVC controller also define various
dedicated circuits established by the OSS for communications
between various controllers of the network and/or to the VIP's
equipment. The tables in the PVC controller 248 include current
availability data for VPI/VCI values and an ongoing record of which
VPI/VCI values are in use. Thus, at any given time the PVC
controller 254 knows what VPI/VCI values are available to and can
be assigned dynamically to provide requested bandwidth for each new
IMTV session.
The ATM backbone subnetwork 106 also comprises a plurality of
unidirectional SONET multiplexers 254. Although only four (4) SONET
multiplexers 254 are shown in FIG. 7. It should be understood that
all connections to and from the ATM switch 252 are preferably at a
transmission rate of OC-3 or OC-48.
According to the preferred embodiment, the ATM switch 252 routes
all ATM streams on the basis of the VPI/VCI of the cell streams.
The ATM stream virtual path is controlled by the PVC controller
248, which provides switching control instructions to the ATM
switch 252 to set up the virtual paths in the ATM switch 252 from
the source to the destination in response to assignments from the
Level 1 Gateway 108. In addition, each VNH 104 and LVAN 112 is
assigned a predetermined virtual path for communication with the
video data control center 110, thereby relieving management
requirements by the PVC controller 248. Upstream signaling traffic
from a VIU to the Level 1 Gateway 108 or the video data control
center 110 is routed along dedicated virtual paths.
The access subnetwork controller 240 controls all routing of
broadband and narrowband data throughout the access subnetwork in
response to bandwidth requirements supplied from the Level 1
Gateway 108. For example, in the case of broadcast services such as
pay-per-view, the broadcast VIP 114 may desire to broadcast
broadband data to be transported by the network. In one variation,
the broadcast VIP 114 may communicate with the Level 1 Gateway 108
via the ATM backbone subnetwork 106 to exchange interactive
broadcast signaling information in order to request a specified
bandwidth at a scheduled time. Preferably, however, the broadcast
VIP 114 will communicate with the OSS via the OS-4 control signal
interface shown in FIG. 1 whereby the broadcast information is
loaded into the VIP's event profile stored in the OSS system 109,
and from there, into the Level 1 Gateway 108. The ATM edge
multiplexer 120 receives a message that the specified VPI/VCI is
permitted to pass into the network. The Level 1 Gateway 108 will
send an instruction to the access subnetwork controller 240 that
bandwidth is required at the scheduled time for a specified
duration. The Level 1 Gateway will specify the logical network
channel number for the channel that will carry the event. From that
information the controller 240 can identify the ATM stream having a
VPI/VCI header value for the transmission from VIP. The access
subnetwork controller 240 sends signaling messages throughout the
access subnetwork to establish the bandwidth at the correct time.
For example, the ATM packet demultiplexer 134 is loaded with the
appropriate PID values to map the ATM stream to an MPEG stream
having a specified MPEG format. The access subnetwork controller
240 will also send an instruction to the ACC-4000 242 to send an
encryption key to the ATM packet demultiplexer 134 to encrypt the
program before RF transmission to the LVANs 112.
At the customer premises as shown in FIG. 6, an authorized VIU will
have downloaded into the NIM 216 the encryption key from the
ACC-4000 242 via a control channel (broadband) or an out-of-band
signaling channel.
The VIU will access the Level 1 Gateway 108 in order to initiate an
IMTV session with an IMTV VIP 260. As shown in FIG. 7, the system
of the IMTV VIP 260 includes a Level 2 Gateway 262 for
communication with the Level 1 Gateway 108 via the ATM backbone
subnetwork 106 and with the DET 218, and an IMTV server 264 for
outputting broadband video data in ATM streams to the ATM backbone
subnetwork 106.
During the communication session between the VIU subscriber and the
IMTV VIP 260, the DET 218 can transmit control signalling upstream
through the ATM subnetwork 106 to the Level 2 Gateway IMTV VIP 260.
The Level 2 Gateway IMTV VIP 260 can also send signaling
information, such as control data and text/graphics, downstream
through the same path to the DET or as in-band data included within
the broadband output stream from the server 264. For downstream
transmission, the server 264 will provide ATM cells with an
appropriate header. The ATM switch 252 will route the cells using
the header and transmit those cells to the APD 134 serving the
requesting subscriber 236 for conversion to MPEG format. In the
presently preferred embodiment, the downstream signaling from the
VIP is included as user data (in-band) as part of the broadband
MPEG packet stream transmitted to the DET from the server 264.
Certain VPI/VCI values would be assigned and available to each IMTV
VIP, and other VPI/VCI values would be assigned to the access
subnetwork. For each session, the access subnetwork controller
would pick the port and VPI/VCI value for entry into the access
subnetwork, and the VIP would pick the output port and the VPI/VCI
value to be output by its equipment. The Level 1 Gateway supplies
both port identifiers and the two end point VPI/VCI values as
terminating and originating information to the PVC controller as
part of the request for connection through the backbone subnetwork
106. The PVC controller 248 assigns VPI/VCI values within the ATM
subnetwork.
Each physical port of the ATM subnetwork 106 will have more than
one VPI/VCI assigned to cells passing through that port. The PVC
controller 248 stores data corresponding to each port that
indicates the VPI/VCI values in use for each connection ID. When
the Level 1 Gateway 108 requests a connection through the ATM
subnetwork 106, the PVC controller 248 accesses its data tables to
determine if the requisite bandwidth is available between the two
identified ports. If not, the PVC controller 248 returns a negative
acknowledgement message indicating the reason for the inability to
complete the requested connection. If the bandwidth is available,
the PVC controller 248 provides appropriate instructions to the
switch or switches which will establish the link and provides a
confirmation reply message to the Level 1 Gateway 108 when the link
through the ATM subnetwork 106 is complete.
OSS Architecture
FIG. 12 provides an exemplary block diagram of the OSS 109 used for
service creation, activation and control in the network. As shown
in FIG. 12, the OSS 109 preferably includes a VIP interface 500, a
video provisioning system 502, an ATM router 504, and a plurality
of databases, namely, a VIP database 506, a living unit database
(LUDB) 508, a VIU database 510, a DET database 512, an assignable
inventory database 514, and a capital equipment database 516. In
addition, the OSS communicates with a network customer service
center (NCSC) 520 that processes billing information and network
usage and capacity statistics for network subscribers, including
VIPs and VIUs.
An exemplary network customer service center may handle all service
transactions for VIPs and VIUs, including generating service
activation requests based on new contracts with VIPs or VIUs. If
the VIP prefers, the broadband usage information can be provided to
a customer record information system, or "CRIS". CRIS would store
information as to each VIP's service/usage charges, as well as the
video dial tone access charge, and the OSS would process that
information together with the usage data from the Level 1 Gateway
to generate a combined bill for the end user/subscriber. The
subscriber would pay the billed amount to the network operations
company, typically the local telephone company, and the network
operations company would process the received revenues.
Alternatively, these functions may be performed by the VIP at its
VIP service center.
The NCSC 520 preferably also includes a work order manager system
for issuing installation work orders, and a VIP support subsystem
(VIPSC) that provides carrier services to enable sale of video dial
tone services and access link and transport to VIPs. The VIPSC will
provide immediate access to descriptive information about service
offerings, VIPs, and subscribers (existing and potential) by
accessing the OSS databases. In addition, the VIPSC may be able to
retrieve information from other legacy systems, including Trunks
Integrated Records Keeping System (TIRKS), Service Order and
Activation Center (SOAC), Billing and Order Support System (BOSS),
Computer System for Mainframe Operations (COSMOS), and Premises
Information System (PREMIS). The VIPSC would coordinate service
orders for video access links from the VIP head end to the network
POI. Preferably, the work order manager system will handle field
coordination and support for installation and maintenance
dispatches where VIPs have a contractual relationship with an
outside contractor to do outside drop and customer premises work.
The work order manager system would also dispatch work orders
and/or trouble tickets for any trouble or equipment failure in the
network.
The databases in the OSS are used by the video provisioning system
502 and the network customer service center 520 to track the
network assets and facilities as well as the subscriber services
that are in use on the network. The VIP database 506 contains all
pertinent data for all VIPs that subscribe to the network,
including VIP profiles, VIP event schedules, and VIP assignment
information regarding network resources. The LUDB 508 includes all
the information related to homes passed in a serving area,
including a list of homes that are pathed to addresses, the video
dial tone status, the drop status (buried cable, aerial or
building), the architecture type of the local loop distribution
124, a VIU's settop address, etc., thereby enabling network
planners and VIP business systems to determine the availability of
service within a certain period.
The VIU database 510 contains all relevant information regarding a
VIU, including the VIU profile (E.164 address, DET address, service
subscription, etc.). Similarly, the DET database 512 identifies all
DETs active in the network by their DET ID or serial number, DET
make and model, the corresponding network address (for example
E.164, CMID--Communication Module Identifier--or IP addressing),
VPI/VCI values for signaling, and any revision information. The
assignable inventory database 514 and capital equipment database
516 are used by the video provisioning system 502 for the service
creation, service activation and service control functions
discussed above with respect to FIG. 2.
The VIP interface 500 provides an interface for the VIPs that
restricts their access in the network to their own VIP profiles in
the VIP database 506. Thus, the VIPs are given limited access to
the databases, thereby ensuring security for other competing
VIPs.
As shown in FIG. 12, the NCSC and the video provisioning system 502
are coupled to the ATM router 504 for access to any of the network
elements via the ATM subnetwork 106. Thus, the OSS 109 can pass any
necessary provisioning or assignment information to the respective
network elements. In addition, the ATM subnetwork 109 passes
messages shown in FIGS. 8-11 between the OSS and the Level 1
Gateway along dedicated virtual paths. Thus, the OSS is preferably
implemented such that the OS interface paths shown in FIG. 1 are
routed along the ATM backbone subnetwork. If desired, the OS-4
interface path may also be implemented on the ATM subnetwork 106,
so long as the VIP interface 500 is maintained to restrict access
to the VIP database 506.
Level 1 Gateway Communications
As outlined in the above discussion of the preferred network
architecture, the Level 1 Gateway 108 will communicate with a VIU
type subscriber through that subscriber's DET 218 and associated
television set. The Level 1 Gateway 108 also communicates with IMTV
VIPs Level 2 Gateways 262. The Level 1 Gateway 108 also
communicates with the relevant subnetwork controllers, i.e. the
access subnetwork controller 240 and the PVC controller 248. As
shown in FIG. 3, the ATM subnetwork 106 provides a connection to an
Operations and Support System (OSS) 109. The Level 1 Gateway 108
will communicate with the OSS 109 for a variety of provisioning and
usage accounting functions. The OSS 109 includes a number of
information processing systems used for provisioning, the NCSC and
one or more billing systems, such as the CABS and CRIS systems,
discussed in detail below. To facilitate understanding of the
relationship of the OSS and the Level 1 Gateway in the context of
the preferred network architecture, the following discussion
provides a detailed explanation of the types of signaling and
communications that the Level 1 Gateway exchanges with these other
network elements. A detailed description of the OSS will then be
given to provide a better understanding of the OSS functions in the
context of the preferred network architecture.
The OSS 109 provides a variety of information regarding VIPs and
VIUs to the Level 1 Gateway 108. For example, in the preferred
network architecture, the VIU information would include VIU profile
information, such as the identities of VIPs from whom the VIU has
subscribed for services, the type of services subscribed to etc.
The information regarding each VIP relates to the types of services
the VIP offers through the VDT network, e.g. number of channels,
which channels provide pay-per-view service, etc.
The OSS 109 can also send requests to the Level 1 Gateway 108 to
set-up, tear down and modify connections. For example, when a new
VIU becomes a subscriber on the VDT network, the OSS 109 provides
the new subscriber profile information to the Level 1 Gateway and
instructs the Level 1 Gateway 108 to establish a permanent
signaling connection to the new subscriber's DET 218. The Level 1
Gateway 108 then interacts with the PVC controller 248 and the
access subnetwork controller 240 to establish the default signaling
channel through the subnetworks, between the Level 1 Gateway 108
and the subscriber's DET 218. This process flow is described in
more detail below.
When a VIU subscribes to broadcast services of a particular VIP,
the VIP will identify the VIU to the OSS, preferably by the OS-4
signal interface. The OSS 109, in turn, instructs the Level 1
Gateway 108 to make the broadcast services of that VIP available to
the particular subscriber's DET(s) 218. The steps involved in
broadcast channel activation also are described in detail
below.
Broadcast service VIPs typically will offer some pay-per-view
services. At least some of those VIPs will provide necessary
information regarding individual pay-per-view events and VIUs who
have purchased particular events to the OSS 109. The OSS 109, in
turn, provides the information regarding individual pay-per-view
events to the Level 1 Gateway 108. The OSS 109 also instructs the
Level 1 Gateway 108 to make a pay-per-view event available to each
purchasing subscriber's DET(s) 218 at the time of the particular
event. Alternatively, the VIP's equipment may have a direct
interface to the Level 1 Gateway 108 to provide the event
information and purchasing subscriber identifications directly to
that Gateway.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 transmits all usage information to the OSS
109 for processing by one or more of the billing systems. For a
given connection, the usage information may include bandwidth and
connect time and/or an ATE cell count. For pay-per-view type
services, the information will include an event identifier and the
network address. The Level 1 Gateway 108 also sends alarm or
failure information relating to specific session connections
between a VIU and an IMTV VIP to the OSS 109 for processing by one
or more maintenance related systems. The Level 1 Gateway 108 may
run its own internal diagnostic routines, in which case, the
Gateway 108 would also notify the OSS 109 of any faults or failures
in that Gateway.
The OSS may include an interface, e.g. a Level 2 Gateway and/or
server, to permit VIUs as well as VIPs to interact directly with
the OSS. This is one way that a VIU might modify or upgrade their
VDT services. In an integrated network providing telephone services
as well as video and/or data services, the OSS 109 would also serve
as the operations support system for telephone services.
Consequently, the interaction with the OSS through the VDT network
would allow VIUs on-line access to modify their telephone services.
For this interface to the OSS 109, the Level 1 Gateway 108 would
provide notification of incoming calls to the OSS from VIPs or
VIUs, in a manner similar to the notification provided to a Level 2
Gateway operated by an IMTV service VIP discussed in more detail
later.
Alternatively, an application running in the Level 1 Gateway 108
can interact with the VIU through the DET 218 to modify services
provided to the VIU via the network. In that case, the Level 1
Gateway would notify the OSS 109 of the changes to service
subscriptions made by the VIU.
As noted above, the Level 1 Gateway 108 also communicates with the
PVC controller 248. The Level 1 Gateway 108 transmits requests to
establish and tear down connections to the PVC controller 248.
These requests will identify the entry and exit ports of the ATM
subnetwork and the end point VPI/VCI values of the relevant virtual
circuits. As discussed below, the Level 1 Gateway obtains one port
identifier and associated VPI/VCI value from the VIP's Level 2
Gateway 262 and another port identifier and VPI/VCI value from the
access subnetwork controller 240. The requests for connection also
specify a bandwidth for the desired connection. The Level 1 Gateway
108 may also transmit some form of connection identifier to the PVC
controller 248.
In response to a connection request, the PVC controller 248
provides appropriate instructions to the ATM hub switch 252 and any
access switches (not shown) needed to make the connection.
Specifically, the PVC controller 248 instructs the switch(es) to
provide a virtual circuit connection between the specified end
points and to translate the input VPI/VCI value into the output
VPI/VCI value. The PVC controller 252 assigns any intermediate,
VPI/VCI values used within the ATM subnetwork itself. In this
manner, the Level 1 Gateway 108 and the PVC controller 248 interact
to establish virtual circuit connections, for downstream broadband
transmissions (one-way), for associated upstream signaling
connections (one-way), and for two-way connections.
In the above discussed preferred operation, the Level 1 Gateway 108
obtained the VPI/VCI values from the endpoints (the VIP and the
access subnetwork) and supplied those values to the PVC controller
248. Alternatively, the PVC controller 248 could use its mapping
tables to map the port ID information into appropriate termination
and origination VPI/VCI values, or the Level 1 Gateway itself could
administer and assign endpoint VPI/VCI values for each virtual
connection it needs to establish through the ATM subnetwork.
ATM switches provide bidirectional virtual circuits. However, in
the video dial tone network, many connections are unidirectional
(particularly those for the downstream broadband connections). The
requests for bandwidth can separately specify the bandwidth in each
direction. For example, for unidirectional connections, the Level 1
Gateway 108 will specify the required bandwidth in one direction,
e.g. downstream, and specify a `O` bandwidth in the other
direction.
The above discussion of connection set-up and tear down by the
Level 1 Gateway, the PVC controller and the ATM switch(es) applies
to the downstream broadband connection from the VIP to a port for
IMTV services. The network also provides two-way signaling between
the VIP's equipment and the DET 218. For this purpose, the ATM
subnetwork can provide a requested low bandwidth two-way virtual
circuit in parallel to the downstream broadband virtual circuit.
The downstream signaling information would originate from a port on
the VIP's Level 2 Gateway 262. If the downstream signaling is to
appear as in-band information to the DET, however, the ATM
subnetwork will supply the downstream cells to the same output port
as for the broadband information, i.e. a port to one of the APDs
174 in the serving LVAN 112. The access subnetwork controller 240
will instruct the APD 174 to map both the broadband and the
downstream signaling cells into MPEG packets having specified PID
values and to output those packets on a specified one of the rails
carrying data streams to one of the QAM modulators 176 for
transmission together in an assigned downstream RF channel. The
input port to the ATM subnetwork for the upstream signaling would
be a port connected to the ATM router 196 in the same LVAN 112. The
ATM subnetwork would output the upstream cells to an input port of
the Level 2 Gateway 162.
Alternatively, the downstream signaling from the VIP's Level 2
Gateway to the subscriber's DET 218 can consist of user data
included in the MPEG-2 stream from the server. In this later case,
the ATM subnetwork would only establish a narrowband upstream
channel to the Level 2 Gateway for upstream signaling from the DET.
In either case, the Level 1 Gateway 108 requests the signaling
connection, and the PVC controller 248 instructs the ATM switch(es)
to set up the portion of signaling link through the ATM
subnetwork.
In normal operation, the Level 1 gateway 108 requests establishment
or tear down of specific connections through the ATM subnetwork
106. When the ATM switch(es) perform the requested connection
function, reports thereof are provided to the PVC controller 248.
The PVC controller in turn provides confirmation to the Level 1
Gateway 108. If necessary resources are not available when the
Level 1 Gateway 108 requests a connection, the PVC controller 248
will so inform the Level 1 Gateway.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 can request audit or status information
from the PVC controller 248. In response, the PVC controller 248
can supply the Level 1 Gateway 108 with audit or status information
relating to the condition of ports and connections with the ATM
subnetwork 106. The PVC controller 248 will also provide the Level
1 Gateway 108 alarm or failure reports relating to specification
connections through the ATM subnetwork 106.
The PVC controller 248 may also provide usage information to the
Level 1 Gateway 108. In particular, the ATM switch(es) and PVC
controller 248 can count cells for each session connection through
the ATM subnetwork and provide the cell count to the Level 1
Gateway as usage data. The cell count reflects the amount of data
actually transmitted through the ATM subnetwork. For particularly
bursty services, the cell count may actually provide a more
accurate representation of usage than the combination of bandwidth
and time duration.
As noted above, the Level 1 Gateway 108 also communicates with the
access subnetwork controller 240. The Level 1 Gateway 108 transmits
requests to establish and tear down connections to the access
subnetwork controller 240. Such requests may relate to IMTV
connections, to making certain broadcast services available to a
particular VIU, defining pay-per-view events and activating
pay-per-view events for VIUs who have purchased particular events,
etc. In general, connection and tear down requests identify the DET
and bandwidth or throughput in both directions. In the presently
preferred embodiment, the DET identifier will take the form of an
E.164 address.
Requests relating to broadcast services will include a channel
identifier and may under some circumstances include VPI/VCI
information. Specifically, the Level 1 Gateway 108 will request
that the access subnetwork controller `establish a connection` to
the DET 218 for each broadcast channel to which the VIU has
subscribed. These `connections` for broadcast channels make those
channels available by enabling the DET to process each channel.
Once the access subnetwork establishes such a broadcast
availability connection, the VIU can view each channel simply by
selecting that channel through the DET 218, unless and until the
Level 1 Gateway 108 instructs the access subnetwork controller 240
to tear down the particular broadcast connection.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 issues requests relating to broadcast
services to the access subnetwork controller 240 only infrequently,
i.e. when a VIU subscribes to a new broadcast service or when
removing a broadcast service from availability to a particular VIU
(e.g. a VIU that no longer subscribes to broadcast services of a
specified VIP or that has not based bills for VDT services or
services of the specified broadcast VIP).
Requests relating to IMTV service will include a connection
identifier, VIU identifier and bandwidth. Unlike requests relating
to broadcast services, the Level 1 Gateway 108 frequently issues
requests relating to IMTV services to the access subnetwork
controller 240, i.e. whenever a VIU requests an IMTV session.
Requests defining a broadcast pay-per-view event include an event
identifier, start time, end time, date, channel, preview duration,
and teaser duration. Connection requests relating to activation of
a purchased event for a particular VIU identify the DET and the
event.
When the access subnetwork controller 240 receives a connection
establishment request from the Level 1 Gateway 108, the access
subnetwork 240 transmits certain information back to that Gateway
that other elements of the network need in order to set-up the end
to end connection. For a broadcast channel to which the VIU
subscribes, the DET needs a connection block descriptor for that
channel. The connection block descriptor includes the network
logical channel number and the RF channel carrying the particular
program. For digital services, the connection block descriptor will
also include one or more PID values (preferably the PID value for
the respective program map) that the DET needs in order to capture
and begin processing MPEG-2 packets relating to the particular
program.
In the preferred embodiment, the access subnetwork controller
administers the connection block descriptors and the VPI/VCI values
available on each port of the access subnetwork.
When the access subnetwork controller 240 receives a connection
establishment request for an IMTV session, the access subnetwork
controller first identifies an APD 174 having available bandwidth
capable of supporting the requested session. The access subnetwork
controller 240 provides the port ID and an available one of the
VPI/VCI values assigned to that APD 174 to the Level 1 Gateway 108.
As noted above, in the preferred embodiment, the Level 1 Gateway
108 forwards the port identifier for the APD 174 and the assigned
VPI/VCI value to the PVC controller 248.
The APD 174 is preprogrammed by the access subnetwork controller
240 to map ATM cells having the VPI/VCI value into MPEG packets
having particular PID values and supply those packets through a
specific one of its output rails for RF transmission on a
particular channel. The access subnetwork controller 240 therefore
knows the connection block descriptor corresponding to the
bandwidth it assigned to the requested IMTV session. The access
subnetwork controller 240 supplies that connection block descriptor
back to the Level 1 Gateway 108, and that Gateway forwards the
connection block descriptor to the DET 218 to permit tuning to the
correct RF channel and capturing and processing of MPEG packets
from that RF channel.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 could store the connection block
descriptors for all broadcast services. However, in the preferred
implementation, the access subnetwork controller 240 administers
the connection block descriptors for broadcast services in a manner
similar to that done for IMTV connection, albeit on a more static
basis than for IMTV. When the access subnetwork controller 240
receives a connection establishment request for a broadcast channel
from the Level 1 Gateway 108, the access subnetwork 240 knows the
applicable connection block descriptor for that channel. The access
subnetwork 240 transmits that connection block descriptor back to
the Level 1 Gateway 108. The Level 1 Gateway 108 in turn forwards
the connection block descriptor to the DET 218.
In response to a connection request (establishment or tear down),
the access subnetwork controller 240 provides appropriate
instructions to the elements of the access subnetwork needed to
perform the connection function. For example, for an IMTV session,
the access subnetwork may instruct the APD 174 to map cells having
a specified VPI/VCI into MPEG packets having specified PID values
and output those packets on a specified one of its five output
rails, to thereby place the packets in a particular RF channel.
For a pay-per-view event, the access subnetwork controller provides
the event definition information to the ACC 4000 242. The ACC 4000
in turn instructs the APD 134 to encrypt the program using a
specific key at a specific start time. The access subnetwork
controller identifies the DETs 218 of VIUs who purchase the event,
and the ACC 4000 242 provides the decryption key needed to decode
the program to the NIMs 216 associated with those DETs 218, at the
appropriate times. At the end of an event, the ACC 4000 instructs
the APD 134 to change the encryption key, thereby terminating
decryption by those DETs having a now obsolete decryption key.
In normal operation, the Level 1 Gateway 108 requests establishment
or tear down of specific IMTV connections through the access
subnetwork. When the elements of the access subnetwork perform the
requested connection function, reports thereof are provided to the
access subnetwork controller 240. The access subnetwork controller
240 in turn provides confirmation to the Level 1 Gateway 108. The
level 1 Gateway 108 will time the period for confirmations, and if
an expected confirmation is not received in the expected time
period, the Level 1 Gateway recognizes a fault in the access
subnetwork. If necessary resources are not available when the Level
1 Gateway 108 requests a connection, the access subnetwork
controller 240 will so inform the Level 1 Gateway.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 can request audit or status information
from the access subnetwork controller 240. In response, the access
subnetwork controller 240 can supply the Level 1 Gateway 108 with
audit or status information relating to the condition of various
channels and sessions through the access subnetwork. The access
subnetwork controller 248 will also provide the Level 1 Gateway 108
will alarm or failure reports relating to specification connections
through the access subnetwork.
At the CPE, the Level 1 Gateway 108 communicates with the main
portion of the DET 218, and through that portion of the DET, with
the actual VIU operating the DET. Logically speaking, the NIM 216
may be considered a part of the access subnetwork. The ACC 4000 242
communicates with the NIM 216, whereas the Level 1 Gateway 108 and
Level 2 Gateways 262 communicate with the main portion of the DET
218.
Through its communications with the main portion of the DET, the
Level 1 Gateway 108 sends menus to the VIU. The Level 1 Gateway 108
also receives selections and related inputs from the VIU through
this communication.
The communications from the Level 1 Gateway 108 to the main portion
of the DET carry a variety of information. For example, these
communications include downloading of necessary connection block
descriptors to the DET to permit reception of broadcast channels
and dynamically assigned channels carrying IMTV downstream
transmissions from the VIP. The Level 1 Gateway 108 may also
download applications programming and/or operations system software
into the main portion of the DET 218. The above incorporated
copending application Ser. No. 08/380,755, filed Jan. 31, 1995
(attorney docket No. 680-083C) provides a more detailed description
of the software download capabilities of the DET. If certain
services require the DET to recognize some form of network address,
the Level 1 Gateway 108 would also transmit that address to the
main portion of the DET for storage.
The subscriber input information transmitted upstream from the DET
218 to the Level 1 Gateway 108 can relate to pay-per-view event
purchases, selection of a broadcast VIP and selection of an IMTV
VIP. The input information may also indicate that the VIU has
requested a session with an internal application running on the
Level 1 Gateway 108, for example to establish or modify PIN
routines, customize menus, access account information, modify
broadcast subscriptions, etc. If the OSS 109 provides a VIU user
interface, the information from the input from the VIU might also
request connection to that interface through the video dial tone
network.
If the subscriber request to the Level 1 Gateway 108 identifies a
broadcast service VIP, the Level 1 Gateway 108 transmits a
connection block descriptor of one of that VIP's channels back to
the DET 218. This connection block descriptor corresponds to a
digital broadcast channel on which the selected VIP repeatedly
broadcasts customized software for downloading into the DET.
Typically, the software captured by the DET 218 controls navigation
through the particular VIP's broadcast services.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 can provide its menus in two or more
different languages. Through an interactive session between the
subscriber's DET 218 and the Level 1 Gateway 108, the user can
establish a preference for one language. Subsequently, the Level 1
Gateway 108 transmits menus to that DET 218 in the preferred
language. The user also has the option to override the preference
and obtain menus in any of the other languages available during
each interaction with the Level 1 Gateway.
As noted above, the Level 1 Gateway 108 also communicates with
Level 2 Gateways 262 operated by IMTV VIPs. For example, as part of
its processing of a VIU's request for an IMTV session connection to
a VIP, the Level 1 Gateway 108 transmits a connection request to
the chosen VIP's Level 2 Gateway 262. This request includes the
identity of the calling VIU and provides the VIP with the
opportunity to accept or reject the call from the particular VIU.
The VIP may reject the call for a number of reasons, e.g. because
all of its server equipment is busy, because the particular VIU is
not a subscriber to this VIP's services, the particular VIU has not
paid his bills, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the Level 1
Gateway 108 transmits a connection request to the chosen VIP's
Level 2 Gateway 262 only for IMTV type services. However, the Level
1 Gateway 108 could transmit such a request to the Level 2 Gateway
262 for pay-per-view services and broadcast services, if the
particular VIP chose to offer their services in a manner requiring
the VIP's acceptance or authorization before providing a requested
service.
The Level 1 Gateway 108 provides information relating to network
conditions to the Level 2 Gateway 262, for specific connections to
that VIP's equipment. For example, when a VIP accepts a call and
the Level 1 Gateway 108 instructs the various network elements to
set up a session, the Level 1 Gateway 108 informs the Level 2
Gateway 262 of completion of the call set-up procedure, so that the
Level 2 Gateway 262 can instruct the associated server 264 to
commence transmission to the subscriber. The Level 1 Gateway 108
will also notify the Level 2 Gateway 262 of failures in specific
connections to that VIP's equipment.
The Level 2 Gateway 262 also provides certain information back to
the Level 1 Gateway 108. If the VIP accepts a call from a
particular VIU, the Level 2 Gateway 262 transmits a server port
identifier and preferably a VPI/VCI, that will service the call.
The Level 2 Gateway 262 will also specify the bandwidth or
throughput requirement for the particular IMTV service.
As noted above, broadcast VIPs offering pay-per-view service will
provide information about events and purchasers to the network. If
the VIP has a direct connection to the Level 1 Gateway 108, e.g.
from a Level 2 Gateway 262, the VIP would supply that information
directly to the Level 1 Gateway without going through the OSS.
The Level 1 Gateway may also provide the VIP with menus and accept
selection inputs from the VIP, if the network is administered to
allow VIPs to initiate calls. Such VIP initiated calls at least
would go to the OSS 109. The preferred embodiment is adapted to
provide connections between a VIP and a VIU only in response to an
initial request by the VIU. However, if customer demand warrants,
the Level 1 Gateway could allow VIPs to initiate calls to VIUs from
the Level 2 Gateways 262. In that case, the Level 1 Gateway might
also signal the DET 218 and ask the VIU if the VIU will accept the
call from the calling VIP.
Process Flows in the Preferred Network
The OSS is responsible for service creation, service activation,
and service control in the video dial tone network.
1. Network Creation
As described above with respect to FIG. 2, the OSS provisions
network resources in order to establish a database of assignable
inventory for use in the network. FIG. 8 discloses a simplified
flow of messages between various components of the enhanced video
dial tone network during service creation, also referred to as
network creation.
During the process of network creation, all broadcast subnetwork
elements and all access subnetwork elements are preprovisioned and
configured for digital broadcast. As part of the network creation
process, the OSS performs a multitude of functions, including
creating assignable digital channels, assignable VPI/VCIs within a
serving area, and downloading the information into the access
subnetwork controller, as well as broadcast controllers used to
manage the SONET multiplexers coupled to the broadcast ring 102. RF
spectrum bandwidth provisioning and configuration is also
established at network creation. In addition, the OSS allocates the
ATM backbone virtual path identifiers (VPI) and establishes
dedicated virtual paths for the C-2, C-5, C-6, OS-1, OS-2, OS-3 and
OS-5 interfaces shown in FIG. 1. Channel assignments are also
allocated for the ATM edge multiplexer 120 shown in FIG. 3. In
addition, each of the ATM packet demultiplexers 134, 174 are
separately assigned either digital broadcast or IMTV processing.
Further, upon completion of the network creation process, the OSS
will store in an internal database the assignable logical and
physical inventory, including VPI/VCI assignable inventory for the
ATM edge multiplexer, and the ATM packet demultiplexers of the
network (see FIG. 12). In addition, the OSS defines during network
creation the VPI for upstream and downstream default signaling in
the access subnetwork and the VPI for upstream and downstream
signaling in the ATM subnetwork.
As shown in FIG. 8, step 1 of network creation involves designing
in the OSS a network model, initiating work instructions for
capacity activation and capacity creation, including establishing a
living unit database (LUDB), and establishing or updating network
configuration databases. The OSS then assigns identity information
to the PVC controller, the access subnetwork controller, and the
Level 1 Gateway, after which the OSS allocates VPI/VCI values from
the Level 1 Gateway to the PVC controller and the access subnetwork
controller in order to establish the signaling/data network. Thus,
the OSS identifies all the network elements, and establishes
VPI/VCI assignments for each of the network elements to determine
the end point of virtual path connections for signaling and data
traffic. The OSS also will have completed VPI/VCI assignment
information establishing addresses at the network POI at the
broadcast subnetwork.
Step 2 of FIG. 8 shows that configuration information is passed
from the OSS to the broadcast subnetwork, including VPI/VCI
translation tables for the ATM cell multiplexer 120, as well as
configuration information for the encoder 118 adapted to receive
VIP analog broadcast signals.
In step 3 of FIG. 8, the broadcast subnetwork is established by
performing all physical work, including connecting the broadcast
ring 102, terminating fiber connections, and connecting low speed
termination ports from the SONET multiplexers coupled to the
broadcast ring to their respective devices. During step 4 of FIG.
8, an acknowledgement is sent back to the OSS via the OS-5 signal
interface path that all work in the broadcast subnetwork is
completed.
In step 5 of FIG. 8, the OSS transmits, via the OS-2 signal
interface, configuration information to the access subnetwork
related to tuning the modulators shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and
assigns the coaxial inputs for the RF combiner/splitter
network.
Step 6 of FIG. 8 involves adjusting signal processors and
modulators in accordance with the supply configuration information,
designing and building fiber feeds, fiber nodes, power nodes and RF
distribution plants up to and including the taps 210 shown in FIG.
6. Upon completion of the office equipment and facilities in the
access subnetwork, the access subnetwork controller updates its
inventory files, and generates and stores a set of connection block
descriptors. In step 7 of FIG. 8, the access subnetwork controller
sends an acknowledgement to the OSS via the OS-2 interface, along
with the developed assignable inventory and connection block
descriptors.
In step 8 of FIG. 8, the OSS supplies to the Level 1 Gateway the
channel map information, and the connection block descriptors. The
Level 1 Gateway then updates its internal database, as shown in
step 9 of FIG. 8, and upon completion sends an acknowledgement to
the OSS that the Level 1 Gateway is updated with the newly created
information (step 10).
The broadcast subnetwork and access subnetwork then perform
acceptance and quality testing in steps 11 and 13, respectively,
and upon completion of the testing provide "as-built" subnetwork
configuration data to the OSS in steps 12 and 14, respectively. The
as-built configuration information, which is added to the
assignable inventory database, is supplied to the ATM subnetwork
via the OS-3 interface, as equipment ready for transmission and
reception of ATM cell streams on the ATM backbone network (step
15). The PVC controller in response establishes virtual circuits
for the assignable inventory, and sends an acknowledgement message
in step 16 back to the OSS. The ATM subnetwork in step 17 generates
any work orders necessary for physical connections needed to carry
the newly-established virtual circuits in the PVC controller, and
updates its internal databases, including the PVC controller,
identifying virtual circuits and hardware connections. The ATM
subnetwork in step 18 performs its own acceptance and quality
testing, and upon completion of the testing, sends an as-built
configuration message in step 19 to the OSS via the OS-3 interface,
at which point the as-built configuration data from the ATM
subnetwork is added by the OSS to the assignable inventory.
Thus, upon completion of the steps in FIG. 8, the OSS has a
database including assignable inventory for each of the network
elements, and has established transport paths for signaling and
data communications throughout the network. At this point, the
network is ready to activate video information providers and video
information users on the network.
2. Service Activation
As discussed above with respect to FIG. 2, the OSS performs service
activation functions for subscribers on the network, including VIPs
and VIUs. Service activation includes the functions of: 1)
negotiating description, availability, and price of services
resulting in a customer service contract/request in establishment
of a customer account profile (e.g., the VIP profile); 2) selecting
a path based on the network configuration and assignable inventory
to satisfy the service requirements in the service
contract/request; 3) formulating and transmitting the instructions
that network elements and word groups must perform to satisfy the
service requirements; and 4) completing and verifying the work
instructions, resulting in service to the customer, as well as
updating the necessary databases, such as the customer account
profile.
According to the preferred embodiment, the functions associated
with service activation for VIP service requests will include
activation of a VIPs signalling and control network, including the
OS-4 and C-1 interface paths shown in FIG. 1. A VIP offering
broadcast services only may have only an OS-4 interface. However,
any VIP offering IMTV services, along or in combination with
broadcast services, will have both the OS-4 interface and the C-1
interface. The VIP related service activation functions also
include: setting up signalling and control paths for pay per view
events, setting IMTV ports for use by the VIP, establishing
transport facilities from the head end to the POI, and the VPI/VCI
assignments for access to the Level 1 Gateway, the ATM packet
demultiplexer 134 and 174 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, the
access subnetwork controller 240 shown in FIG. 7, and the Level 2
Gateway.
The OSS performs the following functions associated with service
activation for VIU service requests: establishing and verifying the
connection of VDT service, NIM/DET initialization and activation,
and activation of digital broadcast services. For interactive
services, the OSS preprovisions a set of inventory for: dynamic
assignments of signaling, control and content, interaction and
control of Level 2 Gateway access, and collection of bandwidth and
usage data. As discussed earlier, most of the functions associated
with IMTV are managed dynamically by the Level 1 Gateway.
During the VIP service activation process, the OSS will typically
receive an activation request from a VIP, either electronically or
manually, identifying the nature of the service desired, as well as
the desired service area. In response, the OSS will access its
living unit data base (LUDB) and provide the VIP with LUDB homes
passed information, architecture type and build areas, to give the
VIP information on the potential VIU subscribers within a desired
service area, as well as the type of services that the VIP may
provide in accordance with the network architecture functionality.
Upon receiving a customer request from the VIP, the OSS will
typically provision up to 6 MB/s channels based upon the assignable
inventory. The OSS will map and assign new requests for digital
broadcast channels across the bandwidth available (now assigned to
the VIP) into the APD 134 in FIG. 4, as well as the VPI/VCI for
that APD. The OSS will also assign VPI/VCI to the ATM edge
multiplexer 120, and will provide the input/output ports for the
incoming and outgoing data streams, respectively. The OSS will also
assign facility paths from the VIP to the ATM edge multiplexer,
which in this instance is the network POI.
As noted before, the VIP is considered an inter-exchange carrier,
such that the VIP may provide its own link to the network POI, a
contract with the network to provide services to transport the data
from the VIP head end to the network POI, or may use a third party
to transport the data to the network POI. The OSS also generates
any work orders necessary for any connections and tracks the work
orders until completion. The OSS will also assign logical channel
IDs for digital broadcast channels. The OSS also creates a VIP
profile specific to the new VIP subscriber, and stores the VIP
profile in a VIP database that may be remotely accessible by the
VIP after completion of the activation process. After completing
all service and assurance tests on the newly-assigned equipment,
the OSS sends notification to the VIP, as well as its internal
billing systems, and passes to the VIP LUDB information regarding
the areas the VIP will be serving. If the VIP desires an OS-4
interface, a work order is issued to install a mechanized interface
between the VIP and the OSS to enable the VIP to remotely provision
its VIP profile, establish pay-per-view events, and activate VIUs.
The OSS also provides a portion of the VIP profile to the Level 1
Gateway.
The VIP profile contains all information related to the VIP and the
services provided by the VIP. During the creation of a VIP profile,
the VIP provides to the OSS information such as: name, address,
head end location, transport type to POI, including signaling and
video content, number of channels, bandwidth of each channel,
channel type (e.g., pay per view, impulse pay per view (IPPV),
stagger cast, broadcast, IMTV, application download carousel), pay
per view request preference (i.e., via Level 2 Gateway, or
application download), serving area, activation date, billing
information, VIP representative name and related information, hours
of operation, application download channel mapping information,
IMTV ports requested, MPEG-2 program IDs desired, and upstream
signalling rate for IMTV sessions. Upon receiving the above profile
information, the OSS processes the information and returns to the
VIP: a VIP ID, a VIP account number, an assigned logical channel
ID, an assigned VPI/VCI, assigned IMTV ports, and any completion
information. After transport facilities have been activated, the
OSS also provides circuit ID, mileage, rate schedules, number of
homes passed, and number of homes served.
If a VIP wishes to modify the VIP profile, for example via the OS-4
interface, the VIP provides: VIP ID, VIP account number, requested
due date, add/delete transport facilities, the serving area
affected, the number of IMTV ports, and the details of the change
to profile. The details of changes to profile may include
delete/add channels, change bandwidth requirements between the
available 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 MB/s, change the program map, change
channel type, or change MPEG-2 program IDs. In response, the OSS
provides the additional transport requirements, logical channel
assignment, VPI/VCI assignments, rate elements, milage and
completion information. The OSS also updates the VIP profile stored
in the VIP database.
Upon receiving the VIP profile from the OSS, the Level 1 Gateway
updates the VIP profile subset and the VIP broadcast listing menu,
and the network logical channel map. The Level 1 Gateway requests
connection block descriptors from the access subnetwork controller
for the digital broadcast channels. The Level 2 Gateway stores the
connection block descriptors in the VIP profile subset, and sends
an acknowledgement completion of VIP broadcast service activation
to the OSS.
FIG. 9A discloses a simplified flow of messages between various
components of the enhanced video dial tone network for activating a
VIP for digital broadcast channels. The above-described VIP service
activation procedure will now be described with respect to FIG.
9A.
As shown in FIG. 9A, step 1 involves the VIP activation request,
whereby the VIP calls the network service center to request
service. For initial service, the VIP will likely need to place a
phone call or submit a written request; however, an established VIP
can request additional channels via a transaction across the OS-4
interface. In response to the VIP request, the OSS, or the network
service center, identifies the proposed serving area, identifies
the architectures of the local loop distribution networks in the
serving areas, and negotiates services and features of the
architecture with the VIP. The OSS then collects the VIP
information in preparation for establishing a VIP profile, and the
OSS writes up a service order to request service and capacity on
the network. While the above-identified functions in step 1 may be
performed by the OSS, it is also possible that a separate VIP
service center (VIPSC) may be established to handle customer
support issues for the VIPs.
Step 2 of FIG. 9A relates to the provisioning and assignment of the
VIP to the network POI. The OSS provisions and assigns transport
from the VIP head end to the POI, if the VIP has requested
transport services to the network POI. The OSS configures broadcast
facilities from the POI to the access subnetwork based upon the VIP
request for channel capacity and bandwidth capacity. The OSS also
assigns a logical channel ID representing the VIPs channel
assignments for the serving area. The OSS also provisions and
assigns the VPI and VCI values for each six megabits per second
channel for the ATM packet demultiplexer, and may also assign real
time MPEG-2 PID values. If the VIP desires only broadcast services,
provisioning is only performed in the APD 134 in the VNH 104 shown
in FIG. 4; however, if the VIP also desires interactive services,
the APD 174 in the LVAN 112 shown in FIG. 5 is also provisioned for
IMTV services. Finally, the OSS provisions and assigns the ATM edge
multiplexer 120 at the network POI.
If the network does not provide transport for the VIP to the POI,
the OSS in step 3 of FIG. 9A requests the transport termination
location at the network POI.
In step 4 of FIG. 9A, the OSS sends a portion of the VIP profile
established in step 2 to the Level 1 Gateway, including the
following information: transaction ID, transaction type (new VIP,
disconnect VIP, or modified VIP profile), as well as the VIP
subprofile. The VIP subprofile includes the VIP ID, name, logical
channel number, channel descriptor, channel type, VPI/VCI of the
appropriate APD, the digital broadcast preference, bandwidth per
channel, and MPEG-2 program number or ID. In response to the
message from the OSS, the Level 1 Gateway updates its configuration
and VIP profile with the information supplied by the OSS.
In step 6 of FIG. 9A, the Level 1 Gateway sends a message to the
access subnetwork controller, and requests connection block
descriptors to be provided. The message to the access subnetwork
controller includes transaction ID, transaction type, logical
channel number, channel descriptor, channel type, VPI/VCI of the
appropriate VPD, bandwidth per channel, and MPEG-2 program ID.
In step 7 of FIG. 9A, the access subnetwork controller updates its
configuration with the information from step 6. As shown in step 8,
the access subnetwork controller returns the connection block
descriptors, along with the transaction ID and the status
(confirmation) of the request. In response, the Level 1 Gateway in
step 9 provides confirmation of the completion of steps 5 and 8 to
the OSS, passing the transaction ID and the status.
As shown in step 10 of FIG. 9A, the OSS communicates network
configuration information for the broadcast subnetwork.
Specifically, the OSS provides transaction ID, transaction type,
and data for the ATM edge device 120, including location and
address of the ATM edge device, the unit ID and type to identify
the physical port in the ATE edge device 120. The OSS also provides
bandwidth assignment, input port VPI/VCI, and output port VPI/VCI.
If the VIP has requested analog channels, the OSS also sends to the
broadcast subnetwork configuration data for the digital encoder
118, namely the input port ID for the incoming analog signal from
the VIP.
As shown in step 11 of FIG. 9A, the broadcast subnetwork provides a
confirmation signal to the OSS, including transaction ID and
status.
The OSS performs all necessary performance tests of the activated
digital broadcast channel in step 12. In step 13, the OSS provides
the following information to the VIP: VIP ID, VIP account number,
logical channel ID assignments, VPI/VCI's assignments for the VIP
real time encoders, number of homes passed, and living unit
addresses. If the network provides transport facilities to the
network POI, the OSS also provides transport type, activation date,
circuit ID, milage and rate element.
FIG. 9B depicts a simplified flow of messages between various
components at the enhanced video dial tone network during VIU
service activation. Typically, a VIU will have access to a set of
analog channels and digital channels. In order to receive the
digital channel services, the VIU will require a DET to access
these services which is typically sold by a VIP to the VIU.
Generally, the VIUs will be able to receive basic and premium CATV
programming (e.g., The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and
HBO) through subscription to the VIP of their choice. VIUs will be
able to access pay per view events from VIPs as per the VIPs event
schedules and definition. The VIP broadcasts the event per the
schedule they define in the VDT network using the channel and
specified bandwidth that was purchased.
Referring to FIG. 9B, step 1 shows that a VIU will request
activation of digital broadcast services by calling a VIP or a VIP
agent. In step 2, the VIP negotiates the service request to
establish details of the subscriber's account, including the steps
of: verifying the customer VDT status using the LUDB information
previously supplied by the OSS; determining the drop status, e.g.,
whether the customer's living unit has an existing coax drop and
NID 214 as shown in FIG. 6; and determining if the customer
requires a DET or additional DETs. In addition, the VIP negotiates
with the VIU for authorization to use or replace existing inside
wire for the customer premises. The VIP will also negotiate
installation due dates, and preauthorize VIU for the selected
services, for example pay per view purchases.
The VIP in step 3 of FIG. 9B creates a service request to the
network via the OS-4 interface signal path for installation at the
customer premises, if required, plus a request for assignment of a
network address for a new DET or activate an existing DET with a
predetermined network address. In addition, the VIP identifies the
logical channels to be activated as part of the digital broadcast
channel activation request.
In response to the activation request of the OS-4 interface, the
OSS in step 4 performs the following functions: creates a VIU
profile in the VIU database, checks the living unit data base to
determine if the request service address is in a currently-serviced
area, checks the status of the drop cable to the living unit,
determines the VPI/VCI assignments of the digital broadcast
channels requested, creates a transaction ID, transaction type, and
transaction status, and assigns the Level 1 Gateway, access
subnetwork controller, and fiber node that will serve the VIU. In
checking the status of the drop, if a request for a drop is
required, the OSS will assign a terminal location, tap and port
assignment; if there are no ports available, the OSS will issue a
work order to install another tap on the cable 208.
The OSS then in step 5 of FIG. 9B sends to the VIP the network
address of each DET ordered, as well as the transaction ID,
transaction type and transaction status for the service request. In
step 6 of FIG. 9B, the OSS sends the request to the Level 1 Gateway
for a new VIU subscriber, along with portions of the VIU profile
stored in the OSS needed by the Level 1 Gateway. Specifically, the
OSS supplies to the Level 1 Gateway a transaction ID, transaction
type, and the following portions of the VIU profile ("VIU
subprofile"): VIU ID (including the network address for each DET),
types of channels subscribed to (analog broadcast, digital
broadcast, PPV, staggercast, IMTV, download carousel), VPI/VCI's of
the channels subscribed to for each DET, the identification of the
access subnetwork controller servicing the VIU, the fiber node ID
for the node serving the VIU, the NIM type, the due date, and any
purchased preauthorization information for pay per view events.
In step 7 of FIG. 9B, the Level 1 Gateway creates the VIU profile
and holds the order to activate the NIM until the due date. On the
due date, as shown in step 8 of FIG. 9B, the Level I Gateway sends
the request to the access subnetwork controller to add a new
network address. In response, the access subnetwork controller in
step 9 will poll the fiber node for the new network address on the
default upstream signaling channel.
At the customer premises, a DET installer at step 10 of FIG. 9B
will begin DET initialization by entering the network address
identified on the service order. At this point, the DET will output
the network address onto the network default upstream signalling
channel. As shown in step 11 of FIG. 9B, when the access subnetwork
controller receives the network address response from the DET, the
access subnetwork controller sends the assigned default signaling
upstream and downstream VPI/VCI identifiers to the Level 1 Gateway.
Thus, as part of the installation procedure, the installer in step
12 of FIG. 9B will issue a DET request to the Level 1 Gateway for
the resident application download. In response to the request, the
Level 1 Gateway in step 13 of FIG. 9B will download the DET
resident application.
The Level 1 Gateway in step 14 requests from the access subnetwork
controller the connection block descriptors for the channels
subscribed to using the VPI/VCI's for the digital broadcast
channels. In response, the access subnetwork controller in step 15
returns the connection block descriptors for the requested
channels. The Level 1 Gateway then in step 16 communicates the
connection block descriptors for the digital channels subscribed to
down to the DET. After the downloading from the Level 1 Gateway,
the DET in step 17 builds the channel map. Upon completing the
channel map in step 17, the DET in step 18 returns an
acknowledgement to the Level 1 Gateway. Upon receiving the
acknowledgement from the DET of the completion of the channel map,
the Level 1 Gateway updates the VIU profile in step 19, and sends
the completed status to the OSS in step 20.
The OSS in step 21 completes the service order in all the
databases, including the VIP database, the LUDB database, the VIU
database, and the DET database. Specifically, the VIP database is
updated with the VIU subscriber profile, the LUDB database is
updated with the status of the local loop and customer premises
equipment at the VIU site, the VIU database is updated with the
updated VIU profile, and the DET database is updated with the
serial number of the DETs installed, the DET make and model by the
network address, as well as any software revision numbers. That
information is also passed on for billing and usage statistics
management.
As shown in step 22 of FIG. 9B, the OSS sends the transaction ID,
transaction type and completed status to the VIP. In response
thereto, the VIP in step 23 updates its own records indicating
completion of the service order.
If a VIP wishes to add or delete digital broadcast services, for
example, new digital channels for new VIP services or to modify a
VIU's subscription, the VIP sends a request to the OSS via the OS-4
interface. In response, the OSS determines and verifies the network
address against the VIU profile, creates and tracks transaction
IDs, and sends the request to the Level 1 Gateway to modify the
channel subscription based on channel assignment or VPI/VCI
assignments. The OSS will then update the VIU profile.
FIGS. 10A and 10B show a simplified flow diagram of a purchase of a
pay per view event both as a service activation function and as a
service control function (on line purchase). The term "pay per
view" (PPV) refers to a special event promoted by a VIP customer.
As described in detail below, the VIP loads its event schedule and
definitions via the OS-4 interface. The VIP broadcasts the event
per the schedule using the channel and specified bandwidth that was
purchased. An additional service, referred to as enhanced pay per
view (EPPV) or "staggercast" comprises a one-way broadcast video
channel with functionality similar to video on demand, whereby the
service provides a broadcast of a particular program on a regular
interval basis, such as every fifteen minutes, over multiple
channels rather than on a scheduled event basis like pay per
view.
As shown in step 1 of FIG. 10A, a VIU will typically telephone a
VIP to request subscription to the pay per view service, for
example in response to an advertisement. The VIU will typically
give the VIP or VIP agent the event identifier and the network
address of the DET. After the VIP processes and records the
purchase in its own business system, as shown in step 2, the VIP in
step 3 will order purchase information via the OS-4 interface
including transaction ID, transaction type, event ID, VIP ID,
channel number, group number for enhanced pay per view, VIU
identifier and the DET network address.
The OSS in step 4 processes the request from the VIP in a manner
similar as described with respect to step 4 of FIG. 9B, namely,
verifying the VIU information, adding to the VIU profile the event
ID as a purchased event, and updating the event schedule with the
VIU identifier and the DET network address. The OSS sends the
request to the Level 1 Gateway in step 5 of FIG. 10A, including the
transaction ID, transaction type, a time stamp reference, the event
ID, and the network address of the DET. As shown in step 6 of FIG.
10A, the Level 1 Gateway begins on-line provisioning by
"validating" the VIU against the VIU profile, validating the event
ID against the event schedule, validating the time of the event
purchase against the "buy window" of the event and the event
schedule, and retrieving from the VIU profile the ID for the access
subnetwork controller serving the VIU.
In step 7 of FIG. 10A, the Level 1 Gateway requests access control
set-up for the event from the access subnetwork controller. The
Level 1 Gateway sends the transaction ID, transaction type, event
ID identifying the pay per view event, and the network address of
the DET. In response, the access subnetwork controller sets up the
access control functionality to send the encryption keys to the
NIM. Specifically, the access subnetwork controller sends the
network address and the QPSK values for the RF default downstream
channels to the ACC 4000 242. The ACC 4000 242 in turn outputs the
encryption key for the network address. The ATM router serving the
ACC 4000 in turn provides a VPI/VCI header which is supplied to the
APD serving the VIU. The APD in the local video access node serving
the VIU recognizes the VPI/VCI of the incoming ATM cell stream and
outputs an MPEG packet having a PID value corresponding to the
network address to the QPSK for transmission to the NIM via the VIU
downstream default signaling channel. The NIM, which continually
monitors the downstream default signaling channel, receives the
MPEG stream and identifies the network address, thereby receiving
the decryption keys from the ACC 4000. Optionally, the NIM might
send an acknowledgement back to the ACC 4000 that the encryption
key has been received. In any event, the ACC 4000 sends an
acknowledgement to the access subnetwork controller indicating that
the decryption key has been sent to the NIM.
Optionally, the access subnetwork controller may download the
connection block descriptors for the event to the DET in step 8.
Preferably, however, the connection block descriptors will be
provided by the VIP on a VIP control channel, or else by the Level
1 Gateway transmitting the connection block descriptors to the DET
after step 10 below.
As shown in step 9 of FIG. 10A, the access subnetwork controller
sends an acknowledgement to the Level 1 Gateway, including
transaction ID and transaction status. The Level 1 Gateway in step
10 updates the VIU profile indicating the event purchased for
billing data collection back to the OSS and the VIP (step 11). Upon
receiving the acknowledgement, the OSS in step 12 sends an
acknowledgement to the VIP via the OS-4 interface that the VIU has
been activated.
FIG. 10B shows, in contrast, a pay per view purchase which is
considered part of the service control functions performed by the
Level 1 Gateway. As shown in FIG. 10B, the Level 1 Gateway has
exclusive control during the process of the Level 1 Gateway session
between the DET and the Level 1 Gateway. Thus, it is assumed that
the DET already has a VIP application resident in the DET in order
to perform the on-line purchase. Thus, the VIP application residing
in the DET includes the VIP ID, logical channel number and the
program ID. The Level 1 Gateway has all the necessary information
in the VIU profile to approve the on-line event purchase.
As shown in FIG. 10B, the VIU in step 1 selects an event from the
VIP application menu resident in the DET. The DET initiates in step
2 a Level 1 Gateway session via the default upstream signaling
channel, providing the transaction ID, the transaction type, the
event ID, the DET network address, and the time stamp of the
order.
In step 3 of FIG. 10B, the Level 1 Gateway processes the DET
request by validating the VIU against the VIU profile, validating
the event ID against the event schedule, validating the
receipt/time of event purchase against the buy-window of the event
in the event schedule, and retrieving from the VIU profile the
identifier address of the access subnetwork controller serving the
particular VIU. The Level 1 Gateway then in step 4 sends a message
to the access subnetwork controller to activate the DET for
reception of the pay per view event. In response, the access
subnetwork controller in step 5 issues a request to the ACC-4000 to
download the decryption keys for the NIM. In addition, the access
subnetwork controller will ensure that the VIU does not have access
prior to event start, and that at the end of the event the VIU will
no longer have access.
The access subnetwork controller then sends a message to the Level
1 Gateway, confirming processing of the VIU. As shown in step 7 of
FIG. 10B, the Level 1 Gateway updates its VIP profile with the
event purchase for billing data collection back to the VIP. In step
8, the Level 1 Gateway transmits a message via the downstream
default signaling channel, identifying the transaction ID, the
transaction status, the event ID, indicating that the purchase was
successful. Optionally, the downstream message may also include a
text display that purchase was successful, as well as the
connection block descriptors unless provided by the VIP on a VIP
control channel. The DET in step 9 displays a message to the user
that the purchase was successful. The message preferably will be
generated by a subroutine in the DET native application or by the
transaction status sent by the Level 1 Gateway triggers the routine
to display the message. As shown in step 10, the DET is then able
to receive the event shown by the VIP. If necessary, the DET will
first obtain the connection block descriptors from the VIP control
channel, then load the connection block descriptors to retrieve the
event data from the VIP. Although not shown in FIG. 10B, the Level
1 Gateway will upload the billing and usage statistics to the
OSS.
Service Control Event Loading
FIG. 11 discloses a simplified flow diagram showing the messages
transmitted between elements of the network for event loading by
the VIP. As described before, a VIP is able to remotely provision
its allocated network resources by accessing its VIP profile in the
VIP database. Part of that VIP profile includes the VIP event
schedule which identifies upcoming events scheduled for broadcast
on the network by the VIP. Thus, rather than relying on the OSS to
manually provision digital channels or bandwidth assignments, the
VIP is able to schedule in advance the necessary requirements.
As shown in FIG. 11, the VIP accesses the event schedule via the
OS-4 interface of FIG. 1. The VIP provides the transaction ID,
transaction type, VIP ID, event ID (program ID), the logical
channel, the start time and duration of the event, any offset for
previews, teasers, and cancel windows, a cancel window duration
defining how late a VIU may cancel the service, the buy-window
duration that identifies how late a VIU may purchase the event, the
bandwidth required, and whether the VIU may impulse purchase. In
other words, an event typically includes the preview, a teaser,
plus the actual event, whereby the preview is defined as a
predetermined number of minutes of commercial time, the teaser is a
free portion of the desired event, for example, the first fifteen
minutes of the event, used to motivate VIUs to purchase the event.
Generally, a teaser is scheduled as a separate pay per view event
that all DETs can view. Further, the event schedule includes the
event start time, duration, buy-window, cancel window, whether the
event is impulse purchasable and offsets for EPPV.
In response to the request from the VIP, the OSS in step 2
validates against the VIP profile the VIP ID, the VIP logical
channel and verifies that the bandwidth request matches the
bandwidth provision upon service activation. After a verification
of the order, the OSS passes the information received from the VIP
to the Level 1 Gateway in step 3. In response, the Level 1 Gateway
updates its VIP event schedule database. The Level 1 Gateway in
step 5 then sends the event data to the access subnetwork
controller to set up access control. In response, the access
subnetwork controller in step 6 sets up the event, and sends the
information to the set-top box controller, for example the ACC
4000D or the VAM to set up the event. Specifically, the access
subnetwork controller accepts and stores the event schedule
information from the Level 1 Gateway, and sets up reserved
bandwidth for use at the start of the event. In addition, the
access subnetwork manages authorizations and access control to
restrict viewing of teaser/preview to users that are authorized for
the channel. The access subnetwork controller also manages
authorizations and access control to restrict viewing of the event
to users that have purchased the event. The access subnetwork
controller then sends an acknowledgement message back to the Level
1 Gateway in step 7 of FIG. 11. In response, the Level 1 Gateway in
step 8 sends an acknowledgement message back to the OSS in step 8
that the event is loaded into the network. The OSS in response
sends a confirmation message in step 9 to the VIP.
At the time the event is to be broadcast by the VIP (step 10), the
access subnetwork controller sends a command to the set top box
controller to send the authorization keys to the NIMs. After the
event, the Level 1 Gateway adds the event to the VIP profile for
billing. Upon completion of the event, the ACC 4000D in step 12
changes the authorization keys and removes the event from the
schedule. Finally, at the end of the event, the Level 1 Gateway in
step 13 will remove the event from schedule and close the billing
record. As previously indicated, the Level 1 Gateway will later
send the billing and usage statistics to the OSS.
Thus, as shown above, the OSS is primarily responsible for overall
service creation, service activation, and service control of
network services generally. The Level 1 Gateway, however, is
primarily responsible for on-line services between the VIPs and the
video information users. As such, the OSS generally will
preprovision bandwidth for IMTV purposes. A more detailed
description of the control functionality associated with IMTV
services is found in commonly-assigned copending application Ser.
No. 08/413,812, filed Mar. 28, 1995, entitled "LEVEL 1 GATEWAY FOR
VIDEO DIAL TONE NETWORKS" (Atty Docket No. 680-093A), the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by
reference. In addition, detailed descriptions regarding the control
and operations of the access subnetwork controller is found in
commonly-assigned copending application Ser. No. 08/413,810, filed
Mar. 28, 1995, entitled "ACCESS SUBNETWORK CONTROLLER FOR VIDEO
DIAL TONE NETWORKS" (Atty Docket No. 680-093B), the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference. Finally, while the OSS
of the present invention is primarily directed to "semi dynamic"
allocation of network resources for IMTV purposes, the routing of
broadband data throughout the network is described in more detail
with respect to the ATM packet demultiplexers in the VNH and the
local video access node in commonly-assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/413,207, filed Mar. 28, 1995, entitled "ATM
PACKET DEMULTIPLEXER FOR USE IN A FULL SERVICE NETWORK HAVING
DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE" (Atty Docket No. 680-116), the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
As shown above, the present invention provides an operational
support system for use in information networks providing transport
of data including broadband video and signaling data. Although the
disclosed operational support system is disclosed with respect to a
video system using hybrid-fiber coax, one having ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that the disclosed operational support
system is also applicable to other networks using other local
access technologies, as shown in the above-identified co-pending
application Ser. No. 08/413,812, filed Mar. 28, 1995, entitled
"LEVEL 1 GATEWAY FOR VIDEO DIAL TONE NETWORKS" (Atty Docket No.
680-093A), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its
entirety by reference. In addition, the above-described operational
support system is applicable to other transport technologies, such
as wireless systems, as shown in co-pending application Ser. No.
08/405,558, filed Mar. 16, 1995, entitled "SIMULTANEOUS OVERLAPPING
BROADCASTING OF DIGITAL PROGRAMS" (Atty Docket No. 680-130), the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by
reference.
Finally, one having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
the disclosed embodiment is not limited to service creation and
service activation, but is also applicable to service assurance and
network maintenance operations, such as trouble identification,
trouble notification, trouble verification, trouble location,
trouble repair, and service verification.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *