U.S. patent number RE43,163 [Application Number 11/318,396] was granted by the patent office on 2012-02-07 for high-speed network of independently linked nodes.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brookline Flolmstead LLC. Invention is credited to Keith R. Anderson, Jock Andrews, Richard H. Christensen, Larry G. Erdman, Craig A. Miller, Kevin J. Peppin, Marcio Pugina, Jason S. Veech.
United States Patent |
RE43,163 |
Andrews , et al. |
February 7, 2012 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
High-speed network of independently linked nodes
Abstract
A method of operating a network is beneficially conducted on a
municipality or neighborhood level. The method in disclosed
embodiments comprises installing a digital communications network
within a limited selected geographical region. The network is
formed from a high speed backbone and a plurality of nodes
branching outward from the high speed backbone. A plurality of
communicating stations are connected to the network and users at
each communicating station subscribe to communicate over the
network. Due to the unique scope of the network, the users are
related primarily by virtue of their residence in a common
geographical region. The network may be installed within a public
utility right of way and may be used to monitor utility usage and
to bill utility users. The network is thus independent of public
telephone infrastructure. The network is preferably partitioned and
communications are direct from station to station without
broadcasting. Outside access, such as to the Internet is provided
through gateways within the backbone.
Inventors: |
Andrews; Jock (Springville,
UT), Miller; Craig A. (Lehi, UT), Anderson; Keith R.
(Springville, UT), Christensen; Richard H. (Hurricane,
UT), Pugina; Marcio (Orem, UT), Veech; Jason S.
(Oakley, IL), Peppin; Kevin J. (American Fork, UT),
Erdman; Larry G. (Lehi, UT) |
Assignee: |
Brookline Flolmstead LLC (Las
Vegas, NV)
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Family
ID: |
29738813 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/318,396 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60134294 |
May 14, 1999 |
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Reissue of: |
09500887 |
Feb 9, 2000 |
6667967 |
Dec 23, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/351; 379/342;
370/401; 710/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
12/2898 (20130101); H04L 12/2856 (20130101); H04L
12/433 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
12/28 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;370/254,396,401,351
;700/286 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1009156 |
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Jun 2000 |
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EP |
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0070808 |
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Nov 2000 |
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WO |
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Other References
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Implementation and Operation. cited by other .
Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,724, filed Feb. 9, 2000;
Entitled: Broadcast-Inhibited, Neighborhood-Area Network. cited by
other .
Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,886, filed Feb. 9, 2000;
Entitled: Point-To-Point, Non-Broadcast-Messaging Network and
Method of Implementation and Operation. cited by other .
Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,884, filed Feb. 9, 2000;
Entitled: Packet-Trapping, Neighborhood-Area Network. cited by
other .
Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/501,091, filed Feb. 9, 2000;
Entitled: Bridge-Router, Local-Packet-Transfer Network. cited by
other .
Carl-Mitchel et al. "Using ARP to Implement Transparent Subnet
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Official Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Feb. 2, 2009, 23
pages. cited by other .
Response to Official Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Feb.
9, 2009 mailed Jun. 9, 2009, 13 pages. cited by other .
Official Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Oct. 16, 2009,
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Response to Official Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Oct.
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"Metropolitan Area Networks," Matthew N. 0. Sadiku, 1994, CRC Press
Inc., pp. 1-3, 5, 8-10, 12, 13, 15-17, 19, 20. cited by
other.
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Primary Examiner: Ton; Dang
Assistant Examiner: Preval; Lionel
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of and claims priority
to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/134,294, filed
on May 14, 1999 and entitled Neighborhood Area Network.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters
Patent is:
1. An apparatus for linking communication stations within a
geographical region in computer communication, comprising: a high
speed backbone; a plurality of branching nodes connected to the
high speed backbone for relaying digital communications at
baseband; a plurality of communicating stations communicating over
the backbone through the branching nodes, the .[.branching nodes.].
.Iadd.communicating stations .Iaddend.each housed in different
buildings; and a home connection box having connectors for
connecting a communicating station with a hub associated with its
branching node, the connectors including a network communications
connector and a power connector for supplying power from the
communicating station to the hub; wherein the branching nodes each
comprise: a hub directly connected with others of the branching
nodes and directly interconnecting the plurality of communicating
stations in digital communication; and a power concentrator, the
power concentrator receiving power from a plurality of
communicating stations in communication with the branching node and
powering the branching node with the received power, the received
power being redundant, in that at least one of the communicating
stations can go off-line without stopping power to the branching
node.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub is largely housed out
of doors within environmentally controlled housings.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub is powered by power
sources emanating from a plurality of the buildings.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the
communicating stations .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.are comprised within
.Iaddend.a .[.residence.]. .Iadd.building.Iaddend..
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective
pedestal housing at least a portion of the nodes.
6. An apparatus for linking communicating stations within a
geographical region in computer communication, comprising: a high
speed backbone; a plurality of communicating stations communicating
over the backbone through branching nodes for relaying digital
communications at baseband, the branching nodes each housed in
different buildings, at least one of the communicating stations
comprising a residence; a hub communicating with the high speed
backbone and directly connected with the plurality of branching
nodes and directly interconnecting the plurality of communicating
stations .[.in digital communication at baseband.]., the hub
largely housed out of doors within environmentally controlled
housings and powered by power from a plurality of power sources
each located within .[.a.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.different
.[.one of the plurality of the.]. buildings; a protective pedestal
housing the hub, the protective pedestal located out of doors; a
power concentrator located within .[.one or more.]. .Iadd.a first
.Iaddend.of the branching nodes, the power concentrator receiving
power from .[.a.]. .Iadd.two or more of the .Iaddend.plurality of
the communicating stations .Iadd.that are .Iaddend.in communication
with the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.branching node and powering the
.Iadd.first .Iaddend.branching node with the received power, the
received power being redundant, in that one or more of the
communicating stations can go off-line without stopping power to
the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.branching node; and a home connection box
having connectors adapted to connect a communicating station with
the hub, the connectors including a network communications
connector and a power connector for supplying power from the
communicating station to the hub.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for
transmitting data .[.from a.]. security and alarm system
.Iadd.information .Iaddend.from a plurality of the individual
communicating stations to a central security office over the
plurality of branching nodes.
.Iadd.8. A system for linking communication stations within a
geographical region in computer communication, the system
comprising: branching nodes, wherein each of the branching nodes
comprises a hub and a power concentrator, wherein the hub of each
branching node is connected to a backbone that is configured to
relay digital communications at baseband, wherein the hub of each
branching node is connected to one or more hubs of one or more
other ones of the branching nodes through the backbone;
communication stations connected to the branching nodes and
configured to communicate over the backbone through the hubs of the
branching nodes; a first home connection box having connectors
configured to connect to a first of the communication stations to a
first of the branching nodes, wherein the connectors include a
network communications connector and a power connector, wherein the
power connector is configured to supply power from the first
communication station to the power concentrator of the first
branching node; wherein the power concentrator of each branching
node is configured to receive power from a plurality of the
communication stations and to redundantly power that branching node
with the received power..Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the communication
stations is configured to connect to exactly one of the branching
nodes..Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communication
station comprises a computer and a power outlet, wherein the
network communications connector is configured for coupling to the
computer and enabling transfer of at least a portion of said
digital communications to and from the computer, wherein the power
connector is configured for coupling to said power
outlet..Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. The system of claim 8, wherein a first of the branching
nodes is housed in an outdoor housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. The system of claim 11, wherein the outdoor housing is an
earth-based pedestal housing or a hanging pedestal
housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. The system of claim 11, wherein the outdoor housing is
environmentally controlled..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the branching
nodes is housed in a different building..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the
communication stations comprises a residence, wherein the power
concentrator of each branching node is configured so that at least
one of the corresponding plurality of communication stations can go
off-line without stopping power to that branching
node..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The system of claim 8, wherein the backbone comprises a
ring of switches, wherein successive switches of the ring are
coupled with optical fiber..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The system of claim 8, wherein the backbone comprises a
local portion, wherein the local portion comprises one or more
bridges coupled in a series..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The system of claim 17, wherein successive bridges of
said series are coupled by one or more coaxial cables..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more
bridges is configured to filter said digital communications so as
to eliminate broadcast packets from said digital
communications..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The system of claim 17, wherein the hub of each of the
branching nodes is configured to connect to exactly one of the one
or more bridges..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the communication
stations is configured to connect to one of the branching nodes
through one or more twisted wire pairs..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The system of claim 8, wherein the hubs communicate only
on the lower two levels of an OSI model..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer communications networks.
More specifically, the present invention relates to computer
high-speed networks linking geographically related users and to
manners of implementing and operating such networks.
2. The Relevant Technology
Computer technology is breaking barriers to interpersonal
communications at an amazing rate. Already, it is possible to
communicate almost instantaneously with anyone in the world that
has a computer and a telephone line. Computer networks, such as the
Internet, link individuals and various types of organizations in
world-wide digital communication. The Internet has almost unlimited
promise for communications advances, but is limited by an
overburdened and somewhat unsuited transmission medium.
In addition to the Internet, businesses, educational institutions,
government agencies, and other similarly related entities also
communicate over much smaller-scale networks, such as local area
networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). These small-scale
networks, particularly LANS, operate at much higher speeds than the
Internet, but are expensive to operate at large scales. Thus, a
large gap exists, between the scope of coverage and speed of
operation of the global, but relatively slow, Internet and the
faster but more limited LANs and WANs. It would be advantageous to
close this gap with larger-scale networks that operate at speeds
close to that of LANS.
Several barriers exist to filling the gap between current limited
coverage networks and the Internet. One such barrier is the "last
mile" dilemma. That is, the Internet runs at very high speeds over
its backbone, but slows down considerably over its localized
connections. Generally, the Internet relies upon standard
telecommunications industry lines and switching equipment for this
last mile. This infrastructure is designed for telephone
communications, and is not well adapted to the packetized
communications of digital networks. A dilemma lies, however, in
replacing the telephone infrastructure with transmission mediums
more suited to digital communications. It is currently considered
prohibitively expensive to connect high speed communications lines
down to the individual users of the Internet.
This fact, together with the general congestion of the Internet in
general leads to a substantial slow down of Internet
communications. It also limits the deployment of intermediate types
of networks. A further barrier to the implementation of networks of
varying scopes and to the new introduction of new paradigms for
network communication comes in the form of financing. Such
developments using current technology would be prohibitively
expensive. Who is going to pay for this infrastructure?
Accordingly, a need exists for an intermediate sized network to
close the gap between the world-wide Internet and current
relatively small scale networks. Preferably, such an intermediate
sized network operates at speeds similar to those of LANS, coverage
both in geographical area and diversify of user type. Additionally
any solution to this problem should also address financing of
installation and should overcome the last mile dilemma. New
technologies for achieving such a new paradigm in computer
networking are similarly needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome many or all of the above-discussed problems,
the present invention comprises methods, apparatus, and systems for
implementing Large-scale high speed computer network. The network
may connect an entire neighborhood or city in networked
communications, and accordingly, will be referred to herein as a
Neighborhood Area Network (NAN). The NAN of the present invention
is a network conducted on a unique scale with a unique clientele
and is implemented in a manner that transcends traditional network
boundaries and protocols. The NAN is not equivalent to a wide area
network WAN, in part because it is essentially routerless. That is,
while a plurality of NAN, may be interconnected through the use of
routers, each individual NAN is preferably constructed without the
use of internal routers. The NAN is unique from local area networks
(LANs) as well. One reason is that, due to its many novel features,
it can be of a size and scope previously unobtainable by
conventional LANs.
The NAN is further unique because it is intended to cover and serve
a selected geographical area and to blanket that geographical area,
rather than functioning to serve a specific government, business,
educational, or similarly related entity. Accordingly, the
subscribers and users of the NAN may be substantially non-related
in any traditional business manner. Furthermore, funding for the
NAN, rather than being provided by a business-type entity or
subsidized by a governmental organization, may be funded at least
in part by an independent third party, such as a utility company
and may be funded in total or in part by subscribers.
The NAN is also comparatively inexpensive to install, making the
placement of a NAN in every neighborhood a real possibility. The
NAN of the present invention is capable of eliminating the message
traffic burden from the Internet, thereby speeding up the Internet,
as it is adapted to be operated completely independent of the
currently highly burdened telecommunications infrastructure
(although Internet service may be provided over the NAN).
In one embodiment, the NAN is comprised of an optic fiber ring
serving as the outer backbone of the NAN. The ring is preferably
populated with one or more fiber boxes, each containing circuitry
including switches, repeaters, gateways, etc. The fiber boxes in
one embodiment connect the backbone to a central office or
headquarters data center in which a server is preferably located.
One or more gateways are preferably provided within the backbone
for access by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). An inner backbone
comprised of scalable 10 to 100 megabit coaxial cable preferably
branches from the fiber backbone.
The coaxial cable preferably originates at the fiber boxes and
branches through the selected geographical region (discussed herein
as a neighborhood, but of course, any geographical scale could be
served), connected by repeaters and nodes to individual
communicating stations. The inner backbone is preferably
partitioned for efficient routing of traffic.
The nodes in one embodiment comprise hubs. The repeaters may be
placed three hundred feet apart along the coaxial cable, with hubs
placed within thirty feet of every house, business, or other type
of communicating station on the NAN. The hubs preferably connect to
the local houses or other buildings with ten-base-T twisted pair
copper wiring employing the Category 5 (Cat5) standard. The hubs in
one embodiment are powered by one or more of the communicating
stations that they service. Accordingly, each station connected to
a hub may share the powering of the hub and may share the powering
of other switching equipment of the NAN as well.
In one embodiment NAN software operates on the server, the fiber
boxes, the repeaters, and the hubs. Client software preferably
operates a computers located at each communicating station.
Additional functional software or logic may also execute on
communicating stations or computers of subscribing service
providers. For example, software may communicate with an electric
power meter for transmitting information regarding power
consumption from a communicating station (the power customer)
through the network to third party service provider, in this case,
a utility power company.
In one embodiment, at least a portion of the backbone is installed
over the right-of-way owned by or franchised to a public utility
such as gas, electric, or power company. This negates any need for
a separate utility administering the NAN to acquire a new easement
or franchise from the landowners or the government entity of the
geographic region. The NAN may be financed and/or installed through
the cooperation of the utility service provider company. This
arrangement allows the public utility service provider that would
otherwise be unable to enter the digital communication market to
participate. It is also advantageous in that a NAN developer or
administration entity would otherwise likely be unable to afford to
finance and install the NAN due to the cost and risk of funding and
lack of sufficient rights-of-way.
In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance
with the present invention, an independent entity may create a
city-wide network or NAN. The network includes, in one embodiment,
a fiber optic ring within the city to serve as a local backbone.
The fiber optic ring may be fully redundant. That is, it preferably
completes a loop such that any break in the loop will not shut the
whole system down. The fiber can be laid inexpensively as distances
are not great and thus, less expensive local short-distance-types
of fiber cable can be used. A low cost fiber can be used, such as
feeder fiber which is less costly, and which requires less labor to
install.
The fiber backbone is preferably populated by fiber boxes having
switches therein. Coaxial cable from switches to bridges and
repeaters to hubs. The hubs may connect to client stations using
twisted-pair, copper cabling. A central server may be used and may
be located within a headquarters data center. A headquarters data
center may be employed as a gateway for Internet service providers.
In addition, the Internet service providers may enter the system
through other gateways including one or more switches.
The fiber backbone may be laid using the franchise agreement
granted to the power company within a city or region. Thus, as the
entire network is laid independently, the ISP service is provided
independent of the telecommunications line over the entire route.
Additionally, all ISPs are available on the net allowing equal
access without choking traffic.
The infrastructure is preferably upgradable from 10 megabit to
gigabit technology over the same lines, such that the lines need
not be relaid in order to upgrade. Services that can be provided
include surveillance, on-line books, two-way multi camera, schools,
etc. Additionally, IPBX, telephone, television, CATV, and video on
demand can be provided over the NAN. Video can be provided allowing
independent selection, broadcast, start time and may be buffered to
the user in real time.
The NAN also preferably incorporates one or more multiport switches
which are configured to truncate broadcast data. The multi-port
switch is preferably an indoor switch but is contained in an
aluminum pedestal of dimensions approximately 3 by 2 by 2 feet and
is environmentally controlled.
The repeaters in preferred embodiments convert the data from the
switches to be transmitted over coaxial cable and are preferably
semi-intelligent. In one embodiment, the repeaters are housed out
of doors within a protective pedestal. The pedestal may be located
on the ground or hung from power lines.
The bridges are, in preferred embodiments, high speed with a
look-up binary tree and are preferably contained in the protective
pedestals. The bridges also filter out broadcast traffic. The hubs
route traffic to subscribing communicating stations and convert
from coaxial to twisted pair cable. The hubs are connected with a
T-connector and powered by the cooperative power coupler of the
present invention.
The P-coupler preferably includes a series of transformers, one at
each communicating station. The communicating station connect with
Cat5 wiring to the hub through a home connection box. The home
connection box preferably provides convenient connections for power
to the hub and for transmit and receive lines. The lines at the
home connection box are wired alphabetically. The home connection
box connects preferably connects with Ethernet cabling to a network
card located within a computer at the client station.
A modular power connector is preferably located at the home
connection box. The wiring from the communicating station to the
hub operates, in one embodiment, at ten megabytes per second. Three
pairs of lines are preferably used, a transmit twisted pair, a
receive twisted pair, and an A/C twisted pair running from the
transformer to power the hub.
The NAN of the present invention is a high speed routerless network
which differs from traditional large scale networks in that traffic
is routed locally and that it has the speed of a small local area
network but with many more stations connected thereto. The large
amount of communicating stations is facilitated by the many novel
aspects of the invention.
The NAN can be described as a baseband network rather than a
broadband network because it addresses communicating stations
directly and linearly rather than through broadcasting of data. The
NAN of the present invention defines what cannot be routed rather
than defining the types of packets that can be routed. The NAN also
preferably uses converse/inverse filtering. Because the
communications traffic is direct-routed, neighbor to neighbor
communications is very high speed and occupies only a small part of
the NAN. It also reduces the burden on the Internet.
METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION
The NAN of the present invention is unique in that its clients are
merely geographically related, rather than being business,
government, educational institution, or otherwise related.
Additionally, individual subscribers pay for the continued
operation of the NAN rather than a single large entity. The NAN may
be partially funded by public service companies such as utility
companies. In one embodiment, the power company pays a portion of
the installation fees in return for receiving a portion of the
subscription and allows the infrastructure to be installed along
its rights of way for which it has a business franchise.
Accordingly, the NAN need not have a separate franchise and need
not be a public utility.
Additionally, the power company or other public utility may receive
benefits in the form of cheaper monitoring of the usage of its
services. For instance, power companies may be able to
automatically read the meters of the subscribers through the NAN,
rather than having to send out meter readers, thereby reducing the
cost. Billing and payment may also be automated over the NAN,
further reducing costs.
The NAN may be administered by a private company, but is preferably
not controlled by any central agency, governmental body or other
entity, and thus, is a true community network.
Subscribers are allowed to join for an initial hook-up fee and a
monthly service fee, similar to cable or telephone service. Upon
paying the hook-up fee, customers are connected and provided with
access to the NAN, but if they do not pay the monthly fee, some or
all their services may be cut off.
The subscribers are all provided with an IP address upon the first
use of their account. The IP address is in one embodiment
semi-permanent in that it is retained until the subscriber changes
network cards or computers. The IP addresses are retained in a
binding within a server located at the central office. The server
sends out the IP addresses, and the IP addresses are retained
within bridges and within the switches in order to route the
traffic accordingly.
The subscribers are preferably provided with Internet service from
outside ISP which connect to the backbone through gateways.
Internet service fees may be part of the subscription or may be
part of independent subscription fees.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice
of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other
advantages and objects of the invention are obtained will be
readily understood, a more particular description of the invention
briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be
limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
network system hardware for use with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
a system architecture for use with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a network
architecture for use with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a traffic
filter module for use with the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a
communications packet of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a schematic representation of an OSI seven layer
model.
FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a manner of connecting a
communicating station to a communications node of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connection box of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pedestal of
the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hanging pedestal of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart diagram listing steps of a method
of operating a NAN of the present invention.
FIGS. 10 through 15 are a schematic flow chart diagrams describing
in greater detail steps that may be conducted in accordance with
the method of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, shown therein is a schematic block diagram
showing various hardware components of one embodiment of a
large-scale, high speed network of the present invention. Because
the network is intended to serve a selected geographical region, it
is referred to herein as a neighborhood area network (ANA) 10. The
NAN 10, as depicted, includes a backbone 12, that is divided into
two components. A first component is a fiber backbone 14 that is
preferably adapted to transmit packetized data using standard
optical communications protocols and technology. The fiber backbone
14 is preferably configured in a ring with incoming traffic
traveling in a selected given direction.
A second component comprises a local backbone 16 that is preferably
configured with a non-redundant branching structure and that is
adapted to transmit data using radio wave signals. In the schematic
depiction of FIG. 1, the physical locations of connections are
represented, while an example of the actual branching structure is
shown in FIG. 3.
The NAN system 10 in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 1 also
includes a server 18 which may be located at a central headquarters
office 20. One or more fiber switches 22 may be located within the
fiber backbone 14. Indeed, the fiber backbone 14 may complete a
circle around a neighborhood or other common geographical region
which is intended to be networked in computer, voice, and or/video
communication. The fiber backbone 14 may be provided with redundant
loops in case one loop becomes inoperable.
The local backbone 16 preferably communicates with the fiber
backbone 14 through one or more fiber switches 22. Each fiber
switch 22 is preferably configured to examine packetized message
traffic passing therethrough, and where a message is intended for a
communicating station serviced by a portion of the local backbone
serviced by the switch 22, route the message onto the local
backbone 16. Each switch 22 also preferably routes locally
generated traffic with external destinations to the fiber backbone
14 for receipt by other switches or gateways 108 to the Internet
34. The switches 22 preferably also convert communications between
optical communications signals and radio frequency signals.
Within the local backbone 16, switching devices, including a series
of repeaters 24, nodes 26, and bridges 50 are preferably deployed.
In one embodiment, the local backbone 16 is provided with coaxial
cable 38 having a sufficiently high band width and having signals
of sufficiently high amplitude that repeaters 24 are needed only
every 300 feet or so. The nodes may comprise hubs 26 which, due to
the efficient propagation of the NAN 10, can be located up to 30
feet from each communicating station 30.
Communicating stations 30 in one embodiment connected to the nodes
26, with Cat 5, twisted pair wiring 40 through a home connection
box 42. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 32 are shown connected to
the NAN 10 through in several different types of gateways. An ISP
32 may connect through the central headquarters office 20 and from
there to a fiber switch 22. Alternatively, an ISP may communicate
directly with the fiber backbone 14 through a fiber switch 22. The
ISPs provide access to the worldwide web and the Internet 34.
Each communicating station 30 may be provided with one or more home
service boxes 44. The service boxes 44 communicate over the NAN 10
and provide interactivity from a remote distance. The service boxes
44 may comprise, for instance, power meters 46, security systems
48, and any number of electrical and mechanized devices, including
appliances, sprinkling systems, synchronized clocks, etc.
The fiber switches 22 may be housed within containment units 52.
The containment units 52 may be located inside or out of doors and
are preferably provided with insulation and/or environmental
control devices such as a fan 54 and/or air conditioning 56. The
containment units 52 are preferably vented.
The repeaters 24, bridges 50 and nodes 26 are preferably located
within protective pedestals 28 which are also preferably vented,
which provide a hardened outer shell, and which may be provided
with fans 54 or other environmental control devices. The pedestals
28 may be mounted in the ground, or may be mounted from utility
and/or power lines overhead. The pedestals 28 preferably provide
some type of lightening protection such as a Faraday shield. The
pedestals 28 are described in greater detail below with reference
to FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system
architecture 100 including operative data structures and executable
modules for controlling the operation of the hardware of the NAN 10
depicted in FIG. 1. The system architecture 100 controls the
interactions of the various intelligent components of the NAN 10 of
FIG. 1.
Accordingly, shown in FIG. 2 are the different modules and
executables for operating the NAN 10. Included are a plurality of
client stations 30 communicating over a transmission system 102.
Other entities may also communicate over the transmission system
102. These include the central headquarters office 20, the server
18, a monitoring station 152, and service providers 104, including
a utility company 106.
Referring now to the transmission system 102, one method of
operation of the NAN 10 to transmit information between the client
stations 30 will be described. In one embodiment, the NAN backbone
12 is essentially routerless. That is, the system is operated at a
large scale, but using the same principles as a small local area
network. This is achievable due to the unique architecture and
configuration of the NAN 10. Routers (62 in FIG. 3) are required
only when connecting to outside entities, such as other NANs or the
Internet 34.
Components included within the system 100 include the bridges 50,
the switches 22, the repeaters 24, and the nodes, which in one
embodiment comprise hubs 26. Also included within the system 102 is
an Internet routing module 108 which routes traffic to and from the
ISP's 32. The Internet routing module 108 operates as a gateway and
may comprise a switch 22 and a router 62.
The switches 22 are provided with software modules in the form of a
switch routing module 110 and a switch conversion module 112. The
switch routing module 110 is used to route traffic between the
switches 22. The switch conversion module 112 is used to convert
packeted traffic between the optical communications protocol and
the radio frequency signals used within the coaxial cable lines 16.
Thus, in preferred embodiments, each switch includes one or more
protocol converters interfacing between fiber cabling and Cat5
twisted pair wiring.
The protocol converters translate the optical signals into radio
frequency signals for transmission on the coaxial Cat5 cables. The
radio frequency signals are in turn translated into digital signals
by the network cards 156.
The Cat5 twisted pair wires lead into out of the switch 22 and
connect to the protocol converters 112 and to repeaters 24. The
repeaters 24 place the data packets on the coaxial cable 16. The
Cat5 wiring may also lead directly to client stations 30 that are
within 300 feet of the switch 22.
Traffic is routed in an efficient manner whereby the system 100
utilizes the high speed fiber cables 14 to as great a degree as
possible routing packetized traffic to the switch 22 closest to the
communicating station 30 to which the message is addressed. Once
the packet reaches the closest switch 22, it is routed through a
repeater 24 onto the local backbone 12. Once on the local backbone
12, the packet passes to a bridge 50 and then to the node 26
closest to the client station 30 in a manner be discussed below
with relation to FIG. 3.
The repeaters 24 are preferably spaced approximately every 300 feet
in order to avoid over-attenuation of the signals carrying the data
packets. The nodes 26 are placed within 30 feet of each
communicating station 30.
The communicating stations 30 are preferably provided with client
software 126 for enabling communications over the NAN 10. The NAN
10 communications medium is, in one embodiment, standardized
Ethernet data packets adhering to the Ethernet/OSI standards. In
one embodiment, the data packets may be transmitted over the NAN 10
using merely MAC addresses of the low levels of the OSI model.
Client stations 30 which are new to the NAN 10 transmit an initial
communication packet over the NAN 10 to the server 18. The server
18 in reply issues an IP address 138 to the client station 30 which
is semi-permanent. Thereafter, the client station 30 has a
semipermanent IP address 136 which is changed only upon incidents
such as the computer or network card of the client station 30 being
changed.
The packets are routed through the switches 22, repeaters 24, and
nodes 26, to the addressed client stations 30. The packets may be
transmitted at a rate of 10 megabits per second due to the unique
architecture of the NAN 10. This high rate of speed can be upgraded
by a factor of 10 or even up to a factor of one hundred without
having to redeploy the fiber cables 14, the coaxial cables 16, and
the pair twisted wiring 40. This, again, is due to the unique
architecture of the system.
The system architecture includes extending the distance a packet
can travel up to between 3000 and 25000 feet and increasing the
maximum tolerable packet acknowledgment time. This is accomplished
in one embodiment by digressing from the IEEE standards.
For instance, the signals with which the packets are transmitted
are amplified to a higher power than those on standard networks.
This is accomplished by increasing the gain in the amplifiers that
make the repeaters function. Additionally, the reception equipment
is preferably more sensitive and able to capture a more degraded
signal than standard network equipment.
The fact that the system operates on a baseband concept wherein all
of the cable bandwidth is restricted to one channel rather than
being divided into multiple channels allows for a higher bandwidth
and greater power from the repeaters. This allows for collision
detection over the cable 38 and for a release of the collision
detection at a much lower level. Thus, voltage spikes are detected
and ignored so that lower level collisions are not detected and the
large level collisions can be detected. The incidences of these
collisions are highly reduced due to the high bandwidth and direct
routing of the system 100.
Collision detection is preferably accomplished through voltage
detection and timed resends and is adjusted to compensate for the
increased sensitivity of the repeaters.
The repeaters 24 are provided with software or other logical
circuitry 120 therein which allows the repeaters 24 to be
semi-intelligent. The repeaters 24 transmit the fact that they are
functioning, as well as information regarding the amount of traffic
passing therethrough, in order to better manage the NAN 10.
Otherwise, the repeaters 24 merely pass the packets through and do
not provide any switching function, merely increasing the amplitude
of the signals carrying the packets. As mentioned, the repeaters 24
are, in one embodiment, placed every 300 feet across the local
backbone 16.
The hubs 26 route the packetized traffic through the Cat5 twisted
pair wiring 38 to the communicating stations 30. Internet routing
108 may also take place to route the Internet communications to the
ISPs 32. Communications with external stations over the Internet 34
may be conducted with a permanent IP address to get the messages
within the NAN 10, wherein the outside data packets are routed
using MAC addresses. Additionally, stations 30 without permanent IP
addresses may communicate through the use of a masqueraded IP
address using a permanent IP address to get into the NAN and the
semi-permanent IP addresses 136 issued to each client station 30 in
a manner that will be discussed below in greater detail.
The bridges 50 are provided with software 114 and are also provided
with a memory 116 containing a bank 118 of the IP addresses 136 of
each client station 30. The bank 118 also includes, for each
corresponding IP address 136, information regarding the location of
the client station 30 to which the IP address 136 is assigned.
Accordingly, the bridges limit communications to only a particular
portion of the network 10 to which the communication is addressed.
Thus, the bridges 50 effectively partition the NAN 10. A further
function of the bridges 50 and the switches 22 is to eliminate
unwanted communications. For instance, in one embodiment, broadcast
packets and messages are forbidden. Accordingly, each switch 22 and
bridge 50 may be provided with a traffic filter module 160 as
depicted in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, the traffic filter module 160 is used to
eliminate certain types of traffic that may not be routed over the
NAN 10. Accordingly, the NAN 10 is defined as determining what
types of communications can not be routed rather than determining
what types can be routed, as in the prior art. Within each traffic
filter module 160 may be a broadcast traffic sniffing module 162.
The broadcast traffic sniffing module 162 examines each information
packet 165 (shown in FIG. 4A) and checks certain fields 171 which
indicate that the packet 165 is broadcast data. When the traffic
sniffing module 162 determines that the packet 165 is broadcast
traffic, it then initiates the traffic elimination module 164 which
eliminates the broadcast packet 165.
The bridges 50 and switches 22 in one embodiment detect broadcast
traffic by detecting an empty field 171 within the MAC address 170.
Alternatively, the broadcast traffic sniffing module 162 may detect
a series of addresses at a certain level such as 255, 255, 255, 255
to detect a broadcast packet 165.
Thus, because the NAN 10 eliminates unwanted traffic and restricts
traffic to only those portions of the NAN 10 through which the
packet 165 must travel to reach the addressed communication station
30 in the most efficient manner, much extraneous traffic is
eliminated. This, combined with the higher speeds of the present
invention, allow the NAN 10 to be operated as if it were a local
area network but on much grander scales, indeed, even to include
entire neighborhoods or municipalities. Additionally, because of
this, the NAN 10 is suitable for use in geographical areas covering
extensive distances that are merely geographically or community
interest related, rather than being business, government, education
or otherwise related. Thus, the NAN system 10 can be by financed at
least in part by the service providers which will benefit from the
efficient communication of the NAN 10.
Referring now to the service providers 104 of FIG. 2, an example of
such a service provider is a utility company 106. In one
embodiment, the utility company 106 is a power company. Thus, for
example, the power company can communicate over the transmission
system 102 on the NAN 10 with each client station 30. Within each
client station 30 is one or more service boxes 144 having therein
customer service software 150.
The customer service software 150 might, in one instance, comprise
power meter software 148 within a power meter box 46. The power
meter software 148 may transmit power usage through the NAN 10 back
to the utility company 106. The utility company 106, with a power
usage collection module 144, receives the power usage data and
transmits it to a billing module 146. The billing module 146 then
bills the customer at the communicating station 30 over the
transmission station 102. The payment of the bill may also pass
through the transmission system 102, thus passing through the NAN
10 back to the utility company 106. Of course, utility companies
other than the power company may also use this system of data
collection billing and payment receipt.
Other types of service boxes 144 may also contain customer service
box software 150. For instance, the security system 48 may contain
therein software which notifies the monitoring station 152 of any
irregularities. Software 154 within the monitoring station 152 may
monitor the data transmitted by the security system 48. For
instance, this data might include home security system data
indicating that a break-in has occurred. The security system 48 may
also indicate the occurrence of a fire, and may transmit full video
surveillance data back to the monitoring station 152. The
monitoring station 152 or a similar station may also monitor the
contents of the NAN 10 in order to eliminate illegal traffic.
Pornography or other types of traffic may likewise be
eliminated.
Each client station 30 as mentioned, preferably communicates at the
MAC layer within the NAN 10. The client stations 30 may also be
provided with a semi-permanent IP address for communications
external to the NAN 10. The server 18 is provided with server
software 124 which maintains a bank 138 of the IP addresses 136.
The server 18 thus issues the IP addresses 136 and also maintains a
binding between the MAC layer communications and the IP addresses
136. These bindings are transmitted to the switches 22, bridges 50,
and any other equipment with a need to know the IP addresses 136 of
the client stations 30.
Consequently, the server 18 is not necessary other than for issuing
IP addresses and maintaining bindings, and indeed, if the server 18
were to go down, the transmission system 102 operating on the NAN
10 could continue to operate. New client stations 30 would merely
not be able to receive an IP address.
The central headquarters office 20 preferably contains therein a
headquarters software module 128. The headquarters software module
128 may conduct monitoring and billing types of operations. Thus, a
customer database 130 may be maintained therein and may coordinate
with a billing module 134. A redundant database 132 is also
preferably included. The redundant database 132 may be located at a
distant site such that it maintains a copy of all data in the case
of a failure of the customer data 130. Synchronizing information
may pass between the customer database 130 and the redundant
database 132 over the NAN 10 with the use of the transmission
system 102.
Billing information may be generated and stored within the billing
module 134 and may be transmitted to communicating stations 30 over
the transmission system 102. The customer database 130 may maintain
records including records of which customers are behind on their
payments. If the customers are behind, the client station 130 of
that customer may be denied services in part or in full of the NAN
system 10. These services include, in one embodiment, Internet
service.
The communicating stations 30 are preferably provided with standard
network cards 156 which transmit through the home connection box
42. The client software 126 residing at the communicating stations
30 preferably maintains the client's IP address 136 and receives
and generates data packets (shown at 165 in FIG. 4A) with which
information is transmitted over the transmission system 102. The
client software 126 may provide many various types of functions,
including video phone communication, audio, and video transmission,
payment of bills, ordering of on-demand video, transmission of home
security information, etc.
A power coupler 135 may be provided within or in communication with
the home connection box 42. The power coupler 135 preferably
conditions incoming power from a power source at each communicating
station, combines the power and network connection, and provides a
simple manner of connecting the twisted pair wiring to standard
computer cabling, preferably Ethernet cable, which passes to the
computer at the communicating station 30. In one embodiment, the
twisted pair wiring is provided with a twisted pair for
transmission, a twisted pair for reception, and a twisted pair
carrying AC to the hub 26, as will be discussed in greater detail
below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
The hub 26 is in one embodiment provided with a power concentrator
25 which provides power conditioning and power delivery to the hub
26. The power concentrator receives power from the power coupler
135 of the communicating stations 30. Preferably the power
concentrator 25 receives power from two or more stations 30 and
passes the power on to the hub 26 or other switching device. A
power concentrator 25 receives power through a transformer
connected to a wall socket at the communicating station 30. In one
preferred embodiment, four houses share a hub and provide power to
the hub. The hub bleeds power out of the four transformers at a
time, but can receive power from less than all of them and be at a
full power level. This redundant power supply scheme ensures that
the hub 26 continues operating even if one of the power sources,
i.e., one of the communicating station 30, goes down. Thus, AC
power is received from the communicating station 30 through the
power coupler 135 to the power concentrator 25. In addition, all
switching equipment may be powered cooperatively in this manner and
may be provided with power concentrators 25.
In one embodiment, the AC power is received directly from a power
meter (seen at 46 in FIG. 5) at the communicating station 30. The
power from the communicating stations 30 may be provided
individually or collectively to the switches, bridges, repeaters,
router, hubs, and any other switching equipment of the NAN.
Additionally, power meters not located at communicating stations 30
may be utilized to provide power to the hubs 26 and other switching
equipment.
In one embodiment, the communicating stations 30 or the hubs 26
comprise a power meter monitoring hub 26. The power meter
monitoring hub 26 may comprise an RF receiver and an 8-bit
microcontroller as well as an RS 232 communications interface and a
power supply. The hub may also contain up to four 10-base T ports.
On-site configuration is provided by an RS 232 port. Under this
embodiment, the monitoring hub receives power consumption data from
power meter transmitters and passes it on to the utility company
106 over the transmission system 102.
Each power meter 46 in this embodiment provided with a power
monitoring transmitter. The transmitter may be comprised of a PIC
microcontroller, a 418 megahertz UHF transmitter, a
photo-reflective sensor, and an off-line power supply. The
transmitter may use the photo-reflective sensor to monitor rotation
of the power meter disk and store the information in nonvolatile
memory in the microcontroller. The transmitter transmits the power
usage information to the power meter monitoring hub along a 418
megahertz RF link.
In one embodiment, the coaxial cable, as well as the 10-base T
wire, is housed within a protective conduit. The system may operate
with Linux using an IP chain and masquerading which is considered
more effective than using a proxy server.
The bridges 50, in addition to eliminating broadcast traffic, may
also receive and regenerate the packets 165 at a higher power
level. The repeaters 24 preferably merely amplify the signals
carrying the packets 165 and do so without any delay, while the
bridges may slow down the packets somewhat.
Referring now to FIG. 3, shown therein is a functional block
diagram of a NAN hierarchy scheme 60. Within the scheme 60 is shown
the fiber backbone 14 looping in a circuitous manner to form a
ring. Within the fiber backbone 14 is a plurality of switches 22. A
central switch 22a is shown connected with the central headquarters
20 and through a router 62 to the Internet. Thus, the fiber
backbone 14 comprises an outer circuitous backbone. It should be
noted that the NAN 10 may have a plurality of gateways 62. Because
of the plurality of gateways, any number of ISP providers 32 may
provide service to the NAN 10. Other types of service providers and
outside entities may also access the NAN 10 through the gateways
62.
Emanating from the switches 22 are components of the local backbone
16 which are arranged in a branched configuration. Thus, shown
branching out from each switch 22 is a series of bridges 50,
repeaters 24, and hubs 26. Each bridge 50 separates and services a
plurality of hubs 26.
Thus, an incoming packet 165 received, for instance over the
Internet 34, passes through the router 62. The router 62 uses an IP
address 169 shown in FIG. 4a to determine is that the packet is
local to the NAN 10. For instance, the IP address may be assigned
to the NAN 10 or to the router 62 specifically under a masquerade
scheme that will be described.
Once the packet 165 reaches the NAN 10, it is routed using a MAC
address 170 of FIG. 4a. After passing through the router 62, the
packet 165 is received by the central switch 22a. As shown in FIG.
4A, the packet 165 comprises a header 166, a data portion 167, and
a footer 168. The header comprises the address of the addressed
communicating station 30. The footer contains redundancy
information to make sure the packet 165 was properly received. A
cyclical redundancy check (CRC) may be used using information in
the footer for acknowledgment that the packet 165 was received and
has not been degraded.
Within the header 166 may be both an IP address 169 and a MAC
address 170. The MAC address 170 refers to a unique number given to
each network card 156 of FIGS. 2 and 5. The IP addresses 169 are
administered by the Internic agency and are addresses utilized
under the TCP/IP protocol. Each station has a unique MAC address.
Additionally, each station may have a unique IP address 169.
Nevertheless, because IP addresses 169 are becoming scarce and
difficult to procure, a masqueraded system may be employed wherein
the router 62 contains a routable IP address or several routable IP
addresses and stations 30 within the NAN 10 are addressed by the
routable IP address of the router 62 outside the NAN 10. Once
addresses containing the masqueraded EP address reach the NAN 10 at
the switch 22a, the MAC address 170 may then be used to route the
packet 165 within the NAN 10. Indeed, within the NAN 10, routing is
preferably exclusively conducted using the MAC address 170.
When communicating on the MAC level, a communicating station 30, in
one embodiment, uses a protocol such as an ARP request. The "ARP"
request is an address revolution protocol. The ARP protocol talks
to the network cards looking for the MAC address. The use of an
ARP-type address protocol by the NAN 10 does not adhere exactly to
the ARP address protocol but is similar to it.
Thus, the server 18 may be characterized as a modified DHCP server
but does not broadcast DHCP as with the prior art systems, though
it does maintain the IP-MAC address binding and notifies all
subscribing components of that binding. Under this arrangement,
when a communicating station 30 comes on-line and receives the
non-routable IP address from the server 18, it then binds the IP
address. In one embodiment, this is done by populating its registry
with the IP address. That is, the IP address is bound to the TCP/IP
protocol stack. This IP address is used for TCP/IP protocol
communications with stations 72 external to the NAN 10. As
discussed, all internal communications are preferably routed using
the MAC address.
Of course, the communicating stations 30 could also receive
permanent IP addresses either from the server 18 or directly from
Internic. These permanent, routable IP addresses may also be
maintained within the binding of the server 18.
Preferably, hubs, bridges and switches work on only the lower two
levels of the OSI model of FIG. 4b. When a packet 165 is addressed
to go outside of the NAN-10, it is sent to the router 62 which acts
as a gateway to the Internet 34 and passes the packet 165 outside
the NAN 10. The IP addresses within the communicating stations 30
communicate through virtual ports on the communicating stations 30
but preferably not through the same communicating ports as
traditional DHCP protocol standards.
Additionally, the IP addresses are semi-permanent. That is, the
communicating stations 30 maintain a single IP address for external
communications and do not flood the NAN 10 with requests for DHCP
servers to receive IP addresses from. Indeed, because of this
substantially, only direct routed traffic exists on the
neighborhood, and all broadcast traffic is substantially squelched.
Additionally, all traffic is partitioned within its own area and
does not travel across the entire network. For this reason, there
are substantially less collisions because traffic is much more
localized. This also allows the network to service many more
communicating stations 30.
The OSI model 190 is shown in FIG. 4b. As shown therein, the
OSI-model comprises a first layer 191 known as the physical layer.
A second layer 192 is known as the data link layer and it is this
layer that predominantly deals with the MAC address 170. A third
layer 193 is referred to as the network layer, a fourth layer 194
is referred to as a transport layer, and a fifth layer 195 is
referred to as a session layer. The session layer 195 primarily
deals with the IP address 169. A sixth layer 196 is referred to as
the presentation layer, and a seventh layer 197 is referred to as
the application layer. Within the seven layer OSI model, the upper
levels allow two communicating stations, one assigned as a client
and one assigned as a server, to coordinate communications with
each other.
Referring back to FIG. 3, once message traffic 165 is received from
the router 62 to the switch 22a, the switch 22a maintains the
packet 165 momentarily in a buffer 164 and refers to a database 66
to determine whether the MAC address 170 is local to a partition
169 belonging to the switch 22a. Switch 22a makes this binary
determination, and if the answer is yes, passes the packet 165 to a
first bridge 50a.
If the answer is no, that is, the traffic is not local to a
partition 168, the switch passes the packet 165 in a given
direction to a subsequent switch 22. In the depicted embodiment,
the given direction is clockwise. Upon passing the packet 165 on, a
subsequent switch 22 receives the packet 165 and similarly examines
the packet 165 to determine whether it is local or external to a
partition 168. If the packet is local to the partition 168, the
switch 22 will pass it on to a bridge 50 within a partition 168 to
which the switch 22 belongs. If the packet 165 is addressed
external to the partition 168 of the switch 22, the switch 22
passes the packet 165 in the given (clockwise) direction to a
subsequent switch 22.
Presuming that the packet 165 was local to switch 22a, switch 22a
passes the packet to a first bridge 50a. The bridge 50a then holds
the packet 165 temporarily in a buffer 64 and refers to a local
database 66 to determine whether the packet 165 is local or
external to the bridge 50a. If the packet 165 is local to the
bridge 50a, the bridge 50a determines which of the hubs 26
connected with the bridge 50a the packet 165 must be routed
through.
If the packet 165 is addressed external to the bridge 50a, the
bridge 50a passes it to a subsequent bridge 50b. The bridge 50b
then receives the packet 165 within a buffer 64 and examines its
database 66 to determine if it the packet is addressed to a local
station 30. If it is not, it passes it on to subsequent bridges 50
(not shown) in the branching structure of the local backbone
16.
The bridges 50 are typically separated by one or more repeaters 24
to amplify the radio frequency (RF) signals which contain the
packets 165. Referring now back to bridge 50a, if the packet 165
was local to bridge 50a, it determines which of the hubs 26 to pass
it to. Presuming that the packet 165 was addressed to a station 30a
within a hub 26a, the bridge passes the packet to the hub 26a. The
hub 26a briefly maintains the packet 165 within a buffer 64 and
examines its database 66 to determine which of the subscribing
communicating stations 30 the packet 165 belongs to. In this case,
it determines that the packet belongs to station 30a and places the
packet on a line 40 to be received by a network card 156 located at
the communicating station 30a. A similar process would occur with
every bridge 50. Thus, for instance, if the packet were addressed
to a station 30b, the bridge 50b would receive the packet and
transmit to the hub 26b, which would receive the packet 165 and
transmit it to the communicating station 30b.
Inter-NAN communications are even more simplified. For instance, if
the communicating station 30a wishes to communicate with the
communicating station 30b, client software 126 would prepare the
packet 165 and place it through the network card 156 onto the NAN
10. The packet 165 would be received by hub 26a which would in turn
transmit the packet 165 to the bridge 50a. The bridge 50a would
examine the packet once again to determine whether it is local or
external to the bridge 50a. If it is locally addressed, the bridge
50a transmits to the appropriate hub 26 connected thereto. If it is
not, it directs the packet 165 to another bridge 50 or to the
switch 22a, depending on the MAC address 170.
The switching equipment, such as the switches, bridges, and hubs,
preferably use a binary tree sorting algorithm to sort through
addresses in the attendant databases 66 to determine the location
of stations 30 addressed by the packets 165, which greatly enhances
the speed thereof. The binary tree, rather than being just a one
dimensional look-up table or bubble sort, is branched and allows
for larger databases without significant propagation delays. The
binary tree is implemented, in one embodiment, using the Nikolas
Wirth style that is known in the art.
Note that each bridge 50 also preferably contains its own
sub-partition 70 in the partition 68 of the switch 22 to which it
subscribes. In this case, when a bridge, such as bridge 50
determines that the packet 165 is local to the partition 68 but not
within its own subscribing hubs 26, the bridge 50a passes the
packet 165 on to the bridge, e.g. bridge 50b. The bridge 50b then
examines the packet 165 and determines that it belongs to the hub
26b and passes it on to hub 26b. Hub 26b in turn examines the
packet 165 and passes it on to the communicating station 30b.
If a communicating station 30 such as the station 30a wants to
communicate with a computer or entity 72 outside of the NAN 10, it
addresses the packet 165 using the IP address 169 of the entity 72.
If the outside station 72 wishes to communicate with the station
30a, it also uses an IP address 169 to get into the NAN. This IP
address 169 may be either a permanent IP address received from the
Internic agency or a masqueraded IP address attributable to the
router 62. The outside station 72 sends any return messages using
this IP address.
If the masqueraded IP address is used, the router 62 passes the
packet 165 to the switch 22a, which then examines the MAC address
170 without having to refer to the IP address. Thus, one difference
between bridges 50 and the routers 62 of the present invention is
that a bridge 50 reads only at the MAC level while a router 62
reads at the IP level.
The outside station 72 could also be part of a NAN other than the
NAN-10. The outside station 72 could communicate using MAC
addresses to other outside stations 72 within its own NAN, but once
it wished to communicate with an entity outside its own NAN such as
the communicating station 30a, it then must use an IP address to
pass packets 165 through the Internet with the use of routers
62.
As presently contemplated, each NAN 10 may have 10,000 or more
communicating stations 30. A community having more than 10,000
locations wanting to subscribe to the NAN 10 would require more
than one NAN 10. Additionally, under the present system, this
maximum number may be increased by increasing the speed of the
local backbone 16. The speed of the local backbone may be increased
up to, for instance, a gigabit per second of throughput without
having to reinstall the communicating lines. To increase the number
of subscribing communicating stations 30 within a NAN-10, the
firmware constituting the software within the client stations
server, hubs, bridges and switches are replaced, in an operation
that is substantially transparent to the communicating stations
30.
Stations within the different NANs preferably communicate with each
other over the Internet, as discussed. Nevertheless, within each
NAN communications are routerless in the preferred embodiment.
Presently, the standard for communications on the inner backbone 16
is 10-base-T, whereas the fiber communications on the fiber
backbone 14 are set at 100-base-T. NAN 10 communications preferably
utilize the Ethernet 802.3 standard which is the standard presently
relied upon by most Internet and network organizations. The
Ethernet 802.3 standard is used in one embodiment of the NAN for
packet encapsulation for transfer of the packets 165 over
communication lines 36, 38.
In order for a new communicating station 30 to be admitted to
communicate on the NAN 10, it must first establish communications
with the server 18. The server 18, as described, maintains a
binding between IP addresses and MAC addresses. The client software
126 which is installed on every communicating station 30 provides
the communicating station 30 with the proper MAC address of the
server 18. Thus the communicating station communicates with the
server 18 to receive a localized non-routable IP address for use in
communications external to the NAN-10.
In one embodiment, the communicating station 30 may be given a
permanent IP address issued by Internic or may be given a
non-routable address and use the masquerading procedure discussed
above. Additionally, there may be several different types of IP
addresses issued. As discussed, routable and non-routable IP
addresses may be issued as well as filtered IP addresses that
filter content received from the Internet. Additionally, an IP
address may be partially or fully functional depending on whether
the communicating station 30 has paid a monthly or yearly fee.
Every station 30 checks in with the server 18 at the initial login
in one embodiment, but if the server 18 is not functioning, the
stations 30 may still continue to operate with the previously
issued IP address. E-mail messages may be sent to a permanent IP
address, or may be routed in the manner of outside station 72
communications as discussed above.
Shown in FIG. 5 are the contents of a typical home connection box
42, including a power coupler 184. The home connection box 42 may
comprise a protective housing 182. Within the housing 182 is shown
a power coupler adapter 184. Connected to the adapter 184 is a wire
174. The wire 174 emanates from a transformer 173 which is in
electrical communication with a power outlet 172. Also shown is an
RF wire 176 carrying transmitted signals from the power meter 46.
Of course, power consumption may also be transmitted over air waves
as discussed above. The network card 156 is shown connected with
the adapter 184 with the use of standard Ethernet cable 178 which
is plugged into jacks 180.
The network card 156 is preferably a standard 10-base-T Ethernet
network card. The adapter 184 also has shown connected thereto a
set of wires 186. One example of a network card 156 suitable for
use with the present invention comprise a standard Ethernet 10-base
T network card such as the CN2000 card available from CNET of
Milpitas, Calif.
A pair of first twisted pair wires 186a contains transmit
information and a second set of twisted pair wires 186b contains
received information. A third set of twisted pair wires 186c
carries AC power to the power concentrator and to a node 26. A
protective conduit 188 covers the wires and protects them from the
elements. The protective housing 182 is preferably mounted to the
outside of the home or building within which the communicating
station 30 is located.
Shown in FIG. 6 is one embodiment of the home connection box 42.
Shown therein is a base 183 containing therein the adapter 187. The
protective housing 182 is adapted to fit over the base 183. Jacks
185 are shown for receiving the wires 178, 174, 176 of FIG. 5. The
outgoing wires 186 are also shown. Wiring is preferably labeled and
connected on an alphabetical basis.
Shown within the central headquarters 20 is a statistics checker
158 for receiving information from the semi-intelligent repeaters
24. The stats checker 158 receives the information from the
repeaters 24 and determines that the repeaters 24 are online and
functioning properly. A report may be generated by the statistics
checker 158 and warnings may be sent to an operator in real
time.
The hubs 26 are connected to the coaxial cable 38 with a
T-connector so as not to break the connection. The hubs convert
from coaxial cabling to twisted pair wires and provide collision
detection as well as amplification.
Client software 126 provides an arrangement similar to a DHCP
client, but contrary to DHCP clients of the prior art, the client
software 126 does not broadcast and does not lease an IP address,
but rather, contains a permanent or semi-permanent IP address. This
keeps the network uncluttered. This is allowable because the DHCP
client can be identified by the MAC address and routable IP
addresses. Indeed, standard DHCP servers and broadcast traffic are
not allowed on the network. In one embodiment, standard DHCP
servers and broadcast traffic that do repeatedly transmit broadcast
traffic are found and crashed or otherwise disallowed on the
network.
The server 18 is preferably a DHCP-type server which performs
management tasks including keeping track of and handing out IP
addresses. The customers use a password to get their initial IP
address. Once the communicating stations 30 receive their IP
address 136 they may talk on a TCP/IP layer. A binder utility 157
may reside within the central headquarters. The binder utility 157
in one embodiment binds the IP address with the MAC address and may
be used as a guarantee of customer payment.
The DHCP server and the DHCP clients talk at the MAC layer. Under
the OSI standard model, this is the first and second layer. Then
once the IP address is picked up, they may communicate at different
layers such as the TCP/IP layer. Hubs and repeaters preferable
communicate at the MAC layer while the server 20 ensures that a
machine with a given MAC address has the assigned IP address and
maintains this binding.
Thus, by eliminating broadcast traffic and making the NAN 10
essentially a routerless network, the NAN 10 can be operated at
high speeds and on large scales. Only specific types of traffic are
allowed to travel the NAN, further maintaining the high speed of
the NAN. Under the present invention, the NAN determines what can
travel thereon, rather than what cannot travel thereon as in the
prior art. Indeed, the NAN 10, including the switches, bridges and
wires, operates outside of the standard "mold" of networks because
its implementation does not follow IEEE or other standards.
The high speed of the NAN 10 of the present invention is
attributable to a number of cooperating factors. For instance,
rather than adhering to standard IEEE standards such as the Cat5
standard, packets are transmitted with greater power and can be
transmitted up to 1500 feet using a higher power level and more
sensitive receiving equipment before being picked up. This provides
a longer acknowledgment time, and because the packets are directly
routed using the local/external method described above, the packets
are on the NAN for shorter periods of time causing less
collisions.
Hubs, similar to the bridges, also restrict local traffic and do
not pass it on to the NAN 10 but contain all traffic that is local
to that hub. Typically, bridges may be located four repeaters from
each other and may service about five hubs. Each hub may service
about five communicating stations 30.
Each switch and bridge regenerates the packet 165, whereas the hub
holds the packet in a buffer and may or may not regenerate the
packet 165 depending on the level of amplitude of the packet.
The local partitioning and high rate of speed of the NAN 10 are
enabled to a large degree by a unique firmware residing within the
switching components. This unique firmware includes a tree
structure sorting algorithm within the switching components.
Initially, the novel firmware is much simplified in that the
decisions are binary. That is, the switching components determine
whether a packet is addressed local or external. Additionally, the
databases are larger and hold a greater number of MAC addresses. In
one embodiment greater than 800 MAC addresses are be contained
within the databases 66. In a further embodiment, greater than
10,000 MAC addresses are contained, and in a further embodiment,
15,000 or more MAC addresses are contained.
The NAN 10 keeps traffic local and partitioned and, as described,
kills all broadcast traffic at the bridges. Typically, the
broadcast traffic doesn't make it past the bridges to the switches,
but the switches may also kill any broadcast traffic.
The firmware also processes packets 165 in a unique manner using a
distance vector algorithm that allows the packets 165 to travel
further without being regenerated. The firmware allows reduction of
collision rates. Nevertheless, the packets 165 don't travel as far
because they are held more localized by the bridges which have
larger databases. Thus, the NAN 10 is characterized more by what
cannot travel it than what can travel it.
Shown in FIG. 7 is an earth-based pedestal 200 of the present
invention. The pedestal 200 comprises a pedestal base 202 which is
mounted within the earth 216 a distance of at least several inches.
A cylindrical outer housing 204 is shown and is provided with site
201 for air-circulation. The cylindrical outer housing 204 is
inserted over the base 202 to protect a circuit board 206 housed
therein. The circuit board is mounted within a Faraday shield 218
which may be a partial chassis or a cage.
The Faraday shield 218 is connected with a post 208 and is mounted
within the ground a distance of approximately 1.5 feet. The post
208 is connected with copper braid wiring 212 to a pair of steel
rods 214 which are mounted about 8 inches apart and approximately 3
feet in the ground. This provides adequate ground charge and
lightning protection for the circuit board 206.
The circuit board 206 typically comprises the contents of a node
26, a repeater 24, or bridge 50. Emanating through openings 210 in
the Faraday shield 218 are a pair of communications wires 215.
Communications wires 215 may comprise a coaxial cable 28, a twisted
pair cable 40 and/or the fiberoptic cabling 36 and are preferably
routed underground. In this manner, the nodes 26, feeders 24,
and/or bridges 50 may be housed outside and are protected from the
elements with the use of the pedestal 200.
An alternate embodiment of a pedestal, shown in FIG. 8 is a hanging
pedestal 220. The hanging pedestal 220 is adopted to hang from
locations such as power or telephone lines or poles. The hanging
pedestal 220 is shown comprising a base 222 and a lid 224. In the
depicted embodiment, two hanging pedestal bases 222 and lids 224
are shown separated by a hanger mount. The hanger mount 226 as
depicted is comprised of a pair of hanging brackets 228. The
hanging brackets 228 comprise a pair of plates 230 which are
tightened in proximal contact around a line from which hanging
pedestal 220 is hung with bolts 232. The base and lid may be hooked
together with plastic hinges 236 and may latch with a snap-fit type
latch 234. The hanging pedestals also house an electronic circuit
board therein which is accessed through a set of cables 208.
Additional applications of the NAN 10 include video connecting,
voice, video, cable TV, etc. Real time video may be provided
on-demand rather than just being started every hour. The video may
be downloaded in buffered portions and cached in part or in all on
a memory device at a particular communicating station 30 which
ordered the video. Sporting events may be archived for later
viewing, and other real time events may be provided through a
window frame within a monitor or screen of the communicating
station 30. Home education may be provided as may be books, such
that the service provider 104 may comprise a virtual library.
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
a general method 250 of operation of a NAN. The method 250 begins
at a start step 252. Subsequently, at a step 254, a network such as
a NAN system is provided. Preferably, the network is configured in
the manner described above for the NAN 10. At a step 256, the
network is installed. Preferably, this means that a NAN 10 of the
present invention is installed as described above and as will be
described below in greater detail.
At a step 258, communicating stations 30 are connected to the
network 10. Preferably, the communicating stations comprise a
plurality of businesses, organizations, and/or individuals related
primarily or exclusively by residence within a common geographical
location. At a step 260, installation and operation of the NAN are
financed. This step will be discussed in detail below, but briefly,
the installation is preferably financed, at least in part, by a
utility company, and operations are preferably financed by periodic
subscription fees.
At a step 262, the network, e.g., NAN 10, is operated. Operation of
the network 10 preferably takes advantage of the unique
configuration of the NAN 10. For instance, power is preferably
cooperatively supplied from communicating stations, messages are
directly routed, and localized message traffic such as advertising
and security observation is routed over the network 10.
At a step 264, the network 10 is administered. Preferably, the
network administration is provided by a private company other than
the utility company that assisted in financing the installation.
Administration preferably comprises billing and such matters, and
is preferably conducted on behalf of cooperative ownership and
management of the network. At a step 266, the method 250 ends.
Providing a NAN system 10 of step 254 of FIG. 9 may be conducted in
accordance with a method 270 of FIG. 10. The method 270 begins at a
step 272 and progresses to a step 274. At step 274, a backbone is
provided. Preferably, the backbone comprises a fiber backbone 12 as
described above. Thus, the backbone 12 is also preferably formed in
a loop circling through a geographic area which the NAN 10 is
intended to serve.
The method 270 may also, as depicted by a step 276, comprise
utilizing protocols that are not recognized standards, and
particularly, that are not IEEE standards. By dispensing with IEEE
standards, greater speeds and flexibility can be achieved, as
discussed above. As depicted by a step 278, the method 270 may also
utilize direct routing of messages. The direct routing is
preferably achieved in the manner discussed above, with switching
equipment and cables branching from a central backbone 14. The
network 10 is also preferably partitioned, at a step 280,
preferably in the manner described above, such that any particular
message goes directly to and stays within a partition 70
corresponding to a station 30 to which the message is
addressed.
A server 282 is optional, but may provided, as indicated by a step
282. The server preferably corresponds to the server 18.
Additionally, a central HQ 20 is preferably provided. One or more
Internet Gateways may also be provided, as indicated by a step 284.
At a step 286, the method ends.
Installing a NAN 10 of step 256 of FIG. 9 may be conducted in
accordance with a method 290 of FIG. 11. The method 290 begins at a
start step 292. As indicated at a step 294, the method 290
preferably comprises installing at least a substantial portion of
the cabling 36, 38, 40 of the NAN 10 within a right of way
belonging to a public utility service provider company. In one
embodiment, the public utility service provider comprises a power
company.
At a step 296, the NAN 10 is installed within a selected
geographical area. Preferably, the geographical area comprises a
municipality, and more preferability, a portion of a municipality,
such as a neighborhood. As indicated at a step 298, switching
equipment is installed. The switching equipment preferably includes
the fiber switches, the repeaters, the bridges 30, and the hubs 26.
In one embodiment, at least a substantial portion of the switching
equipment is installed out of doors, preferably within containment
units 52 or protective pedestals 200, 220.
At a step 300, the switching equipment is preferably connected to
power sources located at the communicating stations 30. Preferably,
the communicating stations 30 cooperatively and redundantly provide
the power to switching equipment as discussed above. Thus, external
power sources may not be needed, and if power goes out or is
terminated at a single communicating station 30, power can be
supplied by the other communicating stations 30. Preferably, the
delivery of power is coordinated by a power concentrator 25.
At a step 302, the protective pedestals 200, 220 are preferably
provided for housing the switching equipment. At a step 304, the
cabling 36, 38, 40 is provided, preferably by burying the cabling
within the rights of way of the utility company.
At a step 306, the server 18 and the central HQ computer 20 are
provided. Of course, other steps will be necessary to completely
install the NAN 10, but will be readily apparent to those of skill
in the art from the present description. At a step 308, the method
290 ends.
Connecting stations of step 258 of FIG. 9 may be conducted in
accordance with a method 310 of FIG. 12. The method 310 begins at a
start step 312 and progresses to a step 314. At the step 314, users
subscribe to the NAN service (and) or Internet service. That is,
users such as individuals at residences, businesses, schools, and
other organizations at the various communicating stations 30
subscribe to receive NAN-service. The subscribing is preferably
conducted prior to installing the relevant switching equipment in
the NAN of the subscribers.
At a step 316, the NAN is connected to individual residences or
places of business. Unlike most limited distribution networks, the
NAN 10 is preferably connected to multiple residences, businesses,
and/or organizations. In installing the NAN, connections are
preferably made to each building in which is housed one or more
communicating stations 30. Preferably, in a step 318, each
communicating station 30 is provided with a home connection box 42
to which the NAN cabling and switching equipment is connected.
At a step 320, the switching equipment local to each communicating
station 30 is connected with the communicating station 30 to
receive power from the communicating station 30. Thus, power
delivery is shared by groups of communicating stations 30 as
described above.
At a step 322, a plurality of communicating stations 30 are
preferably placed in communication by a connection to common
switching equipment such as a node or hub 26 of FIG. 1. Preferably,
the switching equipment is located out of doors in a centralized
location, and more preferably, is located within a ground-based
pedestal 200 or a hanging pedestal 220.
As indicated by a step 324, installation of the NAN 10 preferably
comprises connecting together in the NAN 10 only communicating
stations 30 related by location within a common geographical area.
The geographical area may be any selected area, but preferably
comprises a municipality, plurality of municipalities, or portions
thereof such as common neighborhoods. At a step 326, the method 310
ends.
Financing installation and operation of a NAN system of step 260 of
FIG. 9 may be conducted in accordance with a method 330 of FIG. 13.
The method 330 begins at a start step 332 and progresses to a step
334. At step 334, subscription fees are received from users at the
communicating stations 30. Preferably, the users are subscribed
prior to connecting the communicating stations 30 to the NAN. The
fees are preferably paid periodically and the proceeds used to
maintain and administer the NAN and recompense the providers of the
NAN system 10 as well as possibly to help compensate an alliance
organization such as the utility company that has assisted in
financing the advertising of and installation of the NAN 10.
As indicated by a step 336, the NAN 10 may also be in part financed
by a utility service provider company. In one embodiment, the
utility service provider company is other than a telecommunications
company. By receiving assistance from a gas, power, water company
or the like, these utility service providers that are otherwise
unable to participate in the expansion of digital communications
can be a part of this growth. Thus, in one example, a power company
allows the NAN 10 to be installed in rights of way granted to the
power company and may also in part or whole finance the
installation. Solicitation of users may also be financed by an
alliance organization such as a utility service provider
company.
As indicated by a step 338, the utility service provider company or
other alliance organization receives a portion of the subscription
fees received in step 334 to compensate it for its costs of
installation and solicitation. Additionally, the utility company is
also preferably provided with use of the NAN to accomplish tasks
such as reading utility meters at the communicating stations 30 and
billing the communicating stations 30 for use of the utility
services.
Additionally, as indicated by a step 342, companies making use of
the NAN may be charged. For instance, content providers, Internet
service providers, advertisers, and the like may be charged for
their use of the NAN 10. At a step 346 the method 330 ends.
Operating a NAN system of step 262 of FIG. 9 may be conducted in
accordance with a method 350 of FIG. 14. The method 262 begins at a
start step 352 and progresses to a step 354. As indicated, the
operation of the NAN may comprise receiving the power to operate
the switching equipment cooperatively from the communicating
stations 30. As indicated by a step 356, the method 362 may
comprise remote reading of utility consumption as described
above.
As indicated by step 358, the method 350 may comprise remotely
billing users at communicating stations 30 for utility services. As
indicated by a step 360, the method 350 may comprise transmitting
security signals over the NAN 10. Thus, for instance, when the
communicating stations 30 are provided with security systems 46
such as cameras, sensors, or the like, monitoring of the cameras or
sensors or other surveillance equipment can be conducted by
transmitting signals therefrom over the NAN 10 to a central
surveillance office which itself comprises a communicating station
30.
At a step 362, audio and video signals may be transmitted over the
NAN 10. Thus, for instance, music may be piped into residences or
businesses over the NAN 10 and video signals such as live feeds and
recordings may likewise be transmitted over the NAN 10. While the
television signals may be broadcast, more preferably, the video
signals are provided to requesting stations 30 on-demand. Video
conferencing may likewise be provided.
At a step 364, broadcast data is truncated or otherwise eliminated
from the NAN 10. This is preferably conducted in the manner
described above.
At a step 366, messages are directly routed from sender to receiver
over the NAN. Once again, this is preferably conducted in the
manner described above.
At a step 368, routing of messages utilizes partitions of the NAN.
In preferred embodiments, the partitioning is conducted as
described above.
At a step 370, a plurality of Internet gateways are provided for
connecting the NAN with Internet service. While a single Internet
gateway may be provided, it is preferred that several are provided
to promote competition and lower prices.
At a step 372, localized advertising is transmitted over the NAN.
Thus, for instance, a communicating station 30 may comprise a local
business within the geographical area which the NAN encompasses,
and may wish to transmit advertising to other communicating
stations 30. Such advertising may be accomplished by directing
advertising directly to selected communicating stations 30, which
are more likely to be interested in the advertising due to the
close proximal location of the advertising business. Of course, the
discussed steps of the method 350 are given by way of example, and
many other manners of operating a NAN of the present invention will
be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. At a step 374,
the method 350 ends.
Administering a NAN of step 264 of FIG. 9 may be conducted in
accordance with a method 380 of FIG. 15. The method 380 begins at a
start step 382 and progresses to a step 384. At step 384, periodic
billing statements may be transmitted over the NAN 10. The billing
is preferably coordinated and monitored by the central HQ 20.
At a step 386, payments may also be transmitted over the NAN by
credit card, digital signature types of E-commerce, and the like.
When a communicating station 30 fails to pay its bills, reminders
may be automatically sent over the NAN, and if the problem
persists, suspension of NAN privileges may be levied until the fees
are paid as indicated by a step 388.
As indicated by a step 390, administration may be conducted by
government entities such as municipalities, but more preferably,
the administrative entity comprises a private organization. The
organization may be the provider of the NAN. Preferably, where a
utility service provider is involved in financing and installing
the NAN 10, the administrative entity is other than the utility
service provider. In one embodiment, as represented by a step 392,
the ownership and management of the NAN 10 is a cooperative venture
of the users located at the various communicating stations 30. The
method 380 preferably ends at a step 394.
The NAN of the present invention provides certain advantages
including providing high speed (high band width) Internet access at
a low price compared to conventional technologies. Advantages of
the NAN also include the capability of real-time video
conferencing. The NAN allows a region such as a geographical region
of otherwise unrelated entities, such as a town or neighborhood, to
be networked in high speed computer communication.
The NAN may be financed at least partially by utilities in order to
expedite installation and may rely on the rights of way of public
utilities such as power companies. The "last mile" dilemma is also
solved under the present invention, as the system allows for
inexpensive installation of facilities for the "last mile" of a
network infrastructure and relatively faster operation thereof
Thus, an advantage of the NAN is that it provides cost effective
last mile service and delivery.
The NAN also operates at very high speeds. Preferably, message
traffic is directly hauled to its destination, rather than passing
the message traffic through a central server or router. Indeed,
under one embodiment, the NAN efficiencies are achieved without a
central server altogether.
Additionally, the NAN provides support for a broader variety of
devices and types of devices to be networked. The NAN system of the
present invention does not rely on the telephone line
infrastructure, and consequently eliminates handling errors that
occur with user log ons. Additionally, the telephone lines and
other telecommunications infrastructure receive less traffic and
are less likely to be jammed with message traffic when the NAN is
employed to relieve them of being overburdened. Indeed, the NAN in
one embodiment achieves total independence from the
telecommunication infrastructure.
Also, no modem hardware or protocol is necessary at the user
facility. Conventional T-1 lines, fiber converters, and cable
modems are unnecessary in achieving the much higher speeds of the
NAN of the present invention. Additionally, Internet access may be
provided over the NAN and Internet connection may operate at
comparatively high speeds. For instance, Internet access may in one
example be as high as ten Mbps while employing certain currently
available hardware.
The NAN allows free competition among Internet service providers
and allows them to freely hook into the NAN system. The Internet
connectivity is always on and continuous at any given communicating
station without the need of a dial-up. Due to the elimination of
modems in connecting to the Internet, low data losses are
experienced. For instance, hand shaking errors between modems and
error data that otherwise arises between modems may be reduced or
eliminated. This is largely due to the absence of protocol
conversions with the inventive system.
The operational hardware and software of the NAN include hubs,
packets, bridges, and gateways disposed at different points to
allow directly routed, packeted traffic. The system distributes
traffic to the lowest segment. Direct routing may be peer-to-peer
rather than being controlled by a switchboard, server, or central
office. The results of this arrangement is very high speed packet
transfer.
The system may rely on MAC addresses and static, masqueraded, IP
addressing rather than dynamic IP addressing. The system may
provide a binding between a hardware device and a user so the
system stores the user's public IP addresses.
Additionally, communications within the network are secure and the
network is user friendly. The high-speed networking supports
real-time communications with cameras. Indeed, because of the low
cost, users can connect to more devices, one example of which is
utility meters. The system makes remote meter reading and
monitoring of other types of utility services cost effective.
The NAN of the present invention is also unique in that no network
administration is necessary to control local message traffic.
Traffic may be independent of any governing authority.
Additionally, because the Internet is both a large scale system and
localized within a geographic area, business services such as
advertising can be offered locally, making them more efficient.
Thus, local advertising may be directed to a local audience. The
system may support interconnection with virtually any devices
within a community. The system may utilize permanent IP addresses
due to a unique Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
The neighborhood area network (NAN) may operate upon an IPX/SPX and
Ethernet protocol. Broadcasts packets from the clients are
preferably blocked at every bridge as well as DHCP traffic.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
* * * * *