초록 ▼

A video distribution network having an architecture that distributes video services over a greater serving area. The broadcast consolidation section receives broadband data from a plurality of information providers, preferably as compressed, digital signals using asynchronous transfer mode ATM trans

A video distribution network having an architecture that distributes video services over a greater serving area. The broadcast consolidation section receives broadband data from a plurality of information providers, preferably as compressed, digital signals using asynchronous transfer mode ATM transport. The broadcast consolidation section combines the ATM streams from different information providers and outputs a consolidated signal onto a transport ring. The broadcast ring supplies the consolidated broadcast signal to a plurality of video network hubs, each of which downloads the consolidated broadcast data, converts the consolidated broadcast data to motion picture experts group MPEG data on an RF carrier, and combines the RF signal with other RF signals before transmission by optical fiber to a plurality of local video access nodes. Each local video access node combines the RF broadcast data from the corresponding video network hub with downstream interactive multimedia television IMTV traffic supplied by an ATM backbone subnetwork. The combined RF signals are output from the local video access nodes to the access subnetwork servicing these subscribers. The architecture of the present invention provides sufficient allocation of resources, while at the same time providing efficient transport of signaling traffic and interactive data. In addition, the network control is centralized for more efficient management of resources.

대표청구항 ▼

A network for transporting compressed, broadband data to a plurality of users, said compressed, broadband data being received from a plurality of information providers on corresponding digital signal paths as asynchronous transfer mode ATM cell streams having corresponding VPI/VCI identifiers, the n

A network for transporting compressed, broadband data to a plurality of users, said compressed, broadband data being received from a plurality of information providers on corresponding digital signal paths as asynchronous transfer mode ATM cell streams having corresponding VPI/VCI identifiers, the network comprising: a broadcast consolidation section receiving signals from a first group of said digital signal paths and outputting a consolidated broadcast stream, said broadcast consolidation section comprising: an ATM edge multiplexer receiving the respective ATM cell streams from said information providers and outputting a consolidated ATM cell stream, a digital encoder for converting analog signals into digital signals, and a transport multiplexer for multiplexing said consolidated ATM cell stream and said digital signals into said consolidated broadcast stream; a transport ring for transporting said consolidated broadcast stream; a plurality of video access nodes distributed along said transport ring, each of said video access nodes receiving said consolidated broadcast stream and outputting a consolidated RF signal, each of said video access nodes comprising: a transport demultiplexer outputting said consolidated ATM cell stream and said digital signals from the received consolidated broadcast stream, means for recovering said compressed broadband data from said consolidated ATM cell stream output by said transport demultiplexer, the recovered compressed broadband data being output as a plurality of data packet streams, each data packet having an identifier value assigned as a function of the VPI/VCI of corresponding ATM cells, means for receiving local broadcast signals, means for recovering said analog signals from said digital signals output by said transport demultiplexer, means for modulating each of said data packet streams, the received local broadcast signals and the recovered analog signals to predetermined RF channel frequencies, respectively, a first RF combiner for combining modulated signals output by said modulating means into a consolidated RF signal, and means for outputting said consolidated RF signal onto at least one optical fiber; and a plurality of local video access nodes distributed throughout a service area, each of said local video access nodes receiving said consolidated RF signal and comprising: (1) means for converting said consolidated RF signal on said optical fiber to an electrical consolidated RF signal, (2) means for providing interactive data for at least one of said users, said interactive data output by said providing means at an assigned RF channel frequency, (3) a second RF combiner for combining said electrical consolidated RF signal and said interactive data into a local RF signal; and (4) means for supplying said local RF signal from said local video access node to a plurality of said users including said at least one of said users.