Title of Invention

A BROAD BAND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for broadband internet connectivity comprising a network to network interface (NNI) connected to internet and also to one or more user network interfaces (UNIs) through one way co-axial cable, for handling downstream traffic from the internet. A terrestial wireless system is provided for each UNI for conveying upstream traffic from pc to a Base unit connected to NNI for onward passage of the upstream traffic to the internet through the said NNI.

Full Text

This invention relates to a broadband internet connectivity system, more particularly, though not exclusively, for homes and small and medium size offices. Broadband refers to high bit-rate internet, typically in the range of 64 kbps (kilobits per second) to 5 Mbps (Megabits per second). Connections at such rates enables use of the internet for a variety of applications including internet based education, internet based commerce, internet based entertainment and internet based video conferencing. Presently, broadband internet can be provided to homes using Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) technology on copper loops provided for homes for telephony communication; cable modem on co-axial cable provided for homes for cable TV; fibre to homes or fibre to the curb with ethernet on twisted pair copper or wireless LAN to provide connection from curbside to homes; wireless connection using a variety of wireless technology. The drawbacks of the above known systems are: DSL technology can be used only by an operator who has the copper pair connected to home. Cable modem on co-axial cable requires the cable infrastructure to be two way and of high quality to withstand noise. Moreover to provide cable TV the co-axial cable infrastructure need to support only one way broadcast application and can tolerate poorer quality and higher noise environment. Fibre to the home and fibre to the curb exists only to a limited extent and is expensive infrastructure to create. The wireless medium provides the best option, especially for a new operator, but the limited spectrum available limits the bit rate that can be supported. In other words, the broadband internet to a large number of subscribers would remain a dream with the current and next generation wireless systems Internet to homes, small and medium size offices normally pertains to much larger downstream traffic from internet to home/office as compared to upstream traffic from home/office to internet. This invention therefore provides downstream traffic employing a one way cable TV infrastructure and upstream traffic employing terrestrial wireless infrastructure. The one way cable TV infrastructure can easily support several tens of megabits per second of traffic in downstream direction on a single video channel. Thus tens of Mbps traffic on one video channel can be broadcast to a group of subscribers, each of whose User Network Interface (hereinafter also called UNI in this description and in the Claims) would access this broadcast traffic and filter to take the traffic meant for the specific subscriber, so that each user gets 512 kbps to 2 Mbps or even more in the downstream direction. Cable TV is not used for upstream traffic , avoiding the need for high quality two way cable infrastructure. The upstream traffic is provided by wireless using a wireless system. As the requirement for upstream traffic to a user is typically smaller, the terrestrial wireless system is capable of supporting it. In fact as the terrestrial wireless infrastructure today supports two way internet but at limited bit rate, it should be possible to use both way wireless traffic in addition to high bit-rate download on the co-axial cable. The net result is that the user gets a broadband internet download with a smaller bandwidth upload. The broadband internet connectivity system, according to this invention, comprises a Network to Network Interface (hereinafter also called NNI in this description and in the Claims) connected to the internet and also to one or more UNIs through a one-way co-axial cable, for handling downstream traffic from the internet, said UNI of each subscriber being connected to a PC or LAN; a terrestrial wireless system provided for each UNI for conveying upstream traffic from the said PC to a Base Unit, connected to the said NNI, for onward passage of the upstream traffic to the internet through the said NNI. Optionally, the said wireless system also conveys downstream traffic from the internet through said NNI, Base Unit and the terrestrial wireless system to each UNI and thence to the corresponding PC or LAN. The broadband internet connectivity system proposed herein will now be described with reference to the single Figure in the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a preferred embodiment of this invention. For the sake of brevity only one UNI is shown in the Figure whereas in practice there could be several connected to the same cable, each with its terrestrial wireless system. A NNI indicated by N is connected to the internet and also to a UNI indicated by U, through a co-axial cable C for handling downstream traffic from the internet. The cable C is the one used for TV systems. The said UNI U is connected to a subscriber PC P or to the LANofthesaidPC. A terrestrial wireless system W is provided for the UNI U for conveying upstream traffic from the said PC to a Base Unit B, connected to the said NNI, for onward passage of the upstream traffic to the internet through the said NNI N. As already stated, the terrestrial wireless system W also conveys downstream traffic from the internet through said NNI N, Base Unit B and wireless system W to the UNI U and thence to the said PC P or LAN. From the above description it will be appreciated that various other embodiments of the broadband internet connectivity system are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention. We Claim: LA broadband internet connectivity system, comprising a NNI connected to the internet and also to one or more UNIs, through a one-way co-axial cable, for handling downstream traffic from the internet, said UNI of each subscriber being connected to a PC or LAN; a terrestrial wireless system provided for each UNI for conveying upstream traffic from the said PC to a Base Unit connected to the said NNI, for onward passage of the upstream traffic to the internet through the said NNI. 2.A broadband internet connectivity system as claimed in Claim 1 adapted to also convey downstream traffic from the said NNI, Base Unit and terrestrial wireless system to the UNI and thence to the said PC or LAN.. 3.A broadband internet connectivity system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said one way coaxial cable is a cable used in television systems. 4.A broadband internet connectivity system substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

857-che-2003-claims duplicate.pdf

857-che-2003-claims original.pdf

857-che-2003-correspondence others.pdf

857-che-2003-correspondence po.pdf

857-che-2003-description complete duplicate.pdf

857-che-2003-description complete original.pdf

857-che-2003-drawings.pdf

857-che-2003-form 1.pdf

857-che-2003-form 19.pdf

857-che-2003-form 26.pdf