KR100725922B1 - The method and apparatus for IP data transmission using legacy transmission system and high-speed downstream transmission system in HFC network - Google Patents

Abstract

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an internet protocol data transmission apparatus and a method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network.

2. The technical problem to be solved by the invention

The present invention provides an optical fiber coaxial mixture that allows a broadband downlink cable modem to be developed to a new standard and efficiently transmit an IP-based data transmission service to be provided in a next-generation cable network together with a cable modem terminal system (CMTS) in an existing headend. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an IP data transmission apparatus and method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in a network (HFC).

3. Summary of Solution to Invention

The present invention is an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC), receiving data from an application server system as a service providing device to separate general user data and management messages, Headend means for determining whether to transmit user data in a broadband or existing service band and transmitting it through the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC); And receiving the separated data transmitted from the headend means through the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) to an IP based subscriber device, and transmitting a management message transmitted from the IP based subscriber device through the existing transmission system. Includes user cable terminal means for

4. Important uses of the invention

The present invention is used in broadcast communication systems and the like.

Broadband Downlink Cable Modem, DOCSIS, IP, HFC, Routing, Switching

Description

Internet protocol data transmission apparatus and method using conventional transmission system and broadband downlink transmission system in optical coaxial network {The method and apparatus for IP data transmission using legacy transmission system and high-speed downstream transmission system in HFC network}

1 is a block diagram of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wideband downlink transmission / reception scheme between the wideband downlink transmission system and the wideband reception module of FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of conventional and wideband downlink transmission band configurations in the existing DOCSIS cable modem terminal system and the wideband downlink transmission system of FIG.

4 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the conventional and broadband downlink transmission band configurations in the existing DOCSIS cable modem terminal system and the broadband downlink transmission system of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram illustrating a head-end device of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram illustrating a user cable terminal of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention. FIG.

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IP data transmission method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

100: head-end device 101: application server system

102: IP routing system 103: broadband downlink transmission system

104: coaxial mixed network 105: user cable terminal

106: broadband receiving module 107: conventional cable modem module

108: IP based subscriber device

109: Conventional DOCSIS Cable Modem Terminal System

The present invention utilizes a newly developed broadband downlink cable modem and an existing data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) based data transmission system. The present invention relates to an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) for data transmission, and a method thereof, and more particularly, to an IP router in a headend and a subscriber station. High-capacity downlink data is transmitted to the newly developed broadband downlink cable modem, and the demand from the user is that the coaxial mixture facilitates the introduction of a new service by utilizing the existing uplink channel to make the best use of the existing device. IP using existing transmission system and broadband downlink transmission system in HFC It relates to a data transmission apparatus and method.

Currently, cable modem terminal systems (CM) and cable modems (CM) are widely used to transmit data using a cable network, which comply with DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 standards. In particular, the current downstream transmission specification was developed in the early 90's, and since new technologies have been introduced and hardware performance has been improved, it is easy to introduce new physical services and MAC layers. It is also effective for providing existing services.

In conventional DOCSIS, the bandwidth of radio frequency (RF) that can be transmitted downstream is limited to 6 MHz. That is, the cable modem (CM) can receive data in one 6MHz band, and the maximum transmission rate is about 40Mbps. However, with the emergence of various types of services in which communication and broadcasting are converged, the currently used standard has shown a limitation in service provision capability and efficiency. In addition, in recent years, in order to efficiently provide various types of services in which communication and broadcasting are converged in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC), a cable modem terminal system (CMTS) for data transmission based on DOCSIS is a MAC processing unit and a network interface. New interface specifications for modular cable modem terminal systems (CMTS), in which the sub-, down-modulator, and up-demodulator are integrated into one system, are separated into separate devices.

In the modular cable modem terminal system (CMTS), the down-modulation unit not only processes existing DOCSIS MAC data, but also MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) based audio / video (A / V). It also includes processing for data and IP-based audio / video (A / V) data. However, replacing all the equipment in the headend with a new modular device is expensive and takes time to provide service.

In other words, there is a problem that requires a lot of time and money in order to provide a service desired by the subscriber using the device according to the new standard.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and the IP-based data transmission that the broadband downlink cable modem to be developed in a new standard is to provide in a next generation cable network together with a cable modem terminal system (CMTS) in the existing headend. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an IP data transmission apparatus and method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) capable of efficiently transmitting a service.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

The apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC), and receives data from an application server system that is a service providing device in general Head-end means for separating user data and management messages and for determining whether to transmit user data over a wideband or existing service band and for transmitting over the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC); And receiving the separated data transmitted from the headend means through the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) to an IP based subscriber device, and transmitting a management message transmitted from the IP based subscriber device through the existing transmission system. It characterized in that it comprises a user cable terminal means for.

Meanwhile, in the method of the present invention, the data transmitted from the external network is set to be transmitted to the broadband transmission / reception system through an IP router in the headend, and the data received from the terminal is transmitted to the network in which the subscriber device exists. A headend setting step of setting an IP switch module; And an existing transmission network setting step of setting an IP switching module of the subscriber device so that data from the network in which the IP-based subscriber exists is transmitted through the existing DOCSIS-based uplink transmission network.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) according to the present invention transmits data from an application server system 101 which is a service providing apparatus. Headend device 100 for receiving and separating general user data and management messages, and transmitting the user data over a wideband or existing service band and transmitting them through an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC), the optical coaxial mixed network Receives the separated data transmitted from the head-end device 100 via the HFC and transmits it to the IP-based subscriber device 108, and transmits the management message transmitted from the IP-based subscriber device 108 to the existing transmission A user cable terminal 105 for delivery through the system.

The present invention transmits a high capacity downlink data to a newly developed broadband downlink cable modem by using an IP router in a headend and a subscriber station, and requests data from a user using an existing uplink transmission channel. It is to make it easy to introduce various new services to be provided in next generation cable network.

The wideband downlink transmission system 103 of the headend device 100 and the wideband reception module 106 of the user cable terminal 105 support a new downlink physical layer or uplink as a wideband downlink transmission / reception system using channel bonding. It does not include channel transmission.

Accordingly, the conventional DOCSIS cable modem terminal system 109 and the existing cable modem module 107, which are existing DOCSIS-based transceiving systems, are included for bidirectional transmission between the headend device 100 and the IP-based subscriber device 108. This includes upband transmission. That is, the cable modem terminal system (CMTS) 109 supporting the existing DOCSIS 2.0 or lower scheme existing in the headend device 100 receives data from the application server system 101 which is an external network or a service providing device in the headend. In case of transmission, general user data is transmitted through a wideband optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) 104 using a wideband downlink transmission system 103 and a wideband reception module 106, which are new physical layers, and exclude user data. The management message between the cable modem terminal system (CMTS) and the cable modem (CM) is transmitted using the existing DOCSIS cable modem terminal system 109 and the existing cable modem module 107 which are existing physical layers.

The determination of whether to transmit the user data in the broadband or the existing service band in the headend device 100 is made through the IP routing system 102 which is a router in the IP layer. That is, the IP routing system 102 routes all downlink user data to use the broadband downlink transmission system 103, which is a broadband transmission device.

As described above, in the case of separately transmitting user data and management message data, there is less data to transmit than user data, and all management messages between the cable modem terminal system (CMTS) and the cable modem (CM) are stored in one piece. By using the physical layer, the management message can be efficiently processed. In addition, a user having an existing cable modem (CM) that does not support such a transmission scheme may provide a new service within a range of existing services and transmission capabilities of the physical layer through an existing physical layer and an existing channel.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wideband downlink transmission / reception scheme between the wideband downlink transmission system and the wideband reception module of FIG. 1 to provide various services such as broadcasting, data, etc. between a headend and a subscriber device using a cable network. For the purpose of implementing a broadband downlink cable modem.

In order to provide various types of services, a service provider must allocate a separate band for each service, and a subscriber needs a separate transceiver for each service.

As services using IP are becoming more common, services provided through different service bands through cable networks are gradually being developed to be multiplexed and transmitted in the IP layer without classifying bands.

For example, conventional MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) -based broadcasting is a trend that is provided in the IP-based.

In order to integrate and provide all types of various services provided by the existing cable to the IP layer, the form of downlink transmission is becoming faster and wider.

Representatives of implementing such a wideband downlink cable modem are using a single broadband carrier (201), multiplexing the existing 6MHz band in the MAC (MAC) layer (202), and in 6MHz units. There is a method 203 for combining multiple bands (12, 18 MHz, etc.) over a wide band in the MAC layer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of existing and wideband downlink transmission band configurations in the existing DOCSIS cable modem terminal system and the wideband downlink transmission system of FIG. 1, respectively. Frequency configuration diagram is shown.

The existing service band 301 is a band through which a signal using an existing physical layer is transmitted, and the wideband 302 means a signal through which a signal of a new physical layer or a MAC layer is transmitted.

The existing service band 301 is a downstream transport channel for providing service information provided through a band allocated to the existing 6 MHz size as a new transport channel. In the current DOCSIS standard, ITU-T J.83 Use Annex B.

In the case of the wideband 302, the wideband is allocated so that the operator can use the channel more efficiently than the existing 6 MHz band.

The allocated broadband effectively provides more users with various services that could not be provided in the 6MHz band such as VOD and high-speed data transmission.

The new transmission scheme using the wideband 302 may adopt new physical layer transmission techniques such as 1024 QAM and Low Density Parity Check (LDPC), which are not defined in the current standard.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the conventional and broadband downlink transmission band configurations in the existing DOCSIS cable modem terminal system and the broadband downlink transmission system of FIG. 1, and uses a conventional downstream and channel bundle. Broadband downlink band frequency configuration is shown.

The existing service band 401 is a band for transmitting a signal using an existing physical layer, and the broadband 402 using channel bonding means a signal for transmitting a signal of a new physical layer or a MAC layer. .

Channel bonding can be transmitted by multiplexing the existing 6MHz band of FIG. 2 in the Channel Bonding MAC layer 202, and using a bandwidth greater than or equal to 6MHz in the band 12, 18MHz, etc.) may be bundled and multiplexed in the MAC layer 203 to transmit.

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram illustrating a headend device of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention. FIG. A conceptual diagram of headend transmission is shown in IP-based data transmission.

The headend device is an IP routing system that is an IP layer router that separates general user data and management messages from data 505 transmitted from the application server system 513 and determines whether to transmit user data over a broadband or existing service band. 502, a broadband downlink transmission system 503, which is a new broadband downlink transmission device for transmitting general user data determined by the IP routing system 502, and a management message determined by the IP routing system 502 through an existing band. Existing DOCSIS-based cable modem terminal system (CMTS) 511 to transmit or receive, information about services provided from the headend and headend management server 509 for overall network management, and transmission from the headend device RF signal splitter / texture for distributing and combining received RF signals And a group (504).

The data 505 transmitted from the external IP backbone 501, which is an external network in the IP form, or the application server system 513, which is an application server in the headend, is transmitted through the IP routing system 502. In step 503, logically, the wideband transmission system and the terminal receiving apparatus of the headend constitute one IP subnet.

The existing DOCSIS-based cable modem terminal system (CMTS) 511 transmits information about services provided from the headend from the headend management server 509 and data 508 for overall network management through the downlink band of 6 MHz. It receives the request and management data from the terminal device through the upband and delivers it for processing by the headend management server 509.

FIG. 6 is a detailed configuration diagram of a user cable terminal of an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention.

The user cable terminal 602 distributes and combines signals transmitted / received through the optical coaxial mixing network 601, and wideband output from the RF signal divider / combiner 603. Wideband receiving module 604 for processing signals, existing DOCSIS cable modem module 609 for processing data received or transmitted via RF signal splitter / combiner 603, subscribers received from wideband receiving module 604 Pass the data 606 to the device to the corresponding IP-based subscriber device 607, or transfer user data 608 transmitted from the IP-based subscriber device 607 to an existing DOCSIS-based cable modem (CM) module 609. IP switching module 605 to be transmitted to the head-end device through a), and a user terminal control module 610 for controlling the user cable terminal.

The data 606 received from the broadband receiving module 604 to the subscriber device is transmitted to the corresponding IP based subscriber device 607 through the IP switching module 605 connected to the terminal device 602. In addition, the user data 608 transmitted from the IP-based subscriber device 607 is headed through the existing DOCSIS-based cable modem (CM) module 609 in the IP switching module 605 which is a router module of the terminal device 602. To the end device.

Logically, the existing DOCSIS-based cable modem terminal system (CMTS) 511 and the cable modem (CM) module 610 constitute one IP subnet.

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IP data transmission method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network according to the present invention, and is used in an IP-based data transmission method using a broadband downlink modem and a conventional transmission method. The subnet configuration and the IP data transmission method using the same are shown.

The present invention is for IP-based data transmission using a broadband downlink cable modem and a conventional DOCSIS-based data transmission system. The basic concept is provided in a next-generation cable network using a newly developed broadband downlink modem and a device in an existing headend. To do a low cost service.

To this end, by adding an IP router to the headend and the terminal device, the IP router of the headend transmits data of the IP layer from the backbone network or the application server in the headend to the broadband downlink channel, and the terminal device transmits the downlink data to the subscriber device. To pass on.

The IP data from the subscriber device is transmitted on the existing DOCSIS upstream channel for the request from the subscriber device to the headend device.

Two independent logical subnets are configured between the headend and the terminal device for proper data transmission in the IP layer.

Subnets 702 and 703 are separately configured for broadband transmission and reception and the existing DOCSIS-based transmission scheme. Then, the data from the external network 701 is set to be transmitted to the broadband transmission / reception system through the IP router in the headend, and the data received from the terminal is transmitted to the network 704 where the corresponding subscriber device exists. Set the switch module.

The IP switching module of the subscriber device is configured so that data from the network 704 in which the IP-based subscriber exists exists can be transmitted through the existing DOCSIS-based uplink transmission network 703.

Existing DOCSIS-based transmitters in the headend must have a separate subnet configured between the IP router and the cable modem terminal system (CMTS) if the router is built in. If operating in bridge mode, the heads need not be configured. The operation may be performed by configuring the subnet between the end IP router and the terminal device through the existing DOCSIS-based transmission system.

As described above, the method of the present invention may be implemented as a program and stored in a recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) in a computer-readable form. Since this process can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

As described above, the present invention provides a low-cost and efficient IP-based data transmission service to be provided in a next-generation cable network together with a cable modem terminal system (CMTS) in an existing headend. There is an effect that can be provided.

Claims (7)

In an IP data transmission apparatus using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network (HFC), It receives data from an application server system, which is a service providing device, separates general user data and management messages, determines whether to transmit user data through a broadband or existing service band, and transmits the data through the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC). Headend means; And Receiving separate data transmitted from the headend means through the optical coaxial mixed network (HFC) to transmit to the IP-based subscriber device, and to transmit the management message transmitted from the IP-based subscriber device through the existing transmission system User cable terminal means for IP data transmission device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The head end means, IP routing means for separating general user data and management messages from data transmitted from the application server system and determining whether to transmit user data in a broadband or existing service band; Broadband downlink transmission means for transmitting general user data determined by said IP routing means; Existing DOCSIS-based cable modem terminal means for transmitting or receiving a management message determined by the IP routing means through an existing band; Headend management means for overall network management and information on services provided from the headend means; And First RF signal distributing and combining means for distributing and combining the RF signals transmitted / received at the headend means IP data transmission device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The user cable terminal means, Second RF signal distribution and combining means for distributing and combining signals transmitted / received through the optical coaxial mixing network; Wideband receiving means for processing a wideband signal output from said second RF signal distributing and combining means; Existing DOCSIS cable modem means for processing data received or transmitted via said second RF signal distribution and combining means; To transfer the data from the broadband receiving means to the subscriber device received to the corresponding IP based subscriber device, or to transmit the user data transmitted from the IP based subscriber device to the headend means through the existing DOCSIS cable modem means. IP switching means for; And User terminal control means for controlling the user cable terminal means IP data transmission device comprising a. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The head end means, It uses an existing service band 401 through which a signal using an existing physical layer is transmitted and a wideband 402 using channel bonding, which is a signal through which a signal of a new physical layer or MAC layer is transmitted. Broadband using bundling is multiplexed in the MAC (Layer) Channel (MAC) layer by multiple existing 6MHz bands, and multiplexed in the MAC layer by bundling bands (12, 18MHz, etc.) over 6MHz bandwidth. IP data transmission apparatus characterized in that the transmission using a method. In an IP data transmission method using an existing transmission system and a broadband downlink transmission system in an optical coaxial mixed network, A headend configured to transmit data transmitted from an external network to a broadband transmission / reception system through an IP router in a headend, and to set an IP switch module in a terminal device to transmit data received from a terminal to a network in which a corresponding subscriber device exists. Setting step; And An existing network setting step of configuring an IP switching module of a subscriber device so that data from a network in which an IP-based subscriber exists can be transmitted through an existing DOCSIS-based uplink transport network. IP data transmission method comprising a. The method of claim 5, The headend setting step, IP data transmission method comprising a separate logical subnet according to the broadband transmission and reception and the conventional DOCSIS-based transmission method between the headend and the terminal device for the correct data transmission in the IP layer. The method according to claim 5 or 6, The existing transmission network setting step, If the existing DOCSIS-based transmission device in the headend has a built-in router, a separate subnet must be configured between the IP router and the cable modem terminal system (CMTS), and when the bridge mode is operated, a separate subnet does not need to be configured. IP data transmission method characterized in that the operation is performed in the subnet configuration between the head-end IP router and the terminal device through the existing DOCSIS-based transmission system.

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