Network gateway for collecting geographic data information

Abstract

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a gateway device comprises a central processing unit, an external network interface, an internal network interface, and a positioning unit each coupled to the central processing unit. The gateway device further comprises a persistent memory, also coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the persistent memory is configured to store statistical data pertaining to content received through the external network interface as well as geographic location information. The gateway device is configured to collecting statistical geographic location information. According to an embodiment, a method for collecting the statistical geographic location information comprises: storing geographic location information in a persistent memory dedicated to a positioning unit, sampling incoming data passing between the external network interface and the internal network interface of the gateway device, recording the sampled incoming data in a persistent data table, receiving a request, the request comprising a demand for information contained in the persistent data table, and in response to the request, transmitting information contained in the persistent data table together with geographic location information.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A gateway device, comprising:

a central processing unit;

an external network interface communicatively coupled to the central processing unit;

an internal network interface communicatively coupled to the central processing unit;

a positioning unit communicatively coupled to the central processing unit, the positioning unit configured to record geographic location information;

a first persistent memory communicatively coupled to the central processing unit; and

a data table stored within the first persistent memory, the data table configured to store statistical data pertaining to content received through the external network interface and geographic data pertaining to nodes communicatively coupled to the internal network interface.

2. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises a global positioning system transceiver.

3. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises a second persistent memory configured to be manually updated so as to store therein a geographic location identifier.

4. A method for collecting statistical geographic location information in a network environment, comprising:

storing geographic location information in a second persistent memory location dedicated to a positioning unit;

sampling incoming data passing between an external network interface and an internal network interface of a gateway device;

recording the sampled incoming data in a persistent data table;

receiving a request from a central server, the request comprising a demand for information contained in the persistent data table; and

in response to the request, transmitting information contained in the persistent data table together with geographic location information to the central server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising encrypting the information contained in the persistent data table and the geographic location information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sampled incoming data comprises content information and wherein the persistent data table comprises the sampled incoming data as well as internal network routing information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content information comprises a program identifier and a timestamp.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the geographic location information is stored in the second persistent memory location by manually entering a location identifier into the second persistent memory location.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the geographic location information is stored in the second persistent memory location by:

transmitting and receiving signals to and from a global positioning module;

triangulating a location for the positioning unit based upon signals from the global positioning module; and

recording the triangulated position in the second persistent memory location.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

registering in an address mapping table a plurality of nodes contained in the network environment, and

periodically synchronizing at least a portion of the address mapping table with the central server.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to perform the acts of:

storing geographic location information in a second persistent memory location dedicated to a positioning unit;

sampling incoming data passing between an external network interface and an internal network interface of a gateway device;

recording the sampled incoming data in a persistent data table;

receiving a request from a central server, the request comprising a demand for information contained in the persistent data table; and

in response to the request, transmitting information contained in the persistent data table together with geographic location information to the central server.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising sequences of instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the act of encrypting the information contained in the persistent data table and the geographic location information.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the sampled incoming data comprises content information and wherein the persistent data table comprises the sampled incoming data as well as internal network routing information.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the content information comprises a program identifier and a timestamp.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising one or more sequences of instructions for causing the one or more processors to store the geographic location information in the second persistent memory location by causing manual entry a location identifier into the second persistent memory location.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising one or more sequences of instructions for causing the one or more processors to store the geographic location information in the second persistent memory location by:

transmitting and receiving signals to and from a global positioning module;

triangulating a location for the positioning unit based upon signals from the global positioning module; and

recording the triangulated position in the second persistent memory location.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising sequences of instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the acts of:

registering in an address mapping table a plurality of nodes contained in the network environment, and

periodically synchronizing at least a portion of the address mapping table with the central server.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to the field of home entertainment systems, and more specifically to communication and control technologies in home entertainment systems.

2. Background

In the past, a home entertainment system frequently consisted of simply a television set (TV) and a video cassette recorder (VCR). One or two coaxial or composite cables interconnected the TV and VCR from input-to-output and/or output-to-input respectively. However, in recent years, home entertainment systems have become increasingly complex.

Advances in home electronic devices, such as the compact disk (CD) player, digital-video disc (DVD) player, gaming systems, surround sound audio systems, hand held video cameras, etc., naturally compelled consumers to connect the additional devices to their home entertainment system. Each new device added at least two more wires (generally, power and input/output) to the complex web of wires snaking their way in and out of the various devices.

Originally, switch boxes were employed to cut down on the complexity of the interconnections between the various devices. For example, a simple "A/B" switch box allowed a user to selectively choose one input or another, without having to disconnect and re-engage coaxial cables between the devices. As the number of devices in home entertainment systems increased, however, the use of A/B switch boxes to interconnect the devices becomes cumbersome and inefficient.

Notably, consumers generally desire less wires, simpler interconnect schemes and, as the functionality and sophistication of home entertainment devices increase, to dispose of the myriad individual component remote controls needed to operate the respective devices. Indeed, most remote control "features" are never used (see, e.g., "The Complexity Problem: Industrial Design", Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 271, No. 3, March 1993, p. 96); if for no other reason, this is due to the differing sequences and/or number of steps involved with the control and operation of each respective device.

One solution to the aforementioned control problem is proposed in U.S. Pat. 5,675,390 (the "'390 patent") by Schindler et al. As depicted in FIG. 1 of the '390 patent, an entertainment system is centrally controlled by a personal computer. According to the Schindler et al. system, control is consolidated in the personal computer, wherein a "hub and spoke", or "star" type communication topology is employed--i.e., with all communications passing through the personal computer (or hub). By this configuration, each device requires its own dedicated connection to the personal computer. Such a solution may work well for tightly integrated home electronics equipment and a sophisticated computer user. However, it requires an even greater number of interconnecting wires than were previously employed. (Note the number of I/O plugs depicted in FIG. 7 of the '390 patent). Further, such a system is not scalable. That is, as new devices are to be added to the system, additional corresponding adapters/controllers must be added to the personal computer.

A similar solution is proposed in U.S. Pat. 5,722,041 (the "'041 patent") by Freadman. FIG. 2 of the '041 patent best depicts Freadman's home entertainment system. Like Schindler et al., control is centrally located in a personal computer. Media feeds are through a combination multi-channel modem and analog radio frequency mixer, which connects to a number of terminal devices through a coaxial cable. Although a reduction in the number of wires is accomplished, shared functionality between the devices is minimal, e.g., one device doesn't control another device and vice-versa.

In particular, adding a user-operated personal computer to control a home entertainment system network does not, in itself, reduce complexity. In fact, it may increase the complexity. The computer is often difficult, if not cumbersome to control. Hardware and software components generally need to be configured to communicate, and the devices properly initialized. Upgrades to either peripheral devices (e.g., VCRs, TVs, etc.) or the computer itself may necessitate a complete overhaul of the system operating software, thereby introducing incompatibilities and uncertainties in the system performance.

With regard to the myriad interconnection wires in more complex home entertainment systems, one solution is the IEEE 1394-1995 standard and its extensions IEEE 1394a, and IEEE 1394b, which are referred to herein as "IEEE 1394". In one embodiment, a IEEE 1394 cable is a six strand cable: one strand for power, one strand for ground, two strands for data, and two strands for strobes used to synchronize the data strands. In an alternative embodiment, a four strand cable can be used, omitting the power and ground strands. IEEE 1394 cable also comprises a shield, which prevents electromagnetic interference. At its core, IEEE 1394 cable is essentially a high performance serial bus, having data rates as of this present writing of up to 400 megabits per second.

Advantageously, the IEEE 1394 bus reduces the need for the myriad wires in a home entertainment system, as the component electronic devices may be designed to receive power and communication through the IEEE 1394 cable, thereby reducing the connections needed for most devices to as few as a single cable in a backplane bus environment. The IEEE 1394-1995 standard provides a specification for aspects of the physical, link and transaction layers for implementing of the IEEE 1394 bus, including provisions for such functions as resetting the bus, bus arbitration, node configuration, standard packet structures, initializing packet transmission, sending and receiving asynchronous packets, sending and receiving isochronous packets, transaction control, and error detection and correction.

Communication over IEEE 1394 bus differs from many previous technologies in that it is purely digital. In particular, data carried on the IEEE 1394 bus is either digital from the source (e.g., a CD-ROM), or it must be converted by an analog-to-digital converter before being placed on the IEEE 1394 bus. Further, communication in a IEEE 1394-based system is peer-to-peer, i.e., each device (a.k.a. "node") on the IEEE 1394 bus can communicate with any other node without requiring communication/control requests to be processed through a central device/node (e.g., as is required in a "client-server" type configuration). In a IEEE 1394-based system, the controller can reside in any node, so in a sense, the IEEE 1394 bus itself becomes the controller.

Challenges for proponents of IEEE 1394 have been not been so much at the lower layers of operation, that is in the physical, link and transaction layers (although bridges between protocols and data packet structure continue to be areas of contention), but rather in the high layers of the network protocol stack, such as the application layer. Recent developments in the broadcast television and cable industries, such as high definition television (HDTV) and consolidation in the cable broadcast industry are exponentially expanding the number of services and content available to consumers. To this end, interoperability between home electronic devices is strongly desired, as are common and/or standard functionality, ease of use and scalability. As such, there is a need for a system to control and manage the expanding array of devices and services that can be connected and supported, respectively, in a IEEE 1394-based home entertainment system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a gateway device comprises a central processing unit, an external network interface, an internal network interface, and a positioning unit each coupled to the central processing unit. The gateway device further comprises a persistent memory, also coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the persistent memory is configured to store statistical data pertaining to content received through the external network interface as well as geographic location information.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods for collecting statistical geographic location information are disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises: storing geographic location information in a persistent memory dedicated to a positioning unit, sampling incoming data passing between the external network interface and the internal network interface of the gateway device, recording the sampled incoming data in a persistent data table, receiving a request, the request comprising a demand for information contained in the persistent data table, and in response to the request, transmitting information contained in the persistent data table together with geographic location information.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for collecting statistical geographic information from a network environment by a central server is provided, the method comprising: initializing communication with a remote device, requesting a data table from the remote device, receiving the data table from the remote device, analyzing the geographic statistical data, and, in response to analyzing, selectively choosing content to be output to the remote device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like components, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary IEEE 1394 module architecture;

FIG. 2 depicts a exemplary IEEE 1394 network topology;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary cable-based IEEE 1394 topology;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary IEEE 1394 node protocol stack;

FIG. 5 depicts a home gateway bridging multiple external service providers with a IEEE 1394-based network;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the home gateway of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an alternate block diagram of the home gateway, illustrating hardware components;

FIG. 8 is block diagram illustrating a firmware stack for the home gateway;

FIG. 9 depicts a protocol stack for MPEG transport over the IEEE 1394-based home entertainment system network of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 depicts a protocol stack for IP routing over the home entertainment system network of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 depicts a protocol stack for IP plug-and-play and DNS/DHCP routing over the home entertainment system network of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 depicts a protocol stack for bitmap display data transfer between devices of the home entertainment system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 depicts an address mapping table;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart depicting a preferred command and control transfer protocol;

FIG. 15 depicts flowcharts pertaining to a data packet engine;

FIG. 16A-B depict a node navigation tree according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16C depicts a node function list according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 depicts a preferred node icon table;

FIG. 18 depicts a node function table;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart depicting acts for performing remote monitoring and control;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a home gateway comprising a positioning unit and a central server;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart depicting a method for collecting statistical geographic location information in a network environment as performed by a home gateway;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart depicting a method for collecting statistical geographic location information as performed by a head-end server; and

FIG. 23 is a diagram of an exemplary statistical data table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The IEEE 1394-1995 standard, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all that it describes and teaches, provides background information for the following description and figures in the accompanying drawings. In particular, selected portions of the IEEE 1394-1995 standard are described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

IEEE 1394 Overview

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary IEEE 1394 module 100, which comprises a plurality of addressable nodes 104. Each node 104 may comprise a processor unit 108 and an I/O unit 112 interconnected via a local bus 128. Alternatively, a node 104 may comprise a memory unit 116. Each node 104 connects to a IEEE 1394 carrier 120 via a respective bus connector 124.

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary IEEE 1394 physical network topology 200, which comprises two IEEE 1394 "backplane environments" 216 respectively bridged to a IEEE 1394 "cable environment" 212.

In a backplane environment 216, the physical topology is a multidrop bus 215. The physical media includes two, single ended conductors that run the length of the backplane and have connectors distributed thereon for connecting a plurality of IEEE 1394 nodes 104.

In a cable environment 212, the physical topology is a "noncyclic" network (meaning that closed loops are not supported) with finite branches and extent. Respective IEEE 1394 cables 220 connect together ports 208 on different nodes 104. Each port 208 typically comprises terminators, transceivers, and arbitration logic circuitry (not shown). The cables 220 and ports 208 function, in part, as cable repeaters, which repeat signals incident thereon to an adjacent node 104. This repeating feature allows nodes 104 in the cable environment 212 to simulate a single, logical bus. When two differing IEEE 1394 buses are connected together, e.g., in a backplane environment 216 or in a cable environment 212, a bridge 204 is used to convert communications between the different network environments.

In accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard, a sixty-four bit addressing scheme is employed by the IEEE 1394 network 200. The upper sixteen bits of each address represent the "node_ID". The most significant ten bits of the node_ID identify the particular logical bus or "bus_ID" (e.g., bus 215) in the overall IEEE 1394 network 200. Thus, up to one thousand twenty three buses can be employed in the IEEE 1394 network 200. The next most significant six bits of the node_ID represent a particular node's physical address or "physical_ID". Sixty-three independently addressable nodes (e.g., nodes 104) can reside on a particular IEEE 1394 bus (e.g., bus 215). Various portions of the remaining forty-eight bits of address space are allocated for specific resources, either to a particular bus, or a particular node.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary IEEE 1394 cable topology 300. In accordance with this configuration, a number of nodes 104 are "daisy-chained" together between ports 208 by respective IEEE 1394 cables 304. Each node 104 acts as a repeater, repeating signals between one port 208 to the next port so they can be transmitted over the cables 304 between the respective nodes 104.

FIG. 4 depicts a protocol stack 400 illustrating the relationships between the hardware and software components within an exemplary IEEE 1394 node 104. In particular, four layers are depicted in the protocol stack 400: transaction layer 404, link layer 408, physical layer 412, and serial bus management layer 416. Additional layers (not shown), such as an application layer, may also be included in the protocol stack 400.

In particular, the transaction layer 404 defines a complete request-response protocol to perform bus transactions to support read, write and lock operations. The transaction layer 404 also provides a path for isochronous management data to get to the serial bus management layer 416.

The link layer 408 provides for one-way data transfer with confirmation of request (i.e., an "acknowledged datagram") service to the transaction layer 404. More particularly, the link layer 408 provides addressing, data checking and data framing for packet transmission and reception, and also:provides an isochronous data transfer service directly to the application. This includes generation of timing and synchronization signals (e.g., a "cycle signal").

The physical layer 412 translates logical symbols used by link layer 408 into electrical signals for output onto a IEEE 1394 cable. The physical layer 412 also provides an arbitration service to ensure that only one node at a time is sending data. In a preferred embodiment, the physical layer 412 provides data resynch and repeat service, as well as automatic bus initialization.

The serial bus management layer 416 provides bus management, isochronous resource management and node control. For example, in the cable environment 212 of FIG. 2, the serial bus management layer's 416 isochronous resource manager 420 grants the resources necessary for the respective nodes 104 to allocate and deallocate cooperatively the isochronous resources, channels and bandwidth necessary for efficient and orderly isochronous operations.

A bus manager 424 provides services, such as performance optimization, power and speed management and topology management to other nodes, 104 on the bus. Finally, a node controller 428 manages all control and status registers needed by the nodes 104 on the bus, and communicates with the physical layer 412, the link layer 408, the transaction layer 404 and one or more other application layers (not shown).

Home Entertainment and Home Office System

FIG. 5 depicts a home gateway 504 bridging multiple external service providers to a preferred home entertainment and home office system network, referred hereafter as "home entertainment system network" 500. The home entertainment system network 500 is connected by an IEEE 1394 bus 568, which is preferably configured in a cable environment (described above with reference to FIGS. 2-3). In particular, a series of daisy-chained, IEEE 1394 cables 502 interconnect between ports of various electronics components of the home entertainment system 500 to form the IEEE 1394 bus 568. For example, a TV 508, a stereo 512, a VCR 516 and a DVD 520 are connected in one chain 560. In another chain 564, a personal computer 524, a printer 528, and a digital camera 534 are connected.

Each of the respective chains 560 and 564 of electronic components are connected to the home gateway 504, which acts as a bridge between one or more external networks and the respective internal network chains 560 and 564. (i.e., as opposed to a bridge between two different bus environments). For example, the home gateway 504 is capable of receiving media feeds from a satellite 582 via a satellite receiver 540, a broadcast tower 586 via an antenna 544, as well as feeds from local land lines 592 (e.g. copper twisted pair, coaxial or fiber optic cable) via a coaxial cable receiver 548, fiber optic cable receiver 552, or telephone cable receiver 556, respectively. (Note: although the various receivers are shown outside of the home gateway 504, the actual receivers or receptacles can be contained within the home gateway 504 as well. They are shown outside of the home gateway 504 for illustration purposes only.)

The TV 508 preferably includes an internal television adapter that converts data from the IEEE 1394 bus 502 to NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) and/or ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) video signals for presentation on the television screen. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the television adapter is an external device, which connects between the TV 508 and the IEEE 1394 cable 502. In either embodiment, the television adapter preferably includes an off-screen buffer, for image data not presently displayed, but to be displayed in the future, and an on-screen buffer, for image data presently displayed on the television screen. Furthermore, the television adapter can be incorporated into an auxiliary device connected to the television, such as a VCR, a DVD player, or a digital camera.

Home Gateway

FIG. 6 depicts a functional block diagram for the home gateway 504, as well as for the components communicatively coupled to the home gateway 504.

The gateway 504 comprises one or more interfaces to communicate over an access network 644 through which respective services are provided. For example,.services from an internet access provider ("IAP") or internet service provider ("ISP") 640, or from a video service provider ("VSP") 648 can be provided by connecting the respective home gateway interface, e.g., wireless interface "Terrestrial Broadcast I/F" 650, "Satellite I/F" 652, asynchronous digital subscriber line interface "ADSL I/F"656, asynchronous transfer mode interface "ATM I/F" 660, or hybrid fiber coaxial interface "HFC I/F" 664, to the access network 644 via an appropriate network link, (e.g., terrestrial link 618, satellite link 620, telephone link 624, fiber link 628, or coaxial link 632, respectively). According to one preferred embodiment, adapter slots on the home gateway 504 receive one or more of the above interfaces. Such an embodiment provides for a flexible reconfiguration when new or upgraded communications technologies/hardware are connected to the home entertainment system 500.

A variety of applications are possible over the access network 644 from either the IAP/ISP 640 and/or the VSP 648, such as internet surfing, MPEG video streams (standard and high definition television), network gaming, an electronic program guide "EPG", and home network control. Accordingly, the home gateway 504 includes hardware and software to enable home-user IP routing 668, MPEG2 stream handling (including on-screen display "OSD" and EPG processing) 672, access network communication control 676, home network control/management 680, and other resident or downloadable functions 682 such as gaming, home automation and directory services. To this end, the firmware stack for the home gateway 504 is described below with reference to FIG. 8. The protocol stacks for implementing the above referenced functions are described below with reference to FIGS. 9 through 12.

The 1394 interface 684 is a necessary component of the home gateway 504 and it is used in conjunction with the network protocols described with reference to FIGS. 9-12. The 1394 interface 684 acts as a bridge between the external network protocols and the IEEE 1394 compliant bus which forms the internal network. For example, the 1394 I/F 684 supports an IP over 1394 link 612 and an MPEG over 1394 link 616, between a personal computer 524 and a TV adapter 604 (which, in one embodiment, converts IEEE 1394 data into an analog or a digital signal for a television 608).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, one embodiment of the home gateway 504 includes a power supply circuit 748, a reset circuit 752, a clock circuit 756, a central processing unit "CPU" 704, a local bus 706, a PCI bridge & peripheral controller 708, non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM 712 and FLASH 716), volatile memory (e.g., DRAM 720), an RS232 interconnect, and a PCI bus 724. Connected to the PCI bus 724 are an ATM LSI interface 728, which provides an ATM bridge and other functionality to the home gateway 504, a synchronous optical network ("SONET") interface 732, which connects to an optical carrier 3 ("OC-3") level port, a 1394 LINK LSI 736, a 1394 PHY LSI, with three IEEE 1394ports, and a register, LED and dip-switch unit 744.

Off-the-shelf hardware components are preferrably employed in the home gateway 504. For example, a presently preferred hardware component specification is set forth in Table 1. Where a particular manufacturer's product is preferred, it is specified.

    TABLE 1
    CPU                          NR4650 133 MHz
                                 (NKK Micro Devices)
    DRAM                          8 MB
    ROM                          128 kB
    FLASH                         4 MB
    PCI Bridge & Peripheral Controller NR4650-PSC (NKK Micro Devices)
    1394 LINK LSI                MD8411 (Fuji Film Micro Device)
    1394 PHY LSI                 MD8401 (Fuji Film Micro Device)
    ATM LSI                      LASAR-155 (PMC-Sierra)
    Internal Bus                 PCI

• Inventors
  Akatsu, Shinji; Matsubara, Fernando Masami;
• Assignee
  Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc (Cambridge, MA)
• Published
  Feb-18-2003
• Current US Classes:
  705/10
  705/14
  709/223
  709/224
  709/225
  709/226
  709/229
  709/231
  709/232
• Application #
  302023
• International Classes
  G06F 015/173
• Field of Search
  209/223 209/224 209/225 209/226 209/229 209/231 209/232 705/10 705/14
• Examiner
  Najjar; Saleh
• Agent
  Brinkman; Dirk, Curtin; Andrew J.
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