A method of billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a broadband subscriber permits changing billing parameters during a call in real time in response to user inputs including user requested changes in quality of service, changes in data rate and changes in preferred service provider. A variable bit rate communication to be billed has a variable quality of service related to the degree of utilization of a plurality of different networks. The billing method comprises the steps of i.) receiving user identification data at a first terminal and data representing a required bit rate and a default quality of service selected by the user, ii.) verifying the user identification data to be associated with the broadband service subscriber, iii.) determining least cost alternative network resources available for achieving the communication at the user selected default quality of service and the required bit rate, iv.) determining cost data associated with the network resources, v.) outputting to the user a least cost for the communication according to their selected default quality of service and alternative least cost network resources, vi.) coupling the first terminal and the distant terminal via the least cost determined network resources at the default quality of service and the required bit rate responsive to user authorization and vii.) billing for the communication at the default quality of service and according to the required bit rate after the termination of the communication.

Method for billing IP broadband subscribers

The present invention utilizes an aggregator for searching, packaging and delivering content. The aggregator processes requests, searches, provides search results and acquires content. The aggregator, operating in a communications network, includes a request and results processing server, a search engine server coupled to the request and results processing server and a content acquisition server coupled to the request and results processing server. A request and results processing server receives a request for content, the search engine server searches for the content and the content acquisition program acquires content for delivery to the user. The request and results processing server includes a search request processor that receives information related to a user's search request and provides the information to a search results form builder that creates an electronic search request.

Video and digital multimedia aggregator

The present invention sets forth a network-centric service distribution architecture that integrates a wireless access system in the residence, SOHO, business or public environment through the use of a local broadband network, such as a Residential-Business Broadband Network (RBN), to the service provider's broadband transport network and to a service provider's broadband packet network. The system includes Media Terminal Adapter is coupled via the RBN to the access port(s) and via the service provider's broadband transport network to the service provider's broadband packet network. The access port is coupled to the Media Terminal Adapter via either a RBN (e.g., a Local Area Network—LAN) or simply via a traditional POTS line interface. The access port receives and sends wireless signals to a plurality of RBN devices, allowing the user to control theses devices remotely from the residence, business, SOHO or public environments. The integration of an RBN to a service provider's broadband packet network allows a subscriber to communicate at home and at the office with one communication device anytime anywhere.

Broadband network with enterprise wireless communication system for residential and business environment

A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects (1265) available for targeting categorized and categories are correlated to subscriber information (1210) to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects (1260). The virtual objects may be targeted (1220) based on individual subscriber information (1210) or on information related to a group of subscribers. When a frame of program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual objects is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. The television terminals record which virtual objects were displayed and report this information back to the headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers and to analyze viewer watching habits.

Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers. The termination locations can be located on the same side of the frame as the splice tray holders, or on an opposite side. An enclosure of the frame included hinged or otherwise moveable panels to allow access to the terminations or the splice trays.

Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure

A network ( 10 ) includes a broadband customer service module (B-CSM) ( 20 ). The B-CSM ( 20 ) includes a plurality of feeder interface cards (FICs) ( 36 ) and optical line cards (OLCs) ( 38 ) which are coupled together through a midplane assembly ( 34 ) so that each FIC ( 36 ) couples to all OLCs ( 38 ) and each OLC ( 38 ) couples to all FICs ( 36 ) through junctor groups ( 68 ). A reference clock which oscillates at a frequency slower than the data rate is routed with payload data so that it receives delays similar to those imposed on the payload data due to processing. At second stage switching fabrics ( 50 ) where data need to be extracted from signals flowing within the B-CSM ( 20 ), a clock regeneration circuit ( 32 ) generates a master clock signal oscillating at twice the data rate and phase synchronized to a delayed reference clock. A geometric compensation scheme corrects for timing skew which occurs when clocks and data are distributed to points or small areas from widely dispersed locations, and when clocks and data are distributed from points or small areas to widely dispersed locations. The B-CSM ( 20 ) ranks the junctor groups ( 68 ) according to signal occupancy and manages signal traffic to efficiently utilize the FICs ( 36 ) and to reduce the probability of signal blocking. The junctor groups ( 68 ) can include a number of bidirectional junctors. The bidirectional junctors are configured to carry upstream or downstream signals according to current upstream and downstream signal traffic volume.

Broadband switch that manages traffic and method therefor

A network ( 10 ) includes a broadband customer service module (B-CSM) ( 20 ). The B-CSM ( 20 ) includes a plurality of feeder interface cards (FICs) ( 36 ) and optical line cards (OLCs) ( 38 ) which are coupled together through a midplane assembly ( 34 ) so that each FIC ( 36 ) couples to all OLCs ( 38 ) and each OLC ( 38 ) couples to all FICs ( 36 ) through junctor groups ( 68 ). Within the B-CSM ( 20 ) circuit switching is performed electrically at an STS-1 rate. A reference clock which oscillates at a frequency slower than the data rate is routed with payload data so that it receives delays similar to those imposed on the payload data due to processing. At second stage switching fabrics ( 50 ) where data need to be extracted from signals flowing within the B-CSM ( 20 ), a clock regeneration circuit ( 32 ) generates a master clock signal oscillating at twice the data rate and phase synchronized to a delayed reference clock. A geometric compensation scheme corrects for timing skew which occurs when clocks and data are distributed to points or small areas from widely dispersed locations, and when clocks and data are distributed from points or small areas to widely dispersed locations. A variation of the Q.931 signaling protocol is implemented to enable the B-CSM ( 20 ) to respond to a request from a second subscriber interface unit (SIU) ( 100 ) to view a video program currently being delivered to a first SIU ( 100 ). The second SIU ( 100 ) need not have access to the identity of the video program before sending the switching request.

Broadband video switch that performs program merging and method therefor

A device receives a traffic fencing (TF) function for a network, and provides a TF attribute, based on the received TF function, over a link of the network to enable activation of a TF rule of a link state routing (LSR) algorithm used by the network to implement the TF function for the network

Traffic fencing mechanism for control plane enabled networks

Policy-based, on-demand provisioning of optical transport bandwidth is disclosed. In one of many possible embodiments, a system is provided for policy-based, on-demand provisioning of optical transport bandwidth. The system includes a layer-specific operation support subsystem (OSS) configured to manage network elements that form a sub-network over an optical transport network. The optical transport network provides bandwidth-on-demand provisioning capabilities. The layer-specific OSS includes one or more predefined bandwidth provisioning policies. The layer-specific OSS is configured to selectively request on-demand provisioning of bandwidth on the sub-network based on the predefined bandwidth provisioning policies.

Systems and methods for policy-based intelligent provisioning of optical transport bandwidth

In September 2006, Verizon partner solutions (VPS) launched the bandwidth-on-demand (BoD) service trial in New York City, as a precursor to the formal rollout of just-in-time provisioning (JiT) service in 2007. The JiT service will offer wholesale customers OC-n, Ethernet private line, and DS3 services utilizing a GMPLS-based intelligent optical network to reduce provisioning intervals. This paper presents Verizon's experience in deploying BoD/JiT Provisioning services, and identifies technology gaps and operations challenges.

Stephen S. Liu

Papers

Broadband switch that manages traffic and method therefor

Broadband video switch that performs program merging and method therefor

Traffic fencing mechanism for control plane enabled networks

Systems and methods for policy-based intelligent provisioning of optical transport bandwidth

Deployment of Carrier-Grade Bandwidth-on-Demand Services over Optical Transport Networks: A Verizon Experience