Abstract: A method for providing the communication of information services between customer premises equipment (CPE) at a customer's premises and a source of the information services includes providing a demarcation device at the customer's premises. The demarcation device defines an interface between an external transport medium that is substantially external to the customer's premises and an internal transport medium that is substantially internal to the customer's premises. The method also includes establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between the demarcation device and the source of information services and establishing a virtual local area network (VLAN) between the demarcation device and the CPE.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as systems and methods for using them. For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, a network interface device can comprise an isolation device, which can be configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that operational changes to the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium, and operational changes to the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium.

Abstract: Data is provisioned from a data carousel in the head end of a broadband data distribution system covering a plurality of franchises. The data destination is based on the franchise to which a customer belongs. The distribution system includes at least one broadband digital terminal for providing a point-to-multipoint connection between the data carousel and the customer. A franchise permanent virtual circuit is established between the data carousel and the BDT for each franchise served by the BDT. Each franchise PVC carries franchise-specific data. A sign on request is received from the customer over a customer PVC. The sign on request is used to determine to which franchise the customer belongs. A soft PVC is established in the BDT between the customer PVC and the franchise PVC corresponding to the determined franchise, thereby allowing franchise-specific information to be delivered to the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing broadband data service to a user site utilizes a plurality of well-known virtual paths between the host digital terminal and the network interface. The host digital terminal connects to a network that is connected to a plurality of data service providers. The plurality of well-known virtual paths allow several data service providers to share a single physical drop.

Abstract: An upstream signaling arrangement for a VDSL network is provided which uses a head end data carousal to send an IP address of a programming host computer to end user set top boxes. The IP address is assigned to a specific program channel and broadcast time. Two-way communication is achieved over the VDSL network by using a set top box ATM IPPV to send and receive upstream information to the program provider via the IP address. The IP address allows the head end to relay the signals to and from the program host computer anywhere in the world using an Internet connection. This arrangement advantageously allows an end user to respond in real time to messages being received from an external programming host during the specific program.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical-port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers includes an ATM network connected to data service providers. A host digital terminal (HDT) is connected to the ATM network by an ATM permanent virtual circuit (PVC). Each of the ATM PVCs is associated with a corresponding one of the data service providers. The ATM PVCs connect the HDT to the data service providers. The HDT and the data service providers communicate data signals on the ATM PVCs through the ATM network. A customer provided equipment (CPE) data device is connected to the HDT by a VDSL PVC. The CPE device and the HDT communicate data signals on the VDSL PVC. A subscriber personal computer is connected to the CPE device for communicating data signals with the CPE device. The personal computer is operable to generate a channel signal corresponding to a selected one of the data service providers.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a plurality of devices at a physical drop to receive access to video and/or data services from a plurality of video/data service providers in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager, in communication with the video/data service providers, for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop, a type of the device being provisioned a the physical drop, and a maximum number of devices for the device type allowed to receive corresponding service at the physical drop. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, is programmed to receive the electronic message and store the corresponding information.

Abstract: A VDSL customer drop testing arrangement and equipment utilizes a test set top box having a sign-on identifier unique to an authorized test device to perform testing of the customer drop without the need to provision the drop for receipt of video programming or data services from any network information or service providers (VIPs or DSPs). Because the test arrangement of the present invention does not require such provisioning, isolation of the customer drop is achieved. Such isolation insures that the test set is not being affected by problems originated from a VIP or DSP.

Abstract: A VDSL customer drop testing arrangement and equipment utilizes a test set top box having a sign-on identifier unique to an authorized test device to perform testing of the customer drop without the need to provision the drop for receipt of video programming or data services from any network information or service providers (VIPs or DSPs). Because the test arrangement of the present invention does not require such provisioning, isolation of the customer drop is achieved. Such isolation insures that the test set is not being affected by problems originated from a VIP or DSP.

Abstract: A broadband communication system comprises a broadband host digital terminal and a network interface. The host digital terminal connects to a network that is connected to at least one information source that sends information over the network to the host digital terminal. The network interface is configured such that a selection device may be connected to the network interface for requesting a desired information item for reception. The host digital terminal has a profile corresponding to the network interface. The profile indicates a limited set of entitled information items that the network interface is entitled to receive. The host digital terminal sends the desired information to the network interface when the desired information is within the set of entitled information items.

Abstract: A broadband video and data communication system includes a headend having a video channel provider and a data service provider. A host digital terminal communicates with the headend. A network interface operates to communicate through the host digital terminal to communicate with the video channel provider and bi-directionally communicate with the data service provider. A selection device located at the network interface operates to send information to and receive information from the headend. A video server in communication with the video channel provider operates to send a video channel through the video channel provider to the selection device. The video server is configured for bi-directional communication with the data service provider and for operating to send and receive data information, through the data service provider, to and from the selection device.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) communication system for providing alarm services between an alarm service provider and a subscriber includes an ATM network connected to an alarm service provider. A host digital terminal is connected to the ATM network by an ATM permanent virtual circuit. The host digital terminal and the alarm service provider communicate alarm signals on the ATM permanent virtual circuit through the ATM network. A customer provided equipment (CPE) data device is connected through the optical network unit to the host digital terminal by a well known VDSL permanent virtual circuit. The well known VDSL permanent virtual circuit is supported on a fiber optics link between the host digital terminal and the optical network unit and a twisted pair link between the optical network unit and the CPE data device. The CPE data device and the host digital terminal communicate alarm signals on the well known VDSL permanent virtual circuit.

Abstract: A VDSL broadband communication network is provided with a single standard business system interface that supports multiple video/data service providers. A network entitlement manager is responsible for establishing a VIP/DSP service on the VDSL broadband network once the service is authorized externally by the service provider. Each VIP/DSP includes a service provider entitlement manager for authorizing their own services, and is provided with a unique business system interface code that facilitates connection of multiple VIP/DSP entitlement managers to a single network entitlement manager using a standard ACC4000D protocol over the network business system interface. The unique code allows differentiation between various service providers when adding, changing or deleting service STB or data device entitlements to a customer entitlement profile stored in the BDT serving that customer.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) system for connecting a subscriber between different data service providers includes an ATM network connected to data service providers. A host digital terminal (HDT) is connected to the ATM network by an ATM permanent virtual circuit (PVC). Each of the ATM PVCs is associated with a corresponding one of the data service providers. The ATM PVCs connect the HDT to the data service providers. The HDT and the data service providers communicate data signals on the ATM PVCs through the ATM network. A customer provided equipment (CPE) data device is connected to the HDT by a VDSL PVC. The CPE device and the HDT communicate data signals on the VDSL PVC. A subscriber personal computer is connected to the CPE device for communicating data signals with the CPE device. The personal computer is operable to generate a channel signal corresponding to a selected one of the data service providers.

Abstract: A method for controlling customers' access to services on a broadband network. The method uses a circuit identifier, unique to each customer, to compare service requests with service entitlements. The network provider flows the circuit identifiers to the service providers where relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service entitlements is established in service orders. Service providers flow the service orders back to the broadband network though a standard business system interface. The relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service requests is accomplished at the Broadband Digital Terminal that interface the customers to the broadband network. The circuit identifiers also permit sorting of data bases containing logs of service requests and logs of maintenance actions.