MXPA98004144A - Crossbarhub arrangement for multimedia network - Google Patents

Abstract

A home network architecture has an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units are selectively directly connected by a direct circuit crossbar to settop electronics so that video data, for example, may be directly provided from a network interface unit to the settop electronics without jitter. A passive hub, which does not have packet routing capability, is then used to provide signal regeneration and retransmission of other data over the network.

Description

DISPOSITION OF CROSS BARS / CONCENTRATOR FOR MULTIMEDIA NETWORK RELATED REQUESTS This patent application is related to the US application number 08 / 561,758. presented on November 22, 1995 »entitled" Domestic multimedia network architecture "; US application serial number 08 / 561,757. filed on November 22, 1995. entitled Disposition of multimedia electronic elements and network interface unit; US Application No. 08 / 561,535. filed on November 22, 1995. entitled method and apparatus for recovering the data stream clock signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to digital multimedia networks and, more particularly. to the hub of a network that receives and retransmits data over the network. to and from extreme units or terminals connected to the network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rapid profits in digital technology and telecommunications have increased the convenience of having a home network to interconnect a multitude of products in the home, with each other, and with the outside world. A variety of external services available include interactive services, video and audio cable services »satellite networks. telephone company services »video by request and other types of information services. However, the penetration of the personal computer in homes in the United States is approximately 33% and it is only growing slowly, although the Government wants more extensive penetration to promote "tele-commutation" and reduce traffic on highways and roads. contamination. In addition, the penetration of computers in the home will originate from the purchase of consumer entertainment and information products that contain a built-in computer and operating systems hidden by an opaque user interface. This product is a conventional box with multimedia. Multimedia boxes are multimedia computers that increase the use of televisions. A conventional multimedia box has an external interface module with the network »that connects the multimedia box to the external network and data provider. The network interface module has to perform many complicated functions, such as forming an interface with a specific external network, tuning, demodulating, correcting errors, undoing the video mix, recovering the MPEG clock signal and encrypting and decrypting specifically with regarding the external network. Consequently, the network interface module is a relatively expensive component of multimedia boxes. This cost would be necessary even when only one television is present in the house. However, most homes contain multiple televisions "and provide each with its own multimedia box and its associated network interface module is a duplication of expensive components. The conventional concentrator in a network has a signal regeneration function "so that a signal can be transmitted at a maximum distance in the network from one device to a concentrator" and another maximum distance again from the concentrator to another device. A complex hub in a network has a scheme of storage and sending or routing of packets, which examines the 1 information of packets of data as they are received by the hub and performs a switching function to route the data packets appropriately. destination to which it is intended to send them. This functionality "however" comes at a high price "so that the costs of a home network that has such a hub are prohibitively high for the typical homeowner" who will be very careful to install it in a home network.

Other network formation techniques. typically expensive "such as those used in telephone exchanges" have been modified to provide point-to-point connectivity. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,440,554, issued to Staddard and co-inventors, on August 8, 1995, illustrates a system combining a narrow-band telephone exchange and a broadband commutator arrangement to provide broadband point-to-point connections. point. However, this tends to be expensive and does not provide a robust configuration in a multi-point network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The problems described above and other problems are solved by the present invention which provides a method and an apparatus for connecting terminals to a network. In certain embodiments of the invention, an arrangement of passive concentrator and crossbar connector is provided. of direct circuit. The passive concentrator »that does not have any package routing circuit. it simply regenerates the signals it receives and transmits the signals over the network. A "direct circuit" crossbar connector provides a selectively switchable direct circuit for two terminals in the network, effectively deriving the hub and the network.

The establishment of a direct circuit can be used, for example, between a network interface unit to directly transmit video data to multimedia electronic elements. This gives the advantages of separating the network interface unit from the multimedia electronic elements "ie, without duplication of the network interface units for a particular service in each multimedia electronic element, the ability to select among competing service providers. , etc. These advantages are obtained, however, without losing the image quality, which could happen otherwise if the direct circuit was not available through crossbar connectors, such as a low-cost Ethernet-based home network. , for example »would probably introduce unacceptable fluctuation in the signal» between the network interface unit and the multimedia electronic element, as if they were physically located close to each other and connected by means of a collector, as in conventional multimedia boxes. When other data is sent to a network interface unit. directly connected, but not intended for the directly connected multimedia element, this data can be re-routed by the multimedia electronic element, through the network »as a whole» through the multimedia. This avoids the need for a complex switching arrangement to achieve this function of entering data into the network "in addition to the direct transmission of the video data to the multimedia electronic element. The features "the above aspects and advantages" and "others" of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a home network constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of an exemplary installation of the home network of the present invention within a house. 3 is a logic diagram of the home network of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an interface unit with the network and an electronic multimedia unit constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 is a block diagram of an interface with the network »of the electronic multimedia element. constructed in accordance with an exemplary mode of the present nvenc on.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the network interface of the interface unit with the network »constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a hub and cross-bar of direct circuitry »constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention coupled to an interface unit with the network and to an electronic multimedia unit. Figure 8 is a logic diagram of an exemplary user interface for the home network of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a network and is domestic multimedia. constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Nevertheless, this mode is only exemplary, since the network 10 can be configured in any of many different ways within the scope of the invention »and includes different devices coupled to the network 10. Additionally. The invention is not limited to networks located in houses, but is applied to networks in other types of structures, such as offices, apartment buildings, etc. However, for illustrative purposes, the exemplary mode will be described in the context of a domestic installation.

Network 10 is a digital network that provides connectivity of different types of equipment to the outside world of the home. This equipment »for example» can consist of an analog TV 12 »a digital television 14» a digital VCR 16 »a digital television camera 18, personal computers 20» audio equipment 22, printers 24, fax machines 26 and telephones 28" among others. In addition to connecting this equipment with the outside world »the network 10 also connects internally» in the home, digital video »digital audio» computer and telephone equipment. This unifies communication and control within the home, making all the power of external network connections or internal data sources available at any terminal in network 10. Communication with the outside world is made through several interface with the separate network »(NIU) 32 and can be physically combined in an input unit 30» allowing each interface unit 32 with the network a connection between a different external network and the home network 10. Different external networks can carry different types of signals. These can be »for example» signals broadcast (digital or analog / digital mixed) carried in hybrid fiber »in coaxial cable or cable. Other types of signals are ISDN »broadcast / digital satellite service» FTTC »FTTHC» ADSL, and others. At least the following types of data can be carried: Compressed video »compressed audio» graphics and data »Compressed internet WWW. Internet email and other information. data for computer file and message data control. Logically, all the terminals in the home network 10 receive equal access to the interface units 32 with the network and a user could not identify them by their physical appearance. The number of network interface units 32 that are needed is determined by the number of currents required for the home, for example, the number of different program channels (ie, video, audio, and others) that are required simultaneously. »And not by the number of terminal units in a home. In certain preferred modalities "untied cable or antenna television is retained with the distribution by regular domestic coaxial cable (the old simple television or POTV). The P0TS (old simple telephone service) is also carried on the home digital network 10. The digital signals are distributed throughout the house through an internal network 34. In certain preferred embodiments, the internal network 34 is esenc to the Ethernet type of twisted pair of 10 bases T or 100 bases T, but a special switch concentrator is employed to make the network scalable to any number of terminal units, each capable of receiving high bit rate video. The home network 10 connects those computers or products with built-in computers, which can support the width of the work base of the network, the protocols. routes. damping and locations. Other high bandwidth products that do not support this complex functionality must be attached to a host unit. either directly or through a local peripheral network, to obtain interoperability. Examples of computers or products with built-in computers »located in the home network 10 that function as end user devices» include: the computers of input / output of network interface units that perform the conversion of external network to home network and the conditioning »and computers such as electronic multimedia elements (STE); personal computers, work stations. high-end printers, and special computers that provide gate / control functions. Other end-user devices that may be coupled to the network 10 include video products »primed (MPEG) video equipment and uncompressed; digital video camera products »digital video tape recording products and digital television display products and analog television display and recording products. The audio products that may be coupled to the network 10 include: Digital compressed audio (MPEG) and uncompressed audio equipment; high fidelity stereo; digital audio tape recording products. Other types of products that may be connected to the network 10 are data products such as printers and other peripherals. Other more products that can be controlled through the network 10 include automation and household appliances: central heating / air conditioning »safety controller, microwave oven and other kitchen equipment, lighting, sprinklers and other power controls. certain modes of the home network 10 include one or more local peripheral networks 15 which provide local connection for future JPEG motion devices or I-only MPEG frame 'high bit rate' audio devices' printers and peripherals. These devices require continuous local digital connection at a high bandwidth when the data transfer is continuous, for example, from a digital camera to a digital VCR. Accommodating said devices directly in the internal network 34 would require greater bandwidth of the network in the entire network 34 than would normally be necessary. Instead, the peripheral network 15 is normally connected by means of a gate to the internal network 34, for interoperability. However, in some other embodiments of the invention, the home network 10 is provided with peripherals and programs that accommodate the high-speed devices so that the local peripheral network is not necessary. A domestic automation network 17 for home automation is provided. This home automation network 17 can operate in the power line or other low bit rate network, to control artifacts, home security systems, "lighting" etc. This branch originates from a control computer 20 »located inside the house. An exemplary model of the installation of the home network 10 of the present invention inside a house 36 »is illustrated in Figure 2. The home network 10 is a long-range structure» capable of running up to 100 meters of cable »for example , from a switched hub 38 that is part of the internal network 34. In the exemplary facility illustrated in Figure 2, the input unit 30"with its 3Z units in multiple network" are located in a service area of the network. home »together with the switched 38 concentrator. Twisted pair cable runs in each room of home 36 and ends in a wall receptacle. You can use »for example» twisted pair wire Cat-5 (for 100 Mbps), when an installation is carried out »since most of the cost is taken by the labor force. For temporary back-up, the twisted pair cable is small enough for the customer to adjust under the edge of a carpet. A user in the home will connect a computer product in a room by plugging the Ethernet port of the computer product into the Ethernet wall receptacle. In the modality of FIG. 2, the concentrator 3B is shown as a separate device, but in other embodiments, the concentrator 38 is integrated into one or more of the network interface units 32. The concentrator 38 provides connectivity to all areas of the home and to the unit or the various network interface units 32. When it is increased »to expand both the bandwidth and the connectivity of the internal network 34» an additional plug is made or It is changed to a larger concentrator. The concentrator will be discussed in greater detail later. The present invention "as shown in Figures 1 and 2" separates the network interface functionalities 32 from the multimedia electronic elements 40. Conventionally, the multimedia box contains a network interface unit »whose components are connected internally by means of a collector to the multimedia electronic components. However, "in contrast" the present invention provides a separation of the network interface units 32 and the electronic multimedia elements 40, with the internal network 34 interposed therebetween. This arrangement allows the multiple electronic elements of multimedia "throughout the house 36" to be distributed less expensively, since the electronic elements of an interface unit with the network do not have to be duplicated for each of the electronic elements of multimedia. Additionally, by having coupled separate interface units 32, different external networks and a common internal network 34, the owner of the house is freed from being forced to receive all the programming from a single source such as the telephone company or of cable. The separation also allows the homeowner to add or remove services by simply changing one of the interface units 32 with the network without replacing all the multimedia electronic elements 40, distributed throughout the house 36. In certain modalities, a "Master" multimedia box is provided with multiple network interface units. However, this mode is logically the same as described above, since the network interface units are connected in this mode to the internal network and not via a collector to the multimedia electronic elements. Figure 3 is a logical view of the home network 10 of the present invention. As is evident from the diagram »the switched, multi-port concentrator 38» forms the center of the network connections. In certain modalities, in which the inter-packet instability is suitably controlled, a traditional packet-switched concentrator is used, obtainable commercially. In other preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated in Figure 3, the switched hub 38 is a combination of networked ports and ports that are switched directly (in circuits) for the duration of a session. Direct ports (connected and systems) can be secured in phase by means of the network clock signal (encoded). To provide that unitary "therefore" the switched concentrator 38 comprises a relatively simple and inexpensive concentrator 42"and a direct-circuit crossbar 44. The concentrator 42" in certain preferred embodiments "may be a commercially obtainable device. »Such as Am79C981 manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices» of Sunnyvale »California. The details of the direct circuit crossbar 44 will be described later with respect to FIG. 7. A "star topology" as defined by Ethernet 10/100 T-bases is used in conjunction with the switching hub 38. The switching hub 38 provides a range for most rooms in the house 36. The maximum bandwidth of the system is? N a multiple of the bit rate of the wire ((bit rate per number of ports) / 2) for example 20 ports and 100 Mbits / s of bit rate equal to 1 Gb / s of maximum amplitude aggregate demand. The switched concentrator 3B allows the special treatment for highly asymmetric traffic »for example» compressed digital video and internet data »by sending these boxes directly from the transmitter to the receiver. This traffic »is thus separated from the internal network 34 and allows an aggregated global bandwidth to be limited only by the expansion capacity of the concentrator 38, although it remains limited by 10 Mbits / sec per branch. The use of IOO T-base technology, instead of I-base-T technology, will raise network speed, if necessary.

The direct synchronous connections of the switching hub (Manchester or block-coded) are primarily used for MPEG video streaming when a high-speed, long-duration, high-speed connection is required. High bit rate video in compressed form can be up to 8 Mbits / s, and is necessary for live video and high-action movies and sports. The low bit rate video is 1.5 Mbits / s. According to the present invention, the digital MPEG video is retained in the entire network 10. The real video conversion takes place only in the display device (for example, of the television 12) or in the electronic multimedia element 40. Two separate direct circuits are illustrated as examples in Figure 3. For example, the Network Interface Unit 32 which is coupled to an ISIN network is directly connected via the crossbar 44 of the direct circuit to the personal computer 20 of the network. local peripheral network 15. A separate direct circuit is provided by the crossbar 44 of direct circuit between a different network interface unit 32 (coupled to a hybrid fiber coaxial, (for example) and the electronic multimedia element 40, coupled to the television 12. Those devices that are not directly connected by means of the crossbar 44 of direct circuit, remain connected to the concentrator 42 - and, in such a way, are worked in the network.

With respect to the switched hub architecture, where a direct point-to-point path is configured, all the data that traverses this path is provided directly to the endpoint terminal of the path, including the data destined for one or more of the other terminals. Thus, in certain preferred embodiments, a rule is followed that the data passed by multiplexer, with the high data rate (typically message), must be sent to network terminals by the end point of the direct path returning said packets to the hub 38. For example, the messages sent through the ISDN network »that are not intended for a device in the local peripheral network 15, will be returned by the local peripheral network host 20 to the concentrator 38 for distribution. These rules save the cost and complication of having a packet encapsulated packet concentrator »with the demultiplexer operation distributed at point O or endpoints, rather than centrally» and works well for asymmetric data flow and the local destination, that is, is not subject to 1 layers of switches. An advantage of the directly switched paths is that potential delays in obtaining access to the network 34 (and, possibly, bothering the delicate time control of the clock reference, carried in the MPEG stream) are avoided.

The concentrator 38, in certain preferred modalities, must be "fully aware of a full duplex", which means that a path that is directly routed connects only an "upward" path of the transmitting terminal, only to a "downward" path of the transmitter. receiving terminal. In contrast, the downward trajectory to the transmitter and the upward path to the receiver are not affected by the direct circuit and would normally be linked to the network, that is to say linked to all the remaining terminal paths connected to each other. Specific routing occurs in response to user service requests. The messages are collected by the hub control and any direct routing changes are implemented. Non-switched devices are required from the connection to the network and not routers. The recovery of the MPEG clock signal is carried out in the network interface units 32, as described below. With the recovery of the MPEG clock signal in the network interface units 32, and the establishment of a direct circuit to the home network destination, the fluctuation in the signal received at the destination (such as on the television) is substantially eliminated. 12). The direct circuit capability works well for strongly asymmetric traffic from point to point in the domestic entertainment (video) scenario.

For analog only services, for example, cable television, this is not considered part of the digital network. For digital / analog mixed services, such as hybrid fiber coaxial cable (HFC) and the newer forms of mixed cable television, this is considered a transition state and is treated as a temporary addition to the fully digital system of this invention. The signal of the hybrid fiber coaxial cable is directly provided to an electronic multimedia element 40 or to a combination of interface unit with the network 32 / the electronic multimedia element 40. 2 ports are needed to connect to the home network 10 »One for the interface unit 32 with the network and one for the electronic multimedia element 40. A derivation is provided in certain modalities referred to for linking the analog signals through the audio / video circuits of the electronic multimedia element 40. The home network IO is controlled by means of a manual command or a computer keyboard for the application program running on local terminals such as personal computers 20 or electronic multimedia elements 40. The control application program »Local for each domestic terminal» manages the source availability »bridge selection» path management by communication with the interface units 32 with the network »and the external gates. The external network protocols are regulated in the interface units 32 with the network "to provide a normal interface for the terminals in the home network 10. Figure 8 illustrates an example of a user interface. In this mode, the home network 10 is transparent and the user only indirectly realizes this by the number of connected services. Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating a single network interface unit 32 coupled by the internal network 34 to a single electronic multimedia unit 40. The remaining portions of the home network 10, including the switch concentrator 38, are not shown in Figure 4, for purposes of illustration and explanation. The network interface unit 32 has one or more network interface modules 50 which form the interface of the network interface unit 32 with a particular external network. In the example of figure 4 »the network interface module 50 provides an interface for an external network carrying MPEG video data. The MPEG video data is provided to an internal network interface device 52 which prepares the data for transport on the network 36. In certain preferred embodiments »the internal network 34 is an Ethernet network» so that the interface device 52 Internal network is an Ethernet interface device. The architecture of the present invention assumes that for certain works it is necessary that a first demultiplexing stage in the network interface unit 32 remains within a definable boundary of bandwidth (a current) instead of an arbitrary bandwidth » fixed by the construction of the incoming current (multiple currents). Assuming that MPEG2 video is being used, there is a demultiplexing of a multiple program transport stream to a single program transport "as defined in the MPEG2 specification. This is accomplished by an MPEG transport capsule 54, such as the 9110B capsule commercially available from C-Cube. (A second stage of demixing to separate the video, the audio and other data, still occurs in the electronic multimedia element, while only decoding is preferably carried out in the display terminal or in the computer). With this approach, it is not necessary to send high bandwidth currents through the whole house and the terminals in the house 36 need only see an interface of a single normalized program. Compression is required for the video generated in the home, for example, a security camera in the front door or a video camera in a conference. The entire external network of interface, decryption, access control of demultiplexing for a current of a single program etc., is carried out by the network interface module 50. Thus, the network interface module 50 regulates the artifacts and the application program of the home network »from the peculiarities of the connected external network. Multiple different programs require network interface crossbar connections »from either one or several providers. In certain modalities, a double module with two connections to the crossbar is provided, which provides two programs received from the same external network. The MPEG transport capsule 54 operates the recovery of the MPEG clock signal and provides the recovered clock signal of 27 MHz and the selected program to an internal network connection 56. The clock signal of 27 MHz is received by a MEPG to a network synthesizer 58 and converted to a clock signal of 10 MHz "for example" when the internal network 34 is an Ethernet network of base 10 T. The clock signal 10 MHz "as well as the selected program" are provided to a conventional transistor / receiver 60 (such as an Ethernet transmitter / receiver) connected to the internal network 34. The synthesizer 58 acts to secure the Ethernet clock signal to the MPEG clock signal recovered. When the data packet of the network interface unit 32 is transmitted to the electronic multimedia element 40, the electronic multimedia element 40 is secured to the MPEG data retrieved at 27 MHz. In the electronic multimedia element 40, it is regenerated the clock signal of 27 MHz from the clock signal of IO MHz Ethernet, by means of another synthesizer. The data is received in the electronic multimedia element 40, by means of a network interface device 62 that includes a network interface 64. The 10 MHz clock signal recovered by the network interface 64, of the network data stream 34 »is passed through the gate &; G to a network for an MPEG 68 synthesizer. The gateway is necessary for the insurance function to be carried out only when there is a data packet present. The clock signal of 10 MHz is converted to a clock signal of 27 MHz provided for an MPEG decoder 70 and a decoder / video encoder 72. The selected program is provided by the network interface 64 to the MPEG decoder 70. »Which decodes the MPEG data and provides them to the video encoder / decoder 72. The data stream is converted by the video encoder 72 to a format (eg, NTSC or SVde?) Suitable for use by a device or display. just like a television. The video decoder is suitable for the case (HFC) where there may be an analog NTSC signal for digi tal to hoist it and connect it with an included graphics peripheral. The network 34 in Fig. 4 is illustrated schematically and it should be understood from the previous description that the video data can be placed in the network 34 through the hub 42. but that a direct circuit of the interface unit 32 is preferred. network and the electronic element 40 of multimedia. through the crossbar 44 of the direct circuit of the network 34 »to provide a free transmission of fluctuation of the video data. Figure 5 is a more detailed diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the network interface device 62 of the electronic multimedia element 40 illustrated in Figure 4.

The network interface device 62 includes the network synthesizer 68 coupled to a program logic device that operates as the gate device 66. The network synthesizer 68 may be implemented by a commercially available capsule such as MC145151 manufactured by Motorola The program logic device 66 can be implemented by a commercially available capsule such as MC795B also manufactured by Motorola. A voltage-controlled crystal oscillator 80 operates at 27MHz and provides its signal to the program logic device 62 that forms a gate for the 10 MHz signal to the synthesizer 68 when a data packet is received. The synthesizer divides the frequencies of 10 MHz and 27 MHz at a common frequency »which is fed to a phase detector of the synthesizer S8. The output of the phase detector of the synthesizer 68 is provided as a control signal to the crystal oscillator 80 controlled in voltage »to adjust the local frequency» up or down »to secure it to the incoming Ethernet frequency. The signal that informs the program logic device 66 of the receipt of a data packet »and the 10 MH signal? clockwise »are provided by a serial interface adapter 82 which serves as a reception enabler. A product commercially available »suitable for the serial interface adapter is AM7992B» manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices.

The data stream is received through a transmixer / iltro 84 »such as that which is commercially available from Pulse Engineering» the PE68026. The Collision information is also received through another Transformer / filter 86, which may be of the same type as the transformer / filter 84. The received data is provided to a first transmitter / receiver 88, such as a transmitter / receiver "plus". "Twisted pair Ethernet (Am79C100). The output of the first network transmitter / receiver 88 (the received data) is made available for the receiving enable 82 and a controller 90. The controller 90 can be a commercially available product, such as the Ethernet controller "of a single capsule Am79C970 (manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices). The controller 90 is coupled to a collector 92"such as an interconnecting manifold with the peripheral component (PCI) to provide the data received from the network 34 to the MPEG 70 decoder of the electronic multimedia element 40. A second network transmitter / receiver 92 is coupled to the controller 90 and may be implemented by the same type of transmitter / receiver as 88. The second network transmitter / receiver 92 provides the transmission path for the data from the controller 90 » to network 34 »through transformer / filter 84.

The collision information routed through the transformer / fi lter 86 and the second transmitter / receiver 92 to the controller 90. FIG. 6 is a more detailed diagram of the internal network connection 56 having an MPEG for the synthesizer 58 of FIG. network, which synthesizes the 10 MHz clock signal from the MPEG clock signal of 27 MHz, recovered by the MPEG transport capsule 54 (see Figure 4). A crystal oscillator 96 is coupled to the synthesizer 58 to provide a 10 MHz signal. In some embodiments, the crystal oscillator 96 is a 20 MHz oscillator, and the frequency generated by the synthesizer is 20 MH? »Which is then simply divided to IO MHz in the receiver (the electronic element 40 of multimedia). A commercially available synthesizer is the MC145145-2 »manufactured by Motorola. The 10 MHz clock signal is provided to a microprocessor interface 98 which serves as an interface for a 100 microprocessor. The microprocessor interface 98 with the croprocessor 100 forms the transmitter / receiver 60 which connects to the internal network 34 through a transformer / filter 102. The microprocessor interface 98 can be, for example, a MC68160 capsule. » manufactured by Motorola »and the microprocessor can be an MC68EN360» also manufactured by Motorola. The transformer / filter 102 may be of the same type as the transformers / filters 84 »86 of Figure 5. The separation of the network interface unit 32 from the multimedia electronics 40» provides many advantages »such as those described before. The functions (responsibilities) of conventional multimedia boxes "with integrated network interface units" are divided into the embodiments of the present invention. For example »in the preferred embodiments» the network interface unit 32 is responsible for the specific interface training operation with the external network »the demodulation of the tuning and the correction of errors. It provides decomposition of the tangle of video specific to the external network and encryption / decryption (credit card number, pass word of the user »etc.). The network interface unit 32 also provides a specific program guide of the external network. Additionally »effects the demultiplexing of the MPEG transport to a single stream and the recovery of the MPEG reference clock signal. In the preferred modalities of the invention, the "network interface unit" provides, Ethernet interface training in the home network and assurance of the MPEG / Ethernet clock signal. It also provides the application program to support the external network and home network protocols for multiple streams and multiple users. The network interface unit also has an application program to act as the gateway for the home network and control the retention of the data, when necessary.

The electronic multimedia elements 40 act essentially as an application computer with graphic and analogue audio »video» interface in preferred embodiments. For example »the electronic multimedia element provides network-specific interface training and data retention» when necessary. It provides the assurance of the Ethernet clock signal / MPEG clock signal in the preferred modes. The electronic multimedia element 40 decodes the MPEG video and audio to retrieve digital audio / video. It performs the conversion from digital to analog for audio and video and supports the commands of an infrared remote control. The electronic multimedia element 40 provides support for analog video input (NTSC). Interphase form for printers »ports for games» etc. and supports the operating system at the preliminary instruction level and is capable of downloading a complete system from an external network. The electronic multimedia element 40 supports application programs and communications through the network interface units "for a network provider and a program video server. Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating in greater detail an exemplary embodiment of the arrangement of the hub 42 and the direct circuit connection bar 44 of the present invention, and its connection to a network interface unit 32 and the electronic element 40 of multimedia. The crossbar 44 and 42 of direct circuit selectively provide a direct circuit between a particular network interface unit 32 and an electronic multimedia element 40, or a simple network connection through the concentrator 42 for those units. In FIG. 7, only portions of the network interface unit 32 and the multimedia electronic element 40 are illustrated for purposes of illustration and explanation. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the concentrator 42 is a relatively simple and inexpensive concentrator, since it does not include any kind of packet router switch, storage and send switch. There is no intelligence to examine traffic and dynamically switch the concentrator according to the transmission and reception directions "as in the connection ports that have packet packet switches. Although only a network interface unit 32 and an electronic multimedia element 40 directly connected in FIG. 7 are shown, any number of directly connected pairs can be connected via the direct circuit crossbar 44, depending on the size of the network. crossbar 44. The network interface unit 32 and the electronic multimedia element 40 are each shown with 5 leg positions or leg connections, each pair being a pair. This matches a conventional phone jack »the RJ4 for telephone» that has ten leg positions. The internal network 34 provides the connection between the network interface units 32 »the electronic multimedia elements 40 and the crossbar 44 of the direct circuit. In the preferred embodiments, the internal network 34 is Ethernet Base T or base 100. The selection of a network connection or a direct circuit between the network interface unit 32 and the electronic multimedia element 40. it is established by several switches 108. as illustrated in FIG. 7"with literal suffixes to distinguish them from each other in the following description. In the example of FIG. 7 »the network interface unit 32 and the electronic multimedia element 40 are directly connected to each other» with the network interface unit 32 transmitting data to the electronic multimedia element 40. A microprocessor 110 serves as a controller for the crossbar 44 of direct circuit and controls the positions of the IOS switches in response to user commands that require a circuit direct to work. For example, »a user can select to watch a movie from a video service per request» and therefore »make this selection in a manual remote control. The microprocessor 110 »in response to this selection» will then change the positions of the switches 108 to establish a direct circuit between the network interface unit 32 »which is connected to the external network» carrying the video service on demand »and the electronic multimedia element 40 which is coupled to the television receiver »in which the user wishes to see the film. In this case, the switch 108a is moved to its illustrated position to connect the transmission lines of the transmitter / transmitter 88 of the network interface unit 32 to the line 112 of the transverse line 44 of the direct circuit. The transmission lines of the transmitter / receiver 88 are no longer connected to the network on the Txl port of the hub 42. Simi larly »the receiving lines of the transmitter / receiver 92 of the electronic multimedia element 40 are connected through the switch 108 to the same line 112 of the crossed bar 44 of direct circuit. With this direct circuit now established, the data entering the house through the unit interface unit 32 are not transmitted by the network through the concentrator 42, but rather are directly provided to the electronic element 40 of multimedia. in the location where the data will be used. Although the direct circuit established by the crossbar 44 of direct circuit provides an excellent path for the data coming from the network interface unit 32 to the electronic element 40 of multimedia »it may happen that not all the data entering the unit 32 of Network interface are significant for the electronic multimedia element 40. For example, "it is possible that e-mail is received by this particular network interface unit 32" and that the owner of the house wanted an e-mail to be directed to a personal computer but to a television set. Nevertheless, there is no connection to the network 34 due to the direct circuit, once a direct circuit is established. To solve this problem, the electronic multimedia element 40 examines the addresses of the data packets it receives and performs a routing function for the data that is not significant for this electronic multimedia element 40. The data is re-inanged by the electronic element 40 of multimedia in the network 34, through the hub 42. This rerouting by the endpoint connection (in this example the electronic element 40 of multimedia), avoids the need for the system to use an expensive and complicated router. The electronic multimedia element 40 has a microprocessor 120 and associated memory 122 to identify and route the data packets back to the network 34. The direct circuit between the network interface unit 32 and the electronic multimedia element 40 provides a connection The fluctuation of the video data "but the re-routing of the other data to the network 34" through the hub, allows more than one type of data to be taken to the home "by the network interface unit 32. Once the direct circuit between a network interface unit 32 and an electronic multimedia unit 40 is established, collision detection is required by the electronic multimedia element 40 to enable it to transmit it to the concentrator 42. The electronic connection element of the Multimedia 40 needs to know about the collisions and retransmit the data to the network 34, if those collisions occur. The network interface unit 32 can be set in some modes to disable the collisions »because they can not occur in the direct circuit. However, in certain embodiments, both at the port of the network interface unit and at the port of the fixed port electronic element (to network 34 through crossbar 44), the same collision pair is included, for convenience. In some preferred embodiments, one of the five pairs of wire is available to provide image imaging capability for the system. For example »The network interface unit 32 can provide a second data stream through another transmitter / receiver 88a. by a second pair of transmission wires, to a separate crossbar connection line 114. The electronic multimedia element 40 having another transmitter / receiver 88a also connected to the line 114 »receives this second stream of data to through the direct circuit "to provide an image in image on a television screen. In such a way »said images can be provided with 3in fluctuations» by separate direct circuits.

In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. the crossbar switches 108 are implemented by an analog MOS array of transistors, controlled in response to signals from the controller 110. However, this is only exemplary, since other modes employ switches of different design, as will be appreciated by those with experience ordinary in the art. Although the description of the invention illustrates the arrangement of certain logical distinctions of the functionality of various elements, those logical distinctions may be different in other embodiments. For example, the hub 42 is described connected to the internal network. However, the concentrator 42 can also be logically considered as part of the internal network or even form the network with the remaining wiring forming means to be connected to the end terminals of the concentrator 42. Whoever is skilled in the art » consequently "will appreciate that the logical distinctions illustrated and described in the present specification are only exemplary. The separation of the network interface unit and the electronic multimedia element »according to the present invention» provides a relatively cheap connection of a multitude of devices »to each other» inside the house »and to the outside world. Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is clearly understood that it has been described by way of illustration and example only, and that it should not be considered in any way as limiting the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are limited only by the terms of the claims that come next

Claims (5)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION
1. CLAIMS i.- A cross-bus switch and direct circuit hub arrangement for use in a digital network »for selectively connecting a plurality of end terminals» as fully networked end terminals »or as partially networked end terminals and directly connected; characterized said cross-bar switch arrangement and direct circuit hub »because it comprises: a" direct circuit "crossbar switch which is coupled to at least two of the plurality of end terminals» and is configured to selectively connect each other the two final terminals; thus establishing the crossbar switch "direct circuit, a direct circuit between the two end terminals" and a passive concentrator, coupled to the crossbar switch, direct circuit, and configured to connect two or more than 1 to plurality of end terminals that are not selectively coupled by the "direct circuit" transverse bus switch thus forming the passive concentrator a network through which each of the end terminals connected to the passive concentrator are interconnected.
2. 2. - The arrangement according to claim 1. further characterized by the crossbar switch. of direct circuit, has direct circuit lines »and controllable switches to connect the two end terminals to each other» through the direct circuit lines.
3. 3. The arrangement according to claim 2. further characterized in that the direct circuit switch has a processor that responds to the control signals to control the switches to connect the two terminal terminals between each other through the circuit lines direct; wherein a direct circuit between two end terminals is established by connecting the two end terminals to the same direct circuit line.
4. 4. The arrangement according to claim 3 »further characterized in that each of the plurality of end terminals has reception and transmission lines; and wherein a direct circuit established between the two end terminals causes the transmission line from the first to the second end terminals to be connected to the same direct circuit line as the receiving line from the second of the two end terminals; and that the receiving line of the first of the two end terminals and the transmission line of the second of the two end terminals are connected to the concentrator.
5. 5. The arrangement according to claim 4 »further characterized in that the switches» are analog MOS switches. & A method for selectively connecting a plurality of final terminals as end terminals worked entirely in a network or as end terminals partially worked in a network and connected directly; characterized in said method because it comprises: connecting ports of reception and transmission of at least 2 of the plurality of end terminals to a passive concentrator "wherein the two end terminals are interconnected through the passive concentrator to form a network; directly, selectively connecting »at least the transmission port of a first end terminal of said two end terminals» to the receiving port of a second of the two end terminals »by means of a cross-circuit switch» of direct circuit »To establish a direct circuit between the first and the second of the two final terminals. and disconnecting the transmission port of the first of the two final terminals of the concentrator "and the receiving port of the second of the two terminal terminals of the concentrator.