USOORE43163E

(19) United States (12) Reissued Patent

(10) Patent Number: US (45) Date of Reissued Patent:

Andrews et a]. (54)

(56)

HIGH-SPEED NETWORK OF

RE43,163 E Feb. 7, 2012

References Cited

INDEPENDENTLY LINKED NODES U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,750,281 A 8/1973 Belling

(75) Inventors: Jock Andrews, Springville, UT (US); Craig A. Miller, Lehi, UT (US); Keith R. Anderson, Springville, UT (US);

(Continued) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Richard H. Christensen, Hurricane, UT EP

(US); Marcio Pugina, Orem, UT (US);

1009156

6/2000

(Continued)

Jason S. Veech, Oakley, IL (US); Kevin J. Peppin, American Fork, UT (US); Larry G. Erdman, Lehi, UT (US)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Anderson, et al.; US. Appl. No. 09/500,721, ?led Feb. 9, 2000; Entitled: Large-Scale, High Speed Computer Network and Method of Implementation and Operation.

(73) Assignee: Brookline Flolmstead LLC, Las Vegas, NV (US)

(Continued) (21) Appl.No.: 11/318,396 (22) Filed:

Primary Examiner * Dang Ton Assistant Examiner * Lionel Preval

Dec. 22, 2005 (Under 37 CFR 1.47)

(57)

Related US. Patent Documents

closed embodiments comprises installing a digital communi

Reissue of:

(64) Patent No.: Issued:

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a network is bene?cially conducted on a municipality or neighborhood level. The method in dis

cations network Within a limited selected geographical

6,667,967

region. The network is formed from a high speed backbone and a plurality of nodes branching outward from the high speed backbone. A plurality of communicating stations are

Dec. 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

09/500,887

Filed:

Feb. 9, 2000

connected to the network and users at each communicating station subscribe to communicate over the network. Due to

US. Applications: (60)

Provisional application No. 60/ 134,294, ?led on May 14, 1999.

(51)

Int. Cl. H04L 12/28

the unique scope of the network, the users are related prima rily by virtue of their residence in a common geographical region. The network may be installed Within a public utility right of way and may be used to monitor utility usage and to bill utility users. The network is thus independent of public

telephone infrastructure. The network is preferably parti

(2006.01)

(52)

US. Cl. ....... .. 370/351; 379/342; 710/316; 370/401

tioned and communications are direct from station to station Without broadcasting. Outside access, such as to the Internet

(58)

Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 370/254,

is provided through gateways Within the backbone.

370/396, 401, 351; 700/286 See application ?le for complete search history.

Ianll Backbone

22 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets

54

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US RE43,163 E Page2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,860,748 A 1/1975 Everhartetal‘ 3987 240 A 10/1976 Schultz

6,104,711 A 6,104,727 A 6’109’971 A

4,255,609 A

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8’3???) 2

4,271,514 A

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4,468,571 A

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4,834,673 A 4,839,531 A

4766 536 A 4,800,236 A

Heaveyet al.

’

’

88888 211118223211“ 10/2000 Liu -

J 31 Let '

6,140,911 A 6,144,399 A

10/2000 F1Sheretal. 11/2000 Manchesteretal.

6/1989

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8828888 2 ’ ’

185888 83:888‘11' -

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2,888,855,; 5%

38588} Iélpmm.‘ etalL

5,148,144 A

9/1992 Sutterlin et a1.

6’230’203 B1

5/2001 K823212851

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3/1993 Matsushitaetal. ......... .. 370/224

6’233’613 B1

5/2001 ij

5,202,780 A

4/1993 Fussanger

6’236’654 B1

50001 E b are 3'

5,218,676 A

6/1993 Ben-Ayed et a1.

4897841A

5309 437 A

5,372,840 5,369,518 A 5,394,402 A 5,420,858 A

8/1988 W.l 1/1989

8/2000 Voit 8/2000 Mouraetal. 80000 V‘idla-konda

1/1990 Gang

l.

6,169,741 B1

’

’

1/2001 LeMalreetal.

1/2001 Ku-O

t 1 '

g e

5/1994 Perlman etal

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6/2001 S1taraman etal.

12/1994 11/1994 Kleyeret Aslami et a1. al.

6’263’368 882888? B1 8%

7/2001 8,588} Mmin

2/1995 Ross ........................... .. 370/402 5/1995

6’276’502 B1

Marshall etal.

5426739 A

6/1995 Linetal

5,428,806 A

’

’

6,321,245 B1

@2001 Le ba et a1 y-

'

11/2001 Cuk1ereta1.

6/1995 Pooress'

888515888 8; 18588; ga?gerty 2531'

5,444,702 A

8/1995 Burnett etal. .............. .. 370/254

6’345’051 B1

5450 399 A

9/1995

Sugita

’

2/2002 Ge fraftl '

’

up“ 3'

5’461’195 A

10/1995 Freemanetal

6,359,881 B1

3/2002 Gerszbergetal.

5,477,091 A

12/1995 Fiorina et al.

8888882 8%

2,588; gfwfleyetflél

6,399,883 B1

6/2002 pr1 ense

5,487,061 A

1/1996 Bray

5,497,371 A

3/1996

5530 203 A 5,530,860 A 5559 377 A

6/1996 Adamsetal 6/1996 Matsuura 9/1996 Abah

6,401,119 B1 6’418’125 B1 6,420,963 B1

6/2002 Fussetal. 70002 or“ 7/2002 Rossett1eta1.

5,572,517 A 5,600,644 A

11/1996 Safrdflm 2/1997 Cha‘ tal

6,421,675 B1 6,448,500 B1

7/2002 Ryanetal. 9/2002 Hosakaetal.

5,608,446 A

3/1997 Caring; '

6,466,986 B1

10/2002 Sawyeretal.

5,654,985 A 5677 974 A

8/1997 Crayfordet a1. 10/1997 El t 1

6’480’488 B1 6,526,479 B2

11/2002 Huang 2/2003 Rosenzwelg

5,699,276 5,701,120 5,726,851 5,754,451 5,815,662

12/1997 12/1997 3/1998 5/1998 9/1998

6,529,691 6,535,983 6,538,577 6,542,964 6,553,031

A A A A A

5,847,751A 5,857,075 A

A

Ellisetal.

’

Rm“ ’1' P00? 1 Kiemanet” WIalPP 011mg

12/1998 Sggd. 1/1999 Chsné

’

B2 B1 B1 B1 B1

6,556,574 B1 6,570,880 B1

5,892,912 A

4/1999 Suzuki et a1. .......... .. 370/39553

5,896,382 A

4/1999

2322271; B 6’633’567 B1

Davisetal.

’

d.

'

03

’

3/2003 3/2003 3/2003 4/2003 4/2003

Guyetal. McCormacketal. Ehrkeetal. Scharber Nakamuraetal.

4/2003 Pearceetal. 5/2003 Coden

2222;

11 '

10/2003

Brown

Lehretal. ................... .. 700/286

5896385 A

4/1999 Ah“

6,643,566 B1

11/2003

5898387 A

4999 Divisgt’glls

6,667,967 B1

12/2003 Anderson et al.

5898674 A

4/1999 Mewhinney etal.

88838;; 8%

5,898,687 A

4/1999 Harriman etal.

6’813’279 B1

5,910,954 A

6/1999 Bronstein et a1.

5,925,097 A

7/1999 Ge Willem

5,926,101 A

M999 DOP‘nat e

5,937,428 A

5920 802 A

7/1999 B11

’

1

'

’

8588: sogff-“etlal' 11/2004 Tfjinh‘leta'

6,822,955 B1

11/2004 Brothers etal.

6,829,651 B1

12/2004 Bassetal.

6,917,614 B1

7/2005 Laubachetal.

8/1999 Jailst‘iupa

6,931,003 B2

8/2005 Anderson

5,950,111 A 5960411 A

9/1999 Georgeretal. 9/1999 Hartman etal.

888418888 8% 188882 ganaklet‘il'l ’ ’ “Her-ye 3'

5’963’556 A 5,966,667 A

10/1999 Vargheseetal 10/1999 Halloran etal.

7,000,026 B2 7’016’365 B1

2/2006 Besha1etal. 300% Growetal'

5973 683 A

10/1999 Cragun etal

7,054,376 B1

5/2006 Rub1nsta1n et a1.

5,978,373 A 5,982,767 A

11/1999 Hoffet al. 11/1999 McIntosh

388888; 8% ’ ’

18888 8883?

7,257,118 B2

8/2007 Chase etal.

5,994,998 A

11/1999 Fisher et a1.

7’392’223 B1

6/2008 6mm“ “31'

7,577,857 B1

8/2009 Henderson et 31.

5982 854 A

11/1999 Ehreth

6003 079 A

12/1999 F . dr. h

6,005,598 A

12/1999 1“ 1° 6‘

6,007,372 A 6,009,097 A

12/1999 V‘s/011% 12/1999 H2;

31

~

2002/0013858 A1

2002/0033416 A1 2002/0176403 A1

1/2002 Anderson

3/2002 GerSZberg etal. 11/2002 Radian

6016307 A

10000 Ka metal

2005/0083784 A1

4/2005 Iseli et a1.

6’023’467 A

20000 Ab?elhmid'etal

2005/0232278 A1

10/2005 Anderson

6,023,563 A

2/2000

2005/0249116 A1

11/2005 Anderson

630233734 A

20000 Ratcliffetal,

2 6,085,249 A

,

2007/0121634 A1

Elfhffe etal' 7/2000 Wang etal.

5/2007 Anderson et a1.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS wo

0070808

11/2000

US RE43,163 E Page 3 OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,724, ?led Feb. 9, 2000; Entitled: Broadcast-Inhibited, Neighborhood-Area Network. Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,886, ?led Feb. 9, 2000; Entitled: Point-To-Point, Non-Broadcast-Messaging Network and Method of Implementation and Operation. Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/500,884, ?led Feb. 9, 2000; Entitled: Packet-Trapping, Neighborhood-Area Network. Anderson, et al.; U.S. Appl. No. 09/501,091, ?led Feb. 9, 2000; Entitled: Bridge-Router, Local-Packet-Transfer Network. Carl-Mitchel et al. “Using ARP to Implement Transparent Subnet Gateways” Texas Internet Consulting, Oct. 1987. J. Postal “Multi-LAN Address Resolution” ISI Oct. 1984.

Search Report for PCT/US00/11033 issued Nov. 16, 2000. Written Opinion for PCT/US00/11033 issued Jun. 20, 2001.

International Preliminary Examination Report for PCT/US00/1 1033 issued on Sep. 30,2001. Of?cial Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Feb. 2, 2009, 23 pages.

Response to Of?cial Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Feb. 9, 2009 mailed Jun. 9, 2009, 13 pages. Of?cial Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Oct. 16, 2009, 26 pages.

Response to Of?cial Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Oct. 16,2009 mailed Jan. 14, 2010, 15 pages. Of?cial Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/514,294 dated Mar. 31, 2010, 28 pages.

“Metropolitan Area Networks,” Matthew N. 0. Sadiku, 1994, CRC Press Inc., pp. 1-3, 5, 8-10, 12,13,15-17, 19, 20.

* cited by examiner

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 1 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

10

Internet Backbone

Internet Backbone

34

J/sz

34

. [32

ISP [SP

10baseT

Frame Relay Fiber

AirSwitch

Illll [E21 ||||| lllll -\

Hill Hill

22

10 to 100

Megabit Coax

IIIII [5—3] Illll lllH NIH HIII

Fig. 1

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 4 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

Traffic Filter Module

Broadcast Traffic // 1 62

Sniffing Module A

Broadcast Traffic -*

/164

Elimination Module

Fig. 4 165

Header IP

/

169

166

5

MAC E

/

170

1/67

1/68

Data

/

171

Footer 4a

Application

/197

Presentation

/196

Layer

Layer

Session 1

1 95

L aye! Transport

90\

Layer

/

Network Layer Data Link

Layer

Fig. 4b

/1 93 /

1 92

MAC__/17O

Physical

Law

_ f11 94

/1 91

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 5 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

.mt m

US. Patent

Feb. 7 2012

Sheet 6 0f 15

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 7 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

4/200

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Fig. 8

Sheet 8 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

US RE43,163 E

Sheet 9 0f 15

252 250

\

Start

V

254

Provide NAN System /\/

256

Install NAN

’V

Connect Stations

/'\/

258

260 Finance Installation

and Operation

q/

v

262

Operate NAN

/'\/

Administer NAN

/'\_/

Fig. 9

264

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 10 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

2

272

70 \

Start V

274

Provide Backbone /\/

‘

276

Utilize Non-IEEE

Protocols

/-\-/

‘7

278

Utilize Direct Routing /\/

280

Utilize Partitioning /\_/ v

Provide Sewer and

Central HQ

q/

282

v

Provide Internet

Gateways

Fig. 10

d/

284

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

US RE43,163 E

Sheet 11 0f 15

292 290

\

Start V

Install Through Utility Co. Right of Way

/-\/ 294

l Install in Selected

Geographical

A 296

Area

l Install Switching

Equipment

l Connect to Power From Communicating Stations

i Install Protective Pedestals

Install Cabling

_J\ 304

Install Servers

__/\ 305

and Central HQ

Fig. 11

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

US RE43,163 E

Sheet 12 0f 15

312

310

\

Start

V

314

Subscribe Users

l 316

Connect to Individual Residences or Places of Business

Install Physical

318

Connections to Local Boxes

l 320 Connect to

Shared Power

l Connect to Outdoors Hub

l Connect Stations Related by Location

In Geographical

Region

Fig. 12

{t

322

324

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

US RE43,163 E

Sheet 13 0f 15

332 330

\

Start

ll 334

Receive Subscription Fees

l

336

Receive Utility

Company Funding

V

338

Utility Co. Receives

Portion of Subscription /\_/ and Use of NAN

l Receive Installation Fees

/\/

340

l Receive Access Fees

/\/342 346

End

Fig. 13

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 14 or 15

US RE43,163 E

352

35° \

Start Receive Power From Comm‘g Stations

354

Remote Reading of Utility Consumption

356

l Remote Ultility Billing

4 Security Signal Transmission

Audio and Video

Transmission

l Truncate Broadcast

Data

l Direct Routing of

Messages

l Utilize Partitioned

RoutingScheme

l Provide Multiple lntemet Gateways

l Localized Advertising Over NAN V

End

Fig. 14

{ < Q€

358

360

362

364

366

368

370

372

374

US. Patent

Feb. 7, 2012

Sheet 15 0f 15

US RE43,163 E

382

384

Periodic Billing Over NAN

1 386

Receive Subscription Payments Over NAN

l Disconnection of

388

Services to

Delinquerlt Stations

1 390 Private Administration

Other Than Utility Co.

1

&

Cooperative

392

Ownership and

Management

a Fig. 15

394

US RE43,163 E 1

2

HIGH-SPEED NETWORK OF INDEPENDENTLY LINKED NODES

form of ?nancing. Such developments using current technol ogy would be prohibitively expensive. Who is going to pay for this infrastructure? Accordingly, a need exists for an intermediate sized net work to close the gap between the world-wide Internet and current relatively small scale networks. Preferably, such an intermediate sized network operates at speeds similar to those

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue speci?ca tion; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

of LANS, coverage both in geographical area and diversify of user type. Additionally any solution to this problem should also address ?nancing of installation and should overcome the last mile dilemma. New technologies for achieving such a new paradigm in computer networking are similarly needed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of and claims priority to US. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/ 134,294, ?led on May 14, 1999 and entitled Neighbor hood Area Network.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome many or all of the above-discussed

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention The present invention relates to computer communications networks. More speci?cally, the present invention relates to

problems, the present invention comprises methods, appara tus, and systems for implementing Large-scale high speed 20

computer high-speed networks linking geographically related users and to manners of implementing and operating such networks.

2. The Relevant Technology

25

30

types of organizations in world-wide digital communication. The Internet has almost unlimited promise for communica tions advances, but is limited by an overburdened and some what unsuited transmission medium. In addition to the Internet, businesses, educational institu

network conducted on a unique scale with a unique clientele and is implemented in a manner that transcends traditional

network boundaries and protocols. The NAN is not equivalent

Computer technology is breaking barriers to interpersonal communications at an amazing rate. Already, it is possible to communicate almost instantaneously with anyone in the world that has a computer and a telephone line. Computer networks, such as the Internet, link individuals and various

computer network. The network may connect an entire neigh borhood or city in networked communications, and accord ingly, will be referred to herein as a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN). The NAN of the present invention is a

to a wide area network WAN, in part because it is essentially routerless. That is, while a plurality of NAN, may be inter connected through the use of routers, each individual NAN is preferably constructed without the use of internal routers. The NAN is unique from local area networks (LANs) as well. One reason is that, due to its many novel features, it can be of a size

and scope previously unobtainable by conventional LANs. The NAN is further unique because it is intended to cover 35

and serve a selected geographical area and to blanket that

geographical area, rather than functioning to serve a speci?c

tions, government agencies, and other similarly related enti

government, business, educational, or similarly related entity.

ties also communicate over much smaller-scale networks,

Accordingly, the subscribers and users of the NAN may be substantially non-related in any traditional business manner.

such as local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks

(WANs). These small-scale networks, particularly LANS, operate at much higher speeds than the Internet, but are expensive to operate at large scales. Thus, a large gap exists, between the scope of coverage and speed of operation of the global, but relatively slow, Internet and the faster but more limited LANs and WANs. It would be advantageous to close this gap with larger-scale networks that operate at speeds close to that of LANS. Several barriers exist to ?lling the gap between current limited coverage networks and the Internet. One such barrier is the “last mile” dilemma. That is, the Internet runs at very

40

45

The NAN is also comparatively inexpensive to install, making the placement of a NAN in every neighborhood a real

possibility. The NAN of the present invention is capable of eliminating the message tra?ic burden from the Internet, thereby speeding up the Internet, as it is adapted to be oper 50

ated completely independent of the currently highly burdened telecommunications infrastructure (although Internet service may be provided over the NAN). In one embodiment, the NAN is comprised of an optic ?ber ring serving as the outer backbone of the NAN. The ring is

high speeds over its backbone, but slows down considerably over its localized connections. Generally, the Internet relies upon standard telecommunications industry lines and switch ing equipment for this last mile. This infrastructure is designed for telephone communications, and is not well adapted to the packetized communications of digital net

Furthermore, funding for the NAN, rather than being pro vided by a business-type entity or subsidized by a govern mental organization, may be funded at least in part by an independent third party, such as a utility company and may be funded in total or in part by subscribers.

55

preferably populated with one or more ?ber boxes, each con

taining circuitry including switches, repeaters, gateways, etc.

works. A dilemma lies, however, in replacing the telephone

The ?ber boxes in one embodiment connect the backbone to

infrastructure with transmission mediums more suited to

a central of?ce or headquarters data center in which a server

digital communications. It is currently considered prohibi tively expensive to connect high speed communications lines

is preferably located. One or more gateways are preferably 60

down to the individual users of the Internet.

This fact, together with the general congestion of the Inter net in general leads to a substantial slow down of Internet

communications. It also limits the deployment of intermedi ate types of networks. A further barrier to the implementation of networks of varying scopes and to the new introduction of new paradigms for network communication comes in the

65

provided within the backbone for access by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). An inner backbone comprised of scalable 10 to 100 megabit coaxial cable preferably branches from the ?ber backbone. The coaxial cable preferably originates at the ?ber boxes

and branches through the selected geographical region (dis cussed herein as a neighborhood, but of course, any geo

graphical scale could be served), connected by repeaters and

US RE43,163 E 3

4

nodes to individual communicating stations. The inner back

lines need not be relaid in order to upgrade. Services that can

bone is preferably partitioned for ef?cient routing of traf?c.

be provided include surveillance, on-line books, two-way multi camera, schools, etc. Additionally, IPBX, telephone,

The nodes in one embodiment comprise hubs. The repeat ers may be placed three hundred feet apart along the coaxial

television, CATV, and video on demand can be provided over

cable, with hubs placed within thirty feet of every house,

the NAN. Video can be provided allowing independent selec

business, or other type of communicating station on the NAN. The hubs preferably connect to the local houses or other

tion, broadcast, start time and may be buffered to the user in real time. The NAN also preferably incorporates one or more multi port switches which are con?gured to truncate broadcast data. The multi-port switch is preferably an indoor switch but is

buildings with ten-base-T twisted pair copper wiring employ ing the Category 5 (Cat5) standard. The hubs in one embodi ment are powered by one or more of the communicating

stations that they service. Accordingly, each station con

contained in an aluminum pedestal of dimensions approxi

nected to a hub may share the powering of the hub and may

mately 3 by 2 by 2 feet and is environmentally controlled.

share the powering of other switching equipment of the NAN

The repeaters in preferred embodiments convert the data

as well.

from the switches to be transmitted over coaxial cable and are

In one embodiment NAN software operates on the server,

preferably semi-intelligent. In one embodiment, the repeaters

the ?ber boxes, the repeaters, and the hubs. Client software preferably operates a computers located at each communicat ing station. Additional functional software or logic may also

are housed out of doors within a protective pedestal. The pedestal may be located on the ground or hung from power lines.

execute on communicating stations or computers of subscrib

ing service providers. For example, software may communi

The bridges are, in preferred embodiments, high speed 20

with a look-up binary tree and are preferably contained in the

cate with an electric power meter for transmitting information

protective pedestals. The bridges also ?lter out broadcast

regarding power consumption from a communicating station (the power customer) through the network to third party ser

traf?c. The hubs route traf?c to subscribing communicating stations and convert from coaxial to twisted pair cable. The hubs are connected with a T-connector and powered by the

vice provider, in this case, a utility power company. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the backbone is

25

installed over the right-of-way owned by or franchised to a

public utility such as gas, electric, or power company. This negates any need for a separate utility administering the NAN to acquire a new easement or franchise from the landowners

or the government entity of the geographic region. The NAN may be ?nanced and/ or installed through the cooperation of

30

the utility service provider company. This arrangement allows the public utility service provider that would otherwise be unable to enter the digital communication market to par ticipate. It is also advantageous in that a NAN developer or administration entity would otherwise likely be unable to

35

cooperative power coupler of the present invention. The P-coupler preferably includes a series of transformers, one at each communicating station. The communicating sta tion connect with Cat5 wiring to the hub through a home connection box. The home connection box preferably pro vides convenient connections for power to the hub and for transmit and receive lines. The lines at the home connection box are wired alphabetically. The home connection box con nects preferably connects with Ethernet cabling to a network card located within a computer at the client station. A modular power connector is preferably located at the

home connection box. The wiring from the communicating

afford to ?nance and install the NAN due to the cost and risk

station to the hub operates, in one embodiment, at ten mega

of funding and lack of suf?cient rights-of-way.

bytes per second. Three pairs of lines are preferably used, a transmit twisted pair, a receive twisted pair, and an A/C twisted pair running from the transformer to power the hub. The NAN of the present invention is a high speed routerless network which differs from traditional large scale networks in that traf?c is routed locally and that it has the speed of a small

In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in

accordance with the present invention, an independent entity

40

may create a city-wide network or NAN. The network

includes, in one embodiment, a ?ber optic ring within the city to serve as a local backbone. The ?ber optic ring may be fully

redundant. That is, it preferably completes a loop such that any break in the loop will not shut the whole system down.

local area network but with many more stations connected 45

The ?ber can be laid inexpensively as distances are not great

and thus, less expensive local short-distance-types of ?ber

The NAN can be described as a baseband network rather

cable can be used. A low cost ?ber can be used, such as feeder

?ber which is less costly, and which requires less labor to install.

thereto. The large amount of communicating stations is facili tated by the many novel aspects of the invention. than a broadband network because it addresses communicat

ing stations directly and linearly rather than through broad

The ?ber backbone is preferably populated by ?ber boxes

casting of data. The NAN of the present invention de?nes what cannot be routed rather than de?ning the types of pack

having switches therein. Coaxial cable from switches to bridges and repeaters to hubs. The hubs may connect to client

verse/ inverse ?ltering. Because the communications traf?c is

50

ets that can be routed. The NAN also preferably uses con

stations using twisted-pair, copper cabling. A central server may be used and may be located within a headquarters data center. A headquarters data center may be employed as a

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direct-routed, neighbor to neighbor communications is very high speed and occupies only a small part of the NAN. It also reduces the burden on the Internet.

gateway for Internet service providers. In addition, the Inter net service providers may enter the system through other

METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

gateways including one or more switches.

The ?ber backbone may be laid using the franchise agree ment granted to the power company within a city or region. Thus, as the entire network is laid independently, the ISP

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business, government, educational institution, or otherwise

service is provided independent of the telecommunications

related. Additionally, individual subscribers pay for the con

line over the entire route. Additionally, all ISPs are available

on the net allowing equal access without choking traf?c.

The infrastructure is preferably upgradable from 10 mega bit to gigabit technology over the same lines, such that the

The NAN of the present invention is unique in that its

clients are merely geographically related, rather than being

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tinued operation of the NAN rather than a single large entity. The NAN may be partially funded by public service compa nies such as utility companies. In one embodiment, the power company pays a portion of the installation fees in return for