1. A network access device which is connected to a control server through a network and connected to at least one end point through at least one cable, the network access device comprising: an interface module configured to cooperate with the network5 ; at least one domain master configured to be connected to the at least one end point; an adaptation module located between the domain master and the interface module and configured to convert G.hn signals to Ethernet signals; and 10 a processor configured to control the interface module and the at least one domain master.

2. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the network comprises an optical line termination, and the interface module performs uplink interface for the 15 optical line termination.

3. The network access device of claim 2, wherein the domain master and the end point are connected through a bundle cable. 20 4. The network access device of claim 2, wherein the adaptation module 18 comprises: at least one adaptation buffer configured to be connected to each domain master; and a scheduler configured to be connected between the interface module and the at least one adaptation buffe5 r.

5. The network access device of claim 2, wherein at least one pair of the at least one end point and the at least one domain master is connected through a copperwired cable. 10

6. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the processor monitors wire interference generated by communication between the at least one domain master and the at least one end point and generates interference information to transmit to the control server. 15

7. The network access device of claim 6, wherein the processor receives a communication setting parameter value which is determined based on the interference information by the control server. 20 8. A network access method which is performed by a network access device 19 connected to a control server through a network and connected to at least one end point through a cable, wherein the network access device comprises a processor and at least one domain master connected to each end point, the method comprising: pairing between the domain master and the end point, and registering the result5 ; reporting the registration to the processor by the domain master; reporting the registration to the control server through the network by the processor; receiving a channel estimation request from the control server through the 10 network to the processor and transmitting it to the domain master from the processor; performing channel estimation between the domain master and the end point; and reporting the channel estimation from the domain master to the processor and transmitting the reported channel estimation to the control server through the 15 network by the processor, wherein the control server estimates resource provisioning based on the channel estimation and transmits the result to the processor, and the processor provisions the domain master and the end point based on the resource provisioning. 20 20

9. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the network is a wideband network.

10. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the channel estimation comprises interference information generated by the communication between 5 n the domain master and the end point.

11. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the domain master and the end point are connected through a bundle cable. 10

12. The network access method of claim 11, wherein the bundle cable connects each of a plurality of domain masters including the domain master with each of a plurality of end points including the end point in a one-to-one manner (1:1). 15 13. The network access method of claim 12, wherein a data transmission point and a data receiving point of each of the plurality of domain masters are controlled to be matched.

14. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the control server requests 20 channel re-estimation when a signal-to-noise ratio for the channel estimation is greater 21 than a threshold value and estimates resource provisioning based on the re-received channel estimation.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING NETWORK
BACKGROUND
1. 5 Field
The following description relates to a network access device and a network
access method.
2. Description of Related Art
10 Digital subscriber line (DSL) is used to provide Internet services by connecting
a home network to an external network. Among DSL technologies, very-high-bit-rate
digital subscriber line (VDSL) enables transmitting data at a rate exceeding about 100
Mbit/s simultaneously in both an uplink and a downlink using frequencies of 30 MHz.
However, in order to archive such a high data transmission rate exceeding about
15 100Mbps with the VDSL, it might require replacing a typical system with a system
using VDSL bonding techniques. Such VDSL bonding techniques require at least 2
pairs. Accordingly, there is difficulty to achieve data transmission rate exceeding about
200Mbps without increasing the number of pairs. As another method, in order to
provide a gigabit level data transmission service, a home network may be replaced with
20 an optical fiber. However, such a method requires a high replacement cost.
3
A G.hn technology has been also introduced to provide wire-based gigabit
home networks. The G.hn technology uses one pair of copper wires(for example, power
wires, telephone wires, coaxial wires and the like) and determines the maximum
available frequency band for each transmission medium to manage data traffic for each
transmission medium. However, network access devices and methods are required 5 d to
connect the home network to an external wideband network such as Ethernet in order to
implement for G.hn-based home networking. In addition, network access devices and
methods are required to manage the home network based on status of the home network
in real time in order to improve data transmission efficiency.
10 KR Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0068537 discloses an optical network unit
(ONU) device and a method for synchronizing the same in a cable network to connect
with an external optical network. In particular, the KR patent publication discloses an
optical network device in a cable network by implementing an edge-quadrature
amplitude modulation in the optical network device, not in a head end, to facilitate
15 application of fiber-deep and microcells. However, the KR patent publication cannot
provide functions to monitor data transmission of the home network and increase its
efficiency.
KR Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0016092 discloses GPON OAM using
IEEE 802.1 ag methodology. In the disclosed technology, one flow point among flow
20 points such as OLT or ONT generates a text message and another flow point receives
4
information of network connection status based thereon. However, the disclosed
technology cannot provision dynamically even though it can check the network
connection status.
S5 UMMARY
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified
form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor
is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
10 In accordance with an embodiment, a network access device and a network
access method improve efficiency of network services without replacing cables of home
networks.
In accordance with another embodiment, a network access device a system
operating the same reduces interference when home networks are formed with a bundle
15 cable.
In accordance with still another embodiment, a network access device and a
network access method expand network management functions to home sections.
According to at least one aspect, a network access device is connected to a
control server through network and connected to at least one end point through at least
20 one cable. The device includes an interface module, at least one domain master, an
5
adaptation module, and a processor. The at least one domain master may be configured
to cooperate with the network. The at least one domain master may be connected to the
at least one end point. The adaptation module may be located between the domain
master and the interface module and configured to convert G.hn signals to Ethernet
signals. The processor may be configured to control the interface module and the a5 t
least one domain master. The processor may control the domain master to check
channel status and receive the result to report to the control server. The control server
may generate information for provisioning based on the channel status and transmit the
result to the processor. The processor may perform channel provisioning between the
10 domain master and the end point based on the information.
The network may include an optical line termination, and the interface module
may perform uplink interface for the optical line termination.
The adaptation module may include at least one adaptation buffer and a
scheduler. The at least one adaptation buffer may be connected to each domain master.
15 The scheduler may be configured to be connected between the interface module and the
at least one adaptation buffer. At least one pair of the at least one end point and the at
least one domain master may be connected through a copper-wired cable.
According to another aspect, a network access method may be performed by a
network access device connected to a control server through network and connected to
20 at least one end point through a cable, wherein the network access device comprises a
6
processor and at least one domain master connected to each end point. The method may
include pairing between the domain master and the end point and registering the result,
reporting the registration to the processor by the domain master, reporting the
registration to the control server through the network by the processor, receiving a
channel estimation request from the control server through the network and transmitt5 ing
the received channel estimation request to the domain master by the processor,
performing channel estimation between the domain master and the end point, and
reporting the channel estimation from the domain master to the processor and
transmitting the reported channel estimation to the control server through the network
10 by the processor, wherein the control server estimates resource provisioning based on
the channel estimation and transmits the result to the processor, and the processor
provisions the domain master and the end point based on the resource provisioning.
The network may be a wideband network. The domain master and the end
point may be connected through a bundle cable.
15 The control server may request channel re-estimation when a signal-to-noise
ratio for channel estimation is greater than a threshold value and estimate resource
provisioning based on the re-received channel estimation.
In accordance with at least one embodiment, the network access device may
operate the domain master using the G.hn technology to perform channel estimation for
20 a subscriber network (e.g., a home network) and transfer the channel estimation result to
7
the control server through an external network. The control server may provision the
home network through the processor and the domain master in the network access
device based thereon. Therefore, the network access device according to an example
may improve quality of the home network without replacing legacy wires, for example,
such as telephone wires, power wires or the like into optical fibers. Furthermore, t5 he
network access device may improve quality of the home network without increasing the
number of pairings in accordance with at least one embodiment.
Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed
description, the drawings, and the claims.
10
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWNIGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an Internet service providing system
implemented by using a network access device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interface module in accordance
15 with at least one embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an adaptation module in accordance
with at least one embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for resources provisioning of a
subscriber’s network through communication in accordance with at least one
20 embodiment.
8
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for resources provisioning of the
subscriber’s network using a network access device during data-in service in accordance
with at least one embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network service system including a
network access device in accordance with at least one embodiment5 .
Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise
described or provided, the same drawing reference numerals refer to the same elements,
features, and structures. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size,
proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity,
10 illustration, and convenience.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a
comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described
15 herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods,
apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in
the art. The sequences of operations described herein are merely examples, and are not
limited to those set forth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a
20 certain order. Also, descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to
9
one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.
The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, and are not
to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples
described herein have been provided so that this disclosure is thorough, complete, and
conveys the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the 5 art.
It will be understood that, when it is described that a method includes series of
steps, a sequence of the steps is not a sequence in which the steps should be performed
in the sequence, an arbitrary technical step may be omitted and/or another arbitrary step,
which is not disclosed herein, may be added to the method.
10 In descriptions of components of the disclosure, the same reference numeral
may be assigned to the same component in different drawings, and alphabet subnumeral
may be assigned to the same reference numeral for the same component, for
example, such as 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f,... for a plurality of domain
masters. The reference numeral for the same component may be the reference numeral
15 which represents the same component, for example, 118 for the domain master.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an Internet service providing system
implemented by using a network access device in accordance with at least one
embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, an uplink of a network access device 110 may be
20 connected with a control server 102 through a network 104. A downlink of the network
10
access device 110 may be connected with at least one end point 130a, 130b, 130d, 130g,
130h, and 130i through at least one cable 120a, 120b, and 120c. The network 104 may
be a wideband network, for example, such as FTTx (Fiber To The x) including FTTH
(Fiber To The Home) and include an optical line termination (OLT) at the end. The
cable of the downlink side 120a, 120b, or 120c may be a bundle ca5 ble.
The network access device 110 may include a processor 112, an interface
module 114, an adaptation module 116, and at least one of domain masters 118a, 118b,
118c, 118d, 118e, and 118f. The interface module 114 may perform operations for
internetworking with an optical line termination device of the network of the unlink side.
10 Each of the domain masters 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, and 118f may manage each
of the subscriber’s end points 130a to 130i which are connected to the downlink side,
monitor line status of the downlink side, and generate G.hn signals to transmit to a
transmission medium.
The adaptation module 116 may be located between the domain master 118 and
15 the interface module 114 to convert from the G.hn signals of downlink side to Ethernet
signals of the uplink side or from Ethernet signals of the uplink side to G.hn signals of
the downlink side. The processor 112 may control operations of modules in the
network access device 110. The processor 112 may inform normal data receiving from
the network of the uplink side to the control server 102 and receive network control20
related information, for example, such as priority, QoS, traffic of the data. The
11
processor 112 may also monitor line status of the downlink side through the domain
master 118 to transmit the result to the control server 102.
The control server 102 may estimate network parameters, for example, such as
G.hn network parameters for provisioning lines of the downlink side base on the link
status information of the downlink side transmitted from the network access device5 .
Then, the control server 102 may transmit the result to the network access device. The
processor 112 may provision the network in the downlink side which is a subscriber’s
line based on the network parameters received from the control server 102.
Communication between the control server 102 and the processor 112 may be
10 performed based on a reliable protocol, for example, such as an OpenFlow protocol for
provisioning the network in the downlink side.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interface module 114 in
accordance with at least one embodiment. The interface module 114 may include an
interface 202, a physical layer (PHY, 204), a MAC layer (MAC, 206).
15 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an adaptation module 116 in
accordance with at least one embodiment. The adaptation module 116 may include at
least one of adaptation buffers 304a, 304b, 304c, and 304d (collectively, “304”) and a
scheduler 302. The scheduler 302 may perform scheduling based on properties of data
to be transmitted to the uplink side and data to be received from the uplink side. The
20 scheduler 302 may determine whether the data to be transmitted/received has burst
12
features or not for more efficient data transmission. The adaptation buffer 304 may
perform conversion between Ethernet signals and G.hn signals and buffering.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a network access method, particularly a
method for resources provisioning of the subscriber’s network through communication
in accordance with at least one embodiment5 .
One of the domain masters 118 may be paired with one of the end points 130
over copper lines, which are already built to provide DSL or ADSL-based network
services, to provide more efficient communications in step 402. When a plurality of
domain masters 118 and a plurality of end points 130 are connected with a bundle cable,
10 a pairing process may be performed to prevent pairing of one domain master 118 with
an improper end point which is adjacent to a corresponding end point, instead of the
corresponding end point, due to interference in the bundle cable.
When the end point 130 is connected to the corresponding port of the domain
master 118 through the pairing process, the domain master may register pairing
15 information using a periodic map message in step 404. The domain master may register
which end point is connected thereto. The registered pairing information may be
reported to the processor 112 through the domain master 118 in step 406. The processor
112 may report registration of the pairing information to the control server 102 in step
408. The control server 102 may manage an end point database based on the received
20 pairing information. The control server 102 may request channel estimation through the
13
network based on a predetermined condition periodically or by event trigger in step 412.
The processor 112 may receive a channel estimation request from the control server 102
and transfer it to the domain master 118 in step 414. The channel estimation may be
performed between the domain master 118 and the end point 130 in step 416. Channel
estimation result may be reported from the domain master 118 to the processor 5 ssor 112 in
step 418. The processor 112 may transmit the channel estimation result to the control
server 102 through the network 104 in step 420. The control server 102 may estimate
interference between the domain masters based on the channel estimation result to
generate network parameters for provisioning the network in the downlink side in step
10 422. Here, the control server 102 may generate network parameters for provisioning the
network not to be impacted or to minimize the impact by the interference between the
domain masters. This may be performed by PSD power control, bit loading allocation,
tone spacing or the like.
The generated network parameters and the provisioning request may be
15 transferred from the control server 102 to the processor 112 in step 424. A provisioning
process for network resources of the downlink side may be performed by the processor
112 in step 426.
The control server 102 may transmit a domain master synchronization request
(e.g., DM sync request) to the processor 112 in step 428. The processor 112 may
20 perform synchronization for the domain masters 118 in step 430. A data service
14
between the domain master 118 and the end point 130 may be provided in step 440.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for resources provisioning of a
subscriber’s network using a network access device during data-in service in accordance
with at least one embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 5, a data service between the domain master 118 and the en5 d
point 130 may be provided in step 502. The control server 102 may transmit a channel
estimation request to the processor 112 during providing the data service in step 510.
The processor 112 may transmit the received channel estimation request to the domain
master 118 in step 512. Channel estimation between the domain master 118 and the end
10 point 130 may be performed in step 514. Channel estimation result may be reported to
the processor 112 in step 516. The processor 112 may transmit it to the control server
102 in step 518.
The control server 102 may perform signal-to-noise ratio monitoring (SNR
monitoring) in step 520 to determine whether resource provisioning is needed or not in
15 step 522. For example, the control server 102 may determine whether a threshold value
predetermined by an operator is exceeded or not or whether there is a sudden SNR
falling or not.
When it is determined as that resource provisioning is needed, the control
server 102 may transmit a channel re-estimation request to the domain master 118
20 through the processor 112 in step 524 and step 526. Channel estimation between the
15
domain master 118 and the end point 130 may be performed again in step 528. Channel
estimation result may be reported to the processor 112 in step 530 and the processor 112
may transmit it to the control server 102 through the network 104 in step 532.
The control server 102 may estimate interference between the domain masters
based on the channel re-estimation result to generate parameters for resourc5 e
provisioning in step 534. The network parameters related to the resource provisioning
request may be transmitted to the processor 112 through the network 104 in step 536.
The processor 112 may perform subscriber’s network resource provisioning based
thereon in step 538. The control server 102 may transmit a domain master
10 synchronization request (e.g., DM sync request) to the processor 112 in step 540. The
processor 112 may perform synchronization for the domain masters 118 in step 542. A
data service between the domain master 118 and the end point 130 may be provided in
step 544.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network service system including a
15 network access device in accordance with at least one embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 6, a network access device (e.g., GAM: G.hn access
multiplexer) 110 and end points 610 and 620 may be connected through a copper-wired
cable. Examples of the copper-wired cable may include telephone wires, UTP or the
like. The end point 610 in FIG. 6 may be connected to a personal computer 612 through
20 a power line and the PC 612 may be connected to a set-top box 614. The end point 620
16
may be connected to a set-top box 622 which is connected to a gigabit Wi-Fi terminal
624.
As shown FIG. 6, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a network
access device and a network access method may control the control server 102, which is
connected to an external wideband network, to generate network parameter 5 r for
provisioning the home network and the processor 112 in the network access device to
perform the provisioning. Accordingly, the home network may be managed
dynamically.
10
17
WE CLAIM:
1. A network access device which is connected to a control server through a
network and connected to at least one end point through at least one cable, the network
access device comprising:
an interface module configured to cooperate with the network5 ;
at least one domain master configured to be connected to the at least one
end point;
an adaptation module located between the domain master and the interface
module and configured to convert G.hn signals to Ethernet signals; and
10 a processor configured to control the interface module and the at least one
domain master.
2. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the network comprises an
optical line termination, and the interface module performs uplink interface for the
15 optical line termination.
3. The network access device of claim 2, wherein the domain master and the
end point are connected through a bundle cable.
20 4. The network access device of claim 2, wherein the adaptation module
18
comprises:
at least one adaptation buffer configured to be connected to each domain
master; and
a scheduler configured to be connected between the interface module and
the at least one adaptation buffe5 r.
5. The network access device of claim 2, wherein at least one pair of the at
least one end point and the at least one domain master is connected through a copperwired
cable.
10
6. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the processor monitors wire
interference generated by communication between the at least one domain master and
the at least one end point and generates interference information to transmit to the
control server.
15
7. The network access device of claim 6, wherein the processor receives a
communication setting parameter value which is determined based on the interference
information by the control server.
20 8. A network access method which is performed by a network access device
19
connected to a control server through a network and connected to at least one end point
through a cable, wherein the network access device comprises a processor and at least
one domain master connected to each end point, the method comprising:
pairing between the domain master and the end point, and registering the
result5 ;
reporting the registration to the processor by the domain master;
reporting the registration to the control server through the network by the
processor;
receiving a channel estimation request from the control server through the
10 network to the processor and transmitting it to the domain master from the processor;
performing channel estimation between the domain master and the end
point; and
reporting the channel estimation from the domain master to the processor
and transmitting the reported channel estimation to the control server through the
15 network by the processor,
wherein the control server estimates resource provisioning based on the
channel estimation and transmits the result to the processor, and
the processor provisions the domain master and the end point based on the
resource provisioning.
20
20
9. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the network is a wideband
network.
10. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the channel estimation
comprises interference information generated by the communication between 5 n the
domain master and the end point.
11. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the domain master and the
end point are connected through a bundle cable.
10
12. The network access method of claim 11, wherein the bundle cable
connects each of a plurality of domain masters including the domain master with each
of a plurality of end points including the end point in a one-to-one manner (1:1).
15 13. The network access method of claim 12, wherein a data transmission point
and a data receiving point of each of the plurality of domain masters are controlled to be
matched.
14. The network access method of claim 8, wherein the control server requests
20 channel re-estimation when a signal-to-noise ratio for the channel estimation is greater
21
than a threshold value and estimates resource provisioning based on the re-received
channel estimation.