Full service network

1. A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising:

at least two sources of video information;

a distribution component providing the information to a plurality of subscribers;

source interfaces for connecting the sources of video information to said distribution component;

a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution component;

a first gateway responsive to a selection by one subscriber for authorizing establishment of a connection through the distribution component between a selected source of video information and the one subscriber; and

a signalling network selectively connecting the one subscriber to said first gateway;

wherein each source of video information is analog and each source interfaces includes a real time digital encoder and a multiplexer that multiplexes the output of said real time digital encoder into a standardized transport stream.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein the standardized transport stream is an OC-N transport stream, where N is an integer.

3. The network of claim 1 in which the connection between the source interfaces and the distribution component includes an adaptive digital multiplexer/demultiplexer for permitting unused digital capacity from outputs of each multiplexer to be selectively allotted to other video sources.

4. The network of claim 1 in which a source of video information produces a bit stream output which is converted by an interworking unit into an ATM cell stream output.

5. The network of claim 1 in which the subscriber interface includes an intelligent access peripheral.

6. The network of claim 1 in which the source of video information is analog which is converted to a digital ATM cell stream at an OC-N rate, where N is an integer.

7. The network of claim 1 in which physical medium used for connecting the sources of video information to said source interfaces is an optical fiber.

8. The network of claim 1 in which physical medium used for connecting said sources of video information to said source interfaces comprises coaxial cable.

9. The network of claim 1 in which the one or more distribution components includes a bridging device which provides duplicate copies of all input signals on respective outputs.

10. The network of claim 1 in which the one or more distribution components includes an ATM switch.

11. The network of claim 1 including an operation support module (OSM) for providing an interface to operating support systems for provisioning services in the network.

12. The network of claim 1 including a service administration module for maintaining a data base of video information providers and customer profile data.

13. The network of claim 12 wherein the data in said data base includes customized menus, pre-subscription information, identification of impulse pay-per-view events or premium channel information.

14. The network of claim 1 in which the signalling network is an X.25 network.

15. The network of claim 1 in which the signalling network includes an ATM video switch.

16. The network of claim 1 in which said subscriber interface includes an intelligent access peripheral (IAP).

17. The network of claim 16 in which the intelligent access peripheral receives channel selection signals from the subscriber and extracts data from the distribution component which corresponds to the channel selected for transmission to the subscriber.

18. The network of claim 16 in which the IAP stores profile information on each subscriber.

19. The network of claim 16 in which subscriber access to the IAP occurs through a line card of the distribution component and the line card connects to two back plane buses of the IAP.

20. The network of claim 19 in which the line card connects to a broadcast bus.

21. The network of claim 19 in which the line card connects to a point-to-point bus.

22. A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising:

one or more sources of video information;

one or more distribution components providing the information to a plurality of subscribers;

a source interface for connecting one or more sources of video information to said distribution component;

a subscriber interface connecting subscribers to said distribution means;

a first gateway authorizing establishment of a connection between a source of video information and a subscriber; and

a signalling network selectively connecting a subscriber to said first gateway;

in which the source interface includes an ATM video switch;

in which a PVC controller is connected via a level one gateway to a signalling network capable of transmitting signalling to the PVC controller; and

in which the signalling network includes paths through the distribution means.

23. A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising:

one or more information servers;

an ATM video switch;

one or more optical network units;

one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said optical network units;

one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective optical network units;

a level 1 gateway, with a port on said ATM switch; and

a signalling network connecting digital entertainment terminals to the level 1 gateway via respective optical network units and the signalling network; in which said distribution switch is an ATM switch

whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway to obtain services of the information servers.

24. A network for the distribution of information, including video information, to subscribers comprising;

one or more information servers;

an ATM video switch;

one or more access peripherals;

one or more distribution switches selectively connecting information received from said one or more information servers over said ATM video switch to said one or more intelligent access peripherals;

a plurality of digital entertainment terminals;

one or more groups of one or more digital entertainment terminals serviced by respective intelligent access peripherals;

a level 1 gateway with a port on said ATM video switch and on said distribution switch;

whereby a digital entertainment terminal connects to the level 1 gateway via said distribution switch to obtain the services of the information servers.

25. The network of claim 24 in which said distribution switch is a digital cross-connect switch.

26. The network of claim 24 in which said distribution switch is an ATM switch.