Method and apparatus for reducing isolation in a home network

• US 10,021,343 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Alkan, Erdogan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason K
• Application Number:
  US13/333,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

This invention disclosure relates to a community access television (CATV) signal distribution system which improves signal isolation issues for systems which are distributing both CATV signals and in-home entertainment (IHE) signals. The signal distribution system includes a signal input port, a first multi-port signal splitter and a second multi-port signal splitter. The first multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a first diplexer, and the second multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a second diplexer. In some embodiments the first diplexer high-pass node and the second diplexer high-pass node are coupled together. In some embodiment the signal distribution system includes a signal output port coupled to the signal input port through a third diplexer. The high-pass node of the third diplexer is coupled to the high-pass node of the first diplexer.

Claims

1. A community access television (CATV) signal distribution comprising:

a CATV signal input port configured for connection to a CATV network;

a signal splitter comprising a common terminal configured to be coupled to the CATV signal input port, and two output terminals, the signal splitter configured to divide a CATV downstream signal received at the common terminal into multiple CATV downstream signals supplied at its output terminals, the signal splitter also configured to communicate upstream signals received at each output terminal to the common terminal;

a first diplexer comprising a common node, a high-pass node, and a low-pass node, the first diplexer configured to communicate in-home entertainment signals within a predetermined high frequency band between the common node of the first diplexer and the high-pass node of the first diplexer, and further configured to communicate signals at a predetermined low frequency band between the common node and the low pass node, the low-pass node configured to be coupled to one of the output terminals of the signal splitter;

a second diplexer comprising a common node, a high-pass node, and a low-pass node, the second diplexer configured to communicate the in-home entertainment signals within the predetermined high frequency band between the common node of the second diplexer and the high-pass node of the second diplexer, and further configured to communicate signals at the predetermined low frequency band between the common node and the low-pass node, the low-pass node configured to be coupled to the other of the output terminals of the signal splitter;

an attenuator circuit configured to;

couple the high-pass node of the first diplexer to the high-pass node of the second diplexer, and

bidirectionally conduct the in-home entertainment signals within a predetermined high frequency band,

a first plurality of device ports configured to connect to a first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

a second plurality of device ports configured to connect to a second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

a first multi-port signal splitter comprising an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, wherein;

the input terminal of the first multi-port splitter is coupled to the common node of the first diplexer;

the plurality of output terminals of the first multi-port splitter are connected to the first plurality of device ports and configured to bidirectionally communicate signals within the predetermined low frequency band and the in-home entertainment signals within the predetermined high frequency band with the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices; and

a second multi-port signal splitter comprising an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, wherein;

the input terminal of the second multi-port splitter is coupled to the common node of the second diplexer,

the plurality of output terminals of the second multi-port splitter are connected to the second plurality of device ports and configured to bidirectionally communicate signals within the predetermined low frequency band and the in-home entertainment signals within the predetermined high frequency band with the second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

wherein the attenuator circuit is further configured to;

control a level of attenuation of the in-home entertainment signals within the predetermined high frequency band between the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices and the second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices passing from the high-pass node of the first diplexer to the high-pass node of the second diplexer and passing from the high-pass node of the second diplexer to the high-pass node of the first diplexer, and

adjust a frequency response tilt of the in-home entertainment signals within the predetermined high frequency band bidirectionally communicated between the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices and the second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices through the high-pass node of the first diplexer and the high-pass node of the second diplexer.

2. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first multi-port splitter comprises at least four output ports.

3. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 2, wherein the first multi-port splitter comprises three two-way splitters.

4. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the second multi-port splitter comprises at least four output ports.

5. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an equalizer circuit configured to equalize the in-home entertainment signals conducted between the first and second in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices.

6. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the attenuator circuit includes a reflectance circuit configured to control signal reflection of the in-home entertainment signals conducted between the first and second in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices.

7. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the level of attenuation in the attenuator circuit is adjustable.

8. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 7, wherein the level of attenuation is adjustable from 0 dB to a predetermined level of attenuation.

9. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the high-pass node of the first diplexer is configured to couple to the high-pass node of the second diplexer via the attenuator without any splitting of the in-home entertainment signals conducted between the first and second in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices.

11. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the attenuator circuit is not unidirectional.

10. A community access television (CATV) signal distribution system comprising:

a CATV signal input port configured for connection to a CATV network;

a signal splitter comprising a common terminal configured to be coupled to the CATV signal input port, and two output terminals, the signal splitter configured to divide a CATV downstream signal received at the common terminal into multiple CATV downstream signals supplied at each of its output terminals, the signal splitter also configured to communicate upstream signals received at each output terminal to the common terminal;

a first diplexer comprising a common node, a high-pass node, and a low-pass node, the first diplexer configured to communicate signals within a predetermined high frequency band between the common node and the high-pass node, and further configured to communicate signals at a predetermined low frequency band between the common node and the low pass node, the low-pass node configured to be coupled to one of the output terminals of the signal splitter;

a second diplexer comprising a common node, a high-pass node, and a low-pass node, the second diplexer configured to communicate signals within the predetermined high frequency band between the common node and the high-pass node, and further configured to communicate signals at the predetermined low frequency band between the common node and the low-pass node, the low-pass node configured to be coupled to the other of the output terminals of the signal splitter;

an attenuator circuit configured to bidirectionally communicate the signals within the predetermined high frequency band transmitted between the common node of the first diplexer and the common node of the second diplexer via the high-pass node of the first diplexer to the high-pass node of the second diplexer without signal attenuation due to splitting the signals within the predetermined high frequency band;

a first plurality of device ports configured to connect to a first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

a second plurality of device ports configured to connect to a second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

a first multi-port signal splitter comprising an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, wherein;

the input terminal of the first multi-port splitter is coupled to the common node of the first diplexer,

the plurality of output terminals of the first multi-port splitter are connected to the first plurality of device ports and configured to bidirectionally communicate signals at the predetermined low frequency band and signals at the predetermined high frequency band with the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices; and

a second multi-port signal splitter comprising an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, wherein;

the input node of the second multi-port splitter is coupled to the common node of the second diplexer,

the plurality of output terminals of the of the second multi-port splitter are connected to the second plurality of device ports and configured to bidirectionally communicate signals at the predetermined low frequency band and signals at the predetermined high frequency band with the second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices;

wherein the attenuator circuit is further configured to;

control a level of attenuation of the signals within the predetermined high frequency band communicated between the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices and the second plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices passing from the high-pass node of the first diplexer to the high-pass node of the second diplexer and passing from the high-pass node of the second diplexer to the high-pass node of the first diplexer, and

adjust a frequency response tilt in a frequency band within the signals of the predetermined high frequency band communicated between the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices and the first plurality of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices passing from the high-pass node of the first diplexer to the high-pass node of the second diplexer and passing from the high-pass node of the second diplexer to the high-pass node of the first diplexer.

12. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 10, wherein the attenuator circuit is configured to adjust an amount of attenuation from 0 decibels to a predetermined amount of attenuation.

13. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 10, wherein the attenuator comprises an equalizer circuit section configured to adjust a frequency response tilt in a frequency band of the signals within the predetermined high frequency band conducted between the first and second pluralities of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices.

14. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 13, wherein the attenuator is configured to adjust isolation among the first and second pluralities of in-home entertainment-compatible subscriber devices.

15. A community access television (CATV) signal distribution system comprising:

a CATV port configured to connect the CATV signal distribution system to a CATV network;

a first plurality of device ports configured to connect the CATV signal distribution system to a first plurality of subscriber devices;

a second plurality of device ports configured to connect the CATV signal distribution system to a second plurality of subscriber devices;

a CATV signal splitter comprising a common terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, wherein;

the common terminal of the CATV signal splitter is coupled to the CATV signal input port and configured to receive a CATV signal from the input port;

the CATV signal splitter is configured to divide a CATV downstream signal received at the common terminal into multiple CATV downstream signals supplied to the first and second output terminals of the signal splitter, and

the CATV signal splitter is configured to combine CATV upstream signals received at the first and second output terminals of the CATV signal splitter;

a first device signal splitter comprising a first common terminal and a first plurality of output terminals, wherein the first plurality of output terminals of the first device signal splitter are coupled to the first plurality of device ports;

a second device signal splitter comprising a second common terminal and a second plurality of output terminals, wherein the second plurality of output terminals of the second device signal splitter are coupled to the second plurality of device ports;

a first diplexer comprising a common terminal, a high-pass terminal, and a low-pass terminal, the first diplexer configured to;

communicate signals within a predetermined high frequency band between the common terminal and the high-pass terminal, and

communicate signals within a predetermined low frequency band between the common terminal and the low-pass terminal,

wherein the common terminal is coupled to the common terminal of the first device signal splitter,

wherein the low-pass terminal is coupled to the common terminal of the CATV signal splitter, and

a second diplexer comprising a common terminal, a high-pass terminal, and a low-pass terminal, the second diplexer configured to;

communicate signals within the predetermined high frequency band between the common terminal of the second diplexer and the high-pass terminal of the second diplexer,

communicate signals at the predetermined low frequency band between the common terminal of the second diplexer and the low-pass terminal of the second diplexer,

wherein the common terminal of the second diplexer is coupled to the common terminal of the second device signal splitter,

wherein the low-pass terminal of the second diplexer is coupled to the second output terminal of the CATV signal splitter, and

wherein the high-pass terminal of the second diplexer is coupled to the high-pass terminal of the first diplexer; and

an attenuator circuit configured to;

bidirectionally communicate the signals within the predetermined high frequency band transmitted between the common terminal of the first diplexer and the common terminal of the second diplexer through the high-pass terminal of the first diplexer and the high-pass terminal of the second diplexer, and

control a level of attenuation of the signals in the predetermined high frequency band bidirectionally communicated between from the high-pass terminal of the first diplexer to the high-pass terminal of the second diplexer.

16. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 15, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an equalizer circuit configured to equalize the signals within the predetermined high frequency band bidirectionally communicated between the first and second pluralities of subscriber devices.

17. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 15, wherein the attenuator circuit includes a reflectance circuit configured to control signal reflection of the signals within the predetermined high frequency band bidirectionally communicated between the first and second pluralities of subscriber devices.

18. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 15, wherein the level of attenuation in the attenuator circuit is adjustable.

19. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 15, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an active circuit element comprising an amplifier, the attenuator circuit configured to control attenuation and amplification of the signals within the predetermined high frequency band bidirectionally communicated between the first and second pluralities of subscriber devices.