Entry device for a CATV network

• US 10,142,677 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wells, Chad T., Egan, Jr., John M., Halik, Gregory F., Newby, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dubasky, Gigi L
• Application Number:
  US15/890,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20180167668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

An entry device for a cable television (CATV) network includes an input port configured to receive CATV signals from the CATV network, a first splitter electrically connected to the input port, an active signal path electrically connected to the first splitter, a passive signal path electrically connected to the first splitter, a second splitter electrically connected to the active signal path, and active ports electrically connected to the second splitter. The active ports are configured to communicate with one another via the second splitter. The entry device also includes a passive port electrically connected to the passive signal path and configured to communicate with the input port via the passive signal path, a filter configured to block multimedia over coaxial alliance (MoCA) signals from proceeding to the input port, and a signal bypass path configured to transmit the MoCA signals between the active ports and the passive port.

Claims

1. An entry device for a cable television (CATV) network, comprising:

an input port configured to be connected to the CATV network, such that the input port is configured to receive downstream CATV signals from the CATV network and provide upstream CATV signals thereto;

a first splitter electrically connected to the input port;

an active signal path electrically connected to the first splitter;

a passive signal path electrically connected to the first splitter;

a second splitter electrically connected to the active signal path;

a plurality of active ports electrically connected to the second splitter, wherein the plurality of active ports are configured to communicate with one another via the second splitter;

a passive port electrically connected to the passive signal path and configured to communicate with the input port via the passive signal path;

a filter configured to block multimedia over coaxial alliance (MoCA) signals from proceeding from the active ports or the passive port to the input port; and

a signal bypass path configured to transmit the MoCA signals between the active ports and the passive port.

2. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the active signal path comprises one or more powered signal conditioning devices.

3. The entry device of claim 2, wherein the signal bypass path does not include the one or more powered signal conditioning devices.

4. The entry device of claim 3, wherein the signal bypass path is electrically connected between the second splitter and the active signal path, and between the passive port and the first splitter.

5. The entry device of claim 4, wherein the signal bypass path comprises:

a first directional coupler positioned between the active signal path and the second splitter; and

a second directional coupler positioned between the passive port and the first splitter,

wherein the signal bypass path extends between coupled terminals of the first and second directional couplers.

6. The entry device of claim 2, wherein the passive signal path is free from powered signal conditioning devices.

7. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the signal bypass path is configured to block at least downstream CATV signals from being transmitted between the passive signal path and the active signal path.

8. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the filter is positioned between the first splitter and the input port.

9. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the second splitter comprises a plurality of two-way splitters.

10. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the passive port configured to connect to a modem.

11. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the downstream CATV signals are in a frequency range of between 54 MHz and 1002 MHz, the upstream CATV signals are in a frequency range of between 5 MHz and 42 MHz, and the MoCA signals are in a frequency range of between 1125 MHz and 1675 MHz.

12. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the active signal path comprises:

an active upstream path; and

an active downstream path that extends parallel to the active upstream path,

wherein the upstream CATV signals and the MoCA signals are prevented from proceeding through the active downstream path, and wherein the downstream CATV signals and the MoCA signals are prevented from proceeding through the active upstream path.

13. The entry device of claim 12, wherein the active upstream path includes a CATV upstream filter configured to block the MoCA signals, and wherein the active downstream path includes a CATV downstream filter configured to block the MoCA signals.

14. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to block the MoCA signals from proceeding from the active ports or the passive port to the input port by reducing a signal strength of the MoCA signals.

15. An entry device for a cable television (CATV) network, comprising:

an input port configured to be connected to the CATV network, such that the input port is configured to receive downstream CATV signals from the CATV network and provide upstream CATV signals thereto;

first splitter means electrically connected to the input port;

active signal means electrically connected to the first splitter means;

passive signal means electrically connected to the first splitter means;

second splitter means electrically connected to the active signal means;

a plurality of active ports coupled to the second splitter means, wherein the plurality of active ports are configured to communicate with one another via the second splitter means;

a passive port coupled to the passive signal means and configured to communicate with the input port via the passive signal means;

filter means configured to block multimedia over coaxial alliance (MoCA) signals from proceeding from the active ports, the passive ports, or both to the input port; and

signal bypass means configured to transmit the MoCA signals between the plurality of active ports and the passive port.

16. The entry device of claim 15, wherein the active signal means comprises one or more active signal conditioning devices, and wherein the passive signal means is free from active signal conditioning devices.

17. The entry device of claim 15, wherein the signal bypass means is connected between the second splitter means and the active signal means, and to the passive signal means.

18. The entry device of claim 17, wherein the signal bypass means comprises:

first directional coupler means positioned between the active signal means and the second splitter means; and

second directional coupler means positioned between the passive port and the first splitter means,

wherein the signal bypass means extends between the first and second directional coupler means.

19. The entry device of claim 15, wherein the signal bypass means is configured to block at least downstream CATV signals from being transmitted between the active signal means and the passive signal means.

20. The entry device of claim 15, wherein the active signal means comprises an active upstream path and an active downstream path that extend parallel to one another, wherein the upstream CATV signals are prevented from proceeding through the active downstream path, and wherein the downstream CATV signals are prevented from proceeding through the active upstream path.

21. The entry device of claim 15, wherein the filter means are configured to block the MoCA signals from proceeding from the active ports, the passive ports, or both to the input port by attenuating the MoCA signals.

22. An entry device for a cable television (CATV) network, comprising:

an input port configured to be connected to the CATV network, such that the input port is configured to receive downstream CATV signals from the CATV network and provide upstream CATV signals thereto;

a first splitter electrically connected to the input port, the first splitter comprise a first output and a second output;

an active signal path electrically connected to the first output of the first splitter, the active signal path comprising one or more powered signal conditioning devices;

a passive signal path electrically connected to the second output of the first splitter, wherein the passive signal path is free from powered signal conditioning devices;

a second splitter electrically connected to the active signal path, the second splitter comprising a plurality of outputs;

a plurality of active ports coupled to the plurality of outputs of the second splitter, wherein the plurality of active ports are configured to communicate with one another via the second splitter;

a passive port coupled to the passive signal path and configured to communicate with the input port via the passive signal path;

a filter configured to block multimedia over coaxial alliance (MoCA) signals from proceeding from the active ports, the passive ports, or both to the input port; and

a signal bypass path configured to transmit the MoCA signals between the active ports and the passive port,

wherein;

the plurality of active ports are configured to receive the downstream CATV signals from the input port via the active signal path and the second splitter;

the plurality of active ports are configured to provide first MoCA signals to the second splitter;

the signal bypass path is configured to transmit the first MoCA signals to the passive port;

the active signal path is configured to prevent the first MoCA signals from the second splitter from being transmitted to the first splitter; and

the passive port is configured to provide second MoCA signals to the active ports via the signal bypass path and the second splitter.

23. The entry device of claim 22, wherein the filter is configured to block the MoCA signals from proceeding from the active ports, the passive ports, or both to the input port by at least partially obstructing the MoCA signals.