Return path transmitter with extended digital processing circuitry

• US 20040103441A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Andrew R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring

Abstract

A Cable Television (CATV) digital return link system that provides dedicated, high-speed, full-duplex and point-to-point connections between users and the head end system is disclosed. The CATV digital return link system includes return path transmitters, intermediate hubs and a head end hub coupled to each other via a network of fiber optic cables. The return path transmitters are each coupled to a relatively large number of users via a local CATV-subtree. Signals from cable modems are transmitted via the local CATV-subtree to the return path transmitters for transmission to the head end. The return path transmitters include circuitry for digitally processing the RF data from the subtree prior to transmitting the RF data to the head end.

Claims

1. A return path transmitter for use in conjunction with a local system that generates an analog RF data signal to be conveyed to a head end system, the return path transmitter comprising:

an RF signal receiver configured to receive and convert the analog RF data signal into digitized RF data samples, the RF signal receiver further configured to output a first data stream including the digitized RF data samples;

digital processing circuitry configured to digitally process the first data stream and create corresponding digitally processed data;

a summing circuit configured to sum the corresponding digitally processed data of the first data stream to create a combined digital data stream; and

an optical transmitter configured to convert the combined digital data stream into a first optical data signal for transmission over an optical fiber to the head end system.

2. The return path transmitter of claim 1, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to

determine a signal strength of the RF data signal by reference to the first data stream;

and

compute an analog amplification level for the RF data signal by reference to the signal strength.

3. The return path transmitter of claim 2, wherein the corresponding digitally processed data comprises the signal strength of the RF data signal.

4. The return path transmitter of claim 2, wherein the corresponding digitally processed data comprises the analog amplification level of the RF data signal.

5. The return path transmitter of claim 2, further comprising an amplifier, said amplifier configured to amplify the analog RF data signal by an amount that corresponds to the analog amplification level.

6. The return path transmitter of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving commands originating from the head end, said commands sent in response to the corresponding digitally processed data, wherein said commands when executed adjust an operation of the digital processing circuitry.

7. The return path transmitter of claim 1, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to shape the first data stream in a frequency domain.

8. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to perform a predefined equalization of a gain of the RF data signal across a frequency range.

9. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to equalize a gain of the RF data signal across a frequency range by reference to and manipulation of the first data stream.

10. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to implement variable digital signal attenuation upon the first data stream.

11. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to filter noise from the first data stream.

12. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to:

separate the first data stream into two or more frequency bands;

separately filter noise from the two or more frequency bands; and

recombine the two or more frequency bands to reform the first data stream with reduced noise.

13. The return path transmitter of claim 7, wherein the corresponding digitally processed data relates to a shape of the first data stream in the frequency domain.

14. The return path transmitter of claim 1, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to:

perform a spectrum analysis of the first data stream; and

detect an ingress problem by reference to the spectrum analysis.

15. The return path transmitter of claim 14, wherein the corresponding digitally processed data relates to the ingress problem.

16. The return path transmitter of claim 14, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to compute a reduced analog amplification level for the RF data signal upon detecting the ingress problem.

17. A return path transmitter for use in conjunction with a local system that generates an analog RF data signal to be conveyed to a head end system, the return path transmitter comprising:

an RF signal receiver configured to receive and convert the analog RF data signal into digitized RF data samples, the RF signal receiver further configured to output a first data stream including the digitized RF data samples;

an optical transmitter configured to convert the first data stream into a first optical data signal for transmission over an optical fiber to the head end system; and

digital processing circuitry configured to determine a signal strength of the RF data signal by reference to the first data stream and compute an analog amplification level for the RF data signal by reference to the signal strength.

18. The return path transmitter of claim 17, wherein the digital processing circuitry creates corresponding digitally processed data comprising the signal strength and the analog amplification level of the RF data signal.

19. The return path transmitter of claim 17, further comprising an amplifier, said amplifier configured to amplify the analog RF data signal by an amount that corresponds to the analog amplification level.

20. A return path transmitter for use in conjunction with a local system that generates an analog RF data signal to be conveyed to a head end system, the return path transmitter comprising:

an RF signal receiver configured to receive and convert the analog RF data signal into digitized RF data samples, the RF signal receiver further configured to output a first data stream including the digitized RF data samples;

digital processing circuitry configured to shape the first data stream in a frequency domain; and

an optical transmitter configured to then convert the first data stream into a first optical data signal for transmission over an optical fiber to the head end system.

21. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to perform a predefined equalization of a gain of the RF data signal across a frequency range.

22. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to equalize a gain of the RF data signal across a frequency range by reference to and manipulation of the first data stream.

23. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to implement variable digital signal attenuation upon the first data stream.

24. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to filter noise from the first data stream.

25. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to:

separate the first data stream into two or more frequency bands;

separately filter noise from the two or more frequency bands; and

recombine the two or more frequency bands to reform the first data stream with reduced noise.

26. The return path transmitter of claim 20, wherein the corresponding digitally processed data relates to a shape of the first data stream in the frequency domain.

27. A return path transmitter for use in conjunction with a local system that generates an analog RF data signal to be conveyed to a head end system, the return path transmitter comprising:

an RF signal receiver configured to receive and convert the analog RF data signal into digitized RF data samples, the RF signal receiver further configured to output a first data stream including the digitized RF data samples;

an optical transmitter configured to convert the first data stream into a first optical data signal for transmission over an optical fiber to the head end system; and

digital processing circuitry configured to perform a spectrum analysis of the first data stream and detect an ingress problem by reference to said spectrum analysis.

29. The return path transmitter of claim 29, wherein the digital processing circuitry is further configured to compute a reduced analog amplification level for the RF data signal upon detecting the ingress problem.

28. The return path transmitter of claim 29, wherein the digital processing circuitry digitally processes the data within the first data stream to create a digital data stream comprising processed data relating to the ingress problem.