Combining multimedia signaling and wireless network signaling on a common communication medium

• US 20040123322A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Erkocevic, Nedim, Schultz, Kenneth David, Schultz, Franklin Sean David
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

Apparatus for combining at least multimedia signaling (e.g., CATV signals) and wireless network signaling for transmission over the same communication medium includes a first port for receiving a multimedia signal, a second port for receiving a wireless networking signal, and a third port being couplable to the communication medium. The apparatus is configured for generating a combined signal at the third port, the combined signal including at least a portion of the multimedia signal and at least a portion of the wireless networking signal. In this manner, wireless networking signals may be conveyed over the same communication medium as is used for multimedia signals.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing wireless network signaling over a communication medium, the apparatus comprising:

a first port for receiving a multimedia signal;

a second port for receiving a wireless networking signal; and

a third port being couplable to the communication medium;

wherein the apparatus is configured for generating a combined signal at the third port, the combined signal comprising at least a portion of the multimedia signal and at least a portion of the wireless networking signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a first filter including an input coupled to the first port and an output coupled to a multimedia device, the first filter being configurable so as to substantially attenuate signal frequency components outside of an anticipated frequency range of the multimedia signal; and

a second filter including an input coupled to the second port and an output coupled to a wireless networking device, the second filter being configurable so as to substantially attenuate signal frequency components outside of an anticipated frequency range of the wireless networking signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second filters are configurable for operation in substantially mutually exclusive frequency ranges.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one impedance matching circuit coupled in series between at least one of (i) an output of the first port and an input of the third port, and (ii) an output of the second port and the input of the third port, the at least one impedance matching circuit being configured so as to substantially match an impedance associated with at least one of a transmission line coupled to an input of the first port and a transmission line coupled to an input of the second port, respectively, with an impedance associated with a transmission line coupled to an output of the third port.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier circuit including at least one input configurable as a summing junction operatively coupled to the outputs of the first and second ports, and an output coupled to an input of the third port, the amplifier circuit being configured to at least one of (i) selectively amplify the multimedia signal by a first gain, and (ii) selectively amplify the wireless networking signal by a second gain.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the amplifier circuit comprises:

an amplifier;

a first resistor connected between an output of the amplifier and an input of the amplifier in a feedback arrangement, the first resistor having a first resistance value associated therewith;

a second resistor connected in series between the input of the amplifier and the output of the first port, the second resistor having a second resistance value associated therewith; and

a third resistor connected in series between the input of the amplifier and the output of the second port, the third resistor having a third resistance value associated therewith;

wherein the first gain is selectively adjustable as a function of the first and second resistance values, and the second gain is selectively adjustable as a function of the first and third resistance values.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless networking signal comprises an IEEE 802.11 compliant signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multimedia signal comprises a community antenna television (CATV) signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication medium comprises a coaxial cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a multiplexer including a first input coupled to an output of the first port, a second input coupled to an output of the second port, and an output coupled to an input of the third port, the multiplexer being operative;

(i) to receive the multimedia signal from the first port;

(ii) to receive the wireless networking signal from the second port; and

(iii) to generate the combined output signal at the third port.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna diversity switch coupled in series between the communication medium and a plurality of antennas associated with a wireless networking device, the diversity switch being configured such that one of the plurality of antennas is selected to transmit the wireless networking signal, and a signal strength of wireless networking signals from two or more of the plurality of antennas are compared to determine which of the plurality of antennas to receive the wireless networking signal.

12. A method for providing wireless network signaling over a communication medium, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia signal from the communication medium;

receiving a wireless networking signal, the wireless networking signal being distinguishable at least in frequency from the multimedia signal;

generating a combined signal, the combined signal comprising at least a portion of the multimedia signal and at least a portion of the wireless networking signal; and

transmitting the combined signal over the communication medium.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of extracting the multimedia signal and the wireless networking signal from the combined signal for use by a multimedia device and a wireless networking device, respectively, couplable to the communication medium.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication medium comprises a coaxial cable.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the multimedia signal is a community antenna television (CATV).

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless networking signal is an IEEE 802.11 compliant signal.

17. An integrated circuit (IC) device including at least one apparatus for providing wireless network signaling over a communication medium, the at least one apparatus comprising:

a first port for receiving a multimedia signal;

a second port for receiving a wireless networking signal; and

a third port being couplable to the communication medium;

wherein the apparatus is configured for generating a combined signal at the third port, the combined signal comprising at least a portion of the multimedia signal and at least a portion of the wireless networking signal.

18. The IC device of claim 17, wherein the at least one apparatus further comprises:

a multiplexer including a first input coupled to an output of the first port, a second input coupled to an output of the second port, and an output coupled to an input of the third port, the multiplexer being operative;

(i) to receive the multimedia signal from the first port;

(ii) to receive the wireless networking signal from the second port; and

(iii) to generate the combined output signal at the third port.

19. The IC device of claim 17, wherein the at least one apparatus further comprises:

an antenna diversity switch coupled in series between the communication medium and a plurality of antennas associated with a wireless networking device, the diversity switch being configured such that one of the plurality of antennas is selected to transmit the wireless networking signal, and a signal strength of wireless networking signals from two or more of the plurality of antennas are compared to determine which of the plurality of antennas to receive the wireless networking signal.