Method and system for using broadcast channel frequencies to provide data services over an existing CATV system
First Claim
1. A system for simultaneously providing to at least one subscriber video services and data services at broadcast channel frequencies over a provider'"'"'s coaxial cable network plant, comprising:
- a means for transmitting and receiving digital data at the at least one subscriber'"'"'s premises, said transmitting and receiving means being coupled to a portion of the coaxial cable network that is located at the subscriber'"'"'s premises and being capable of receiving and transmitting data signals at broadcast channel frequencies; and
a video receiving means for receiving video content signals located at the at least one subscriber'"'"'s premises, wherein said video receiving means is capable of transporting at frequencies that are higher than broadcast channel frequencies the received video content signals, said video receiving means being coupled to the portion of the coaxial cable network that is located at the subscriber'"'"'s premises and to the provider'"'"'s coaxial cable network plant.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A direct broadcast satellite system delivers video content to a subscriber and a CATV network is used to simultaneously provide data services to the same subscriber. Since the CATV system is not used to deliver video/television programming channels, these same channels can be used to transport downstream and upstream data signals. To provide upstream performance and immunity to noise, upstream data traffic signals are upconverted at a subscriber'"'"'s cable modem for transmission by channels having center frequencies higher than 54 MHz. Cable modem circuitry combines the conventional output signal with the output of a local oscillator to raise the carrier frequency of upstream traffic before it is introduced to the CATV network. Thus, upstream traffic can be carried by channels higher than 54 MHz. This upstream signal is received by a block converter that lowers the carrier frequency back to a conventional channel frequency before processing by a standard CMTS.
14 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for simultaneously providing to at least one subscriber video services and data services at broadcast channel frequencies over a provider'"'"'s coaxial cable network plant, comprising:
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a means for transmitting and receiving digital data at the at least one subscriber'"'"'s premises, said transmitting and receiving means being coupled to a portion of the coaxial cable network that is located at the subscriber'"'"'s premises and being capable of receiving and transmitting data signals at broadcast channel frequencies; and
a video receiving means for receiving video content signals located at the at least one subscriber'"'"'s premises, wherein said video receiving means is capable of transporting at frequencies that are higher than broadcast channel frequencies the received video content signals, said video receiving means being coupled to the portion of the coaxial cable network that is located at the subscriber'"'"'s premises and to the provider'"'"'s coaxial cable network plant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing data services over a coaxial cable network to one or more subscribers, wherein television programming is simultaneously provided to the one or more subscribers, comprising:
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coupling a DBS system to the one or more subscriber'"'"'s television premise equipment;
coupling a data services interface equipment of the one or more subscribers to the coaxial cable network, the data services interface equipment being capable of transmitting upstream data signals at elevated channel frequencies that are higher than a mid-split split point; and
inserting a block frequency converter between the coaxial cable network and a CMTS for converting the elevated upstream channel frequencies to channel frequencies below said split point before said upstream channel frequencies are provided to the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing data services to a subscriber over a coaxial cable network, comprising:
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upconverting the carrier channel frequency of an upstream data signal to a frequency above a mid-split frequency;
transmitting the upconverted upstream data signal over a coaxial cable network towards a CMTS at a head end location;
receiving the upconverted upstream data signal at the head end location;
downconverting the upconverted upstream data signal at the head end location; and
providing the downconverted upstream data signal to the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Circuitry for converting upstream data traffic signals of a communication device from standard upstream channel frequencies to higher channel frequencies, comprising:
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a means for generating a fixed-frequency signal;
a means for combining the fixed-frequency signal with the upstream signals to provide an upconverted upstream data traffic signal having a higher carrier frequency than the original upstream traffic signals; and
a means for combining the upconverted upstream traffic signal with downstream traffic signals, and for providing an interface between the combined upconverted traffic signals and the downstream traffic signals at a network connection point. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for upconverting an original upstream traffic signal into an upconverted upstream traffic signal comprising:
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receiving the original upstream traffic signal from a communication device;
mixing the original upstream traffic signal with a fixed-frequency signal to produce an upstream traffic signal having a higher carrier frequency than the original upstream traffic signal; and
providing the upconverted traffic signal to a combining means for coupling the upconverted upstream traffic signal and a received downstream traffic signal at a network connection point. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification