Single master clock control of ethernet data transfer over both a cable TV return path and an ethernet forward path
First Claim
1. In a cable distribution network environment that includes a cable hub and a cable node, the cable node capable of transmitting RF data and Ethernet data over a return path to the cable hub, the cable hub further being capable of transmitting Ethernet data over a forward path to the cable node, a method for synchronizing data transfers over both the return path and the forward path using a single master clock, the method comprising the following:
- an act of the cable node using a master clock to sample the RF data and combine the RF data with the Ethernet data;
an act of the cable node transmitting the combined RF data and Ethernet data along with master clock information to the cable hub in a data stream;
an act of the cable hub recovering the master clock information from the data stream to acquire an approximate in-frequency replicate signal of the master clock;
an act of the cable hub using the replicated master clock signal to desample the RF data; and
an act of the cable hub using the replicated master clock signal to serialize Ethernet data transmitted along the forward path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical signal return path system analog RF signals are sampled using a master clock frequency, and combined with digital data such as Ethernet data at a cable node. The cable node sends the combined signals on a return path over a fiber optic medium to the cable hub. The cable hub extracts an approximate in-frequency replicate of a master clock signal, and can use the replicate master clock signal to desample the digitized RF signals back to analog. The cable hub can further use the replicate of the master clock signal to serialize Ethernet data, and send the Ethernet data back to the cable node via an optical cable in the forward direction. Accordingly, a single master clock signal can be used on a CATV network for encoding/decoding, and transmitting a variety of data signals, which enhances the integrity and reliability of the data signals.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a cable distribution network environment that includes a cable hub and a cable node, the cable node capable of transmitting RF data and Ethernet data over a return path to the cable hub, the cable hub further being capable of transmitting Ethernet data over a forward path to the cable node, a method for synchronizing data transfers over both the return path and the forward path using a single master clock, the method comprising the following:
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an act of the cable node using a master clock to sample the RF data and combine the RF data with the Ethernet data;
an act of the cable node transmitting the combined RF data and Ethernet data along with master clock information to the cable hub in a data stream;
an act of the cable hub recovering the master clock information from the data stream to acquire an approximate in-frequency replicate signal of the master clock;
an act of the cable hub using the replicated master clock signal to desample the RF data; and
an act of the cable hub using the replicated master clock signal to serialize Ethernet data transmitted along the forward path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a cable distribution network environment in which RF data and Ethernet data are transmitted between two points of return and forward optical cables, a cable node including one or more components having executable instructions stored thereon, that, when executed, perform a method comprising the following:
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an act of using a master clock to sample RF data and combine the RF data with Ethernet data;
an act of transmitting the combined RF data and Ethernet data along with master clock information to the cable hub in a data stream;
an act of receiving Ethernet data from the cable hub along a forward optical cable, wherein the Ethernet data has been serialized into an Ethernet data stream using the master clock signal; and
an act of recovering an approximate replicate of the master clock signal from the received Ethernet data stream. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a cable distribution network environment in which RF data and Ethernet data are transmitted between two points separated by return and forward optical cables, a cable hub including one or more components having executable instructions stored thereon, that, when executed, perform a method comprising the following:
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an act of receiving a combined data stream sent from a cable node over a return optical cable, wherein the combined data stream includes one or more digitized RF data signals, and one or more non-RF data signals;
an act of recovering an approximate in-frequency replicate of a master clock signal from the combined data stream;
an act of desampling the RF data based on the recovered replicate of the master clock signal; and
an act of the using the recovered replicate of the master clock signal to serialize at least a portion of the non-RF data signals extracted from the combined data stream. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification