Format Converter with Smart Multitap

• US 20080010512A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Riggsby, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

Systems and methods for signal conversion with smart multitap are disclosed. Embodiments of the systems can be scalable to model different signal topologies, transmission frequencies, bandwidths, and distances. An exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods includes a fiber optic to RF converter and a smart multitap. Although a fiber optic to RF converter is used in exemplary embodiments throughout the disclosure, conversion between other signal topologies is within the scope of the disclosure. The smart multitap includes a multiple tap for distributing a signal to multiple terminals and a microprocessor to select a particular terminal for a signal. Exemplary embodiments include downstream implementations in which a stream is typically sent from a service provider server to a user. Alternative embodiments include downstream implementations as well as upstream implementations in which a user typically sends a stream to a service provider server.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a module configured to convert an input signal in a first format to a signal in a second format;

a configurable multitap for splitting the signal in the second format and selectively providing the signal in the second format to a plurality of output terminals; and

a processor for selecting at least one output terminal of the plurality of output terminals to receive the signal in the second format.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format is capable of being used on a fiber optic transmission medium.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter for passing a control signal to the processor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the filter is a bandpass filter.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a demodulator configured to demodulate the control signal for use by the processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the configurable multitap comprises:

a plurality of switches selectively controllable by the processor; and

a plurality of splitters communicatively coupled to the plurality of switches.

3. The system of claim I, wherein the second format is capable of being used on a radio frequency transmission medium.

8. A method comprising:

converting a downstream signal from a first format to a second format; and

distributing the downstream signal in the second format to multiple units using a smart multitap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first format is a fiber optic format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second format is an RF format.

11. The method of claim 8, farther comprising;

filtering the signal in the second format to produce a control signal; and

passing the control signal to a processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the filtering comprises bandpass filtering.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising demodulating the control signal for use by the processor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively controlling a plurality of switches by the processor.

15. A system comprising:

means for converting a downstream signal from a first format to a second format; and

means for distributing the downstream signal in the second format to multiple units using a smart multitap.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first format is a fiber optic format and the second format is an RF format.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising;

means for filtering the signal in the second format to produce a control signal; and

means for passing the control signal to a processor.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for filtering is a bandpass filter.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for demodulating the control signal for use by the processor.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for selectively controlling a plurality of switches by the processor.