UPSTREAM BANDWIDTH CONDITIONING DEVICE

• US 20100251323A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, David H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44245 Monitoring the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. its availability, bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613

Abstract

An upstream bandwidth conditioning device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system in or proximate to a premise of a user includes a main signal path divided into a forward path and a return path, the return path being divided into supplier side portion and a user side portion. The device further includes a supplier side termination device selectively connected to the supplier side portion by a supplier side termination switch, and a user side termination device selectively connected to the user side portion by a user side termination switch. A signal amplifier is selectively connected to the supplier side portion and the user side portion by at least one amplifier switch, and a switch controller is configured to actuate each of the supplier side termination switch, the user side termination switch, and the amplifier switch from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. An upstream bandwidth conditioning device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system in or proximate to a premise of a user, said device comprising:

a main signal path divided into a forward path and a return path, the return path being divided into supplier side portion and a user side portion;

a signal amplifier selectively connected to the supplier side portion and the user side portion by at least one amplifier switch; and

a switch controller configured to actuate the amplifier switch from a first position to a second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the switch controller is configured to actuate the amplifier switch from the first position to the second position in response to an input from at least one of a controller, the controller being selected from the group consisting of a physical switch, a analog logic circuit, and a CPU.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to provide the input to the switch controller based on an information signal passed through the main signal path.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the information signal is at least one of a coded operational signal and a tone.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a supplier side termination device selectively connected to the supplier side portion by a supplier side termination switch; and

a user side termination device selectively connected to the user side portion by a user side termination switch,

wherein the switch controller is configured to actuate each of the supplier side termination switch and the user side termination switch from a first position to a second position.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the supplier side termination device and the user side termination device each provide a resistance to ground.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the resistance to ground is 75 ohms.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the switch controller is configured to actuate the supplier side termination switch, the user side termination switch, and the amplifier switch from the first position to the second position in response to an input from a controller, the controller being at least one of a physical switch, an analog logic circuit, and a CPU.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to provide the input to the switch controller based on an information signal passed through the main signal path.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the information signal is at least one of a coded operational signal and a tone.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the main signal path is divided into the forward and the return path by a pair of diplexer filters.

12. The device of claim 5, wherein the first position for each of the supplier side termination switch and the user side termination switch is closed such that each of the supplier side portion and the user side portion are terminated to ground through the supplier side termination and the user side termination, respectively.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first position for the amplifier switch is open such that a signal does not pass from the user side portion to the supplier side portion.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein the second position for each of the supplier side termination switch and the user side termination switch is closed such that each of the supplier side portion and the user side portion are terminated to ground through the supplier side termination and the user side termination, respectively.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the second position for the amplifier switch is open such that a signal does not pass from the user side portion to the supplier side portion.

22. A splitter device comprising:

an input connector;

a plurality of user side connectors; and

at least one upstream bandwidth conditioning device according to claim 1 being associated with at least one of the user side connectors.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein each upstream bandwidth conditioning device is associated with a separate user side connector.

24. A device according to claim 22, wherein one of the upstream bandwidth conditioning devices is associated with more than one of the user side connectors.

16. A method for selectively alternating between a return path termination and an upstream bandwidth signal amplification using a device located in or prozimate to a premise of a user, the method comprising:

providing a main signal path divided into a forward path and a return path, the return path being divided into supplier side portion and a user side portion;

providing a signal amplifier selectively connected to the supplier side portion and the user side portion by at least one amplifier switch; and

switching the amplifier switch from a first position to a second position in response to an input signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the input signal is a signal from a controller, the controller being one of a physical switch, an analog logic circuit, and a CPU.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller generates the input signal based on an information signal passed through the main signal path.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing a supplier side termination device selectively connected to the supplier side portion by a supplier side termination switch;

providing a user side termination device selectively connected to the user side portion by a user side termination switch; and

switching each of the supplier side termination switch and the user side termination switch from a first position to a second position in response to the input signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first position of the supplier side termination switch and the user side termination switch is a closed position, and the first position of the amplifier switch is an open position.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing an amplifier switch selectively connecting the signal amplifier with a power source.