Passive Multi-Port Entry Adapter and Method for Preserving Downstream CATV Signal Strength within In-Home Network

• US 20110072472A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wells, Chad T., Egan, John M. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/615 Signal processing at physical level signal processing in analog two-way television systems H04N7/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A cable television (CATV) entry adapter interfaces to a CATV network and serves as a hub in an in-home network for passively communicating multimedia content or information from the CATV network and between subscriber devices connected to the ports of the CATV entry adapter, using CATV signals in a CATV frequency band and network signals in a different in-home network band.

Claims

1. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for conducting downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and at a least one subscriber device at subscriber premises and for conducting in-home network signals between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, the CATV signals occupying a CATV frequency band which is different from an in-home network frequency band occupied by the in-home network signals, the in-home network including a network interface connected to each subscriber device by which to generate and communicate the network signals between the subscriber devices in the in-home network, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a CATV entry port for connection to the CATV network;

a plurality of network ports each for connection to the network interface to which each subscriber device is connected;

a signal splitter having an input terminal and two output terminals, the signal splitter operatively splitting a signal received at its input terminal into reduced-power copies of the input signal supplied at each of its output terminals, the signal splitter also communicating signals received at each output terminal to the input terminal and to each other output terminal, each output terminal connecting to one of the network ports; and

an in-home network frequency band rejection device connected between the CATV entry port and the input port of the signal splitter, the in-home network frequency band rejection device substantially blocking transmission of the in-home network signals therethrough to the CATV entry port and the CATV network.

2. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, which comprises only passive electronic components.

3. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, which functions without a power source separate from the CATV signals and the in-home network signals.

4. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

downstream and upstream signals CATV respectively from and to the CATV network pass through the rejection device without substantial attenuation.

5. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

one of the plurality of network ports is for connection to a server network interface;

each remaining network port is for connection to a client network interface;

the server network interface sends and receives downstream and upstream CATV signals and network signals to communicate information contained in the CATV and network signals to the subscriber device to which the server network interface is connected; and

each client network interface sends and receives network signals to communicate information contained in the network signals to the subscriber device to which each client network interface is connected; and

the server network interface also has a capability for storing downstream CATV signals and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

6. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the rejection device comprises a rejection filter which substantially attenuates signals within the in-home network frequency band which pass through the rejection filter.

7. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the aforementioned signal splitter constitutes a first signal splitter; and

further comprising;

an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA-compatible subscriber device including a modem and telephone set; and

a second signal splitter having an input terminal and at least two output terminals, the second signal splitter operatively splitting a signal received at its input terminal into a reduced-power copy of the input signal supplied at each of its output terminals, the second signal splitter also communicating signals received at each of its output terminals to its input terminal and to its other output terminals; and

wherein;

the input terminal of the second signal splitter is connected to the rejection filter to receive downstream CATV signals from the rejection filter and to supply Upstream CATV signals to the rejection filter;

one output terminal of the second signal splitter is connected to the eMTA port; and

the other output terminal of the second signal splitter is connected to the input terminal of the first signal splitter.

8. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 7, wherein:

one of the plurality of network ports other than the eMTA port is for connection to a server network interface;

each remaining network port other than the eMTA port is for connection to a client network interface;

the server network interface sends and receives downstream and upstream CATV signals and network signals to communicate information contained in the CATV and network signals to the subscriber device to which the server network interface is connected; and

each client network interface sends and receives network signals to communicate information contained in the network signals to the subscriber device to which each client network interface is connected; and

the server network interface also has a capability for storing downstream CATV signals and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

9. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the rejection device comprises a diplexer having a common terminal and first and second frequency band terminals, the diplexer communicating signals within a predetermined relatively high frequency band between the common terminal and the first frequency band terminal, and the diplexer communicating signals at a predetermined relatively low frequency band between the common terminal and the second frequency band terminal;

the network signals are only within the predetermined relatively high frequency band;

the CATV signals are only within the predetermined relatively low frequency band;

the CATV entry port is operatively connected to the second frequency band terminal of the diplexer; and

the first frequency band terminal of the diplexer is operatively connected to the input terminal of the signal splitter.

10. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the aforesaid diplexer constitutes a first diplexer; and

further comprising;

a second diplexer having a common terminal and first and second frequency band terminals, the second diplexer communicating signals within a predetermined relatively high frequency band between the input terminal and the first output terminal, the second diplexer also communicating signals at a predetermined relatively low frequency band between the input terminal and the second output terminal; and

wherein;

the predetermined relatively high frequency bands of the first and second diplexers encompass the network signals but exclude the CATV signals;

the predetermined relatively low frequency bands of the first and second diplexers encompass the CATV signals but exclude the network signals;

the rejection device comprises both the first and second diplexers;

the first frequency band terminals of both the first and second diplexers are operatively connected together;

the second frequency band terminals of both the first and second diplexers are operatively connected to the CATV entry port; and

the common terminal of the second diplexer is connected to the input terminal of the signal splitter.

11. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the aforementioned signal splitter constitutes a first signal splitter; and

further comprising;

a second signal splitter having an input terminal and two output terminals, the second signal splitter operatively splitting a signal received at its input terminal into a reduced-power copy of the input signal supplied at each of its output terminals, the second signal splitter also communicating signals received at each of its output terminals to its input terminal and to the other ones of its output terminals; and

wherein;

the second frequency band terminals of both the first and second diplexers are operatively connected together by connection the second frequency band terminal of the first diplexer to one output terminal of the second signal splitter and by connection of the second frequency band terminal of the second diplexer to the other output terminal of the second signal splitter.

12. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 11, wherein:

one of the plurality of network ports constitutes a principal network port for connection to a server network interface;

each remaining network port constitutes a secondary network port for connection to a client network interface;

the principal network port is connected to the common terminal of the second diplexer;

each secondary network port is connected to an output terminal of the first splitter;

the server network interface sends and receives downstream and upstream CATV signals and network signals to communicate information contained in the CATV and network signals to the subscriber device to which the server network interface is connected; and

each client network interface sends and receives network signals to communicate information contained in the network signals to the subscriber device to which each client network interface is connected; and

the server network interface also has a capability for storing downstream CATV signals and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

13. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA-compatible subscriber device including a modem and telephone set; and

wherein;

the second signal splitter includes three output terminals, two of which are connected as aforesaid and the third of which is connected to the EMTA port.

14. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 9, wherein:

one of the plurality of network ports constitutes a principal network port for connection to a server network interface;

each remaining network port constitutes a secondary network port for connection to a client network interface;

the principal network port is connected to the common terminal of the diplexer;

each secondary network port is connected to an output terminal of the splitter;

the server network interface sends and receives downstream and upstream CATV signals and network signals to communicate information contained in the CATV and network signals to the subscriber device to which the server network interface is connected; and

each client network interface sends and receives network signals to communicate information contained in the network signals to the subscriber device to which each client network interface is connected; and

the server network interface also has a capability for storing downstream CATV signals and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

15. A CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the aforementioned signal splitter constitutes a first signal splitter; and

further comprising;

an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA-compatible subscriber device including a modem and telephone set; and

a second signal splitter having an input terminal and two output terminals, the second signal splitter operatively splitting a signal received at its input terminal into a reduced-power copy of the input signal supplied at each of its output terminals, the second signal splitter also communicating signals received at each of its output terminals to its input terminal and to the other ones of its output terminals; and

wherein;

the input terminal of the second splitter is connected to the CATV entry port;

one of the output terminals of the second splitter is connected to the second frequency band terminal of the diplexer; and

the other output terminal of the second splitter is connected to the eMTA port.

16. An in-home network for distributing multimedia content to subscriber devices, the multimedia content obtained from CATV signals communicated over a CATV network and obtained from a subscriber device connected to the in-home network, the in-home network comprising:

a CATV entry adapter having a CATV entry port and a plurality of network ports, the CATV entry port connected to a CATV network for receiving multimedia content from CATV signals communicated over the CATV network;

a plurality of in-home network interfaces, each of the network interfaces connected to a different one of the plurality of network ports;

each of the network interfaces communicate multimedia content to the subscriber devices to which each network interface is connected;

all of the network interfaces communicate multimedia content between one another in network signals communicated between the network interfaces;

at least one of the network interfaces sends and receives CATV signals and communicates the multimedia content contained in the CATV signals to the subscriber device to which the one network interface is connected and communicates the multimedia content obtained from the CATV signals in network signals communicated through the CATV entry adapter to another network interface;

each of the network interfaces communicates multimedia content obtained from a subscriber device connected to that network interface in network signals communicated through the CATV entry adapter to another network interface; and

wherein;

the network signals are located within a network frequency band which is different from a CATV frequency band within which the CATV signals are located.

17. An in-home network as defined in claim 16, wherein:

the CATV entry adapter comprises an in-home network frequency band rejection device connected to the CATV entry port which passes the CATV signals and substantially blocks network signals from leaving the in-home network and entering the CATV network.

18. An in-home network as defined in claim 17, wherein:

the rejection device comprises only passive electronic components.

19. An in-home network as defined in claim 17, wherein:

the rejection device comprises a diplexer having a common terminal and first and second frequency band terminals, the diplexer communicating signals within a predetermined relatively high frequency band between the common terminal and the first frequency band terminal, and the diplexer communicating signals at a predetermined relatively low frequency band between the common terminal and the second frequency band terminal;

the network signals are only within one of the predetermined relatively high or relatively low frequency bands;

the CATV signals are only within the other one of the predetermined relatively high or relatively low frequency band;

the CATV entry port is operatively connected to one of the first or second frequency band terminals of the diplexer which conducts the CATV signals; and

at least some of the network ports are operatively connected to the one of the first or second frequency band terminals of the diplexer which conducts the network signals.

20. An in-home network as defined in claim 16, wherein:

one of the plurality of network ports constitutes a principal network port for connection to a server network interface;

each remaining network port constitutes a secondary network port for connection to a client network interface;

the server and client network interfaces each send and receive network signals to communicate information contained in the CATV and network signals to the subscriber devices to which the network interfaces are connected; and

the server network interface also sends and receives CATV signals and has a capability for storing information obtained from downstream CATV signals and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

21. A method of communicating information contained in downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and at a least one subscriber device at a subscriber premises and contained in network signals conducted between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, comprising:

connecting a CATV entry adapter to receive and transmit CATV signals from and to the CATV network, respectively;

connecting in-home network interfaces to each subscriber device to form the in-home network among the subscriber devices to which network interfaces are attached;

connecting the CATV entry adapter as a hub in the in-home network to pass network signals between network interfaces;

confining the network signals to an in-home network frequency band;

confining the CATV signals to a CATV network frequency band which is different from the in-home network frequency band;

connecting the CATV adapter to at least one network interface to receive and transmit CATV signals supplied from and to the CATV entry adapter; and

preventing transmission of the network signals within the CATV entry adapter onto the CATV network.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

designating the one network interface as a server network interface;

designating the network interfaces other than the server network interface as each a client network interface;

communicating information contained in CATV signals to and from the CATV entry adapter through the server network interface to the subscriber device to which the server network interface is connected;

communicating information contained in network signals between the network interfaces through each network interface to the subscriber device to which each network interface is connected; and

storing information contained in downstream CATV signals in the server network interface and subsequently supplying network signals to a client network interface which contain the information stored from the downstream CATV signals.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

splitting the downstream CATV signals within the CATV entry adapter into at least two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal;

conducting one of the two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal to the server network interface; and

conducting the other one of the two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal to each client network interface.

24. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

connecting an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA)-compatible modem and telephone set subscriber device to the CATV entry adapter; and

splitting the downstream CATV signals within the CATV entry adapter into at least two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal;

conducting one of the two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal to the server network interface; and

conducting the other one of the two reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal to the eMTA-compatible modem and telephone set subscriber device.

25. A method as defined in claim 23, further comprising:

splitting the downstream CATV signals within the CATV entry adapter into first, second and third reduced-power copies of the downstream CATV signal;

conducting the first reduced-power copy of the downstream CATV signal to the EMTA-compatible modem and telephone set subscriber device;

conducting the second reduced-power copy of the downstream CATV signal to the server network interface; and

distributing the third reduced-power copy of the downstream CATV signal among the client network interfaces.