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NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE HAVING A SOLID-STATE SAFEGUARD APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING THE QUALITY OF PASSIVE OPERATION IN THE EVENT OF DISRUPTIVE OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS

  • US 20140033264A1
  • Filed: 08/16/2013
  • Published: 01/30/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A network interface device operable to couple at least two subscriber devices to a cable television (CATV) network over which (a) downstream signals are transmittable to the at least two subscriber devices and (b) upstream signals are transmittable from the at least two subscriber devices, the at least two subscriber devices including at least one passive subscriber device and at least one active subscriber device, the network interface device comprising:

  • a signal splitter configured to separate CATV signals into passive branch signals and into active branch signals;

    an active branch circuit, the active branch circuit including an active signal conditioner operable to modify the active branch signals sent through the active branch circuit to the at least one active subscriber device;

    a passive branch circuit, wherein the passive branch signals are sendable through the passive branch circuit to the at least one passive subscriber device; and

    a safeguard circuit operably coupled to the active branch circuit and the signal splitter, the safeguard circuit having a first mode and a second mode, the safeguard circuit configured to exchange the CATV signals between the CATV network and the at least one active subscriber device when in the first mode, wherein;

    (a) the safeguard circuit is configured to perform signal reduction when in the second mode, (b) the safeguard circuit is configured to assume the first mode in response to sensing a normal operative condition of the network interface device and (c) the safeguard circuit is configured to assume the second mode in response to sensing an abnormal operative condition of the network interface device.

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