CATV subscriber terminal transmission control
First Claim
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1. A bidirectional cable communication system comprising:
- (a) a head end,(b) a bidirectional transmission network connected to the head end for transmitting signals downstream from the head end to a plurality of subscriber stations and for transmitting data signals upstream to the head end from the subscriber stations,(c) means at the head end for detecting collisions between signals received from the subscriber stations and for generating a collision signal,(d) means at the head end for transmitting downstream on the transmission, network status bits of data signals indicative of said collision, whereby upon detection thereof by a subscriber station it can be enabled to cease transmission.
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Abstract
A bidirectional cable communication system comprising a head and, a bidirectional transmission network connected to the head end for transmitting signals downstream from the head end to a plurality of subscriber stations and for transmitting data signals upstream to the head end from the subscriber stations, means at the head end for detecting collisions between signals received from the subscriber stations and for generating a collision signal, means at the head end for transmitting downstream on the transmission system status bits of data signal indicative of the collision, whereby upon detection thereof by a subscriber station it can be enabled to cease transmission.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A bidirectional cable communication system comprising:
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(a) a head end, (b) a bidirectional transmission network connected to the head end for transmitting signals downstream from the head end to a plurality of subscriber stations and for transmitting data signals upstream to the head end from the subscriber stations, (c) means at the head end for detecting collisions between signals received from the subscriber stations and for generating a collision signal, (d) means at the head end for transmitting downstream on the transmission, network status bits of data signals indicative of said collision, whereby upon detection thereof by a subscriber station it can be enabled to cease transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30)
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10. A subscriber terminal for use in a bidirectional cable communication system comprising:
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(a) means for repetitively receiving a data signal from a bidirectional transmission network of status bits indicative of a status of the network including signal collision, busy or idle, (b) means for formulating and storing a data signal to be transmitted via the network to a head end, (c) said transmitting means the data signal to the head end via the network, (d) said controlling means the means for transmitting, (e) the means for controlling comprising means for receiving a status bits, and for enabling transmission of the data signal with a predetermined probability P, means for counting the number of signal collision status signals received, and for adjusting the probability P in accordance therewith. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A head end for use in a bidirectional CATV communication system comprising:
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(a) a communication controller for receiving downstream data signals and for generating master data signals containing the downstream data signals, (b) a modulator for receiving various TV signals and said master data signals and for applying them in predetermined channels, to an upstream end of a coaxial cable, (c) a demodulator for receiving upstream data signals in another predetermined channel from the upstream end of the coaxial cable and for providing demodulated data signals for further processing, (d) a collision detector for receiving said data signals in said another predetermined channel from the upstream end of the coaxial cable, for detecting supervisory signals therein, for determining collisions between signals received from multiple sources downstream of the coaxial cable, and for providing an indication of said collisions in case thereof to the communication controller, and for generating supervisory signals and providing them to the communication controller. (e) the communication controller including means for providing the latter supervisory signals as part of the master data signals, whereby in case of detection of said collisions a predetermined collision supervisory signal is generated in the collision detector and is applied to the cable in the downstream direction from which it may be detected by said multiple sources. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification