CATV reverse path manifold system

• US 5,109,286 A
• Filed: 12/06/1989
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farmer, James O., West, Lamar E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWANN, TOD R
• Application Number:
  US07/446,695
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 380/6, 380/7, 380/20, 380/52, 455/3-5, 455/26.1, 358/85, 358/86, 358/349
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/14 for the transfer of light or images, e.g. for video-surveillance, for television or from a computer screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/166 Passage/non-passage of the television signal, e.g. jamming, band suppression scrambling and descrambling H04N7/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A cable television reverse manifold system is coupled between first and second diplexers of off-premises subscriber service providing equipment. The diplexers separate the transmission path between a headend and a subscriber into downstream or forward and upstream or reverse transmission paths. In one embodiment, the reverse manifold apparatus combines signals from at least one subscriber for transmission to the headend. In another embodiment including a data receiver and a controller, the off premises service providing equipment may be controlled by the subscriber. In yet a third embodiment, a radio frequency transmitter is coupled between the controller and the upstream diplexer which may actuate a plurality of simultaneous data transmissions over separate data channels in the notoriously noisy subsplit 5-30 megahertz transmission spectrum.

Claims

1. Reverse manifold apparatus for use in a cable television system at a location of off-premises subscriber service providing equipment adaptable for serving one or more subscribers, the reverse manifold apparatus comprising:

a first diplexer;

a second diplexer;

said reverse manifold apparatus being coupled to a cable distribution plant side and to a subscriber premises side of the service providing equipment respectively by said first and second diplexers; and

a signal link connected between said first and second diplexers for receiving at least one upstream data transmission from subscriber premises equipment for transmission to a headend.

2. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a filter coupled between the first diplexer and the signal link, the filter for passing an upstream data transmission of restricted bandwidth to the headend.

3. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a radio frequency switch coupled between the first diplexer and the signal link.

4. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a filter and a radio frequency switch coupled between the first diplexer and the signal combiner.

5. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 1 connected on a subscriber premises side to a low pass filter, a radio frequency choke and the low pass filter being connected to the second diplexer, the radio frequency choke for receiving power for powering the off-premises service providing equipment supplied via a subscriber drop.

6. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a data receiver for receiving data transmitted from a subscriber premises via the signal combiner and a controller for controlling communications with the service providing equipment.

7. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a data transmitter coupled to the controller for transmitting confirmation and other data to the subscriber premises.

8. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 6 for use with subscriber service providing equipment including a radio frequency power amplifier, the controller responsive to the data receiver for setting the gain of the radio frequency power amplifier.

9. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a data transmitter connected between the second diplexer and the controller, the controller further controlling upstream communications to the headend.

10. Reverse manifold apparatus according to claim 9 the data transmitter comprising a plurality of data transmitters operating simultaneously in parallel under control of the controller.

11. Reverse manifold apparatus for use in a cable television system at a location of off-premises subscriber service providing equipment adaptable for serving one or more subscribers, the reverse manifold apparatus comprising:

a diplexer connected to the subscriber premises side of the service providing equipment;

said reverse manifold apparatus being coupled between the service providing equipment and said diplexer;

a signal combiner coupled to the diplexer for passing data transmitted from at least one subscriber served by the service providing equipment;

a data receiver coupled to the signal combiner for receiving the data transmission; and

a controller for controlling communication with the service providing equipment.

12. A method of controlling the gain of an off premises amplifier of cable television subscriber equipment comprising the steps of:

receiving a subscriber initiated command to set a gain level of the amplifier,

verifying that the subscriber has initiated the command, and

establishing the gain level of the amplifier if the subscriber command is verified.

13. The subscriber amplifier gain control methods of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

transmitting a confirmation to the subscriber that the gain level has been set.

14. A method of controlling parameters of off-premises cable television subscriber service providing equipment comprising the steps of:

receiving a command transmitted over a secure transmission to set a parameter of the off-premises cable television subscriber service providing equipment,

verifying the command,

storing the parameter if the command is verified, and

confirming the storing of the command.