Wireless two way transmission between center and user stations via a relay

• US 5,555,015 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intrinzix Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intrinzix Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Aguayo, Erwin Jr., Crowley, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/406,529
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/12, 348/13, 348/7, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/14, 455/67.3
• US Class Current: 725/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a communication system which can be utilized to complement an existing cable television system in which a central office transmits signals along a coaxial cable to a user unit through a tap. The communication system features a central transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly transmitting first signals generated at the central office and for receiving second signals. A first response unit which may be connected to the tap will receive the first signals wirelessly transmitted from the central transmitting/receiving unit, and will generate and wirelessly transmit the second signals to be received by the central transmitting/receiving unit. A further second response unit may be connected to the user unit, and the second response unit may generate a third signal to be wirelessly received by the first response. The third signal may be used to control the tap connected to the first response unit. Further, a relay unit may be provided to facilitate transmission between the first and second response units in the central transmitting/receiving unit.

Claims

1. A communication system for a cable television system in which a central location transmits signals along a coaxial cable to a user unit through a tap, comprising:

a central transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly transmitting a first signal generated at the central location and for receiving a second signal;

a first response unit for receiving the first signal wirelessly transmitted from the central transmitting/receiving unit and for generating and wirelessly transmitting the second signal to be received by the central transmitting/receiving unit;

a second response unit connected to the tap, and wherein the second response unit generates a third signal;

wherein the first response unit is connected to the tap and received the third signal, and wherein the third signal comprises command signals to control an operation of the tap connected to the first response unit, and the second signal includes an indication of the command signals of the third signal.

2. A communication system for a cable television system in which a central location transmits signals along a coaxial cable to a user unit through a tap, comprising:

a central transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly transmitting a first signal generated at the central location and for receiving a second signal;

a first response unit for receiving the first signal wirelessly transmitted from the central transmitting/receiving unit and for generating and wirelessly transmitting the second signal to be received by the central transmitting/receiving unit;

wherein the first response unit is connected to an amplifier along the coaxial cable, and wherein the first signal comprises a polling signal for polling an operation of the amplifier connected to the first response unit, and the second signal comprises response signals in response to the polling signal.

3. A communication system for a cable television system in which a central location transmits signals along a coaxial cable to a user unit through a tap, comprising:

a central transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly transmitting a first signal generated at the central location and for receiving a second signal;

a first response unit for receiving the first signal wirelessly transmitted from the central transmitting/receiving unit and for generating and wirelessly transmitting the second signal to be received by the central transmitting/receiving unit;

a second response unit connected to the user unit, and wherein the second response unit generates a third signal;

wherein the first response unit is connected to the tap and comprises a controller for controlling an operation of the tap based on the first and third signals.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a cable service on/off switch for controlling a supply of the cable signals to the user based on the first signal generated by the central transmitter/receiver unit.

5. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a channel specific interference generator or channel-specific trap to control channels supplied to the user based on the first or third signals.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the controller comprises a channel specific interference generator or channel-specific trap to control channels supplied to the user based on the first or third signals.

7. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a cable signal presence/strength sensor for detecting a presence and strength of the cable signals, and for generating the second signal in response an output of the cable signal presence/strength sensor.

8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the controller comprises a cable signal presence/strength sensor for detecting a presence and strength of the cable signals, and for generating the second signal in response an output of the cable signal presence/strength sensor.

9. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a cable leakage receiver for detecting a radiation leakage of the cable signals, and for generating the second signal in response to an output of the cable leakage receiver.

10. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a cable leakage receiver for detecting a radiation leakage of the cable signals, and for generating the second signal in response to an output of the cable leakage receiver.

11. A micro-response unit to be connected to a tap in a cable television communication system providing cable signals to a user, comprising:

a transmitter for generating and wirelessly transmitting a first signal indicating a status of the tap;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second signal;

a controller for controlling an operation of the tap based on the received second signal;

wherein the controller comprises a cable signal presence/strength sensor for detecting a presence and strength of the cable signals, and for generating the first signal in response to an output of the cable signal presence/strength sensor.

12. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the controller further comprises a cable leakage receiver for detecting a radiation leakage of the cable signals, and for generating the first signal in response to an output of the cable leakage receiver.

13. A micro-response unit to be connected to a tap in a cable television communication system providing cable signals to a user, comprising:

a transmitter for generating and wirelessly transmitting a first signal indicating a status of the tap;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second signal;

a controller for controlling an operation of the tap based on the received second signals;

wherein the controller comprises a cable leakage receiver for detecting a radiation leakage of the cable signals, and for generating the first signal in response to an output of the cable leakage receiver.