Method and apparatus for bandwidth reuse in a communication network
First Claim
1. A method for reusing bandwidth within a system having a total bandwidth divided into multiple segments, the total bandwidth allocated for both upstream and downstream transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting first downstream information within a first bandwidth segment;
transmitting second downstream information within a second bandwidth segment;
routing the first downstream information transmitted within the first bandwidth segment to a first destination;
routing the second downstream information transmitted within the second bandwidth segment to a second destination; and
transmitting first upstream information from the first destination within a bandwidth segment of the total bandwidth used for downstream transmission other than the first bandwidth segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided within a system having a total bandwidth divided into multiple segments. The segments are preferably frequency segments in a frequency division multiplexing environment or time slot segments in a time division multiplexing environment. The system transmits first downstream information from a head end to a router within a first bandwidth segment and transmits second downstream information from the head end to the router within a second bandwidth segment. The router sends the first downstream information to a first destination and sends the second downstream information to a second destination. First upstream information is transmitted from the first destination and through the router to the head end within a bandwidth segment used for downstream transmission other than the first bandwidth segment. Second upstream information is transmitted from the second destination and through the router to the head end within a bandwidth segment used for downstream transmission other than the second bandwidth segment. Upstream information from a given destination is always sent over a different bandwidth from the bandwidth over which the downstream information was received. Further, the router directs respective downstream information to respective EUs while blocking other information to maintain privacy of information.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for reusing bandwidth within a system having a total bandwidth divided into multiple segments, the total bandwidth allocated for both upstream and downstream transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting first downstream information within a first bandwidth segment; transmitting second downstream information within a second bandwidth segment; routing the first downstream information transmitted within the first bandwidth segment to a first destination; routing the second downstream information transmitted within the second bandwidth segment to a second destination; and transmitting first upstream information from the first destination within a bandwidth segment of the total bandwidth used for downstream transmission other than the first bandwidth segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for reusing bandwidth, the system having a total bandwidth divided into multiple segments, the total bandwidth allocated for both upstream and downstream transmission, the system comprising:
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a head end that transmits first downstream information within a first bandwidth segment and transmits second downstream information within a second bandwidth segment; and a router that routes the first downstream information transmitted within the first bandwidth segment to a first destination and routes the second downstream information transmitted within the second bandwidth segment to a second destination, and routes first upstream information originating from the first destination to the head end within a bandwidth segment of the total bandwidth used for downstream transmission other than the first bandwidth segment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for reusing bandwidth in a communication system comprising the steps of:
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transmitting downstream information from a node to a first destination within a first bandwidth segment; transmitting downstream information from said node to at least one other destination within a corresponding at least one other bandwidth segment; and transmitting upstream information from said first destination to said node within one of said at least one other bandwidth segment. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification