Coaxial testing and provisioning network interface device

• US 5,982,412 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpha Technologies Services, Inc. (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Tollgrade Communications Incorporated (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Nulty, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/981,179
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 379/27, 379/29, 379/28, 379/22, 379/24, 379/10, 379/14-17, 348/6, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 370/352, 370/354
• US Class Current: 725/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A broadband network for providing broadband signals, such as cable television signals, to a subscriber location includes a network interface device installed at the subscriber'"'"'s end of the broadband network. The network interface device includes circuitry that provides for the selective provisioning of services to the subscriber location from the broadband network and a test circuit that can be selectively connected for testing signals appearing on the broadband network.

Claims

1. A provisioning and control apparatus for use in a communications system, the apparatus comprising:

a first network interface unit connected between a first communication network and an end use device via a first transmission medium, with the first network interface unit facilitating communication between the first communication network and the end use device via the first transmission medium;

a second network interface unit connected between a second communication network and the end use device via a second transmission medium, with the second network interface unit facilitating communication between the second communication network and the end use device via the second transmission medium, with the second network interface unit connected between the second communication network and the first network interface unit via the second transmission medium, with the second network interface unit facilitating communication between the second communication network and the first network interface unit via the second transmission medium; and

a central control and testing center connected between the first and second communication networks for transmitting and receiving a signal utilizing at least one of the first and second transmission mediums, the first network interface unit including means for receiving the signal from the central control and testing center on one of the first and second transmission medium and for responding thereto by transmitting a response signal to the central control and testing center utilizing the other of the first and second transmission medium.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the first network interface unit further includes means for receiving the signal on one of the first and second transmission medium and for responding thereto utilizing the one of the first and second transmission medium.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first transmission medium is coaxial wire and wherein the second transmission medium is telephone wire.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end use device includes a transceiver for facilitating communication between the end use device and at least one of the first and second communication networks.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first network interface unit further includes a termination and a means for connecting the first communication network to one of the end use device and the termination in response to receipt of a control signal transmitted on one of the first and second transmission medium.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein the first network interface unit further includes a grade of service device that is connectable between the first communication network and the end use device in response to the control signal.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first network interface unit further includes a reverse transmission filter that is connectable between the first communication network and the end use device in response to the control signal.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first network interface unit further includes a test circuit for testing the quality of signals from at least one of the first communication network and the end use device, and with the test circuit connectable to at least one of the first communication network and the end use device in response to a control signal.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein a grade of service device is connectable between the first communication network and at least one of the test circuit and the end use device in response to the control signal.

10. A network interface unit for connection between a telephone network and a broadband network, the network interface unit comprising:

a telephone communication circuit for transmitting and receiving telephone signals to and from the telephone network and for converting received telephone signals to digital signals;

a broad communication circuit for transmitting and receiving broadband signals to and from the broadband network and for converting received broadband signals to digital signals;

a controller connected between the telephone communication circuit and the broadband communication circuit for receiving the digital signals from at least one of the telephone network communication circuit and the broadband network communication circuit; and

a switching means connected to the controller and the broadband network, the controller including means for causing the switching means to one of connect and disconnect the broadband network to and from equipment in response to the receipt of a control signal by at least one of the telephone communication circuit and the broadband network communication circuit.

11. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 10 further including a termination connected to the switching means, the controller including means for causing the switching means to connect the broadband network to one of the termination and the equipment in response to the controller receiving the control signal.

12. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 10 further including a test circuit connected between the controller and the switching means, the controller including means for causing the switching means to connect the test circuit to at least one of the broadband network and the equipment in response to the receipt of the control signal, the test circuit converting a signal from the at least one of the broadband network and the equipment into a digital signal for use by the controller.

13. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 12 further including means for selecting a frequency of the signal on the broadband network to be converted into the digital signal.

14. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein the controller includes means for causing the switching means to isolate the equipment from the broadband network and the test circuit.

15. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein the controller responds to the digital signal by causing a response signal to be generated to one of the telephone network and the broadband network.

16. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein the controller includes:

means for transmitting digital signals to the telephone communication circuit wherein the digital signals are converted into telephone signals for transmission over the telephone network; and

means for transmitting digital signals to the broadband communication circuit wherein the digital signals are converted into broadband signals for transmission over the broadband network.

17. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 16 wherein the controller receives a signal from one of the telephone network and the broadband network and responds thereto via one of the telephone network and the broadband network.

18. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 10 further including at least one of (i) a first power supply circuit connected for receiving operating voltage from the telephone network;

(ii) a second power supply circuit connected for receiving operating voltage from the broadband network; and

(iii) a third power supply circuit connected for receiving power from a power utility outlet.

19. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 18 wherein the third power supply circuit includes a power inserter and power supply, the power inserter connected to the broadband network between the switching means and the equipment, and a power supply connected to the broadband network between the power inserter and the switching means, with the power inserter providing power to the power supply and blocking power to the equipment, and with the power inserter further providing a path for broadband signs between the switching means and the equipment.

20. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 10 further including an encryption key and unique address for selective communication therewith via at least one of the telephone network and the broadband network.

21. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein a plurality of equipment is connected to the switching means, and the controller causes the switching means to selectively connect one or more of the plurality of equipment to the broadband network in response to the controller receiving the control signal.

22. The network interface unit as set forth in claim 21 further including a test circuit and a termination connector to the switching means, the switching means selectively connecting one of the plurality of equipment to one of the test circuit and the termination in response to the controller receiving the control signal.