Growable architecture for high-speed two-way data services over CATV networks
First Claim
1. A method for communicating in a cable network comprising the steps of:
- at a bridge that is connected to a first cable segment;
(a) receiving from a shared communication medium a first carrier signal, having a first carrier frequency that is allocated for intra cable segment packet communication, containing packets modulated thereon,(b) demodulating selected packets originating in said first cable segment from said first carrier signal,(c) modulating each of said demodulated packets, that are destined outside of said first cable segment, onto a second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency that is allocated for upstream directed inter cable segment communication,(d) transmitting said second carrier signal on an upstream link of said common shared medium,(e) receiving at said bridge from a downstream link of said shared communication medium, to which at least a second cable segment is connected, a third carrier signal, having said second carrier frequency,(f) demodulating packets from said third carrier signal, and(g) modulating each of said packets that were demodulated from said third carrier signal onto said second carrier signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cable network is provided with at least one bridge that is connected to a first cable segment of the cable network. The bridge receives from a shared communication medium a first carrier signal, having a first carrier frequency that is allocated for intra cable segment packet communication, containing packets modulated thereon. The bridge demodulates selected packets originating in the first cable segment from the first carrier signal. The bridge modulates each of the demodulated packets, that are destined outside of the first cable segment, onto a second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency. The bridge then transmits the second carrier signal on an upstream link of the common shared medium.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for communicating in a cable network comprising the steps of:
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at a bridge that is connected to a first cable segment; (a) receiving from a shared communication medium a first carrier signal, having a first carrier frequency that is allocated for intra cable segment packet communication, containing packets modulated thereon, (b) demodulating selected packets originating in said first cable segment from said first carrier signal, (c) modulating each of said demodulated packets, that are destined outside of said first cable segment, onto a second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency that is allocated for upstream directed inter cable segment communication, (d) transmitting said second carrier signal on an upstream link of said common shared medium, (e) receiving at said bridge from a downstream link of said shared communication medium, to which at least a second cable segment is connected, a third carrier signal, having said second carrier frequency, (f) demodulating packets from said third carrier signal, and (g) modulating each of said packets that were demodulated from said third carrier signal onto said second carrier signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for communicating in a cable network comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a first carrier signal, having a first carrier frequency allocated for upstream directed intra cable segment communication from a shared medium, (b) demodulating from said first carrier signal, a packet that originated in a first cable segment connected to said shared medium and is destined to a second cable segment connected to said shared medium, (c) modulating said demodulated packet onto a second carrier signal, having a second carrier frequency that is allocated for downstream directed inter cable segment communication, (d) transmitting said second carrier signal on said shared medium, (e) receiving at said bridge from a downstream link of said shared communication medium, to which at least a second cable segment is connected, a third carrier signal, having said second carrier frequency, (f) demodulating packets from said third carrier signal, and (g) modulating each of said packets that were demodulated from said third carrier signal onto said second carrier signal.
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13. A method for communicating on a cable network comprising:
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(a) organizing each terminal equipment connected to a head end via a shared medium into plural cable segments, (b) allocating a first carrier frequency for only intra cable segment communication, a second carrier frequency for only upstream directed inter cable segment communication and a third carrier frequency for only downstream directed communication, (c) transmitting and receiving packets at each terminal equipment that are modulated only on a carrier signal having said first carrier frequency, and (d) at each bridge connected to one of said cable segments, transmitting packets that are destined outside of said connected cable segment, by modulating said packets on a carrier signal of only said second carrier frequency, and receiving packets that are destined to said connected cable segment, but originating outside of said connected cable segment, that are modulated on a carrier signal of only said first carrier frequency.
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14. A bridge in a cable network comprising:
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a first connection to a first cable segment, for receiving at least a first carrier signal, having a first carrier frequency that is allocated for intra cable segment packet communication, containing packets modulated thereon, a first demodulator for demodulating selected packets originating in said first cable segment from said first carrier signal, a first modulator for modulating only those of said selected packets, that are destined outside of said first cable segment, onto a second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency allocated for upstream inter cable segment packet communication, and a second connection to an upstream shared communication medium link of said cable network for transmitting said second carrier signal wherein said input also receives, from a downstream shared communication medium link, to which at least a second cable segment is connected, a third carrier signal, having said second carrier frequency, said bridge further comprising a second demodulator for demodulating packets from said third carrier signal, and wherein said first modulator modulates each of said packets that were demodulated from said third carrier signal onto said second carrier signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A cable network comprising:
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a shared medium, a plurality of terminal equipments connected to said shared medium and organized into plural cable segments, a first carrier frequency, in a frequency band of said shared medium, allocated for only intra cable segment communication, a second carrier frequency, in said frequency band of said shared medium, allocated for only upstream directed inter cable segment communication, a third carrier frequency, in said frequency band of said shared medium, allocated for only downstream directed inter cable segment communication, and at least one bridge connected to at least one of said cable segments, wherein each of said terminal equipments transmits and receives packets that are modulated only on carrier signals having said first carrier frequency, and wherein said at least one bridge receives packets from terminal equipments in said connected at least one cable segment that are modulated only on said carrier signals having said first frequency, transmits those of said received packets, that are destined outside of said connected at least one cable segment, by modulating said received packets on a second carrier signal having said second carrier frequency, receives second packets that are destined to said at least one connected cable segment, by demodulating said second packets from a third carrier signal having said third carrier frequency, and transmits said second packets by modulating said second packets on a fourth carrier signal having said first carrier frequency.
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Specification