Local status monitoring of taps in a cable television system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tap for use in a cable television system, the tap comprising:
- an incoming port for receiving an incoming signal;
first and second outgoing ports for transmitting outgoing signals, wherein each of the first and second outgoing ports can be enabled for transmission of the outgoing signals or disabled to prevent transmission of the outgoing signals;
a memory for storing operational parameters of the tap, including a status of each of the first and second outgoing ports as either enabled or disabled;
a controller coupled to the first and second outgoing ports and to the memory for enabling and disabling the first and second outgoing ports and for automatically updating the statuses of the first and second outgoing ports in the memory in response to any status changes; and
a display device coupled to the first and second outgoing ports for displaying the status of each of the first and second outgoing ports as either enabled or disabled.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tap (125) for use in a cable television system (100) includes an incoming port (202) for receiving an incoming signal from a head end section (105) and at least first and second outgoing subscriber ports (225, 230) for transmitting outgoing signals to system subscribers. The first and second subscriber ports (225, 230) can be enabled or disabled, depending upon whether cable service is to be provided from a particular port. The tap (125) also includes light sources (250, 260) located on the body of the tap (125) to indicate statuses, i.e., enabled or disabled, of the subscriber ports (225, 230).
32 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A tap for use in a cable television system, the tap comprising:
-
an incoming port for receiving an incoming signal; first and second outgoing ports for transmitting outgoing signals, wherein each of the first and second outgoing ports can be enabled for transmission of the outgoing signals or disabled to prevent transmission of the outgoing signals; a memory for storing operational parameters of the tap, including a status of each of the first and second outgoing ports as either enabled or disabled; a controller coupled to the first and second outgoing ports and to the memory for enabling and disabling the first and second outgoing ports and for automatically updating the statuses of the first and second outgoing ports in the memory in response to any status changes; and a display device coupled to the first and second outgoing ports for displaying the status of each of the first and second outgoing ports as either enabled or disabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A tap for use in a cable television system, the tap comprising:
-
an incoming port for receiving an incoming signal; first and second subscriber ports for transmitting outgoing signals, wherein each of the first and second subscriber ports can be enabled for transmission of the outgoing signals or disabled to prevent transmission of the outgoing signals; a memory for storing operational parameters of the tap, including a status of each of the first and second subscriber ports as enabled or disabled; a controller coupled to the first and second subscriber ports and to the memory for enabling and disabling the first and second outgoing ports and for automatically updating the statuses of the first and second subscriber ports in the memory in response to any status changes; and first and second light sources corresponding, respectively, to the first and second subscriber ports for indicating statuses of the first and second subscriber ports as either enabled or disabled. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A cable television system, including:
-
a head end section for transmitting cable television signals; at least one tap coupled to the head end section, the at least one tap including; an incoming port for receiving an incoming signal; first and second subscriber ports for transmitting outgoing signals, wherein each of the first and second subscriber ports can be enabled for transmission of the outgoing signals or disabled to prevent transmission of the outgoing signals; a memory for storing operational parameters of the at least one tap, including a status of each of the first and second subscriber ports as either enabled or disabled; a controller coupled to the first and second subscriber ports and to the memory for enabling and disabling the first and second subscriber ports and for automatically updating the statuses of the first and second subscriber ports in the memory in response to any status changes; a main outgoing port for forwarding the incoming signal to other devices of the cable television system; and first and second light sources corresponding, respectively, to the first and second subscriber ports for indicating statuses of the first and second subscriber ports as either enabled or disabled; and a communication medium coupled between the head end section and the incoming port of the at least one tap for providing the cable television signals thereto. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification