Method and system to transmit video/data signals from a device to a communications network connection card

• US 6,253,235 B1
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Estes, Daniel Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrews I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US08/634,279
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.716, H04/N.7173, 348/12, 348/13, 348/7, 348/6, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/3.1, 345/327, 709/217, 359/154, 359/173, 359/341
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

A system and method for the transmission of signals from a device to a communications network connection card. In particular, a return path is provided for the transmission of signals from a device to an interface where the signals are converted into a format acceptable for transmission to a communications network connection card. The signals are then transmitted to the card and/or may be transmitted to an optical network unit, thereby establishing a connection from the device to systems that employ optical networks. An embodiment also provides a transport system for the delivery of video signals to a device, for the return of analog signals from the device, and for the transmission of digital signals to a signal destination. This embodiment includes a broadband communications module that receives video signals from a signal source and delivers the video signals to the device. The module also receives analog signals from the device and transmits the analog signals to an interface. The interface receives the analog signals, converts the analog signals to digital signals and transmits the digital signals to an optical network unit or a communications network connection card for further transmission to a signal destination.

Claims

1. A signal transport system for the delivery of video signals in a downstream path to a plurality of devices, for the return of modulated analog signals having a digital content from at least one of the plurality of devices, and transmitting the modulated signals in an upstream path separate from the downstream path, through an optical network to a signal destination, comprising:

a video signal source operative for generating video signals to be transmitted over the downstream path;

an optical transmitter, operable for converting the video signal into an optical video signal, and transmitting the optical video signal over the downstream path; and

a broadband communications module comprising;

an optical receiver operable for receiving the optical video signals from the optical transmitter on the downstream path, converting the optical video signal to an electrical video signal;

a filter operable for filtering the electrical video signal;

a coaxial cable interface operable for transmitting the electrical video signal to a plurality of devices and receiving the return modulated analog signals having a digital content from the device and transmitting the return analog signals to the filter; and

a converter operable for converting the modulated analog signal into a digital signal and transmitting the converted signal to an optical network unit for transmission of the digital signal to the signal destination through the upstream path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said broadband communications module further comprises:

a coaxial cable interface operable for receiving the modulated analog signals having digital content from the device and transmits the modulated analog signals having digital content to a filter; and

a converter operable for converting the modulated analog signals having digital content to digital signals.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said converter formats said digital signals in a communications network connection format and wherein said converter transmits said digital signals in said communications network connection format to a communications network connection card.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said communications network connection card is adapted for use in said optical network unit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said communications network connection card transmits said digital signals in said communications network connection format to an optical receiver/transmitter.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said communications network connection card transmits said digital signals in said communications network connection format to a communications network.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm monitoring system, said alarm system being functionally connected through said optical network unit and said broadband communications module to said device and said alarm monitoring system being operative to monitor a radio frequency output to trigger an alarm upon degradation of said output delivered to said device or to trigger said alarm upon degradation of an optical signal input to said broadband communication module.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control feature with respect to said video signals delivered to said device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said control feature is a turn-on feature or a turn-off feature, whereby said video signals may be, respectively, turned-on for delivery to said device, or turned-off for delivery to said device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drop test unit, said drop test unit being functionally connected through said broadband communications module to said device and said drop test unit being operative to test the electrical characteristics of said video signals provided in said downstream path from said signal source through said broadband communications module to said device or to conduct a continuity check with respect to said video signals.

11. A broadband communications module for use in a signal transport system, comprising:

an optical receiver operable for receiving optical video signals from an optical transmitter on a downstream path, converting the optical video signal to an electrical video signal, and delivering the electrical video signals on a downstream path to a plurality of device;

a filter operable for filtering the electrical video signals;

a coaxial cable interface operable for transmitting the electrical video signal to a plurality of devices and receiving a return modulated analog signal from at least one of the plurality of devices, the return modulated analog signal having a digital content from the device and transmitting the return analog signals to the filter; and

a converter operable for converting the modulated analog signal into a digital signal and transmitting the converted signal to an optical network unit for transmission of the digital signal to the signal destination through the upstream path.

12. A signal transport system for the delivery of video signals to a plurality of devices, for the return of modulated analog signals from at least one of the plurality of devices, converting the modulated analog signals into digital signals, and transmitting the digital signals to a signal destination, comprising:

a video signal source operable for generating a plurality of video signals;

a broadband communications module operable for;

receiving the plurality of video signals;

transmitting the video signals to at least one device; and

receiving the modulated analog signals having digital content from at least one of the plurality of devices;

a downstream path for carrying the electric video signals to the broadband communications module;

an interface for converting the analog signals to digital signals;

an optical network unit operable for converting the digital signals from the interface into optical signals; and

an upstream path connected to the optical network unit for carrying the optical signals to the destination device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the broadband communications module further comprises:

a coaxial cable interface operable for receiving the modulated analog signals from the device; and

a filter operable for filtering unwanted signals from the modulated analog signals and transmitting the filtered signals to the interface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the interface further comprises a converter to convert the modulated analog signals to the digital signals.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the converter is operable for:

formatting the digital signals in a communications network connection format;

transmitting the digital signals in the communications network connection format to a communications network connection card; and

transmitting the digital signals in the communications network connection format to an optical receiver/transmitter in the optical network unit.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an alarm monitoring system, the alarm monitoring system being functionally connected through the optical network unit and the broadband communications module to the device and the alarm monitoring system being operable for monitoring a radio frequency output to trigger an alarm upon degradation of the output delivered to the device or to trigger the alarm upon degradation of an optical signal input to the broadband communication module.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a control feature with respect to the signals delivered to the device, wherein the control feature is a binary feature operable for enabling or disabling the delivery of the video signal to the device.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a drop test unit, the drop test unit being functionally connected through the broadband communications module to the device and the drop test unit being operative to test the electrical characteristics of the video signals provided in the downstream path from the signal source through the broadband communications module to the device or to conduct a continuity check with respect to the video signals.