Entertainment and computer coaxial network and method of distributing signals therethrough

• US 6,481,013 B1
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peracom Networks, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Peracom Networks, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Chorpenning, Jack S., Nunnery, William Burrell, Dinwiddie, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/251,315
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/8, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 348/552, 455/3.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 725/74-85, 725/131-134, 725/139-142, 725/151-153
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

Apparatus for distributing radio frequency (RF) modulated broadcast television signals from a broadcast signal source to networked appliances connected to the source through a plurality of single conductor coaxial cables, simultaneously with distributing unmodulated digital signals and RF modulated video signals exchanged between the networked appliances over the same network coaxial cables.

Claims

1. A method for bi-directionally distributing radio frequency (RF) modulated broadcast television signals from a broadcast signal source to networked appliances making up a complete network comprised of single conductor coaxial cables interconnected through a distribution unit, and connected to the source through the distribution unit and the plurality of single conductor coaxial cables, and simultaneously therewith bi-directionally distributing signals exchanged between the networked appliances over the same coaxial cables throughout the complete network, the exchanged signals including RF modulated video signals from RF modulated video signal appliances and unmodulated digital from digital signal appliances, the coaxial cables having cable characteristic impedance, the method comprising:

installing a device which comprises the distribution unit connected for bi-directionally transmitting and receiving RF modulated video signals on a plurality of interconnected coaxial cables, the distribution unit comprising a multi-drop signal distribution apparatus having a source input for receiving the RF modulated broadcast television signals from the broadcast source and having a plurality of signal ports for receiving the RF modulated video signals and unmodulated digital signals from each of the plurality of coaxial cables;

coupling the RF broadcast signals within said signal distribution apparatus, from said source input to each said signal port;

coupling the RF modulated video signals and the unmodulated digital signals received at each said signal port to each other signal port, without port-to-port signal isolation; and

connecting each appliance to its associated coaxial cable through an associated one of a plurality of signal frequency filters, including a digital signal frequency filter having a frequency bandpass suitable to pass therethrough the unmodulated digital signals at a selected signal bit speed, and including an RF modulated video signal filter having a frequency bandpass suitable to bi-directionally pass therethrough the RF modulated broadcast television signals and the RF modulated video signals, each said filter being connected at a first terminal thereof to the associated appliance and connected at a second terminal thereof to the associated coaxial cable, each one of said filters providing a substantially equal filter characteristic impedance to bandpass signals propagating bi-directionally through the multi-drop signal distribution apparatus and between the associated appliance and the coaxial cable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passband of said RF modulated video signal filter is at a higher frequency spectrum than the passband of said digital signal filter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency passband of said digital signal filter is substantially from zero hertz to 2.5 megahertz and the frequency passband of said RF video signal filter is greater than five megahertz.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of connecting further includes the steps of:

identifying each digital signal appliance and each associated digital signal frequency filter; and

inserting a filter impedance matching network intermediate to the connection between each digital signal appliance and said first terminal of said associated digital signal frequency filter, said filter impedance matching network providing a terminating impedance value at said first terminal which approximates the cable characteristic impedance provided to said second terminal, thereby providing substantially equal filter characteristic impedance to unmodulated digital signals exchanged at a signal bit speed, bi-directionally, through said digital signal frequency filter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of inserting further includes the step of:

providing said impedance matching network as a series resistor functionally connected at a first side thereof to said first terminal of said digital signal filter and connected at a second side thereof to the digital signal appliance, said series resistor being further connected at said second side through a shunt resistor to the low voltage potential reference of the digital signal appliance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said shunt resistor has a shunt impedance value which is substantially equal to the value of the cable characteristic impedance, and wherein said series resistor has a series impedance value which is in the range of from one third to two thirds of said shunt impedance value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said series impedance value is selected at a value within said range to minimize digital signal interference with the RF modulated video signals.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said signal bit speed of the unmodulated digital signal is a minimum of substantially 1.0 Mbps.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital signal frequency filter is at least a third order filter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital signal frequency filter is at least a fifth order filter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of installing further includes the step of blocking the RF modulated video signals and unmodulated digital signals received at said output signal ports from being coupled to said source input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of installing includes inserting, at each said output port, an associated distribution apparatus impedance matching network connected in series between the associated said output port and said source input, for providing a terminating impedance value at each said output port which approximates the cable characteristic impedance.

13. A method for bi-directionally distributing radio frequency (RF) modulated broadcast television signals from a broadcast signal source to networked appliances making up a complete network comprised of single conductor coaxial cables interconnected through a distribution unit, and connected to the source through a plurality of single conductor coaxial cables, while simultaneously bi-directionally distributing signals exchanged between the networked appliances over the same coaxial cables throughout the complete network, the exchanged signals including RF modulated video signals from RF modulated video signal appliances and unmodulated digital from digital signal appliances, the coaxial cable having a cable characteristic impedance, the method comprising:

installing a device which comprises the distribution unit for bi-directionally transmitting and receiving RF modulated video signals on a plurality of interconnected coaxial cables, the distribution unit comprising a multi-drop signal distribution apparatus having a source input for receiving the RF modulated broadcast television signals from the broadcast source and having a plurality of signal ports, each signal port receiving the RF modulated video signals and unmodulated digital signals from an associated one of the plurality of coaxial cables;

coupling the RF broadcast signals within said signal distribution apparatus, from said source input to each said signal port;

coupling the RF modulated video signals and the unmodulated digital signals received at each said signal port to each other signal port, without port-to-port signal isolation;

connecting each appliance to its associated coaxial cable through one of a plurality of signal frequency filters, each said filter being connected at a first terminal thereof to the associated appliance and connected at a second terminal thereof to the associated coaxial cable, said plurality of signal filters including digital signal frequency filters having a frequency bandpass substantially from zero hertz to 2.5 Megahertz, suitable to bi-directionally pass therethrough unmodulated digital signals between a digital signal appliance and the coaxial, said plurality of signal filters further including RF modulated video signal filters having a frequency bandpass greater than five megahertz, suitable to bi-directionally pass therethrough the RF modulated broadcast television signals and the RF modulated video signals between an RF modulated video signal appliance and the coaxial cable, each one of said video signal filters providing a substantially equal filter characteristic impedance to bandpass signals propagating bi-directionally therethrough between the associated appliance and the coaxial cable; and

inserting an impedance matching network between the signal input and output (I/O) ports of each digital signal appliance and said first terminal of said associated digital signal frequency filter, said impedance matching network providing a terminating impedance value at said first terminal which approximates the cable characteristic impedance provided to said second terminal, thereby providing said bi-directional exchange of unmodulated digital signals at a minimum signal bit speed of substantially with minimum digital signal interference of the RF modulated video signals.