Super-ring architecture and method to support high bandwidth digital “last mile” telecommunications systems for unlimited video addressability in hub/star local loop architectures

• US 6,684,030 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Khamsin Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Khamsin Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Taylor, John A., Wieczorek, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US09/383,500
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 359/119, 359/123, 359/125, 359/135, 359/136, 359/137, 359/139, 370/254, 370/259, 370/352, 370/395, 398/59, 398/75, 398/71, 398/78, 398/98, 398/99, 398/100
• US Class Current: 398/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/028 WDM bus architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0282 WDM tree architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0283 WDM ring architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0286 WDM hierarchical architectures

Abstract

A communications system is provided which includes a regional ring with a plurality of local nodes, each local node including at least one fiber interface device and at least one Local Node interface device for connection to a global electrical and fiber network. The Local Node interface device connects to a user interface device through a cable. The system may include a “super ring” or “super branch” to service an even larger number of subscribers than a regional ring alone. In these embodiments, a global backbone may extend past and be spliced into an switch transfer point, which is in turn connected to a super ring or branch. The super ring or branch is then connected in turn to a number of regional rings or branches.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a fiber optic cable for connection to a global fiber backbone;

a super ring coupled to the fiber optic cable at a super ring global transfer point, the super ring having a plurality of optical fibers contained therein;

at least one super branch coupled to the super ring at a super branch transfer point, the super branch having a plurality of optical fibers contained therein and including

a plurality of nodes, each node including;

at least one fiber interface device; and

at least one node interface device;

whereby a plurality of user interface devices may be coupled to the node, each user interface device connected to a respective node interface device by a cable;

wherein each local node interface device further comprises;

a low frequency circuit for communicating low frequency signals, power, or DC signals;

a high frequency circuit for communicating data; and

a circuit for receiving a digital television signal broadcast by a satellite or an antenna;

and further comprising;

a cable connected to the Local Node interface device;

and wherein each user interface device for connecting the cable to a plurality of data devices, further comprises;

 

a low frequency circuit for communicating low frequency signals, power, or DC signals;

a high frequency circuit for communicating data; and

a plurality of interfaces for communicating signals to and from a plurality of input devices, such that at least one of the interfaces drives a port for a digital television.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface device further comprises an open industry standard port for a user interface device control, wherein a level of control may be input to the user interface device via the open industry standard port.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the local node interface device, the cable, and the user interface device operate in the optical domain.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the local node interface device, the cable, and the user interface device operate in the electrical domain.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital television receiver coupled to the Local Node.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the digital television receiver includes a circuit for receiving signals from a satellite.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the digital television receiver includes a circuit for receiving signals from an antenna.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the digital television receiver is coupled to the Local Node by a regional ring.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit for converting the digital television data from a first format to a second format.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first format includes MPEG-2.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first format includes HDTV.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second format includes SONET/SDH.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a multipurpose tuner coupled to the circuit for converting the digital television data, the multipurpose tuner to convert digital television data of different formats for output to a television.