Upward-joining-noise decreasing method and apparatus

• US 6,728,968 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Abe, Kaoru, Ito, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/521,655
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.4, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3, 725/121, 725/124, 725/125, 725/126, 348/192, 348/193
• US Class Current: 725/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method for decreasing upward-joining-noise in an upward-signal-inputting position of a center device includes the steps of: measuring a noise level of each of a plurality of upward signals supplied from a plurality of transmission lines; determining whether the measured noise level of each upward signal is low enough or not; and based on a determination result, controlling and adjusting a level of each upward signal. Therefore, the level of an upward signal, for which the noise level of the upward signal is determined to be low enough, is adjusted higher but still kept at a level low enough not to interfere with upward signals from other transmission lines.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing upward-joining-noise in a two-way communication system connected by a plurality of transmission lines between a center device and a plurality of subscriber terminals, said upward-joining-noise decreasing method comprising the steps of:

in an upward-signal-inputting position of said center device,

(a) measuring a desired to undesired signal ratio of each of a plurality of upward signals inputted from the plurality of transmission lines;

(b) determining whether said measured desired to undesired signal ratio of each inputted upward signal is greater than a predetermined value;

(c) controlling a an output level for each inputted upward signal based on a result obtained from said determining step (b); and

(d) adjusting said output level for each inputted upward signal according to said controlling step (c).

2. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an output level adjustment such that attenuation of an inputted upward signal, for which the desired to undesired signal ratio of said inputted upward signal is greater than the predetermined value, is decreased.

3. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an output level adjustment such that said attenuation of said inputted upward signal is decreased by more than three stages.

4. A method for decreasing upward-joining-noise in a two-way communication system connected by a plurality of transmission lines between a center device and a plurality of subscriber terminals, said upward-joining-noise decreasing method comprising the steps of:

at a plurality of transmission-line amplifiers provided on the plurality of transmission lines,

(a) measuring a desired to undesired signal ratio of each of a plurality of upward signals inputted from the plurality of transmission lines and the plurality of subscriber terminals;

(b) determining whether said measured desired to undesired signal ratio of each inputted upward signal is greater than a predetermined value;

(c) controlling an output level for each inputted upward signal based on a result obtained from said determining step (b); and

(d) adjusting said output level for each inputted upward signal according to said controlling step (c).

5. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an output level adjustment such that attenuation of an inputted upward signal, for which the desired to undesired signal ratio of said inputted upward signal is greater than the predetermined value, is decreased.

6. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an output level adjustment such that said attenuation of said inputted upward signal is decreased by more than three stages.

7. An upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus used in a two-way communication system connected by a plurality of transmission lines between a center device and a plurality of subscriber terminals, said upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus, which is mounted in an upward-signal-inputting position of said center device, comprising:

a plurality of level measuring portions, each for measuring a desired to undesired signal ratio of each of a plurality of upward signals inputted from the plurality of transmission lines;

a level determining portion for determining whether said measured desired to undesired signal ratio of each inputted upward signal is greater than a predetermined value;

a level control portion for controlling an output level for each inputted upward signal based on a result obtained from said level determining portion; and

a plurality of level adjusting portions, each for adjusting said output level of one of the plurality of inputted upward signals according to said level control portion.

8. The upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said level adjusting portion performs an output level adjustment such that attenuation of an inputted upward signal, for which the desired to undesired signal ratio of said inputted upward signal is greater than the predetermined value, is decreased.

9. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an output level adjustment such that said attenuation of said inputted upward signal is decreased by more than three stages.

10. An upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus used in a two-way communication system connected by a plurality of transmission lines between a center device and a plurality of subscriber terminals, said upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus, which is provided in each of a plurality of transmission-line amplifiers provided on the plurality of transmission lines, comprising:

a plurality of level measuring portions, each for measuring a desired to undesired signal ratio of each of a plurality of upward signals inputted from the plurality of transmission lines and the plurality of subscriber terminals;

a level determining portion for determining whether said measured desired to undesired signal ratio of each inputted upward signal is greater than a predetermined value;

a level control portion for controlling an output level of each inputted upward signal based on a result obtained from said level determining portion; and

a plurality of level adjusting portions, each for adjusting said output level of one of the plurality of inputted upward signals according to said level control portion.

11. The upward-joining-noise decreasing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said level adjusting portion performs an output level adjustment such that attenuation of an inputted upward signal, for which the desired to undesired signal ratio of said inputted upward signal is greater than the predetermined value, is decreased.

12. The upward-joining-noise decreasing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said level adjusting step (d) performs an outputlevel adjustment such that said attenuation of said inputted upward signal is decreased by more than three stages.