Switch matrix packaging for high availability

• US 6,895,594 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moran, John L. III, Ivas, Stanley, Simoes, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US09/691,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.7/173, 725/127, 725/111, 725/109, 725/114, 725/116, 725/117
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A cable interface system for a high availability, high frequency cable network. An example embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Matrix Switch which connects N cable head ends with N+1 Cable Modem Termination Systems by a set of coaxial cables having 75 ohm BNC connectors in the forward path and 75 ohm connectors in the return path. Push-on type connectors along with reduced size connectors and cables provide increased access to connection points on interface panels. Angled interface panels on the Radio Frequency Matrix Switch provide increased connector space. Grouping of connection points on a the Radio Frequency Matrix Switch simplifies installation and replacement of cables. The Radio Frequency Matrix Switch can immediately switch a spare Cable Modem Termination System into service as necessary to avoid down time.

Claims

1. A high availability RF matrix switch comprising:

a cable network component including a first inclined cable interface panel and a second inclined cable interface panel defining a surface of said cable interface component wherein said first and second inclined interface panels meet at an apex;

cable connection points on said first inclined interface panel suitable for mating with cables that connect said cable network component to a cable head end component, wherein said cable connection points on said first inclined interface panel are grouped based on connections to said cable head end component; and

cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel suitable for mating with cables that connect said cable network component to a plurality of CMTS components wherein said cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel are grouped based on connections to individual CMTS components.

2. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 1 further including:

switching components to selectively provide electrical connections between said cable connection points on said first inclined interface panel and said cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel.

3. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 2 wherein an extra group of cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel connect to a spare CMTS component.

4. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 3 wherein said switching components electrically disconnects one of said plurality of CMTS components from said cable head end component, and electrically connects said spare CMTS component to said cable head end component.

5. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 1 wherein said cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel are grouped to include at least one forward path cable connector and a plurality of return path cable connectors, to connect to one of said plurality of CMTS-components.

6. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 5 wherein said at least one forward path cable connector supports a frequency bandwidth of 54 MHz to 860 MHz.

7. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of return path cable connectors supports a frequency bandwidth of 5 MHz to 42 MHz.

8. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of return path cable connectors is minimally sized and includes push-on type termination.

9. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 5 wherein at least one of said plurality of return path cable connectors includes a push-on type 75 ohm MCX connector.

10. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of return path cable connectors is connectable to cable set is RG-179 cable.

11. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 5 wherein said at least one forward path cable connector includes a push-on type 75 ohm BNC RF connector.

12. The high availability RF matrix switch of claim 1 wherein said first inclined cable interface panel is an upper panel and is disposed above said second inclined cable interface panel, which is a lower panel.

13. A cable modem system comprising:

a plurality of cable head end components;

a plurality of cable modem termination system (CMTS) components, wherein said plurality of CMTS components is a greater quantity than said plurality of cable head end components; and

an RF matrix switch component, to electrically connect each of said plurality of cable head end components to an available one of said plurality of CMTS components, said RF matrix component further including;

a cable network component including a first inclined cable interface panel and a second inclined cable interface panel defining a surface of said cable interface component wherein said first and second inclined interface panels meet at an apex;

cable connection points on said first inclined interface panel suitable for mating with cables that connect said cable network component to said plurality of cable head end components, wherein said cable connection points on said first inclined interface panel are grouped based on connections to each of said plurality of cable head end components; and

cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel suitable for mating with cables that connect said cable network component to said plurality of CMTS components wherein said cable connection points on said second inclined interface panel are grouped based on connections to each of said plurality of CMTS components.

14. The cable modem system of claim 13 wherein one of said CMTS components is a spare CMTS component.

15. The cable modem system of claim 14 wherein said RF matrix switch component electrically disconnects one of said plurality of CMTS components from one of said plurality of cable head end components, and electrically connects said spare CMTS component to said one of said plurality of cable head end components.

16. The cable modem system of claim 13 wherein said first inclined cable interface panel is an upper panel and is disposed above said second inclined cable interface panel, which is a lower panel.