Digital return path for hybrid fiber/coax network
First Claim
1. A hybrid fiber/coax network, comprising:
- a head end;
at least one optical distribution node coupled to the head end over at least one fiber optic link;
at least one coaxial cable link, coupled to the at least one optical distribution node, that receives upstream, digital data from a plurality of modems; and
wherein the at least one optical distribution node has a digital return path that includes;
a laser transmitter coupled to the fiber optic link that transmits the upstream, digital data to the head end;
a data concentrator coupled to provide the upstream, digital data to the laser; and
for the at least one coaxial cable link,a frequency translator that receives and translates the upstream, digital data from the plurality of modems to a different carrier frequency and retransmits the signal to the plurality of modems for collision detection; and
a data interface coupled between frequency translator and the data concentrator that determines whether a collision occurred with the upstream, digital data so as to prevent corrupted upstream, digital data from being passed on to the head end.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical distribution node for an hybrid fiber/coax network is provided. The optical distribution node includes a laser transmitter coupleable to a fiber optic link that transmits upstream, digital data to a head end of the network. The node also includes a data concentrator coupled to provide the upstream, digital data to the laser. For at least one coaxial cable link of the network coupleable to the optical distribution node, the node also includes a frequency translator that receives the upstream, digital data modulated on a first carrier frequency and retransmits the upstream, digital data to the plurality of modems for collision detection. The node also includes a data interface coupled between the at least one coaxial cable link and the data concentrator that determines whether the upstream data is valid.
60 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A hybrid fiber/coax network, comprising:
-
a head end; at least one optical distribution node coupled to the head end over at least one fiber optic link; at least one coaxial cable link, coupled to the at least one optical distribution node, that receives upstream, digital data from a plurality of modems; and wherein the at least one optical distribution node has a digital return path that includes; a laser transmitter coupled to the fiber optic link that transmits the upstream, digital data to the head end; a data concentrator coupled to provide the upstream, digital data to the laser; and for the at least one coaxial cable link, a frequency translator that receives and translates the upstream, digital data from the plurality of modems to a different carrier frequency and retransmits the signal to the plurality of modems for collision detection; and a data interface coupled between frequency translator and the data concentrator that determines whether a collision occurred with the upstream, digital data so as to prevent corrupted upstream, digital data from being passed on to the head end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A hybrid fiber-coax network, comprising:
-
a head end; at least one optical distribution node coupled to the head end over at least one fiber optic link to provide upstream, digital data to the head end; at least one coaxial cable link, coupled to the at least one optical distribution node, that receives the upstream, digital data from a plurality of modems; wherein at least a portion of the upstream, digital data is transmitted over the at least one coaxial cable link on at least one modulated carrier below a frequency range for downstream transmission; and wherein the at least one optical distribution node includes circuitry for retransmitting upstream, digital data back over the at least one coaxial cable link to detect collisions on the at least one coaxial cable link. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An optical distribution node for an hybrid fiber/coax network, the optical distribution node comprising:
-
a laser transmitter coupleable to a fiber optic link that transmits upstream, digital data to a head end of the network; a data concentrator coupled to provide the upstream, digital data to the laser; and for at least one coaxial cable link of the network coupleable to the optical distribution node, a frequency translator that receives the upstream, digital data modulated on a first carrier frequency from a plurality of modems and translates the upstream, digital data to a different carrier and retransmits the upstream, digital data to the plurality of modems for collision detection; and a data interface coupled between the at least one coaxial cable link and the data concentrator that determines whether a collision occurred with the upstream data so as to prevent corrupted upstream, digital data from being passed on to the head end. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for processing data in a return path of a hybrid fiber/coax network, the method comprising:
-
receiving, on a first coaxial cable, upstream, digital data modulated on a first carrier; translating the frequency of the first carrier to a second frequency; retransmitting the upstream, digital data modulated on the carrier with the second frequency; checking for collision detection signals based on the retransmitted upstream, digital data; concentrating the upstream, digital data with upstream, digital data from other coaxial cables; and transmitting the concentrated, upstream, digital data to the head end. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification