Signal distribution within customer premises

• US 7,068,682 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Campbell, Kurt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Levitan, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US10/852,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 370/220, 370/419, 370/480, 370485-488, 370493-497, 370/465, 370/468, 370/473, 370/482, 370/501, 709/249, 710/62, 710/65, 710/69, 710/72, 710/73, 725/109, 725/118, 725/120, 725/131, 725/133, 725/143, 725/105, 725/111, 725/114, 725/121, 725/144, 725147-149, 725/128, 725/87
• US Class Current: 370/487
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires

Abstract

Data signals from a telecommunication network are routed to a gateway which generates analog signal distributed to receivers within a customer premises. A network interface device receives digital signals from the telecommunication network. A first diplexer has a digital signal port connected to the network interface device. The first diplexer combined signal port is connected with the combined signal port of a second diplexer. The gateway receives digital signals from the second diplexer digital signal port and provides analog signals to the second diplexer analog signal port. Analog signals are then available to receivers at both the first diplexer analog signal port and the second diplexer analog signal port.

Claims

1. A system for distributing data signals from a telecommunication network to at least one analog signal receiver within a customer premises comprising:

a network interface device connected to receive digital data signals from the telecommunication network, the network interface device providing at least one network connection point to the customer premises;

a first diplexer having an analog signal port, a digital signal port, and a combined signal port, the first diplexer passing analog signals between the analog signal port and the combined signal port and passing digital signals between the digital signal port and the combined signal port, the first diplexer digital signal port in communication with a connection point on the network interface device;

a second diplexer having an analog signal port, a digital signal port, and a combined signal port, the second diplexer passing analog signals between the analog signal port and the combined signal port and passing digital signals between the digital signal port and the combined signal port, the second diplexer combined signal port in communication with the first diplexer combined signal port; and

a gateway generating analog data signals from digital data signals received through a gateway digital input port, the analog data signals provided to a gateway analog output port, the gateway digital input port in communication with the second diplexer digital signal port and the gateway analog output port in communication with the second diplexer analog signal port;

wherein analog signals are available to the at least one receiver at the first diplexer analog signal port and at the second diplexer analog signal port.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a splitter operative to provide an analog signal received at a splitter input to each of at least two splitter outputs, the splitter input connected to the gateway analog output port and a first splitter output connected to the second diplexer analog signal port; and

at least one analog signal receiver connected to a second splitter output.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a splitter operative to provide an analog signal received at a splitter input to each of at least two splitter outputs, the splitter input connected to the first diplexer analog signal port; and

a plurality of analog signal receivers, each analog signal receiver connected to a splitter output.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface device network connection point provides a twisted pair connection and wherein the first diplexer digital signal port accepts coaxial cable, the system further comprising a balun connected between the network connection point and the first diplexer digital signal port, the balun operative to interface twisted pair with coaxial cable.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the gateway digital input port accepts a twisted pair connection and wherein the second diplexer digital signal port provides a coaxial cable connection, the system further comprising a balun connected between the gateway digital input port and the second diplexer digital signal port, the balun operative to interface twisted pair with coaxial cable.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital data signals are VDSL signals and the analog signals are radio frequency signals.

7. A system for distributing analog video signals to a plurality of receivers within a customer premises wherein VDSL signals are provided to the customer premises over a first media form from a network interface device and wherein a gateway generates the analog video signals for distribution over a second media form from VDSL signals received over the first media form, the system comprising:

a first interface means in communication with the network interface device, the first interface means accepting VDSL signals over the first media form and providing VDSL signals over the second media form;

a first filtering means accepting VDSL signals at a digital signal port and providing the accepted VDSL signals at a combined signal port, the first filtering means further accepting analog video signals at the combined signal port and providing the accepted analog video signals at an analog signal port, the first filtering means in communication with the first interface means through the first filtering means digital signal port and in communication with at least one receiver through the first filtering means analog signal port;

a second filtering means accepting analog video signals at an analog signal port and providing the accepted analog video signals at a combined signal port, the second filtering means further accepting VDSL signals at the combined signal port and providing the accepted digital signals at a digital signal port, the second filtering means in communication with the first filtering means combined signal port through the second filtering means combined signal port;

a second interface means in communication with the second filtering means through the second filtering means digital signal port and in communication with the gateway, the second interface means accepting VDSL signals from the second interface means over the second media form and providing VDSL signals to the gateway over the first media form; and

a splitter means in communication with the gateway, the second filtering means analog signal port, and at least one receiver, the splitter means accepting analog video signals from the gateway and providing the accepted analog video signals to the second filtering means and the at least one receiver.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein the first media form is twisted pair wiring and wherein the second media form is coaxial cable.

9. A system as in claim 7 further comprising a second splitter means in communication with the first filtering means analog signal port and with a plurality of receivers, the second splitter means accepting analog video signals from the first filtering means and providing accepted analog video signals to the plurality of receivers.

10. A system for providing analog video signals within a customer premises wired with coaxial cable, the analog video signals based on VDSL signals supplied by a telecommunication network, the system comprising:

a network interface device accepting VDSL signals from the telecommunication network and providing the accepted VDSL signals in a media form different than coaxial cable;

a first balun in communication with the network interface device, the first balun accepting the VDSL signals in the media form and providing the accepted VDSL signals on coaxial cable;

a first diplexer having a digital signal port, an analog signal port, and a combined analog and digital signal port, the first diplexer digital signal port connected to the first balun through coaxial cable, the first diplexer analog signal port providing analog video signals;

a second diplexer having a digital signal port, an analog signal port, and a combined analog and digital signal port, the second diplexer combined signal port connected to the first diplexer combined signal port through coaxial cable;

a second balun in communication with the second diplexer digital signal port, the second balun accepting VDSL signals on coaxial cable and providing the accepted VDSL signals in the media form; and

a gateway in communication with the second balun and the second diplexer analog signal port, the gateway generating analog video signals based on the VDSL signals received from the second balun.

11. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a splitter inserted between the gateway and the second diplexer analog signal port, the splitter having an output providing analog video signals.

12. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a splitter in communication with the first diplexer analog signal port, the splitter having a plurality of outputs, each output providing analog video signals.

13. A system as in claim 10 wherein the media form is twisted pair wiring.

14. A method of distributing information signals from a telecommunication network to at least one analog signal receiver within a customer premises, the method comprising:

receiving high frequency information signals formatted for a first medium;

formatting the received signals for a second medium;

transmitting the formatted signals over existing cabling of the second medium;

converting the transmitted signals for the first medium;

decoding the high frequency signals into analog signals; and

transmitting the analog signals over the existing cabling of the second medium.

15. A method of distributing information signals as in claim 14 wherein the high frequency signals are digital signals.

16. A method of distributing information signals as in claim 15 wherein the high frequency signals are VDSL signals.

17. A method of distributing information signals as in claim 14 further comprising filtering out the high frequency signals and sending the analog signals over existing cabling.

18. A method of distributing information signals as in claim 14 wherein the first medium is twisted pair wiring and the second medium is coaxial cabling.

19. A method of reusing cabling within customer premises to distribute information signals from a telecommunication network to at least one analog signal receiver, the method comprising:

connecting a first diplexer to receive the information signals through a digital signal port of the first diplexer;

connecting a second diplexer to the first diplexer, the connection between a combined signal port on the first diplexer and a combined signal port on the second diplexer;

connecting a gateway input to a digital signal port on the second diplexer;

connecting the gateway output to an analog signal port on the second diplexer; and

connecting existing cabling to at least one of the gateway output, an analog signal port on the first diplexer, and the second diplexer analog signal port;

whereby at least one analog receiver can be connected to existing cabling to receive analog signals.