System and method for voice/data transmission over cable networks

• US 7,117,520 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Stewart, John Sidney
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US10/372,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 725/62, 725/106, 725/127, 725/128, 725/129, 725/148, 725/149, 725/81, 725/85, 455/14, 455/20, 455/402, 455/462, 455/7, 455/557
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless communications system comprises a first splitter separating at least two signals, a wireless circuit for processing a first signal as a wireless signal and a combiner connected to the wireless circuit and the splitter, combining the two signals and transmitting the signals into a service area. The wireless communications system further comprises a second splitter separating the wireless signal from a second signal, and a transmitter for broadcasting the wireless signal.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a first splitter separating a first signal from a second signal, the first signal being a voice signal;

a wireless circuit coupled to the first splitter for converting the first signal to a wireless signal;

a combiner coupled to the wireless circuit and the splitter for combining the wireless signal and the second signal into a combined signal and transmitting the combined signal into a service area via a wired connection;

a second splitter coupled to the combiner separating the wireless signal from the second signal; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the second splitter for wirelessly broadcasting the wireless signal,

wherein the first splitter, the wireless circuit, the combiner, the second splitter, and the wireless transmitter are all disposed at a location of final consumption of the wireless signal and the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless circuit comprises:

a voice over cable circuit, wherein the voice over cable circuit preprocesses the first signal; and

a wireless data circuit converts the first signal into the wireless signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second splitter comprises a hi/low filter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a narrowband filter coupled to the second splitter;

an amplifier receiving the wireless signal from the second splitter; and

an antenna, coupled to the amplifier, for broadcasting the wireless signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal is a television signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal exists above about 900 MHz and the second signal exists below about 900 MHz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first splitter, the wireless circuit, and the combiner are operatively disposed at an external portion of the location of final consumption, and the second splitter and the wireless transmitter are operatively disposed at an internal portion of the location of final consumption.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first splitter, the wireless circuit, and the combiner are comprised in a network interface device (NID).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first splitter receives the first signal that is separated from the second signal via a cable.

10. A method of data transmission comprising the steps of:

splitting a signal into a first signal portion and a second signal portion, the first signal portion being a voice portion;

processing and converting the first signal portion to a wireless data signal;

combining the wireless data signal with the second signal portion into a combined signal;

transmitting the combined signal through a wired media;

splitting the wireless data signal from the second signal portion from the combined signal; and

broadcasting, wirelessly, the wireless data signal,

wherein both of said splitting steps, said processing and converting, said combining, said transmitting, and said broadcasting steps are all performed at a location of final consumption of the wireless data signal and the second signal portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second signal portion is a television signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

filtering the wireless data signal; and

amplifying the wireless data signal before broadcast.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said first splitting, said processing and converting, and said combining steps are all performed at an external portion of the location of final consumption, and said transmitting, said second splitting, and said broadcasting steps are all performed at an internal portion of the location of final consumption of the wireless data signal and the second signal portion.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said first splitting, said processing and converting, and said combining steps are all performed within a network interface device (NID).

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of initially receiving the signal that is split into the first signal portion and the second signal portion via a cable.

16. A communications system comprising

means for splitting a two-way digital cable signal into at least a first signal portion and a second signal portion, the first signal portion being a voice portion;

means for processing and converting the first signal portion to a wireless data signal;

means for combining the wireless data signal with the second signal portion into a combined signal;

means for transmitting the combined signal through a coaxial cable;

means for splitting the wireless data signal from the second signal portion in the combined signal; and

means for broadcasting, wirelessly, the wireless data signal,

wherein said means for splitting the two-way digital cable signal, said means for processing and converting, said means for combining, said means for transmitting, said means for splitting the wireless data signal from the second signal portion, and said means for broadcasting are all disposed at a location of final consumption of the wireless data signal and the second signal portion.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for splitting the wireless data signal from the second signal portion in the combined signal comprises a hi/low filter.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the hi/low filter splits the first signal portion, existing above about 900 MHz, from the second signal portion, existing below about 900 MHz.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for processing the first signal portion comprises:

a voice over cable circuit, wherein the voice over cable circuit preprocesses the first signal portion; and

a wireless data circuit converts the first signal portion into the wireless data signal.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein means for broadcasting comprises:

a narrowband filter connected to the second splitter;

an amplifier receiving the wireless signal from the second splitter; and

an antenna, coupled to the amplifier, for broadcasting the wireless signal.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for splitting the two-way digital cable signal, said means for processing and converting, and said means for combining are operatively disposed at an external portion of the location of final consumption, and said means for transmitting, said means for splitting the wireless data signal from the second signal portion, and said means for broadcasting are operatively disposed at an internal portion of the location of final consumption.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for splitting the two-way digital cable signal, said means for processing and converting, and said means for combining are comprised in a network interface device (NID).