Method and system for providing a return path for signals generated by legacy terminals in an optical network
First Claim
1. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
- a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising upstream radio-frequency video service control signals and a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream disital data signals;
at least one subscriber optical interface for receiving the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; and
one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A return path system includes inserting RF packets between regular upstream data packets, where the data packets are generated by communication devices such as a computer or internet telephone. The RF packets can be derived from analog RF signals that are produced by legacy video service terminals. In this way, the present invention can provide an RF return path for legacy terminals that shares a return path for regular data packets in an optical network architecture. The invention operates independently of a legacy upstream transmission timing scheme so that the legacy upstream transmission timing scheme can remain effective in preventing data collisions. In other embodiments, the present invention allows for less complex hardware for subscribers that are not taking data services. Further, an optical signal present line in combination with a driver may be employed in order to reduce the amount of hardware in a laser transceiver node.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
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a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising upstream radio-frequency video service control signals and a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream disital data signals; at least one subscriber optical interface for receiving the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
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a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and generating downstream radio-frequency video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream digital data signals; at least one subscriber optical interface for receiving the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; and a laser transceiver node for communicating optical signals to the data service hub, and for apportioning bandwidth between subscribers of the optical network system; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the laser transceiver node, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A return path of an optical network system comprising;
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a data service hub for processing upstream video service control signals and generating downstream video radio-frequency analog service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream digital data signals; at least one subscriber optical interface for receiving upstream electrical radio-frequency analog video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to digital electrical data first packets and for converting the digital electrical first data packets to optical data packets, for combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain and in a electrical domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; a laser transceiver node for communicating optical signals to the data service hub, for apportioning bandwidth between subscribers of the optical network system; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the laser transceiver node, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for providing a return path for signals in an optical network system comprising the steps of;
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generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and receiving upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme; converting the upstream radio-frequency analog signals to a plurality of first digital information packets; receiving a plurality of second digital information packets; preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals by transmitting both sets of information packets by inserting the first digital information packets between the second digital information packets in a time domain; propagating the packets towards a data service hub according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme; receiving the first and second digital information packets at the data service tub; detecting a time stamp in the first digital information packets with a data-to-radio-frequency converter of the data service hub; and initiating recovery of the upstream radio-frequency signals from the first digital information packets with the data-to-radio-frequency converter in response to detecting the time stamp, the time stamp preserving the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An optical network system comprising:
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a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising a time stamp that preserves the timing scheme and path initiates recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream digital data signals; at least one subscriber optical interface, for receiving the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the radio-frequency analog video service control signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; a laser transceiver node for communicating optical signals between the data service hub and the subscriber optical interface and for apportioning bandwidth between subscribers of the optical network system, the laser transceiver node further comprising two or more optical receivers that share a tap multiplexer; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the laser transceiver node, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for providing a return path for signals in an optical network system comprising the steps of:
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generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and receiving upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme; converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to a plurality of first digital information packets; receiving a plurality of second digital information packets; preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals by positioning the first digital information packets between the second digital information packets to form a continuous information stream in a time domain; propagating the information stream along an optical waveguide towards a data service hub according to a second time scheme; detecting a time stamp in the first digital information packets with a data-to-radio-frequency converter of the data service hub, the time stamp preserving the first timing scheme; and initiating recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals from the first digital information packets with the data-to-radio-frequency converter in response to detecting the time stamp. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
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a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream digital data signals; at least one subscriber optical interface for receiving the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to first digital packets for upstream transmission as optical signals towards the data service hub, and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain prior to upstream transmission, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
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a data service hub for processing upstream radio-frequency analog and generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme, the data service hub comprising a data-to-radio-frequency converter for receiving upstream digital data signals comprising a time stamp that preserves the first timing scheme and that initiates recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals by the converter from the upstream digital data signals; a subscriber optical interface for receiving electrical upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals, for converting the electrical upstream radio-frequency analog signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain for upstream transmission towards the data service hub, for preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals, the subscriber optical interface comprising an optical transmitter for converting the first and second packets into the optical domain, the subscriber optical interface further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals into digital data signals prior to first packet formation and for adding the time stamp to the digital data signals that preserves the first timing scheme of the video service control signals of the data service hub; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals that are propagated according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 53)
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50. A method for returning signals from subscribers to a data service hub in an optical network system comprising:
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generating downstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals and receiving upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals according to a first timing scheme; receiving electrical upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals at a subscriber optical interface; converting the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals to a plurality of first digital information packets; receiving a plurality of second digital information packets; preserving the first timing scheme between the upstream and downstream video service control signals by transmitting both sets of information packets by inserting the first digital information packets between the second digital information packets in a time domain; converting the first and second digital information packets into optical signals; transmitting the optical signals to the data service hub according to a second timing scheme independent of the first timing scheme; detecting a time stamp in the first digital information packets with a data-to-radio-frequency converter of the data service hub; and initiating recovery of the upstream radio-frequency analog video service control signals from the first digital information packets with the data-to-radio-frequency converter in response to detecting the time stamp. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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Specification