Method and system for providing a return path for signals generated by legacy terminals in an optical network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
- a data service hub for generating downstream optical signals, the data service hub comprising a video service control terminal for transmitting downstream video service control signals, and for receiving upstream video service control signals that are propagated through the optical network system according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the video service control signals independently of time;
at least one subscriber optical interface coupled to the data service hub for receiving the downstream optical signals, and for receiving RF-modulated signals comprising upstream video service control information that is propagated according to one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol, the subscriber optical interface comprising an A/D converter for converting the RF-modulated signals to digital signals, the subscriber optical interface converting the digital signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain and according to a timing dependent protocol for upstream transmission of the combined first and second packets towards the data service hub and the video service control terminal; and
one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A return path of an optical network system comprising:
-
a data service hub for generating downstream optical signals, the data service hub comprising a video service control terminal for transmitting downstream video service control signals, and for receiving upstream video service control signals that are propagated through the optical network system according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the video service control signals independently of time; at least one subscriber optical interface coupled to the data service hub for receiving the downstream optical signals, and for receiving RF-modulated signals comprising upstream video service control information that is propagated according to one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol, the subscriber optical interface comprising an A/D converter for converting the RF-modulated signals to digital signals, the subscriber optical interface converting the digital signals to first digital packets and combining the first packets with second packets in a time domain and according to a timing dependent protocol for upstream transmission of the combined first and second packets towards the data service hub and the video service control terminal; and one or more optical waveguides connected to the subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and downstream optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18)
-
-
8. A method for providing a return path for signals in an optical network system comprising the steps of:
-
receiving one or more RF-modulated signals comprising upstream video service control information propagated through the optical network system according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the video service control information independently of time; converting the one or more RF-modulated signals into digital signals with an A/D converter; converting the one or more digital RF-modulated signals to a first digital information packet; receiving a plurality of second digital information packets; transmitting the first and second digital information packets by inserting the first digital information packet between the second digital information packets during a time interval; propagating the packets towards a data service hub according to a timing dependent protocol; receiving the first and second digital information packets at the data service hub; and converting the first digital information packets with a video service control terminal back into the RF-modulated signals that comprise video service control information propagated according to one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for returning RF signals to a data service hub comprising:
-
receiving modulated RF signals comprising upstream video service control signals propagated according to one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the video service control information independently of time; converting the RF signals into digital signals with an A/D converter; converting the digital modulated RF signals into one or more first packets; receiving a plurality of second packets comprising information different from the video service control signals; combining the one or more first packets with the second packets during a time interval; propagating the combined packets towards the data service hub according to a timing dependent protocol; and converting the first digital information packets at the data service hub back into the RF signals with a video service control terminal, the RF signals preserving one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
Specification