Video distribution system for digital and analog subscribers
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at an input diplexer in a local service module located in a neighborhood, a multiplexed channel signal that includes an internet connectivity channel and at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel;
separating by a divider module coupled to the input diplexer and included in the local service module, the internet connectivity channel from the multiplexed channel signal to output an internet connectivity channel signal;
receiving by a request module, at the local service module, via a two-way communications path from at least one of a plurality of room interface units located within the neighborhood and serviced by the local service module, a request to transmit the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel;
in response to the request, a plurality of conversion modules coupled to the divider module and the request module converting the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel from its frequency within the multiplexed channel signal to a signal having a predetermined frequency that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of room interface units making the request;
combining a plurality of combiner modules correspondingly coupled to the conversion modules and the divider module in the local service module, the internet connectivity channel signal and the converted signal having the predetermined frequency; and
transmitting by the local service module, the combined signal to the at least one of the plurality of room interface units.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable distribution system with distributed architecture that can accommodate both digital and analog subscribers. Each home has at least one Room Interface Unit (RIU), one for each television. There is a local service module associated with a group of RIUs (e.g., one for every ten RIUs). There is also a local headend in the vicinity. The local headend has a block of integrated tuner/receiver/decoders that can be controlled to tune in a selected video channel. The selected video channels and a group of standard channels are multiplexed and sent to the local service modules where a group of programmable converters (one for each RIU) place the channel selected by its corresponding RIU at a predetermined frequency. Each of the RIUs associated with a particular local service module receive the corresponding channel. Depending upon whether the subscriber has subscribed to digital or analog service, they will have either a digital or an analog RIU. The analog RIU may include a bandpass filter while the digital RIU may include one or more IRDs. Forward and return DOCSIS channels are also provided.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving, at an input diplexer in a local service module located in a neighborhood, a multiplexed channel signal that includes an internet connectivity channel and at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel; separating by a divider module coupled to the input diplexer and included in the local service module, the internet connectivity channel from the multiplexed channel signal to output an internet connectivity channel signal; receiving by a request module, at the local service module, via a two-way communications path from at least one of a plurality of room interface units located within the neighborhood and serviced by the local service module, a request to transmit the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel; in response to the request, a plurality of conversion modules coupled to the divider module and the request module converting the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel from its frequency within the multiplexed channel signal to a signal having a predetermined frequency that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of room interface units making the request; combining a plurality of combiner modules correspondingly coupled to the conversion modules and the divider module in the local service module, the internet connectivity channel signal and the converted signal having the predetermined frequency; and transmitting by the local service module, the combined signal to the at least one of the plurality of room interface units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system comprising:
-
an input diplexer adapted to receive a multiplexed channel signal that includes an internet connectivity channel and at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel; a divider module coupled to the input diplexer to separate the internet connectivity channel from the multiplexed channel signal to output an internet connectivity channel signal and a plurality of signals having the at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel; a request module adapted to receive, via a two-way communications path from at least one of a plurality of room interface units proximally located in a neighborhood where the system is located, a request to transmit the at least one digital video channel or at least one analog video channel; a plurality of conversion modules coupled to the divider module and the request module, and adapted to convert, in response to the request, the plurality of signals having the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel from its frequency within the multiplexed channel signal to a predetermined frequency of a corresponding one of the at least one of the plurality of room interface units; and a plurality of combiner modules correspondingly coupled to the conversion modules and the divider module, and adapted to combine the internet connectivity channel signal and one of the signals having the predetermined frequency, the combined signals to be transmitted from the combiner modules to respective ones of the at least one of the plurality of room interface units. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A system comprising:
-
input means for receiving a multiplexed channel signal that includes an internet connectivity channel and at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel; divider means for separating the internet connectivity channel from the multiplexed channel signal to output an internet connectivity channel signal and a plurality of signals having the at least one digital video channel and at least one analog video channel; request means for receiving, via a two-way communications path from at least one of a plurality of room interface units proximally located in a neighborhood where the system is located, a request to transmit the at least one digital video channel or at least one analog video channel; conversion means for converting, in response to the request, the plurality of signals having the at least one digital video channel or the at least one analog video channel from its frequency within the multiplexed channel signal to a predetermined frequency of a corresponding one of the at least one of the plurality of room interface units; and combiner means for combining the internet connectivity channel signal and one of the signals having the predetermined frequency, the combined signals to be transmitted from combiner modules of the combiner means to respective ones of the at least one of the plurality of room interface units. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
-
Specification