Optical network architecture for simultaneous transport of analog video signals and ethernet data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- propagating a downstream signal on an optical signal conductor from an upstream combiner to a downstream combiner, wherein the downstream signal includes an analog video broadcast signal;
counter-propagating an upstream signal on the optical signal conductor from the downstream combiner to the upstream combiner, wherein the upstream signal includes a digital signal;
propagating another downstream signal on another optical signal conductor from another upstream combiner to another downstream combiner, wherein the another downstream signal includes a digital signal;
counter-propagating another upstream signal on the another optical signal conductor from the another downstream combiner to the another upstream combiner, wherein the another upstream signal includes an analog return signal;
broadcasting at least a portion of the downstream signal to a plurality of users and conveying a signal from at least one of the plurality of users to an input port of the another downstream combiner as the another upstream signal; and
distributing at least a portion of the another downstream signal to a plurality of users and conveying a signal from at least one of the plurality of users to an input port of the downstream combiner as the upstream signal.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described for simultaneous transport of analog video signals and Ethernet data on an optical fiber. A method includes propagating a downstream signal on an optical signal conductor from an upstream combiner to a downstream combiner; and propagating an upstream signal on the optical signal conductor from the downstream combiner to the upstream combiner.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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propagating a downstream signal on an optical signal conductor from an upstream combiner to a downstream combiner, wherein the downstream signal includes an analog video broadcast signal; counter-propagating an upstream signal on the optical signal conductor from the downstream combiner to the upstream combiner, wherein the upstream signal includes a digital signal; propagating another downstream signal on another optical signal conductor from another upstream combiner to another downstream combiner, wherein the another downstream signal includes a digital signal; counter-propagating another upstream signal on the another optical signal conductor from the another downstream combiner to the another upstream combiner, wherein the another upstream signal includes an analog return signal; broadcasting at least a portion of the downstream signal to a plurality of users and conveying a signal from at least one of the plurality of users to an input port of the another downstream combiner as the another upstream signal; and distributing at least a portion of the another downstream signal to a plurality of users and conveying a signal from at least one of the plurality of users to an input port of the downstream combiner as the upstream signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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an upstream combiner including an upstream bi-directional common port; an optical signal conductor coupled to the upstream bi-directional common port of the upstream combiner; a downstream combiner including a downstream bi-directional common port coupled to the optical signal conductor, wherein the downstream combiner directs an analog video optical carrier to a bandpass input-output port that is connected by an optical fiber to an analog broadcast receiver; another upstream combiner including another upstream bi-directional common port; another optical signal conductor coupled to the another upstream bi-directional common port of the another upstream combiner; another downstream combiner including another downstream bi-directional common port coupled to the another optical signal conductor, wherein an optical output of an analog return transmitter is connected by a separate optical transmission fiber to an input-output port of the another downstream combiner, which passes the analog return optical signal to the common port and then onto the another optical signal conductor; a drop device coupled to a downstream output port of the another downstream combiner; a customer premises equipment including a customer premises equipment digital receiver input and a customer premises equipment digital receiver output, wherein the a customer premises equipment digital receiver input is coupled to the drop device, the customer premises equipment digital receiver input including an input optical connector; and an add device coupled to a downstream input port of the downstream combiner;
whereina customer premises equipment digital receiver output is coupled to the add device, the customer premises equipment digital receiver output including an output optical connector, and wherein the input optical connector and the output optical connector define physically different, non-interchangeable form factors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification