Optimization of a full duplex wideband communications system

• US 7,865,925 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Jose M., Robertson, Neil C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US12/331,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 725/91, 725/111, 725/126, 709/227, 375/222, 375/224, 455/135
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g., in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.

Claims

1. A system for optimal transmission of high data rate signals among a plurality of full duplex wideband modems, the system comprising:

a first wideband modem configured to transmit high data rate signals in a first optimized frequency, wherein prior to transmitting the high data rate signals, an optimization protocol is performed using control signals, and configured to receive high data rate signals in a second optimized frequency; and

a second wideband modem configured to receive the high data rate signals in the first optimized frequency, wherein each wideband modem comprises;

a transmitter configured to transmit high data rate signals;

a receiver configured to receive high data rate signals;

a band select switch coupled on one end to the transmitter and the receiver configured to select one of a high band or a low band in accordance with the first optimized frequency, and coupled on another end to a network, wherein if the first optimized frequency is associated with one of the high band or the low band, received high data rate signals in a second optimized frequency is associated with the other band;

a control transmitter, that transmits on a third frequency, configured to send control information to the second wideband modem, wherein the third frequency is outside a frequency band of the high and the low bands; and

a control receiver, that receives on the third frequency, configured to receive control information indicating the optimized frequencies.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each wideband modem further comprises a duplexer configured to combine the first optimized frequency and the second optimized frequency, wherein the duplexer is coupled to the band select switch and the network.

3. A coaxial network for communicating a video presentation, the coaxial network comprising:

a plurality of wideband modems configured to transmit and receive video presentation over a coaxial network in an optimized frequency to one or more of the plurality of wideband modems, wherein prior to transmitting video presentation, an optimization protocol is performed using control information to determine the optimized frequency, a wideband modem comprising;

a transmitter configured to transmit video presentation;

a receiver configured to receive video presentation;

a band select switch coupled on one end to the transmitter and the receiver configured to select one of a high band or a low band in accordance with the optimized frequency associated with the transmitted video presentation, and coupled on another end to the coaxial network;

a control transmitter, that transmits on a second frequency, configured to send control information to another of the plurality of wideband modems and the control information includes information regarding the optimized frequency, wherein the second frequency is outside a frequency band of the high and the low bands; and

a control receiver, that receives on the second frequency, configured to receive control information from at least one of the plurality of wideband modems.

4. The coaxial network of claim 3, wherein the plurality of wideband modems further comprise a duplexer operably connected on one end to both the transmitter and receiver.

5. A coaxial network for communicating a video presentation between a first set-top terminal and a second set-top terminal that are each located at a subscriber premises, the coaxial network comprising:

a first set-top terminal including a wideband modem configured to transmit and receive video presentation over the coaxial network in an optimized frequency to a second set-top terminal including a wideband modem, wherein prior to transmitting video presentation, an optimization protocol is performed using control signals to determine the optimized frequency, the wideband modems each comprising;

a transmitter configured to transmit video presentation;

a receiver configured to receive video presentation;

a band select switch coupled on one end to the transmitter and the receiver configured to select one of a high band or a low band in accordance with the optimized frequency associated with the transmitted video presentation, and coupled on another end to the coaxial network;

a control transmitter, that transmits on a second frequency, configured to send control information to the other wideband modem and the control information includes information regarding the optimized frequency, wherein the second frequency is outside a frequency band of the high and the low bands; and

a control receiver, that receives on the second frequency, configured to receive control information from the other wideband modem, wherein a cable television (CATV) forward band and reverse band separate the optimized frequency from the second frequency.

6. The coaxial network of claim 5, wherein the wideband modems further comprise a duplexer operably connected on one end to both the transmitter and receiver.