System architecture for control and signal distribution on coaxial cable
First Claim
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1. A system for distributing signals, comprising:
- a multiswitch, each input of the multiswitch receiving a satellite signal;
a plurality of tuners, each tuner coupled to a frequency translation module output of the multiswitch, wherein each tuner accepts the satellite signal and tunes to a specific frequency band of the satellite signal to deliver a selected transponder signal, each tuner receiving commands based on tuner commands from at least one bidirectional Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD);
a plurality of demodulators, coupled to the plurality of tuners in a respective fashion, for demodulating the selected transponder signal into a plurality of demodulated signals, each demodulated signal comprising a plurality of packets;
an interface for delivering the demodulated signals to the at least one bidirectional IRD, wherein at least the demodulated signals and the tuner commands are carried on a single connection output between the at least one bidirectional IRD and the interface; and
a legacy output, coupled to the multiswitch separately from the interface and receiving a satellite signal directly from an output of the multiswitch, wherein the at least one legacy output is dedicated to a legacy IRD signal format and is incompatible with the single connection output.
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Abstract
A signal distribution and control system where signals are distributed and control signals transmitted via a single coaxial cable. Integrated Receiver/Decoder (IRD) units communicate with a Frequency Translation Module (FTM) for construction of a custom data signal for delivery to all IRDs coupled to a given FTM. The commands sent by the IRDs to control the FTM inform the FTM which signals are of interest and should be placed on the custom data signal, also called the combined IRD channels. Previously installed IRDs that cannot generate the new commands are still supported in the system via legacy ports in the multiswitch.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for distributing signals, comprising:
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a multiswitch, each input of the multiswitch receiving a satellite signal; a plurality of tuners, each tuner coupled to a frequency translation module output of the multiswitch, wherein each tuner accepts the satellite signal and tunes to a specific frequency band of the satellite signal to deliver a selected transponder signal, each tuner receiving commands based on tuner commands from at least one bidirectional Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD); a plurality of demodulators, coupled to the plurality of tuners in a respective fashion, for demodulating the selected transponder signal into a plurality of demodulated signals, each demodulated signal comprising a plurality of packets; an interface for delivering the demodulated signals to the at least one bidirectional IRD, wherein at least the demodulated signals and the tuner commands are carried on a single connection output between the at least one bidirectional IRD and the interface; and a legacy output, coupled to the multiswitch separately from the interface and receiving a satellite signal directly from an output of the multiswitch, wherein the at least one legacy output is dedicated to a legacy IRD signal format and is incompatible with the single connection output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for distributing signals, comprising:
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a multiswitch, wherein a plurality of inputs of the multiswitch each receive a satellite signal, the multiswitch further comprising at least one legacy output which receives a satellite signal directly from an output of the multiswitch and a plurality of other outputs; a plurality of tuners, each tuner respectively coupled to an other output of the multiswitch, wherein each tuner tunes to a specific frequency band of the satellite signal based on commands received by the tuner from at least one bidirectional Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD); a plurality of demodulators, coupled to the plurality of tuners in a respective fashion, for demodulating the specific frequency band into a plurality of demodulated signals; a plurality of demultiplexers, coupled to the plurality of demodulators in a respective fashion, for demultiplexing the plurality of demodulated signals into a plurality of packets; and an interface for delivering at least some of the packets to the at least one bidirectional IRD, wherein at least the packets and the commands are carried on a single connection between the at least one bidirectional IRD and the interface, and wherein the at least one legacy output is dedicated to a legacy IRD signal format and the at least one legacy output is incompatible with the plurality of other outputs. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification