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 for RF-modulated video service control signals comprising:
- a subscriber optical interface for receiving upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical domain, the subscriber optical interface comprising an RF diplexer, the RF diplexer comprising a first RF filter for passing the upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical RF domain and blocking any extraneous RF-modulated signals, the RF diplexer comprising a second filter for passing downstream RF-modulated video signals in the electrical RF domain and blocking any extraneous RF-modulated signals, the first RF filter having an output port coupled to an input port of an A/D converter, the A/D converter for converting the upstream RF-modulated video service control signals to digital signals, the subscriber optical interface modulating an optical carrier with the digital signals for generating optical signals according to a timing dependent protocol and which are sent upstream relative to the subscriber optical interface.
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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 interne 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A return path for RF-modulated video service control signals comprising:
a subscriber optical interface for receiving upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical domain, the subscriber optical interface comprising an RF diplexer, the RF diplexer comprising a first RF filter for passing the upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical RF domain and blocking any extraneous RF-modulated signals, the RF diplexer comprising a second filter for passing downstream RF-modulated video signals in the electrical RF domain and blocking any extraneous RF-modulated signals, the first RF filter having an output port coupled to an input port of an A/D converter, the A/D converter for converting the upstream RF-modulated video service control signals to digital signals, the subscriber optical interface modulating an optical carrier with the digital signals for generating optical signals according to a timing dependent protocol and which are sent upstream relative to the subscriber optical interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing a return path for RF-modulated video service signals in an optical network system comprising:
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receiving one or more upstream RF-modulated video service control signals with a subscriber optical interface; receiving one or more downstream RF-modulated video signals with the subscriber optical interface; filtering the upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical RF domain with a first analog RF filter; blocking any extraneous upstream RF-modulated signals with the first analog RF filter; feeding an output of the RF filter into an input of an A/D converter; filtering the downstream RF-modulated video signals in the electrical domain with a second analog RF filter; blocking any extraneous downstream RF-modulated signals with the second analog RF filter; converting the one or more upstream RF-modulated video service control signals to digital signals with the A/D converter; and propagating the digital signals upstream with an optical carrier according to a timing dependent protocol. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for returning RF signals from a subscriber in an optical network comprising:
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receiving modulated upstream RF video service control signals in the electrical domain with a subscriber optical interface; receiving one or more downstream RF-modulated video signals with the subscriber optical interface; filtering the modulated upstream RF video service control signals in the electrical RF domain with a first analog RF filter; blocking any extraneous upstream RF-modulated signals with the first analog RF filter; filtering the downstream RF-modulated video signals in the electrical domain with a second analog RF filter; blocking any extraneous downstream RF-modulated signals with the second analog RF filter; feeding an output of the first analog RF filter into an input of an A/D converter; converting the upstream RF video service control signals into digitized RF signals with the A/D converter of the subscriber optical interface; processing the digitized RF signals with the subscriber optical interface; converting the processed digitized RF signals into one or more packets with the subscriber optical interface; and propagating the packets towards a data service hub with an optical carrier according to a timing dependent protocol. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification