Dynamically configurable frequency band selection device between CATV distribution system and CATV user

• US 9,271,026 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Thomas A., Kelma, David, Lai, Joseph, Shafer, Steven K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Alan
• Application Number:
  US14/337,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20140331270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 725/118, 725/149, 725128-129, 370/280, 370/464, 455/127, 455/3.01, 455/3.06
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence

Abstract

A frequency band selection device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on the premise of a user includes at least two signal path sets between a tap side and a premise side. Each signal path set includes two discrete signal paths, a high frequency signal path for a downstream bandwidth and a low frequency signal path for an upstream bandwidth. The high frequency signal path and the low frequency signal path are separated by a cut-off transition frequency that is different for each signal path set. The device further includes a switch controller having at least two discrete switch positions. The switch controller chooses one of the switch positions as a result of an information signal. Each of the switch positions corresponds to a respective one of the signal path sets.

Claims

1. A frequency band selection device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on the premise of a user, the device comprising:

at least two signal path sets between a tap-side and a premise-side, each of the at least two signal path sets comprising;

a first discrete signal path comprising a high frequency signal path allowing a downstream bandwidth to pass from the tap-side to the premise-side,

a second discrete signal path comprising a low frequency signal path allowing an upstream bandwidth to pass from the premise-side to the tap-side, and

the high frequency signal path and the low frequency signal path are separated by a cut-off transition frequency that is different for each of the at least two signal path sets; and

a switch controller having at least two discrete switch positions, the switch controller choosing one of the switch positions as a result of an information signal, each of the switch positions corresponding to a respective one of the at least two signal path sets.

2. The frequency band selection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tap-side switch comprising an input terminal connected to a supplier side terminal; and

a tap-side filter set including a pair of frequency band splitting devices selectable by the tap-side switch,

wherein;

the tap-side switch comprises a first position directly connected to a first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with a first signal path set of the at least two signal path sets,

the tap-side switch comprises a second position directly connected to a second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with a second signal path set of the at least two signal path sets, and

the tap-side switch is actuated by the switch controller.

3. The frequency band selection device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices and the second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices separates the upstream bandwidth from the downstream bandwidth.

4. The frequency band selection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a premise-side switch connected to a premise-side terminal; and

a premise-side filter set including a pair of frequency band splitting devices selectable by the premise-side switch,

wherein;

the premise-side switch comprises a first position directly connected to a first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with the first signal path set,

the premise-side switch comprises a second position directly connected to a second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with the second signal path set, and

the premise-side switch is actuated by the switch controller.

5. The frequency band selection device of claim 4, wherein one of the first frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices and the second frequency band splitting device of the pair of frequency band splitting devices separates the upstream bandwidth from the downstream bandwidth.

6. The frequency band selection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tap-side switch set connected between a first pair of frequency band splitting devices and a second pair of frequency band splitting devices; and

a premise-side switch set connected between the first pair of frequency band splitting devices and the second pair of frequency band splitting devices,

wherein the tap-side switch set and the premise-side switch set are actuated by the switch controller.

7. The frequency band selection device of claim 1, wherein the information signal comprises a continuous tone.

8. The frequency band selection device of claim 1, wherein the information signal comprises a coded operational signal.

9. The frequency band selection device of claim 1, wherein the at least two signal path sets comprises three signal path sets.

10. The frequency band selection device of claim 9, wherein the switch controller includes three discrete switch positions corresponding, respectively to the three signal path sets.

11. The frequency band selection device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two signal path sets comprises at least one conductor providing an electrical transmission line between the tap-side and the premise-side.

12. A frequency band selection device comprising:

at least two signal path sets between a tap-side and a premise-side, each of the at least two signal path sets comprising;

a first discrete signal path comprising a high frequency signal path allowing a downstream bandwidth to pass from the tap-side to the premise-side,

a second discrete signal path comprising a low frequency signal path allowing an upstream bandwidth to pass from the premise-side to the tap-side, and

the high frequency signal path and the low frequency signal path are separated by a cut-off transition frequency that is different for each of the at least two signal path sets;

a switch controller having at least two discrete switch positions, the switch controller choosing one of the switch positions as a result of an information signal, each of the switch positions corresponding to a respective one of the at least two signal path sets;

a tap-side switch comprising an input terminal connected to a supplier side terminal;

a premise-side switch connected to a premise-side terminal;

a tap-side filter set including a first pair of frequency band splitting devices selectable by the tap-side switch; and

a premise-side filter set including a second pair of frequency band splitting devices selectable by the premise-side switch,

wherein;

each of the at least two signal path sets comprises at least one conductor providing an electrical transmission line between the tap-side and the premise-side,

the tap-side switch and the premise-side switch are actuated by the switch controller,

the tap-side switch comprises a first position directly connected to a first frequency band splitting device of the first pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the first frequency band splitting device of the first pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with a first signal path set of the at least two signal path sets,

the tap-side switch comprises a second position directly connected to a second frequency band splitting device of the first pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the second frequency band splitting device of the first pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with a second signal path set of the at least two signal path sets,

the premise-side switch comprises a first position directly connected to a first frequency band splitting device of the second pair of frequency band splitting devices,

the first frequency band splitting device of the second pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with the first signal path set,

the premise-side switch comprises a second position directly connected to a second frequency band splitting device of the second pair of frequency band splitting devices, and

the second frequency band splitting device of the second pair of frequency band splitting devices is associated with the second signal path set.