CATV entry adapter and method for distributing CATV and in-home entertainment signals

• US 9,351,051 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wells, Chad T., Egan, John M. Jr., Halik, Gregory F., Newby, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dubasky, Gigi L
• Application Number:
  US13/863,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20130227632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725 78- 82, 725/119, 725127-129, 725/149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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 21/6118 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 21/63 Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

A cable television (CATV) entry adapter connects to a CATV network and serves as a hub in an In-Home Entertainment (IHE) network. IHE signals may be communicated between passive and active ports of an embodiment of the entry adapter through a pair of directional couplers which allow an IHE-enabled embedded multimedia terminal device (eMTA) at the passive port to communicate with multimedia devices of the IHE network connected to the active ports. An IHE frequency rejection filter is used in some embodiments to confine IHE signal to a single subscriber premise. In some embodiments a bidirectional IHE bandpass filter is used to enable IHE signals to pass between the passive and active ports of the CATV entry adapter.

Claims

1. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for interfacing a CATV network to a plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment at a subscriber premises, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a housing;

a CATV entry port connected to the housing and operative to connect the CATV entry adapter to the CATV network;

a passive port connected to the housing, wherein the passive port is operative to connect to a least one of the plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment;

a plurality of active ports connected to the housing, wherein each active port is operative to connect to at least one of the plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment;

a signal bidirectional splitter/combiner contained within the housing, the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner comprising;

a common terminal electrically coupled to the entry port;

a first signal component leg electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of active ports; and

a second signal component leg electrically coupled to the passive port;

wherein the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner conducts signals between the common terminal, the first signal component leg, and the second signal component leg, the signals comprising;

CATV downstream signals in a CATV downstream signal frequency range;

CATV upstream signals in a CATV upstream signal frequency range that is different from the CATV downstream signal frequency range; and

in-home entertainment (IHE) signals in an IHE signal frequency range that is different from both the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signal frequency range; and

an IHE frequency rejection filter contained within the housing, wherein the IHE frequency rejection filter is directly connected between the signal bidirectional splitter combiner common terminal and the CATV entry port, the IHE frequency rejection filter operatively preventing conduction of the IHE signals in the IHE signal frequency range from passing from the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner onto the CATV network, but allowing the CATV downstream signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signals in the CATV upstream signal frequency range to pass between the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner and the CATV network, and

wherein the IHE signals traverse the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner between the first signal component leg and the second signal component leg to enable conduction of the IHE signals between an in-home entertainment (IHE) signal communication path and a CATV passive signal communication path, wherein the CATV passive signal communication path conducts the CATV downstream signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signals in the CATV upstream signal frequency range between the second signal component leg and the passive port.

2. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, further comprising a CATV active signal communication path, wherein the CATV active signal communication path conducts the CATV downstream signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signals in the CATV upstream signal frequency range between the first signal component leg and at least one of the plurality of active ports.

3. The CATV entry adapter of claim 2, wherein the CATV active signal communication path comprises at least one active electronic component for conditioning the CATV signals conducted between the first signal component leg and the at least one of the plurality of active ports, and wherein the CATV active signal communication path conducts the CATV signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signal frequency range, and rejects signals of other frequencies.

4. The CATV entry adapter of claim 3, wherein the CATV active signal communication path comprises:

a CATV active downstream signal communication path that conducts the CATV downstream signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range between the first signal component leg and at least one of the plurality of active ports, and rejects signals of other frequencies; and

a CATV active upstream signal communication path that conducts the CATV upstream signals in the CATV upstream signal frequency range between the first signal component leg and at least one of the plurality of active ports, and rejects signals of other frequencies.

5. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the IHE signal communication path conducts the IHE signals in the IHE signal frequency range between the first signal component leg and at least one of the plurality of active ports, the IHE signal communication path conducting the IHE signals in the IHE signal frequency range and rejecting signals in all other frequencies.

6. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the IHE frequency rejection filter is formed internal to the housing.

7. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for communicating signals between a CATV network and a plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment at a subscriber premises, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a housing;

a CATV entry port connected to the housing and operative to connect the CATV entry adapter to the CATV network;

a passive port connected to the housing, wherein the passive port is operative to connect to a first one of the plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment;

an active port connected to the housing, wherein the active port is operative to connect to a second one of the plurality of pieces of subscriber equipment;

a first signal bidirectional splitter/combiner contained within the housing,

the first signal bidirectional splitter/combiner comprising;

a common terminal electrically coupled to the entry port;

a first signal component leg; and

a second signal component leg;

an active-side directional coupler contained within the housing, wherein the active-side directional coupler comprises;

an input port electrically connected to the active port;

a through port electrically connected to the first signal component leg;

a main leg electrically connecting the input port to the through port;

a coupled port; and

a directional leg electrically connecting the input port to the coupled port;

a passive-side directional coupler contained within the housing, wherein the passive-side directional coupler comprises;

an input port electrically connected to the passive port;

a through port electrically connected to the second signal component a main leg electrically connecting the input port to the through port;

a coupled port; and

a directional leg electrically connecting the input port to the coupled port;

wherein the passive side directional coupler coupled port and the active-side directional coupler coupled port are electrically connected together, and wherein in-home entertainment signals in an in-home entertainment (IHE) signal frequency range are conducted between the passive port and the active port through the directional leg of both the active-side directional coupler and the passive-side directional coupler; and

an IHE frequency rejection filter contained within the housing, wherein the IHE frequency rejection filter is connected between the common terminal of the first bidirectional splitter/combiner and the CATV entry port, and wherein the IHE frequency rejection filter prevents conduction of the IHE signals between the common terminal of the first bidirectional splitter/combiner and the entry port, but conducts CATV downstream signals and CATV upstream signals between the common terminal of the first bidirectional splitter/combiner and the CATV entry port.

8. The CATV entry adapter of claim 7, wherein the first bidirectional splitter/combiner splits CATV downstream signals received from the CATV network at the common terminal into split downstream CATV signals at each of the first and the second signal component legs, and wherein the first bidirectional splitter/combiner combines CATV upstream signal received at the first and the second signal component leg into a combined CATV upstream signals at the common terminal.

9. The CATV entry adapter of claim 7, further comprising a second bidirectional splitter/combiner electrically connected between the input port of the active-side directional coupler and the active port.

10. The CATV entry adapter of claim 7, wherein the electrical connection between the first bidirectional splitter/combiner first signal component leg and the active-side directional coupler through port comprises:

a CATV downstream signal communication path, wherein the CATV downstream signal communication path conducts signals in a CATV downstream signal frequency range and rejects signals of all other frequencies; and

a CATV upstream signal communication path, wherein the CATV upstream signal communication path conducts signals in a CATV upstream signal frequency range and rejects signals of all other frequencies.

11. The CATV entry adapter of claim 10, wherein the CATV upstream signal communication path comprises an ingress noise mitigation circuit operative to suppress upstream ingress noise.

12. A method of transmitting in-home entertainment (IHE) signals between an active port of a cable television (CATV) entry adapter and a passive port of the CATV entry adapter, the method comprising the steps of:

conducting CATV downstream signals in a CATV downstream signal frequency range and CATV upstream signals in a CATV upstream signal frequency range between a CATV network and the active port of the CATV entry adapter through an entry port of the CATV entry adapter;

conducting the CATV downstream signals in the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signals in the CATV upstream signal frequency range between the CATV network and a passive port of the CATV entry adapter through the entry port of the CATV entry adapter;

conducting the IHE signals in an IHE signal frequency range that is different from both the CATV downstream signal frequency range and the CATV upstream signal frequency range between the active port and the passive port; and

preventing the IHE signals from being conducted to the CATV network through the CATV entry adapter, wherein preventing the IRE signals from being conducted to the CATV network through the CATV entry adapter comprises;

electrically connecting a main leg of an active-side directional coupler between a first signal component leg of the bidirectional splitter/combiner and the active port;

electrically connecting a main leg of a passive-side directional coupler between a second signal component leg of the bidirectional splitter/combiner and the passive port; and

operationally connecting a coupled port of the active-side directional coupler to a coupled port of the passive-side directional coupler, wherein the IRE signals are conducted between the coupled port of the passive-side directional coupler and the coupled port of the active-side directional coupler.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of preventing the IHE signals from being conducted to the CATV network through the CATV entry adapter comprises the steps of:

directly connecting an IHE frequency rejection filter to the CATV entry port; and

directly connecting a bidirectional splitter/combiner to the IHE frequency rejection filter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of preventing the IHE signals from being conducted to the CATV network through the CATV entry adapter comprises the steps of:

electrically connecting a common terminal of a bidirectional splitter/combiner to the entry port of the CATV entry adapter;

electrically connecting the first signal component leg of the bidirectional splitter/combiner to the active port; and

electrically connecting the second signal component leg of the bidirectional splitter/combiner to the passive port.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of preventing IHE signals from being conducted to the CATV network through the CATV entry adapter further comprises the steps of:

restricting the IHE signals from being conducted between the coupled port of the active-side directional coupler and a through port of the active-side directional coupler; and

restricting the IHE signals from being conducted between the coupled port of the passive-side directional coupler to a through port of the passive-side directional coupler.

16. A passive-active cable television (CATV) entry adapter comprising:

a housing;

a CATV entry port connected to the housing to connect the CATV entry adapter to a CATV network;

a plurality of output ports to transmit signals to and from downstream subscriber devices, wherein the plurality of output ports comprises at least one active port and a passive port;

a signal bidirectional splitter/combiner contained within the housing, the signal bidirectional splitter/combiner comprising;

a common terminal electrically coupled to the CATV entry port;

a first signal component leg electrically coupled to the at least one active port, to conduct active signals along an active signal pathway, the active signals being modified by one or more active signal conditioners before being delivered to the at least one active port; and

a second signal component leg electrically coupled to the passive port, to conduct passive signals along a passive signal pathway without being modified by one or more active signal conditioners before being delivered to the passive port;

a second bidirectional splitter/combiner to traverse in-home entertainment (IHE) signals transmitted in an IHE frequency range between the active signal pathway and the passive signal pathway, wherein the second bidirectional splitter/combiner is positioned within the housing; and

an in-home entertainment frequency rejection filter contained within the housing, wherein the IHE frequency rejection filter is connected between the CATV entry port and the plurality of output ports, the IHE frequency rejection filter preventing conduction of IHE signals in the IHE signal frequency range from passing onto the CATV network, but allowing CATV downstream signals in a CATV downstream signal frequency range and CATV upstream signals in a CATV upstream signal frequency range to pass between the CATV network and the plurality of output ports.

17. The passive-active CATV entry adapter of claim 16, wherein the active signal path comprises downstream CATV signals transmitted in a downstream CATV signal frequency from the CATV entry port to the at least one active port.

18. The passive-active CATV entry adapter of claim 17, wherein upstream CATV signals and downstream CATV signals are separated for independent conditioning.

19. The passive-active CATV entry adapter of claim 16, wherein the passive signal pathway transmits the passive signals to passive subscriber equipment.

20. The passive-active CATV entry adapter of claim 19, wherein the passive subscriber equipment includes a voice modem or a “

life-line”

telephone set.