Passive multi-port entry adapter and method for preserving downstream CATV signal strength within in-home network

• US 9,516,376 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Kieu Oanh T
• Application Number:
  US14/881,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 725/78, 725/91, 725/114, 725/127, 725/149, 725/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• 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 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/615 Signal processing at physical level signal processing in analog two-way television systems H04N7/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A cable television (CATV) entry adapter interfaces to a CATV network and serves as a hub in an in-home network for passively communicating multimedia content or information from the CATV network and between subscriber devices connected to the ports of the CATV entry adapter, using CATV signals in a CATV frequency band and network signals in a different in-home network band.

Claims

1. An entry adapter for delivering downstream and upstream signals between a network and one or more subscriber devices, the entry adapter comprising:

an entry port for connection to the network;

one or more network ports for connection to the one or more subscriber devices;

a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals; and

a frequency band rejection device coupled between the entry port and the input terminal of the signal splitter,

wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream signals from the network, in a first frequency band, to pass through to at least one of the one or more subscriber devices and

wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to block, from entering the network, signals communicated between the one or more subscriber devices in a second frequency band.

2. The entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:

a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports;

a low frequency terminal coupled to the entry port; and

a high frequency terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter.

3. The entry adapter of claim 1, the entry adapter further comprising:

a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and

wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises;

a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports;

a low frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter; and

a high frequency terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter.

4. The entry adapter of claim 3, wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.

5. The entry adapter of claim 1, the entry adapter further comprising:

a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and

wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises;

a first diplexer, the first diplexer comprising;

a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports,

a low frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter, and

a high frequency terminal; and

a second diplexer, the second diplexer comprising;

a common terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter,

a low frequency terminal coupled to a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter, and

a high frequency terminal coupled to the high frequency terminal of the first diplexer.

6. The entry adapter of claim 5, wherein a third of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.

7. The entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the entry adapter comprises only passive electronic components.

8. The entry adapter of claim 1, wherein power received by the entry adapter is received via the signals from the network or via signals from the one or more subscriber devices.

9. The entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects signals within signal frequency band of approximately 1125-1675 megahertz, and passes signals from the network within a signal frequency band of approximately 5-1002 megahertz.

10. The entry adapter of claim 1, the entry adapter further comprising a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals,

wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the frequency band rejection device,

wherein a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter, and

wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.

11. The entry device of claim 1, wherein the network is a cable television network.

12. An entry device for delivering downstream and upstream signals between a network and one or more subscriber devices, the entry adapter comprising:

an entry port for connection to the network;

one or more network ports for connection to the one or more subscriber devices; and

a frequency band rejection device coupled between the entry port and the one or network ports,

wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream signals from the network, in a first frequency band, to pass through to at least one of the one or more subscriber devices and

wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to block, from entering the network, signals communicated between the one or more subscriber devices in a second frequency band.

13. The entry adapter of claim 12, wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:

a first frequency terminal coupled to the entry port, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band;

a second frequency terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band; and

a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

14. The entry adapter of claim 12, the entry adapter further comprising:

a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and

wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises;

a first frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band;

a second frequency terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band; and

a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

15. The entry adapter of claim 14, wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.

16. The entry adapter of claim 12, the entry adapter further comprising:

a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and

wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises;

a first diplexer, the first diplexer comprising;

a first frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band,

a second frequency terminal, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band, and

a common terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and

a second diplexer, the second diplexer comprising;

a first frequency terminal coupled to a second of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band,

a second frequency terminal coupled to the second frequency terminal of the first diplexer, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band, and

a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

17. The entry adapter of claim 16, wherein a third of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.

18. The entry adapter of claim 12, wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects signals within signal frequency band of approximately 1125-1675 megahertz, and passes signals from the network within a signal frequency band of approximately 5-1002 megahertz.

19. The entry adapter of claim 12, wherein the first frequency band comprises frequencies from approximately 5 megahertz to approximately 1002 megahertz, and

wherein the second frequency band comprises frequencies from approximately 1125 megahertz to approximately 1675 megahertz.

20. The entry adapter of claim 12, wherein the first frequency band ranges comprises frequencies from approximately 5 megahertz to approximately 1002 megahertz, and

wherein the second frequency band ranges comprises frequencies above approximately 1125 megahertz.