Passive multi-port entry adapter and method for preserving downstream CATV signal strength within in-home network
DCFirst Claim
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1. An entry adapter, comprising:
- an entry port configured to receive downstream CATV signals from a cable television (CATV) network and to provide upstream signals for transmission to the CATV network;
one or more radiofrequency (RF) ports in communication with the entry port and configured to provide the downstream signals to a subscriber device connected thereto;
a plurality of Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) ports configured to connect to subscriber devices, wherein the plurality of MoCA ports are configured such that upstream MoCA signals received in one or more of the plurality of MoCA ports are transmitted to one or more others of the plurality of MoCA ports; and
a passive isolator in communication with the entry port and the plurality of MoCA ports, the passive isolator being configured to receive the downstream signals from the entry port, to prevent communication of upstream MoCA signals from the plurality of MoCA ports to the entry port, and to allow communication of upstream CATV signals to the entry port;
a first splitter connected to the plurality of MoCA ports and the isolator, the first splitter being configured to transmit signals between the plurality of MoCA ports, to transmit downstream signals from the isolator to the plurality of MoCA ports, and to transmit upstream signals to the isolator; and
a second splitter connected to the entry port, the isolator, and the one or more RF ports, the second splitter being configured to transmit the downstream CATV signals from the entry port to the isolator and the one or more RF ports, and to transmit upstream CATV signals from the isolator to the entry port, and from the one or more RF ports to the entry port,wherein the second splitter is configured to pass the downstream CATV signals to the one or more RF ports without passing the downstream CATV signals through the isolator,wherein the second splitter is configured to pass the upstream CATV signals from the one or more RF ports to the entry port without passing the upstream CATV signals through the isolator,wherein the isolator is configured to prevent upstream MoCA signals from being transmitted from the plurality of MoCA ports to the one or more RF ports,wherein the isolator is configured to allow upstream CATV signals to be transmitted from the plurality of MoCA ports to the entry port, andwherein the upstream MoCA signals comprise signals having a frequency of greater than about 1002 MHz, and wherein the upstream CATV signals comprise signals having a frequency of between about 5 MHz and about 1002 MHz.
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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.
175 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An entry adapter, comprising:
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an entry port configured to receive downstream CATV signals from a cable television (CATV) network and to provide upstream signals for transmission to the CATV network; one or more radiofrequency (RF) ports in communication with the entry port and configured to provide the downstream signals to a subscriber device connected thereto; a plurality of Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) ports configured to connect to subscriber devices, wherein the plurality of MoCA ports are configured such that upstream MoCA signals received in one or more of the plurality of MoCA ports are transmitted to one or more others of the plurality of MoCA ports; and a passive isolator in communication with the entry port and the plurality of MoCA ports, the passive isolator being configured to receive the downstream signals from the entry port, to prevent communication of upstream MoCA signals from the plurality of MoCA ports to the entry port, and to allow communication of upstream CATV signals to the entry port; a first splitter connected to the plurality of MoCA ports and the isolator, the first splitter being configured to transmit signals between the plurality of MoCA ports, to transmit downstream signals from the isolator to the plurality of MoCA ports, and to transmit upstream signals to the isolator; and a second splitter connected to the entry port, the isolator, and the one or more RF ports, the second splitter being configured to transmit the downstream CATV signals from the entry port to the isolator and the one or more RF ports, and to transmit upstream CATV signals from the isolator to the entry port, and from the one or more RF ports to the entry port, wherein the second splitter is configured to pass the downstream CATV signals to the one or more RF ports without passing the downstream CATV signals through the isolator, wherein the second splitter is configured to pass the upstream CATV signals from the one or more RF ports to the entry port without passing the upstream CATV signals through the isolator, wherein the isolator is configured to prevent upstream MoCA signals from being transmitted from the plurality of MoCA ports to the one or more RF ports, wherein the isolator is configured to allow upstream CATV signals to be transmitted from the plurality of MoCA ports to the entry port, and wherein the upstream MoCA signals comprise signals having a frequency of greater than about 1002 MHz, and wherein the upstream CATV signals comprise signals having a frequency of between about 5 MHz and about 1002 MHz. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An entry adapter, comprising:
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an entry port configured to receive downstream signals from a cable television (CATV) network and to provide upstream signals to the CATV network; one or more data ports in communication with the entry port and configured to provide the downstream signals to a device connected thereto; a plurality of network ports configured to connect to subscriber devices, the plurality of network ports being further configured to communicate with one another; and an isolator in communication with the entry port and the plurality of network ports, wherein the isolator is configured to; communicate the downstream signals from the entry port to the plurality of network ports, prevent communication of upstream signals in a first frequency band from the plurality of network ports to the entry port, and allow communication of upstream signals in a second frequency band from the one or more data ports, one or more of the plurality of network ports, or both to the entry port. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An entry adapter for a subscriber premises connected to a cable television (CATV) network, the entry adapter comprising:
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an entry port configured to receive downstream signals from the CATV network and to transmit upstream signals to the CATV network; one or more data ports in communication with the entry port and configured to provide the downstream signals to a device connected thereto; a plurality of network ports in communication with the entry port and configured to connect to subscriber devices, wherein the plurality of network ports are further configured to communicate with one another via signals in at least in an in-home network frequency band; and an isolator coupled to the plurality of network ports, the entry port, and the one or more data ports, wherein, the isolator is configured to; prevent upstream transmission of the signals in the in-home network frequency band from the plurality of network ports to the entry port during operation of the entry adapter, and permit upstream transmission of signals in a CATV frequency band from at least one of the plurality of network ports to the entry port during operation of the entry adapter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification