Method and system for providing a return path for signals generated by legacy terminals in an optical network
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 internet 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.
102 Citations
40 Claims
-
1-20. -20. (canceled)
-
21. A return path for RF-modulated video service control signals comprising:
a subscriber optical interface for receiving downstream optical signals and for transmitting downstream RF-modulated video service control signals in an electrical domain, and for receiving upstream RF-modulated video service control signals in the electrical domain that are propagated according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the control signals independently of time, the subscriber optical interface also for receiving upstream RF-modulated signals comprising upstream video service control information that is propagated according to one of the contention network protocol and the query-response protocol, the subscriber optical interface comprising an A/D converter for converting the RF-modulated 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 (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
29. A method for providing a return path for RF-modulated video service signals in an optical network system comprising:
-
receiving one or more RF-modulated video service control signals with a subscriber optical interface, the video service control signals comprising upstream control information that are propagated according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the control information independently of time; converting the one or more RF-modulated video service control signals to digital signals with an A/D converter; and propagating the digital signals upstream with an optical carrier according to a timing dependent protocol. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method for returning RF signals from a subscriber in an optical network comprising:
-
converting downstream optical signals into an electrical domain with the subscriber optical interface; receiving modulated upstream RF video service control signals in the electrical domain with a subscriber optical interface, the upstream RF video service control signals propagated according to one of a contention network protocol and a query-response protocol, the contention network protocol and query-response protocol supporting the RF video service control signals independently of time; converting the RF video service control signals into digitized RF signals with 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 the data service hub with an optical carrier according to a timing dependent protocol. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification