PASSIVE MULTI-PORT ENTRY ADAPTER AND METHOD FOR PRESERVING DOWNSTREAM CATV SIGNAL STRENGTH WITHIN IN-HOME NETWORK

• US 20130091533A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Egan, John M. Jr., Wells, Chad T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/149
• 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. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for conducting downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and an at least one subscriber device at a subscriber premises and for conducting in-home network signals between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, the CATV signals occupying a CATV frequency band which is different from an in-home network frequency band occupied by the in-home network signals, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a CATV entry port for connection to the CATV network;

a plurality of network ports each for connection to one of the multiple subscriber devices;

a signal splitter having an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein each of the at least two output terminals is connected to one of the plurality of network ports; and

an in-home network frequency band rejection device connected between the CATV entry port and the input terminal of the signal splitter, wherein a first terminal of the in-home network frequency band rejection device is directly connected to the CATV entry port, and wherein a second terminal of the in-home network frequency rejection device is directly connected to the signal splitter input terminal, and wherein both upstream and downstream CATV signals pass through the in-home network frequency band rejection device, and wherein the in-home network frequency band rejection device blocks transmission of the in-home network signals from being conducted to the CATV entry port and the CATV network.

2. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the CATV entry adapter comprises only passive electronic components.

3. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the only power received by the entry adapter is received via the CATV signals or the in-home network signals.

4. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein downstream and upstream CATV signals pass respectively from and to the CATV network through the in-home network frequency band rejection device without substantial attenuation.

5. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the in-home network frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects in-home network signals within the in-home network signal frequency band of 1125-1525 megahertz, and passes CATV signals within the CATV signal frequency band of 5-1002 megahertz.

6. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the aforementioned signal splitter constitutes a first signal splitter, and the input terminal is a first signal splitter input terminal, and wherein the first signal splitter input terminal is not directly connected to the second terminal of the in-home network frequency band rejection device;

and

the CATV entry adapter further comprises;

an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA compatible subscriber device;

and

a second signal splitter comprising;

a second signal splitter input terminal, wherein the second signal splitter input terminal is electrically coupled to the in-home network frequency band rejection device second terminal;

a second signal splitter first output terminal, wherein the second signal splitter first output terminal is electrically connected to the first signal splitter input terminal;

and

a second signal splitter second output terminal, wherein the second signal splitter second output terminal is electrically connected to the eMTA port.

7. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the in-home network frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises;

a diplexer common terminal;

a diplexer low frequency terminal;

and

a diplexer high frequency terminal;

the diplexer conducts downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer low frequency terminal;

the diplexer blocks in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band from being conducted between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer low frequency terminal;

the diplexer blocks downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band from being conducted between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer high frequency terminal;

the diplexer conducts in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer high frequency terminal;

the CATV entry port is directly connected to the diplexer low frequency terminal;

and

the diplexer high frequency terminal is directly connected to the input terminal of the signal splitter.

8. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for conducting downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and an at least one subscriber device at a subscriber premises and for conducting in-home network signals between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, the CATV signals occupying a CATV frequency band which is different from an in-home network frequency band occupied by the in-home network signals, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a CATV entry port for connection to the CATV network;

a plurality of network ports each for connection to one of the multiple subscriber devices;

a first signal splitter comprising;

a first signal splitter input terminal, wherein the first signal splitter input terminal is directly connected to the CATV entry port;

a first signal splitter first output terminal;

and

a first signal splitter second output terminal;

a second signal splitter comprising;

a second signal splitter input terminal;

and

at least two second signal splitter output terminals, wherein each one of the at least two second signal splitter output terminals are each electrically coupled to one of the plurality of network ports;

and

a diplexer comprising;

a diplexer common terminal electrically connected to one of the plurality of network ports;

a diplexer low frequency terminal, wherein the diplexer low frequency terminal is electrically coupled to the first signal splitter first output terminal, and wherein the diplexer conducts downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer low frequency terminal, and wherein the diplexer blocks in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band from being conducted between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer low frequency terminal;

and

a diplexer high frequency terminal, wherein the diplexer high frequency terminal is electrically coupled to the second signal splitter input terminal, and wherein the diplexer blocks downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band from being conducted between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer high frequency terminal, and wherein the diplexer conducts in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band between the diplexer common terminal and the diplexer high frequency terminal.

9. The cable television (CATV) entry adapter of claim 8, wherein the CATV entry adapter further comprises:

an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA compatible subscriber device, wherein the eMTA port is directly electrically connected to the first signal splitter second output terminal.

10. The CATV entry adapter as defined in claim 8, wherein the in-home network frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects in-home network signals within the in-home network signal frequency band of 1125-1525 megahertz, and passes CATV signals within the CATV signal frequency band of 5-1002 megahertz.

11. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for conducting downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and an at least one subscriber device at a subscriber premises and for conducting in-home network signals between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, the downstream and upstream CATV signals occupying a CATV frequency band which is different from an in-home network frequency band occupied by the in-home network signals, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a CATV entry port for connection to the CATV network;

a plurality of network ports each for connection to one of the multiple subscriber devices;

a first signal splitter comprising;

a first signal splitter input terminal, wherein the first signal splitter input terminal is directly electrically connected to the CATV entry port;

a first signal splitter first output terminal;

and

a first signal splitter second output terminal;

a second signal splitter comprising;

a second signal splitter input terminal;

and

at least two second signal splitter output terminals, wherein each one of the at least two second signal splitter output terminals are each electrically coupled to one of the plurality of network ports;

a first diplexer comprising;

a first diplexer common terminal electrically connected to one of the plurality of network ports;

a first diplexer low frequency terminal, wherein the first diplexer low frequency terminal is electrically coupled to the first signal splitter second output terminal, and wherein the first diplexer conducts downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band between the first diplexer common terminal and the first diplexer low frequency terminal, and wherein the first diplexer blocks in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band from being conducted between the first diplexer common terminal and the first diplexer low frequency terminal;

and

a first diplexer high frequency terminal;

and

a second diplexer comprising;

a second diplexer common terminal electrically connected to the second signal splitter input terminal;

a second diplexer low frequency terminal, wherein the second diplexer low frequency terminal is electrically coupled to the first signal splitter first output terminal, and wherein the second diplexer conducts downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band between the second diplexer common terminal and the second diplexer low frequency terminal, and wherein the second diplexer blocks in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band from being conducted between the second diplexer common terminal and the second diplexer low frequency terminal;

and

a second diplexer high frequency terminal, wherein the second diplexer high frequency terminal is electrically coupled to the first diplexer high frequency terminal, and wherein the second diplexer blocks downstream and upstream CATV signals in the CATV frequency band from being conducted between the second diplexer common terminal and the second diplexer high frequency terminal, and wherein the second diplexer conducts in-home network signals in the in-home network signal frequency band between the second diplexer common terminal and the second diplexer high frequency terminal.

12. The cable television (CATV) entry adapter of claim 11, wherein:

the CATV frequency band includes signals with frequencies in the range of 5-1002 megahertz, and excludes signals with frequencies outside this frequency range; and

the in-home network frequency band includes signals with frequencies above 1125 megahertz, and excludes signal with frequencies below 1125 megahertz.

13. The cable television (CATV) entry adapter of claim 11, wherein the first signal splitter further comprises a first signal splitter third output terminal, and wherein the first signal splitter third output terminal is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of network ports.

14. The cable television (CATV) entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the CATV entry adapter further comprises an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) port for connection to an eMTA compatible subscriber device, and wherein the eMTA port is directly electrically connected to the first signal splitter third output terminal.

15. The cable television (CATV) entry adapter of claim 14, wherein:

the CATV frequency band includes signals with frequencies in the range of 5-1002 megahertz, and excludes signals with frequencies outside this frequency range; and

the in-home network frequency band includes signals with frequencies above 1125 megahertz, and excludes signals with frequencies below 1125 megahertz.