Format converter with smart multitap

• US 7,903,972 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Riggsby, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dzung D
• Application Number:
  US11/456,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 398 66- 74
• US Class Current: 398/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

Systems and methods for signal conversion with smart multitap are disclosed. Embodiments of the systems can be scalable to model different signal topologies, transmission frequencies, bandwidths, and distances. An exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods includes a fiber optic to RF converter and a smart multitap. Although a fiber optic to RF converter is used in exemplary embodiments throughout the disclosure, conversion between other signal topologies is within the scope of the disclosure. The smart multitap includes a multiple tap for distributing a signal to multiple terminals and a microprocessor to select a particular terminal for a signal. Exemplary embodiments include downstream implementations in which a stream is typically sent from a service provider server to a user. Alternative embodiments include downstream implementations as well as upstream implementations in which a user typically sends a stream to a service provider server.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a module configured to convert an input signal in a first format to a signal in a second format;

a configurable multitap for splitting the signal in the second format comprising;

a splitter that provides a splitter signal in the second signal format to a first plurality of feeds corresponding to a first level of service;

a filter that filters the splitter signal on at least one of the first plurality of feeds to provide a filtered signal to a second plurality of feeds corresponding to a second level of service that is different from the first level of service; and

a plurality of switches comprising;

a first switch coupled between at least one of the first plurality of feeds and each of a plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a first service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding to the first level of service; and

a second switch coupled between at least one of the second plurality of feeds and each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a second service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding the second level of service; and

a processor for that controls the plurality of switches of the multitap based on a control signal to control which of at least one of the first service signal and the second service signal is provided to each of the plurality of output terminals, such that at least one the plurality of output terminals is operative to receive both the first level of service and the second level of service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format is capable of being used on a fiber optic transmission medium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second format is capable of being used on a radio frequency transmission medium.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two output terminals of the plurality of output terminals receive different levels of service via different ones of the first plurality of feeds and the second plurality of feeds.

5. A system comprising:

a module configured to convert an input signal in a first format to a signal in a second format;

a configurable multitap for splitting the signal in the second format comprising;

a splitter that provides a splitter signal in the second signal format to a first plurality of feeds corresponding to a first level of service;

a filter that filters the splitter signal on at least one of the first plurality of feeds to provide a filtered signal to a second plurality of feeds corresponding to a second level of service that is different from the first level of service; and

a plurality of switches comprising;

a first switch coupled between at least one of the first plurality of feeds and each of a plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a first service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding to the first level of service; and

a second switch coupled between at least one of the second plurality of feeds and each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a second service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding the second level of service;

a processor for that controls the plurality of switches of the multitap based on a control signal to control which of at least one of the first service signal and the second service signal is provided to each of the plurality of output; and

a receiver that includes a filter for passing the control signal to the processor, wherein the control signal is received as part of the input signal in the first format.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the filter is a bandpass filter.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a demodulator configured to demodulate the control signal for use by the processor.

8. A method comprising:

converting a downstream signal from a first format to a second format; and

distributing the downstream signal in the second format to multiple units using a smart multitap, the distributing comprising;

splitting the downstream signal in the second format to provide a splitter signal associated with a first level of service to a first plurality of feeds;

filtering the splitter signal to provide a filtered signal associated with a second level of service different from the first level of service to a second plurality of feeds; and

selectively controlling a plurality of switches to control a level of service for each of a plurality of output terminals, such that at least one of the plurality of output terminals is operative to receive both the first level of service and the second level of service, the plurality of switches comprising;

a first switch associated each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide each of the plurality of output terminals the first level of service via at least one of the first plurality of feeds; and

a second switch associated each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide each of the plurality of output terminals the second level of service via at least one of the second plurality of feeds.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first format is a fiber optic format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second format is an RF format.

11. A method comprising:

converting a downstream signal from a first format to a second format; and

distributing the downstream signal in the second format to multiple units using a smart multitap, the distributing comprising;

splitting the downstream signal in the second format to provide a splitter signal associated with a first level of service to a first plurality of feeds;

filtering the splitter signal to provide a filtered signal associated with a second level of service different from the first level of service to a second plurality of feeds; and

selectively controlling a plurality of switches to control a level of service for each of a plurality of output terminals, the plurality of switches comprising;

a first switch associated each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide each of the plurality of output terminals the first level of service via at least one of the first plurality of feeds; and

a second switch associated each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide each of the plurality of output terminals the second level of service via at least one of the second plurality of feeds;

filtering the signal in the second format to produce a control signal that identifies the level of service for each the plurality of output terminals; and

passing the control signal to a processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a receiver that includes a bandpass filter filters the signal in the second format to provide the control signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising demodulating the control signal for use by the processor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a processor is configured to selectively control the plurality of switches based on the control signal.

15. A system comprising:

a module configured to convert an input signal in a first format to a signal in a second format;

a configurable multitap for splitting the signal in the second format comprising;

a splitter that provides a splitter signal in the second signal format to a first plurality of feeds corresponding to a first level of service;

a filter that filters the splitter signal on at least one of the first plurality of feeds to provide a filtered signal to a second plurality of feeds corresponding to a second level of service that is different from the first level of service; and

a plurality of switches comprising;

a first switch coupled between at least one of the first plurality of feeds and each of a plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a first service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding to the first level of service; and

a second switch coupled between at least one of the second plurality of feeds and each of the plurality of output terminals configured to selectively provide a second service signal to each of the plurality of output terminals corresponding the second level of service; and

a processor for that controls the plurality of switches of the multitap based on a control signal to control which of at least one of the first service signal and the second service signal is provided to each of the plurality of output;

wherein the downstream signal in the first format includes control information that identifies the level of service that each of the plurality of output terminals receives, the control signal including the control information.