Intelligent device system and method for distribution of digital signals on a wideband signal distribution system

• US 8,341,679 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ChanBond, LLC (Unified Online, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CBV, Inc.
• Inventors: Hennenhoefer, Earl, Snyder, Richard, Stine, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/564,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20100009623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74- 81, 725/95, 725/96, 725/112, 725/113, 370/230, 370/232, 370/395.41, 370/542, 370/230.1, 370/540, 455/3.01, 330/100
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44245 Monitoring the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. its availability, bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A plurality of intelligent device systems for use with a wideband signal distribution network, and methods for transmitting digital information and receiving digital and non-digital information onto and off of an RF carrier through a wideband signal distribution network, are disclosed. The intelligent device systems provide networks of intelligent devices that modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband signal distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, using existing EIA/TIA 568 standard wiring infrastructure. The methods modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, and separate IP portions from non-IP portions.

Claims

1. An intelligent device for transmitting information on a modulated RF signal, comprising:

an input configured to receive a digital stream containing digital information, the digital information containing at least one destination address to which the digital information is to be sent;

an RF channel detector configured to detect which dynamically allocated RF channels are currently being used in a wideband signal distribution system, and to generate RF channel in use information identifying which of the dynamically allocated RF channels are currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system;

a traffic sensor configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information received by the input, and to generate traffic information identifying the information throughput of the received digital information;

a modulator unit configured to modulate the digital information into at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel, and to output a modulated RF signal containing the at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels to the wideband signal distribution system such that the digital information contained in the received digital stream is distributed across the at least two dynamically allocated RF channels output to the wideband signal distribution system; and

a processor configured to

receive the RF channel in use information generated by the RF channel detector and the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor,

determine which dynamically allocated RF channels are available to carry the digital information, from among a plurality of RF channels contained in the modulated RF signal, based on the RF channels which are identified in the RF channel in use information as not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system,

determine a number of dynamically allocated RF channels from among the plurality of RF channels contained in the modulated RF signal on which to carry the digital information received by the input based on the information throughput of the digital information and the information capacity of a single RF channel,

instruct the modulator unit to distribute the received digital information across at least two dynamically allocated RF channels by modulating the received digital information into the at least two dynamically allocated RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel, and

instruct the modulator unit on which specific dynamically allocated RF channels from among the plurality of RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal based on the determined number of dynamically allocated RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the at least one destination address contained in the digital information, and the determined available dynamically allocated RF channels which are not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system.

2. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:

the digital information received by the input contains at least one source address identifying at least one addressable device from which the digital information was received;

the processor is configured to instruct the modulator unit on which specific RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal, based on the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the at least one source address contained in the digital information, the at least one destination address contained in the digital information, and the determined available dynamically allocated RF channels which are not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system.

3. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:

the modulator unit comprises a plurality of modulators each being configured to modulate the received digital information on a respective one of a plurality of RF channels assignable in the modulated RF signal; and

the processor is configured to select a number of the plurality of modulators respectively corresponding to the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information for modulating the digital information based on the information throughput of the digital information and a respective capacity of each one of the plurality of modulators.

4. The intelligent device of claim 1,

wherein the processor is configured to select each dynamically allocated RF channel to be used to carry the received digital information, an RF carrier channel width, and a RF guardband width for carrying the digital information in the modulated RF signal, based on the information throughput of the digital information, the at least one destination address contained in the digital information, and the determined available dynamically allocated RF channels which are not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system.

5. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the modulator unit comprises at least one modulator configured to modulate the received digital information into the at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds the information capacity of a single RF channel.

6. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the modulator unit is configured to modulate the digital information received by the input into at least one RF channel when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the received digital information does not exceed the information capacity of a single RF channel, and to output a modulated RF signal containing the at least one RF channel to the wideband signal distribution system.

7. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless signal carrying digital information thereon;

at least one wireless demodulator configured to demodulate the digital information carried on the wireless signal; and

a combiner configured to combine the digital information received from the at least one addressable device with the digital information demodulated by the at least one wireless demodulator into a digital information stream to be modulated by the modulator unit.

8. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:

a converter configured to convert a wireless portion contained in the digital information modulated by the modulator unit into a wireless signal; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the wireless signal to a device configured to receive the wireless signal.

9. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:

the digital information received by the input is first digital information containing at least one first destination address;

the input is configured to receive second digital information separate from the first digital information containing at least one second destination address;

the intelligent device comprises a combiner configured to combine the received first and second digital information into a digital information stream;

the traffic sensor is configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information stream combined by the combiner, and to generate the traffic information to identify the information throughput of the digital information stream; and

the processor is configured to

instruct the modulator unit to modulate the digital information stream into the at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information stream exceeds an output capacity of a single RF channel,

instruct the modulator unit on which specific dynamically allocated RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal based on the determined number of dynamically allocated RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the at least one first destination address and the at least one second destination address contained in the digital information stream, and the determined available dynamically allocated RF channels which are not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system, and

output the modulated RF signal containing the at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels on which the digital information stream is modulated to the wideband signal distribution system.

10. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 1;

at least one addressable device connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the digital information to the intelligent device; and

a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to receive the modulated RF signal outputted by the modulator unit of the intelligent device.

11. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 7;

a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to receive the modulated RF signal from the intelligent device; and

at least one addressable device configured to transmit the wireless signal to the wireless receiver of the intelligent device.

12. An intelligent device for bi-directional distribution of modulated RF signals, comprising:

a first input configured to receive a first modulated RF signal containing multiple channels;

a demodulator unit configured to demodulate at least two channels contained in the first modulated RF signal when channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to at least one addressable device;

a first combiner configured to combine the at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit into a first digital information stream when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to output the first digital information stream to the at least one addressable device;

a second input configured to receive a digital stream containing digital information;

a traffic sensor configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information received by the second input, and to generate traffic information identifying the information throughput of the received digital information; and

a modulator unit configured to distribute the digital information contained in the received digital stream across at least two separate RF channels by modulating the digital information into the at least two separate RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel, and to output a second modulated RF signal containing the at least two separate RF channels to a wideband signal distribution system.

13. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein the first input is configured to receive the channel in use information as part of the first modulated RF signal.

14. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the channel in use information, wherein;

the demodulator unit comprises a plurality of demodulators each being configured to demodulate a respective one of the channels contained in the first modulated RF signal; and

the processor is configured to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device to demodulate the at least two channels, respectively, based on the channels identified in the channel in use information that contain information addressed to the at least one addressable device.

15. The intelligent device of claim 14, wherein:

the processor is configured to access a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and

the processor is configured to instruct the demodulator unit which channels contained in the first modulated RF signal are to be demodulated by comparing the channel in use information with the respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device, and to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the channels containing information respectively addressed to the each one of the at least addressable device to respectively demodulate the channels containing information addressed to the each one of the at least one addressable device.

16. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein the demodulator unit comprises at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the at least two channels in the first modulated RF signal containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.

17. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the channel in use information; and

a detector configured to detect each channel contained in the received first modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device, wherein;

the processor is configured to instruct the detector of a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and

the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received first modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device in accordance with the respective address of each addressable device.

18. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a detector configured to detect each channel contained in the first modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device, to generate the channel in use information identifying each channel that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to transmit the generated channel in use information to the demodulator unit.

19. The intelligent device of claim 18, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the channel in use information generated by the detector, and to instruct the detector of a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and

the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received first modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device in accordance with the respective address of each addressable device.

20. The intelligent device of claim 18, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor, to determine a number of channels on which to carry the digital information received by the second input, and to instruct the modulator unit of the number of channels on which to carry the digital information in the second modulated RF signal, based on the information throughput of the digital information and the information capacity of a single RF channel.

21. The intelligent device of claim 20, wherein:

the channel in use information generated by the detector identifies RF channels being used in the first modulated RF signal; and

the processor is configured to select each channel to be used to carry the received digital information based on the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor and the channel in use information generated by the detector.

22. The intelligent device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to select an RF carrier channel width, and a RF guardband width for carrying the received digital information in the second modulated RF signal, based on the information throughput of the digital information and the channel in use information generated by the detector.

23. The intelligent device of claim 18, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the channel in use information generated by the detector, wherein;

the demodulator unit comprises a plurality of demodulators each being configured to demodulate a respective one of the channels contained in the first modulated RF signal; and

the processor is configured to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device to demodulate the at least two channels, respectively, based on the channels identified in the channel in use information that contain information addressed to the at least one addressable device.

24. The intelligent device of claim 18, wherein:

the first modulated RF signal received by the first input includes channel identification information identifying the channels contained in the first modulated RF signal; and

the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received first modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device based on the channel identification information included in the first modulated RF signal.

25. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein the modulator unit is configured to modulate the digital information received by the second input into at least one RF channel when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the received digital information does not exceed the information capacity of a single RF channel, and to output a third modulated RF signal containing the at least one RF channel to the wideband signal distribution system.

26. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein:

when the channel in use information identifies a single channel of the first modulated RF signal as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, the demodulator unit is configured to demodulate at least the single channel; and

the first combiner is configured to output the single channel demodulated by the demodulator unit to the at least one addressable device when the channel in use information identifies the single channel as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.

27. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor, to determine a number of channels on which to carry the digital information received by the second input, and to instruct the modulator unit of the number of channels for carrying the received digital information in the second modulated RF signal, based on the information throughput of the digital information and the information capacity of a single RF channel.

28. The intelligent device of claim 27, wherein:

the modulator unit comprises a plurality of modulators each being configured to modulate digital information on a respective one of a plurality of RF channels assignable in the second modulated RF signal; and

the processor is configured to select a number of the plurality of modulators respectively corresponding to the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the received digital information for modulating the digital information based on the information throughput of the digital information and a respective capacity of each one of the plurality of modulators.

29. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein:

the intelligent device is connected to a plurality of addressable devices each having a respectively unique address; and

the first combiner is configured to combine at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit and output a respective digital information stream containing the combined at least two channels to at least one of the plurality of addressable devices to which information contained in the received first modulated RF signal is addressed, respectively.

30. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first modulated RF signal and the second modulated RF signal is of a frequency in the range of 5 MHz to in excess of 1 GHz.

31. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein:

the first modulated RF signal contains at least one channel carrying an IP portion and at least one channel carrying a non-IP portion; and

the intelligent device comprises a separation unit configured to separate the at least one channel carrying the IP portion from the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion, transmit the at least one channel carrying the IP portion to the demodulator unit, and transmit the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion to an outlet.

32. The intelligent device of claim 31, wherein the outlet is connectable to at least one of a video receiver and a device having an IP address assignable thereto.

33. The intelligent device of claim 31, comprising:

an RF level control circuit configured to adjust the non-IP portion of the first modulated RF signal to be within a predetermined specification quality range before the non-IP portion is transmitted to the outlet.

34. The intelligent device of claim 31, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the channel in use information,

wherein the separation unit comprises;

a first bandpass filter configured to pass a first band of the first modulated RF signal carrying the non-IP portion; and

a second bandpass filter configured to pass a second band of the first modulated RF signal carrying the IP portion,

wherein the second band passed by the second bandpass filter is outside the first band passed by the first bandpass filter, and

wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second bands respectively passed by the first and second bandpass filters based on the channel in use information.

35. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein the modulator unit is configured to modulate the digital information received by the second input into at least one RF channel when the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor indicates that the information throughput of the received digital information does not exceed the information capacity of a single RF channel, and to output a third modulated RF signal containing the at least one RF channel to the wideband signal distribution system.

36. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a converter configured to convert at least one of the channels contained in the first modulated RF signal into a first wireless signal;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the first wireless signal to a device configured to receive the first wireless signal;

a wireless receiver configured to receive a second wireless signal carrying digital information thereon;

at least one wireless demodulator configured to demodulate the digital information carried on the second wireless signal; and

a second combiner configured to combine the digital information received from the at least one addressable device with the digital information demodulated by the at least one wireless demodulator into a second digital information stream to be modulated by the modulator unit.

37. The intelligent device of claim 12, wherein:

the digital information received by the second input is first digital information;

the second input is configured to receive second digital information separate from the first digital information;

the intelligent device comprises a second combiner configured to combine the received first and second digital information into a second digital information stream;

the traffic sensor is configured to measure an information throughput of the second digital information stream combined by the second combiner, and to generate the traffic information to identify the information throughput of the second digital information stream; and

the modulator unit is configured to modulate the second digital information stream into the at least two separate RF channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the second digital information stream exceeds an output capacity of a single RF channel, and to output the second modulated RF signal containing the at least two separate RF channels on which the second digital information stream is modulated to the wideband signal distribution system.

38. The intelligent device of claim 12, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor, to determine a number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information received by the second input based on the information throughput of the digital information and the information capacity of a single RF channel, and to instruct the modulator unit to modulate the received digital information into at least two channels when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel.

39. The intelligent device of claim 38, wherein:

the digital information received by the second input contains at least one destination address to which the digital information is to be sent; and

the processor is configured to instruct the modulator unit on which specific RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal based on the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information and the at least one destination address contained in the digital information.

40. The intelligent device of claim 39, wherein:

the digital information received by the second input contains at least one source address identifying at least one addressable device from which the digital information was received; and

the processor is configured to instruct the modulator unit on which specific RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal, based on the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the at least one source address contained in the digital information, and the at least one destination address contained in the digital information.

41. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 12;

the wideband signal distribution system being connected to the intelligent device, and configured to transmit the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device and to receive the second modulated RF signal from the intelligent device; and

the at least one addressable device being connected to the intelligent device, and configured to receive the first digital information stream output from the first combiner of the intelligent device, and to transmit the digital information to the second input of the intelligent device.

42. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 36;

the wideband signal distribution system being connected to the intelligent device, and configured to transmit the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device and to receive the second modulated RF signal from the modulator unit of the intelligent device; and

the at least one addressable device,

wherein the at least one addressable device is configured to at least one of receive the first wireless signal from the wireless transmitter of the intelligent device and transmit the second wireless signal to the wireless receiver of the intelligent device.

43. An intelligent device for transmitting information on a modulated RF signal, comprising:

an input configured to receive a digital stream containing digital information to be sent to a wideband distribution system;

an RF channel detector configured to

detect which dynamically allocated RF channels, from among multiple channels contained in a modulated RF signal transmitted from the wideband distribution system, are currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system,

determine, from among the dynamically allocated RF channels which are detected as being currently used in the wideband signal distribution system, which of the detected dynamically allocated RF channels are carrying digital information thereon, and

generate RF channel in use information identifying (i) which of the dynamically allocated RF channels are currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system and (ii) which of the currently in use dynamically allocated RF channels are carrying digital information thereon;

a traffic sensor configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information received by the input, and to generate traffic information identifying the information throughput of the received digital information;

a modulator unit configured to modulate the received digital information; and

a processor configured to

receive the RF channel in use generated by the RF channel detector and the traffic information generated by the traffic sensor;

determine which dynamically allocated RF channels are available to carry the received digital information, from among a plurality of RF channels, based on the RF channels which are identified in the RF channel in use information as not currently being used in the wideband signal distribution system,

control the modulator unit to distribute the received digital information across at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels, from among the multiple channels contained in the modulated RF signal transmitted from the wideband signal distribution system, that are determined to carry digital information thereon and that are detected to be currently available, by modulating the received digital information into at the least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels, based on the indication of channels which carry digital information in the RF channel in use information received by the processor, when the traffic information indicates that the information throughput of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel,

instruct the modulator unit on which specific dynamically allocated RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal based on the determined number of dynamically allocated RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the indication of RF channels which carry digital information among the determined available RF channels as identified in the RF channel in use information received by the processor, and the at least one destination address contained in the digital information, and

control the modulator unit to output a modulated RF signal containing the at least two separate dynamically allocated RF channels to the wideband signal distribution system.

44. The intelligent device of claim 43, wherein:

the digital information received by the input contains at least one source address identifying at least one addressable device from which the digital information was received; and

the processor is configured to instruct the modulator unit on which specific RF channels to carry the digital information in the modulated RF signal, based on the determined number of RF channels on which to carry the digital information, the indication of channels which carry digital information in the channel in use information received by the processor, the at least one source address contained in the digital information, and the at least one destination address contained in the digital information.