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

• US 9,363,554 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ChanBond, LLC (Unified Online, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ChanBond, LLC (Unified Online, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hennenhoefer, Earl, Snyder, Richard, Stine, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengesha, Mulugeta
• Application Number:
  US14/167,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 725 81- 82
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 receiving and processing RF signals, comprising:

a first input configured to receive a first modulated RF signal containing multiple channels, at least two of the channels containing a first digital stream distributed across the at least two channels;

a wireless transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the RF signal to at least one addressable device on at least one RF channel among a plurality of RF channels each respectively having a first channel width; and

a processor configured to increase the first channel width of the at least one RF channel such that the at least one RF channel has a second channel width greater than the first channel width, when an information volume of the first digital stream exceeds an information capacity of the first channel width, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to transmit the RF signal to the addressable device on the at least one RF channel having the second channel width.

2. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to increase the first channel width of the at least one RF channel by combining the first channel width of the at least one RF channel with the first channel width of at least one other RF channel adjacent to the at least one RF channel.

3. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission unit comprises at least one transcoder.

4. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the first digital stream contains at least one destination address to which digital information contained in the first digital stream is to be sent, and

wherein the processor is configured to receive channel in use information which identifies whether digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to at the least one addressable device, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to wirelessly transmit the first modulated RF signal to the at least one addressable device when the channel in use information indicates that the digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to the at least one addressable device.

5. The intelligent device of claim 4, wherein the channel in use information is received from a wideband signal distribution system transmitting the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device.

6. The intelligent device of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to receive the channel in use information as part of the first modulated RF signal.

7. The intelligent device of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to access a respective address of the at least one addressable device, and to compare the received channel in use information with the respective address of the at least one addressable device.

8. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the first digital stream contains at least one destination address to which digital information contained in the first digital stream is to be sent, and

wherein the processor is configured to generate channel in use information identifying each channel contained in the first modulated RF signal that contains digital information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to wirelessly transmit the first modulated RF signal to the at least one addressable device when the channel in use information indicates that the digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to the at least one addressable device.

9. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the first modulated RF signal is of a frequency in the range of 5 MHz to in excess of 1 GHz.

10. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 1; and

a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device.

11. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:

a second input configured to receive a second modulated RF signal from the at least one addressable device;

a demodulator unit configured to demodulate the second modulated RF signal into a second digital stream containing digital information; and

a modulator unit configured to modulate the digital information into at least one channel of a third modulated RF signal containing a plurality of channels, and to distribute the third modulated RF signal to a wideband signal distribution system.

12. The intelligent device of claim 11, comprising:

a traffic sensor configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information contained in the second digital stream, and to generate traffic information identifying the information volume of the digital information contained in the second digital stream, wherein the processor is configured to instruct the modulator unit to modulate the digital information contained in the second digital stream across at least two channels of the third modulated RF signal when the traffic information indicates that the information volume of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel in the third modulated RF signal.

13. An intelligent device for receiving and processing RF signals, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having instructions recorded thereon; and

a processor, by executing the instructions recorded on the computer-readable recording medium, being configured to;

receive a first modulated RF signal containing multiple channels, at least two of the channels containing a first digital stream distributed across the at least two channels;

instruct a wireless transmission unit to wirelessly transmit the first modulated RF signal to at least one addressable device on at least one RF channel among a plurality of RF channels each respectively having a first channel width; and

increase the first channel width of the at least one RF channel such that the at least one RF channel has a second channel width greater than the first channel width, when an information volume of the first digital stream exceeds an information capacity of the first channel width, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to transmit the first modulated RF signal to the addressable device on the at least one RF channel having the second channel width.

14. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to increase the first channel width of the at least one RF channel by combining the first channel width of the at least one RF channel with the first channel width of at least one other RF channel adjacent to the at least one RF channel.

15. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the wireless transmission unit comprises at least one transcoder.

16. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the first digital stream contains at least one destination address to which digital information contained in the first digital stream is to be sent, and

wherein the processor is configured to receive channel in use information which identifies whether digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to at the least one addressable device, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to wirelessly transmit the first modulated RF signal to the at least one addressable device when the channel in use information indicates that the digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to the at least one addressable device.

17. The intelligent device of claim 16, wherein the channel in use information is received from a wideband signal distribution system transmitting the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device.

18. The intelligent device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to receive the channel in use information as part of the first modulated RF signal.

19. The intelligent device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to access a respective address of the at least one addressable device, and to compare the received channel in use information with the respective address of the at least one addressable device.

20. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the first digital stream contains at least one destination address to which digital information contained in the first digital stream is to be sent, and

wherein the processor is configured to generate channel in use information identifying each channel contained in the first modulated RF signal that contains digital information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to instruct the wireless transmission unit to wirelessly transmit the first modulated RF signal to the at least one addressable device when the channel in use information indicates that the digital information contained in the first digital stream is addressed to the at least one addressable device.

21. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the first modulated RF signal is of a frequency in the range of 5 MHz to in excess of 1 GHz.

22. A signal distribution system comprising:

the intelligent device of claim 13;

a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the first modulated RF signal to the intelligent device.

23. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a second modulated RF signal from the at least one addressable device;

instruct a demodulator unit to demodulate the second modulated RF signal into a second digital stream containing digital information; and

instruct a modulator unit to modulate the digital information into at least one channel of a third modulated RF signal containing a plurality of channels, and to distribute the third modulated RF signal to a wideband signal distribution system.

24. The intelligent device of claim 13, comprising:

a traffic sensor configured to measure an information throughput of the digital information contained in the second digital stream, and to generate traffic information identifying the information volume of the digital information contained in the second digital stream,

wherein the processor is configured to receive the traffic information and to instruct the modulator unit to modulate the digital information contained in the second digital stream across at least two channels of the third modulated RF signal when the traffic information indicates that the information volume of the digital information exceeds an information capacity of a single RF channel in the third modulated RF signal.