Wideband node in a cable TV network

Abstract

A novel node device enables transmission of a wideband signal, in compliance with various acceptable transmission standards and protocols. The signal consists of the legacy spectrum of about 5-860 MHz as well as a new downstream spectrum of about 1000-2000 MHz and a new upstream spectrum of about 2000-3000 MHz or about 930-1100 MHz. The novel device enables transfer of additional data in the upstream direction employing multiple upstream bands without making substantial investment in upstream physical node splitting, thus providing networking services to residential subscribers as well as to small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), which may operate under existing DOCSIS protocols and controlled by standard DOCSIS routers (CMTSs).

1 . In a hybrid fiber cable signal distribution network, a node apparatus for the division, frequency conversion and multiplexing of at least four signal sub-bands included in a high frequency band signal of a wideband signal of about 5 to 3000 MHz, the apparatus comprising the elements of: 
 a triplexer device to separate in an upstream direction the wideband signal into the high frequency band signal and a CATV signal of about 5 to 860 MHz;    an amplifier device to amplify the high frequency band signal in the upstream direction;    a splitter device to split the amplified high frequency band signal into at least four reproduced signals in the upstream direction;    a first frequency converter device to down-convert the first frequency sub-band of the first reproduced signal into a first down-converted signal of about 12 to 42 MHz in the upstream direction;    a second frequency converter device to down-convert the second frequency sub-band of the second reproduced signal into a second down-converted signal in the upstream direction;    a third frequency converter device to down-convert the third frequency sub-band of the third reproduced signal into a third down-converted signal in the upstream direction;    a fourth frequency converter device to down-convert the fourth frequency sub-band of the fourth reproduced signal into a fourth down-converted signal in the upstream direction; and    a multiplexer device to multiplex the first down-converted signal, the second down-converted signal, the third down-converted signal and the fourth down-converted signal into a combined signal in the upstream direction.    
     
     
         2 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the high frequency upstream band signal is of about 2000 to 3000 MHz.  
     
     
         3 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the high frequency upstream band signal is of about 860 to 1100 MHz.  
     
     
         4 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the high frequency band signal further comprises a plurality of channels, which may be operating under the DOCSIS standards and protocols.  
     
     
         5 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the high frequency band signal further comprises a plurality of channels, which may be operating under the DOCSIS standards and protocols.  
     
     
         6 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first or second or third or fourth frequency sub bands are about 30 MHz wide, which may be operating under the DOCSIS standards and protocols.  
     
     
         7 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first frequency sub-band is in the about 2250 to 2280 MHz or in the about 900 to 930 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         8 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second frequency sub-band is in the about 2300 to 2330 MHz or in the about 931 to 960 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         9 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third frequency sub-band is in the about 2350 to 2380 MHz or in the about 961 to 990 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         10 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fourth frequency sub-band is in the about 2400 to 24300 MHz or in the about 991 to 1100 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         11 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first or second or third or fourth down-converted signal is in the about 12 to 42 MHz.  
     
     
         12 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprises an RF-to-optical converter in the upstream direction and an Optical-to-RF converter in the downstream direction.  
     
     
         13 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprises an optical transmitter device in the upstream and an optical receiver in the downstream direction.  
     
     
         14 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the triplexer device combines into the wideband signal a low frequency signal.  
     
     
         15 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprises a fifth frequency converter device to up-convert a downstream signal to a low frequency band signal in a downstream direction.  
     
     
         16 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the low frequency downstream band signal is in the about 1000 to 2000 MHz.  
     
     
         17 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the low frequency downstream band signal is in the about 1000 to 2000 MHz.  
     
     
         18 . The node apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the downstream signal is in the about 150-860 MHz.  
     
     
         19 . In a hybrid fiber cable signal distribution network, a method for the division, frequency conversion and multiplexing of at least four signal sub-bands included in a high frequency upstream band signal of a wideband signal of about 5 to 3000 MHz, the method comprising the steps of: 
 separating in an upstream direction the wideband signal into the high frequency band signal and a CATV signal of about 50 to 860 MHz;    amplifying the high frequency band signal in the upstream direction;    splitting the amplified high frequency band signal into at least four reproduced signals in the upstream direction;    down-converting the first frequency sub-band of the first reproduced signal into a first down-converted signal in the upstream direction;    down-converting the second frequency sub-band of the second reproduced signal into a second down-converted signal in the upstream direction;    down-converting the third frequency sub-band of the third reproduced signal into a third down-converted signal in the upstream direction;    down-converting the fourth frequency sub-band of the fourth reproduced signal into a fourth down-converted signal in the upstream direction; and    multiplexing the first down-converted signal, the second down-converted signal, the third down-converted signal and the fourth down-converted signal into a combined signal in the upstream direction.    
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the high frequency band signal is of about 2000 to 3000 MHz.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the first frequency sub-band is in the about 2250 to 2280 MHz or in the about 900 to 931 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the second frequency sub-band is in the about 2300 to 2330 MHz or in the about 931 to 960 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the third frequency sub-band is in the about 2350 to 2380 MHz or in the about 961 to 990 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the fourth frequency sub-band is in the about 2400 to 2430 MHz or in the about 991 to 1100 MHz frequency range.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the first or second or third or fourth down-converted signal is in the about 12 to 42 MHz.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  further comprising the step of combining into the wideband signal a low frequency signal.  
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  further comprises the step of up-converting a downstream signal to a low frequency band signal in a downstream direction.  
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the low frequency band signal is in the about 1000 to 2000 MHz.  
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the low frequency band signal is in the about 1000 to 2000 MHz.  
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the low frequency band signal further comprises a plurality of channels.  
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the low frequency band signal further comprises a plurality of channels.  
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the downstream signal is in the about 150-860 MHz.