Downstream plant capacity

Abstract

A transmitting and/or receiving system for cable networks.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A transmitting system for transmitting at least one of a broadcast service and a first narrowcast service, and a second narrowcast service, the transmitting system comprising:
 (a) an optical transition receiving said at least one of a broadcast service as an analog broadcast service and a first narrowcast service as an analog first narrowcast service having a first frequency range, and said optical transition receiving said second narrowcast service as an analog second narrowcast service having a second frequency range, where said second frequency range is at least partially overlapping with said first frequency range;   (b) a first digitizer of said optical transition converting said at least one of said analog broadcast service and said analog first narrowcast service to at least one of a digital broadcast service and a digital first narrowcast service, and a second digitizer of said optical transition converting said analog second narrowcast service to a digital second narrowcast service;   (c) at least one of (i) a digital broadcast transmitter converting said digital broadcast service to an optical broadcast service at a first wavelength suitable to be transmitted on an optical fiber and (ii) a digital first narrowcast transmitter converting said digital first narrowcast service to an optical first narrowcast service at said first wavelength suitable to be transmitted on said optical fiber, and a digital second narrowcast transmitter converting said digital second narrowcast service to an optical second narrowcast service at a second wavelength suitable to be transmitted on said optical fiber, where said first wavelength is different than said second wavelength;   (d) said optical transition transmitting said at least one of said optical broadcast service and said optical first narrowcast service, and said optical second narrowcast service on said optical fiber to a remote fiber node that provides said at least one of said optical broadcast service and said optical first narrowcast service, and said optical second narrowcast service for the same customer.   
     
     
         21 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  further comprising a multiplexer combining said at least one of said optical broadcast service and said optical first narrowcast service, and said optical second narrowcast service to be said transmitted on said optical fiber. 
     
     
         22 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  wherein said first digitizer and said second digitizer are separate from one another. 
     
     
         23 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  wherein said at least one of said digital broadcast transmitter and said digital first narrowcast transmitter, and said digital second narrowcast transmitter are separate from one another. 
     
     
         24 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  further comprising at least one of a broadcast digital signal processor that modifies said digital broadcast service provided to said digital broadcast transmitter and a narrowcast first digital signal processor that modifies said digital first narrowcast service provided to said digital first narrowcast transmitter. 
     
     
         25 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  further comprising a narrowcast second digital signal processor that modifies said digital second narrowcast service provided to said digital second narrowcast transmitter. 
     
     
         26 . The transmitting system of  claim 21  wherein said digital broadcast transmitter and said multiplexer are separate from one another. 
     
     
         27 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  further comprising:
 (a) said optical transition receiving a third narrowcast service as an analog third narrowcast service having a third frequency range, where said third frequency range is not overlapping with said first frequency range, where said third frequency range is not overlapping with said second frequency range; 
 (b) a third digitizer of said optical transition converting said analog third narrowcast service to a digital third narrowcast service; 
 (c) a digital third narrowcast transmitter converting said digital third narrowcast service to an optical third narrowcast service at a third wavelength suitable to be transmitted on said optical fiber, where said first wavelength and said second wavelength are different than said third wavelength; 
 (d) said optical transition transmitting said optical third narrowcast service on said optical fiber to said remote fiber node. 
 
     
     
         28 . The transmitting system of  claim 20  further comprising a narrowcast third digital signal processor that modifies said digital third narrowcast service provided to said digital third narrowcast transmitter. 
     
     
         29 . A receiving system for receiving at least one of a broadcast service and a first narrowcast service, and a second narrowcast service, the receiving system comprising:
 (a) an optical transition including at least one of a digital broadcast receiver converting an optical broadcast service to a digital broadcast service and a digital first narrowcast receiver converting an optical first narrowcast service to a digital first narrowcast service at a first wavelength from an optical fiber, said optical transition including a digital second narrowcast receiver converting an optical second narrowcast service at a second wavelength from said optical fiber to a digital second narrowcast service, where said first wavelength is different than said second wavelength;   (b) a first converter of said optical transition converting said at least one of said digital broadcast service to an analog broadcast service and said digital first narrowcast service to an analog first narrowcast service having a first frequency range, and a second converter of said optical transition converting said digital second narrowcast service to an analog second narrowcast service having a second frequency range, where said first frequency range is at least partially overlapping with said second frequency range;   (c) a frequency converter receiving at least one of (i) said at least one of said analog broadcast service and said analog first narrowcast service, and (ii) said analog second narrowcast service, and modifying the frequency range of at least one of (i) said at least one of said analog broadcast service and said analog first narrowcast service, and (ii) said analog second narrowcast service such that they are non-overlapping with one another;   (d) a combiner combining said modified said at least one of said analog broadcast service and said analog first narrowcast service, and said analog second narrowcast service, and transmitting such combination on a co-axial cable to a customer.   
     
     
         30 . The receiving system of  claim 29  further comprising a demultiplexer separating said at least one of said optical broadcast service and said optical first narrowcast service at said first wavelength, and said optical second narrowcast service at said second wavelength received from said optical fiber. 
     
     
         31 . The receiving system of  claim 29  wherein said first converter and said second converter are separate from one another. 
     
     
         32 . The receiving system of  claim 29  wherein said at least one of said digital broadcast receiver and digital first narrowcast receiver, and said digital second narrowcast receiver are separate from one another. 
     
     
         33 . The receiving system of  claim 29  further comprising a receiver digital signal processor that modifies said at least one of said digital broadcast service and said digital first narrowcast service provided to said first converter. 
     
     
         34 . The receiving system of  claim 29  further comprising a receiver narrowcast digital signal processor that modifies said digital second narrowcast service provided to said second converter. 
     
     
         35 . The receiving system of  claim 29  wherein said combination is an analog RF QAM modulated signal. 
     
     
         36 . The receiving system of  claim 29  wherein said combination is an analog RF ODFM modulated signal. 
     
     
         37 . The receiving system of  claim 29  further comprising,
 (a) said optical transition including a digital third narrowcast receiver converting an optical third narrowcast service at a third wavelength from said optical fiber to a digital third narrowcast service, where said first wavelength and said second wavelength are different than said third wavelength; 
 (b) a third converter of said optical transition converting said digital third narrowcast service to an analog third narrowcast service having a third frequency range, where said third frequency range is not overlapping with said first frequency range, where said third frequency range is not overlapping with said second frequency range; 
 (c) said combiner combining said analog third narrowcast service with the signal to be transmitted to said customer, and transmitting such combination on said co-axial cable to said customer. 
 
     
     
         38 . The receiving system of  claim 29  wherein said modifying the frequency range is based upon a reference frequency. 
     
     
         39 . The referencing system of  claim 38  wherein said reference frequency is provided to said customer. 
     
     
         40 - 54 . (canceled)