Patent US5642155A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5642155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for supporting two-way telecommunications on CATV networks
Assignee: C-CATION Inc A DELAWARE Corp
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Filing: 1994-09-14
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Granted: 1997-06-24
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Expires: 2014-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for two-way multi-media communications over two-way capable cable-TV networks. The cable-TV system is divided into small community hubs, each called a Multiple Service Hub (MSH), comprising a central controller, a plurality of subscriber units and interconnecting devices. The two-way telecommunication signals of the same information type are modulated in the same frequency band compatible with the sub-split cable-TV system; e.g., telephony signals are modulated in the 5 to 30 MHz band. In each MSH the frequency bands allocated for two-way multi-media communications are re-used. Three configurations are illustrated for two-way multi-media communications. In the simplest form the MSH covers one trunk of the cable-TV network. In a more complex arrangement, several branches of the cable-TV network are combined into an MSH. In the third configuration, a central controller is co-located with the information source, e.g., the switching office of the telephone network, and the communication signals of that information type are remoted to the MSH. A signal combiner is disclosed for implementing these configurations to realize the flexibility and extensibility afforded by the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander L. Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a two-way capable cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a method of two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video comprising the steps of: (a) allocating separate frequency bands for modulated two-way signals of each of a plurality of information types of two-way multi-media communications; (b) dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs each covering a passive section of said cable-TV system; (c) re-using said allocated frequency bands for two-way multi-media communications for each of said plurality of information types in each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (d) providing a converging point at the head of each of said plurality of serving hubs remote from said headend for each different information type which connects to a wide area network of that information type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a two-way capable cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a method of two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video comprising the steps of: (a) allocating separate frequency bands for modulated two-way signals of each of a plurality of information types of two-way multi-media communications; (b) dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs each covering a passive section of said cable-TV system; (c) re-using said allocated frequency bands for two-way multi-media communications for each of said plurality of information types in each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (d) providing a converging point at the head of each of said plurality of serving hubs remote from said headend for each different information type which connects to a wide area network of that information type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of daB, audio and video of claim 1 said allocating separate frequency bands comprising the steps of: (a) determining the required bandwidth for each transmission direction for each information type; (b) designating a frequency band for each of said plurality of information types; and (c) modulating traffic for each transmission direction of each information type in separate channels of the same frequency band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 1, said dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) mapping said passive sections of the cable-TV system; (b) surveying the number and distribution of subscribers in the cable-TV system; (c) calculating the required bandwidth for said two-way multi-media communications by the subscribers in each of said plurality of serving hubs, whereby one of said serving hubs has a different traffic requirement in an information type from another serving hub; (d) determining the coverage of each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (e) configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs remote from said headend.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 3, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the step of placing a central controller remote from said headend at the head of one of the serving hubs covering a distinct branch of the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of said plurality of information types.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 3, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) placing a central controller remote from said headend at the head of one of the serving hubs coveting a distinct branch of the cable-TV system; (b) placing a signal combiner remote from said headend at the head of another and separate branch of the cable-TV system; and (c) connecting said central controller with said signal combiner using a dedicated coaxial cable for transporting signals of said two-way multi-media communications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 3, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) co-locating a central controller with an information type source; (b) placing a signal combiner remote from said headend at the head of a branch of the cable-TV system for combining communications signals of different information types; and (c) connecting said central controller with said signal combiner using a dedicated coaxial cable for extending communication signals from said information type source to said branch of the cable-TV system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 1, said dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) mapping said passive sections of the cable-TV systems; (b) surveying the number and distribution of subscribers in the cable-TV system; (c) calculating the required bandwidth for said two-way multi-media communications by the subscribers in each of said plurality of serving hubs, whereby one of said serving hubs has a different information type from another serving hub; (d) determining the coverage of each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (e) configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 7, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the step of placing a central controller remote from said headend at the head of one of the serving hubs covering a distinct branch of the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of said plurality of information types.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 7, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) placing a central controller remote from said headend at the head of one of the serving hubs covering a distinct branch of the cable-TV system; (b) placing a signal combiner remote from said headend at the head of another and separate branch of the cable-TV system; and (c) connecting said central controller with said signal combiner using a dedicated coaxial cable for transporting signals of said two-way multi-media communications.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 7, said configuring each of said plurality of serving hubs comprising the steps of: (a) co-locating a central controller with an information type source; (b) placing a signal combiner remote from said headend at the head of a branch of the cable-TV system for combining communications signals of different information types; and (c) connecting said central controller with said signal combiner using a dedicated coaxial cable for extending communication signals from said information type source to said branch of the cable-TV system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a signal combiner for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video comprising: (a) one-way signal frequency band separating means remote from said headend for separating a frequency band of one-way cable-TV broadcast signals for transmission of said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals downstream to subscriber units; (b) two-way signal frequency band separating means remote from said headend for separating a frequency band of two-way multi-media communications for transmission of said two-way multi-media communications signals to and from subscriber units; (c) protection means remote from said headend for protecting said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals from interference by said two-way communications signals by blocking frequency band of said two-way multi-media communications signals from being transmitted to the source of cable-TV broadcast signals; (d) frequency bands combining means remote from said headend for combining said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals with said two-way multi-media communications signals for transmission downstream to the subscribers; and (e) frequency bands power splitting means remote from said headend for splitting communications signals from the subscribers to said two-way signal separating means for transmission upstream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a signal combiner for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video comprising: (a) one-way signal frequency band separating means remote from said headend for separating a frequency band of one-way cable-TV broadcast signals for transmission of said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals downstream to subscriber units; (b) two-way signal frequency band separating means remote from said headend for separating a frequency band of two-way multi-media communications for transmission of said two-way multi-media communications signals to and from subscriber units; (c) protection means remote from said headend for protecting said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals from interference by said two-way communications signals by blocking frequency band of said two-way multi-media communications signals from being transmitted to the source of cable-TV broadcast signals; (d) frequency bands combining means remote from said headend for combining said one-way cable-TV broadcast signals with said two-way multi-media communications signals for transmission downstream to the subscribers; and (e) frequency bands power splitting means remote from said headend for splitting communications signals from the subscribers to said two-way signal separating means for transmission upstream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the signal combiner for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 7, said one-way signal separating means is unpowered, said two-way signal separating means is unpowered, said protection means is unpowered, said frequency bands combining means is unpowered, and said frequency bands power splitting means is unpowered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a two-way capable cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a two-way multi-media communications system of data, audio and video comprising: (a) means for allocating separate frequency bands for modulated two-way signals of each of a plurality of information types of two-way multi-media communications; (b) means for dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs each covering only a passive section of said cable-TV system; (c) means for re-using said allocated frequency bands for two-way multi-media communications for each of said plurality of information types in each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (d) means for providing a converging point remote from said headend for each different information type which connects to a wide area network of that information type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a two-way capable cable-TV system having a headend and a plurality of subscriber units connected by splitters and taps to a shared transmission means, a two-way multi-media communications system of data, audio and video comprising: (a) means for allocating separate frequency bands for modulated two-way signals of each of a plurality of information types of two-way multi-media communications; (b) means for dividing the cable-TV system into a plurality of serving hubs each covering only a passive section of said cable-TV system; (c) means for re-using said allocated frequency bands for two-way multi-media communications for each of said plurality of information types in each of said plurality of serving hubs; and (d) means for providing a converging point remote from said headend for each different information type which connects to a wide area network of that information type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
In the cable-TV system for two-way multi-media communications of data, audio and video of claim 13, said means for allocating separate frequency bands further comprising: (a) means for determining the required bandwidth for each transmission direction for each information type; (b) means for designating a frequency band for each of the plurality of information types; and (c) means for modulating traffic for each transmission direction of each information type in separate channels of the same frequency band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-23 | 2000-12-23 | 2001-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | 2005-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-23 | 2008-12-23 | 2009-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |