EP0419137A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamically responsive cable television system with shared fibre optic link
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A CATV system uses a single single-mode optical fiber (16) for transmitting a composite optical signal (62) containing television signals in different frequency channels for a plurality of subscriber terminals (14) from a headend terminal (10) to a distribution terminal (12), and converts the transmitted signals at the distribution terminal into electrical signals for distribution to a plurality of subscriber terminals over a plurality of coaxial cables (18). The distribution terminal further receives electrical service request signals (88) from each of the plurality of subscriber terminals, and converts each received service request signal into an optical service request signal (84) for transmission to the headend terminal over the same single-mode optical fiber (16) as used from transmitting the composite optical signal. Wavelength-division multiplexer/demuitiplexers (50,70) couple the optical fiber to the headend terminal and the distribution terminal to enable bidirectlonal transmission. The subscriber terminal is responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling a receiver (96) therein to receive television signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels. The headend terminal includes a digital switch (40) that is operated in coordination with the control signals that are transmitted to the subscriber terminals for enabling reception of only selected frequency channels in the respective subscriber terminals, by frequency positioning the television signal indicated by the service request signal (66) received from a given subscriber terminal witbin the composite signal for transmission to the given subscriber terminal over the given frequency channel enabled by the control signal that is transmitted to the given subscriber terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Woo H Paik
- 👤 David Grubb Iii
- 👤 David Edward Charlton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/69; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0226; H04J14/0227; H04J14/0228; H04J14/023; H04J14/0232; H04J14/0278; H04J14/0282; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17363; H04N7/22; H04J14/0298; H04N2007/1739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
309 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted from a headend terminal (10) to a plurality of distribution terminals (12), and then distributed from the distribution terminals to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) responsive to subscriber requests for dynamically selecting the plurality of information signals to provide a composite electrical signal (60); and means (46, 48) for converting the composite electrical signal into a composite optical signal (62) for transmission; and a plurality of distribution terminals (12), with each distribution terminal being coupled to the headend terminal (10) by a separate single optical fiber (16) for transmitting the composite optical signal from the converting means of the headend terminal to each distribution terminal, wherein each distribution terminal includes means (72) for receiving said transmitted composite optical signal and for converting it into electrical signals for distribution to the different subscriber terminals; means (76) for receiving electrical service-request signals (88) from each of a plurality of said subscriber terminals; and means (78, 80) for converting each received service-request signal into an optical service-request signal (84) for transmission to the headend terminal (10); wherein the headend terminal (10) further comprises means (52) for receiving each said transmitted optical service-request signal and for converting it into an electrical service-request signal (66) for processing by the headend terminal; and wherein said optical fibers (16) are single-mode optical fibers that are connected to the headend terminal (10) and the respective distribution terminals (12) by wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing means (50, 70) for both transmitting the composite optical signal (62) from the converting means (46, 48) of the headend terminal to each distribution terminal, and transmitting the optical service-request signals (84) from the distributions terminals to the headend terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
309 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted from a headend terminal (10) to a plurality of distribution terminals (12), and then distributed from the distribution terminals to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) responsive to subscriber requests for dynamically selecting the plurality of information signals to provide a composite electrical signal (60); and means (46, 48) for converting the composite electrical signal into a composite optical signal (62) for transmission; and a plurality of distribution terminals (12), with each distribution terminal being coupled to the headend terminal (10) by a separate single optical fiber (16) for transmitting the composite optical signal from the converting means of the headend terminal to each distribution terminal, wherein each distribution terminal includes means (72) for receiving said transmitted composite optical signal and for converting it into electrical signals for distribution to the different subscriber terminals; means (76) for receiving electrical service-request signals (88) from each of a plurality of said subscriber terminals; and means (78, 80) for converting each received service-request signal into an optical service-request signal (84) for transmission to the headend terminal (10); wherein the headend terminal (10) further comprises means (52) for receiving each said transmitted optical service-request signal and for converting it into an electrical service-request signal (66) for processing by the headend terminal; and wherein said optical fibers (16) are single-mode optical fibers that are connected to the headend terminal (10) and the respective distribution terminals (12) by wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing means (50, 70) for both transmitting the composite optical signal (62) from the converting means (46, 48) of the headend terminal to each distribution terminal, and transmitting the optical service-request signals (84) from the distributions terminals to the headend terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system according to Claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said subscriber terminals (14), wherein each subscriber terminal includes means (96) for receiving information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal from a said distribution terminal over a plurality of different given frequency channels; and means (102) responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling the receiving means (96) to receive information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal from said distribution terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to Claim 2, wherein the switch means (40) in the headend terminal operates in coordination with said control signal by frequency positioning the information signal indicated by the service request signal (66) received from a given subscriber terminal within the composite signal for transmission to the given subscriber terminal (14) over the given frequency channel enabled by the control signal that is transmitted to the given subscriber terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
215 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) for selecting the plurality of information signals to provide a composite signal (60); and means (56) for controlling said switch means (40) in response to service-request signals (66) received from the subscriber terminals; and a plurality of said subscriber terminals (14), wherein each subscriber terminal includes means (96) for receiving information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal from a said distribution terminal over a plurality of different given frequency channels; and means (102) responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling the receiving means (96) to receive information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels; wherein the switch means (40) in the headend terminal (10) is responsive to said control signal for frequency positioning the information signal indicated by the service request signal (66) received from a given subscriber terminal (14) within the composite signal for transmission to the given subscriber terminal over the given frequency channel selected by the control signal that is transmitted to the given subscriber terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
215 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) for selecting the plurality of information signals to provide a composite signal (60); and means (56) for controlling said switch means (40) in response to service-request signals (66) received from the subscriber terminals; and a plurality of said subscriber terminals (14), wherein each subscriber terminal includes means (96) for receiving information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal from a said distribution terminal over a plurality of different given frequency channels; and means (102) responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling the receiving means (96) to receive information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels; wherein the switch means (40) in the headend terminal (10) is responsive to said control signal for frequency positioning the information signal indicated by the service request signal (66) received from a given subscriber terminal (14) within the composite signal for transmission to the given subscriber terminal over the given frequency channel selected by the control signal that is transmitted to the given subscriber terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted from a headend terminal to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) for selecting and processing the plurality of information signals to provide a composite optical signal for transmission; and means (56) for controlling said switch means in response to optical service-request signals (64) received from the subscriber terminals (14); and a single-mode optical fiber (16) connected to the headend terminal (10) by a wavelength-division multiplexing/demuitiplexing means (50) for both transmitting the composite optical signal from the headend terminal, and transmitting the optical service-request signals to the headend terminal; wherein the wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing means (50) is adapted for propagating long-wavelength light over the optical fiber in a first direction and for simultaneously receiving short-wavelength light propagated over the optical fiber in the opposite direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
A CATV system in which information signals for a plurality of subscribers are transmitted from a headend terminal to different subscriber terminals, comprising a headend terminal (10) including means (26) for providing a plurality of information signals for a plurality of subscriber terminals; switch means (40) for selecting and processing the plurality of information signals to provide a composite optical signal for transmission; and means (56) for controlling said switch means in response to optical service-request signals (64) received from the subscriber terminals (14); and a single-mode optical fiber (16) connected to the headend terminal (10) by a wavelength-division multiplexing/demuitiplexing means (50) for both transmitting the composite optical signal from the headend terminal, and transmitting the optical service-request signals to the headend terminal; wherein the wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing means (50) is adapted for propagating long-wavelength light over the optical fiber in a first direction and for simultaneously receiving short-wavelength light propagated over the optical fiber in the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A CATV system according to Claim 5, wherein said single-mode optical fiber (16) comprises a conventional single-mode optical fiber with a cutoff wavelength greater than approximately 1200 nm; wherein said long-wavelength light has a wavelength greater than said cut-off wavelength and is used for high bandwidth transmission of said composite optical signal; and, wherein said short-wavelength light has a wavelength less than said cut-off wavelength and is used for lower bandwidth transmission of said service-request signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A CATV system according to Claim 6, wherein said short-wavelength light is also used to transmit voice telephone signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A CATV system according to Claim 6, wherein said short-wavelength light is also used to transmit data telephone signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A CATV system according to Claim 6, wherein the system design is selected such that the percent of available bandwidth utilized in each of the two directions is approximately the same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A CATV system according to Claim 6, wherein the propagation of said composite optical signal is single-mode over substantially the entire length of said single-mode optical fiber (16), and the propagation of said service-request signals is multimode over at least a portion of said single-mode optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A subscriber terminal (14) for a CATV system in which a composite signal containing information signals for a plurality of subscribers is transmitted to different subscriber terminals in response to service-request signals received from the subscriber terminals, the subscriber terminal comprising means (96) for receiving information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a plurality of different given frequency channels; and means (102) responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling the receiving means (96) to receive information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A subscriber terminal (14) for a CATV system in which a composite signal containing information signals for a plurality of subscribers is transmitted to different subscriber terminals in response to service-request signals received from the subscriber terminals, the subscriber terminal comprising means (96) for receiving information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a plurality of different given frequency channels; and means (102) responsive to a control signal transmitted to the subscriber terminal for enabling the receiving means (96) to receive information signals transmitted to the subscriber terminal over a selected one of said different given frequency channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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