Method and apparatus for broadband transmission from a central office to a number of subscribers

Claim 1

A system for delivering broadband services from a broadband digital data signal source via a telephone central office to a subscriber, comprising: (a) a subscriber set top terminal at the location of the subscriber; (b) channelizing means for forming the signal from said source into a plurality of channels each of a characteristic channel center frequency and with the signals for each channel having control bits and payload bits wherein the control bits identify for each subscriber that portion of the payload bits intended for that subscriber; (c) a multiplexer and transmitter for transmitting the channel signals from the central office to a local distribution box; (d) a signal distribution system at said local distribution box operative to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter and direct them to one or more subscriber set top terminals; (e) a pair of fibre optic lines coupled between said transmitter and said receiver for carrying signals therebetween; and (f) a transmission line between said distribution box and said set top terminals; wherein said set top terminal is operative to detect a selected channel of data and process said data and to transmit user control information to said box, along said transmission line to said central office.

Claim 2

A system for delivering broadband services from a broadband digital data signal source via a telephone central office to a subscriber, comprising: (a) a subscriber set top terminal at the location of the subscriber; (b) channelizing means for forming the signal from said source into a plurality of channels each of a characteristic channel center frequency and with the signals for each channel having control bits and payload bits wherein the control bits identify for each subscriber that portion of the payload bits intended for that subscriber; (c) a multiplexer and transmitter for transmitting the channel signals from the central office to a local distribution box; (d) a signal distribution system at said local distribution box operative to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter and direct them to one or more subscriber set top terminals; (e) a pair of fibre optic lines coupled between said transmitter and said receiver for carrying signals therebetween; and (f) a transmission line between said distribution box and said set top terminals; wherein said set top terminal is operative to detect a selected channel of data and process said data and to transmit user control information to said box, along said transmission line to said central office.

Claim 9

A system for delivering broadband services from a broadband digital signal source via a telephone central office to a subscriber set top terminal, comprising: (a) means for modulating carrier signals selected frequencies with signals from said signal source, said carriers corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of channels; (b) optical fibres coupling the central office to an outside signal receiving installation; (c) means for multiplexing the modulated channel signals into a combined signal and converting the combined signal into a modulated light signal and directing the light signal down one of said fibres; (d) means for converting the modulated light into electrical signals; (e) a twisted copper pair connected between said light converting means and the subscriber set top terminal; (f) a transmitter coupled to said twisted copper pairs for transmitting said converted electrical signals to the subscriber set top terminal; and (g) means for transmitting electrical signals from the subscriber set top terminal to the central office over said twisted pair and another of said optical fibres; wherein said signal source places control bits and payload bits in each channel wherein the control bits identify to each set top terminal the portion of the payload bits for that set top terminal and processes subscriber input data into frames and transmits the frames.

Claim 10

A system for delivering broadband services from a broadband digital signal source via a telephone central office to a subscriber set top terminal, comprising: (a) means for modulating carrier signals selected frequencies with signals from said signal source, said carriers corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of channels; (b) optical fibres coupling the central office to an outside signal receiving installation; (c) means for multiplexing the modulated channel signals into a combined signal and converting the combined signal into a modulated light signal and directing the light signal down one of said fibres; (d) means for converting the modulated light into electrical signals; (e) a twisted copper pair connected between said light converting means and the subscriber set top terminal; (f) a transmitter coupled to said twisted copper pairs for transmitting said converted electrical signals to the subscriber set top terminal; and (g) means for transmitting electrical signals from the subscriber set top terminal to the central office over said twisted pair and another of said optical fibres; wherein said signal source places control bits and payload bits in each channel wherein the control bits identify to each set top terminal the portion of the payload bits for that set top terminal and processes subscriber input data into frames and transmits the frames.

Claim 15

A method of transmitting broadband video services from a broadband digital signal source, comprising: (a) forming the digital signal from said source into a plurality of channels of digital signals including control bits and payload bits, wherein the control bits identify to each set top terminal the portion of the payload bits destined for that set top terminal; (b) modulating a plurality of carrier signals with said respective channels of digital signals; (c) multiplexing the modulated signals to form a combined signal; (d) transmitting the combined signal to a local distribution box; (e) broadcasting the electrical signal to a number of set top terminals wherein each set top terminal detects a corresponding channel; and (f) generating in the set top terminal control signals in response to user input and transmitting the control signals to the central office.

Claim 16

A method of transmitting broadband video services from a broadband digital signal source, comprising: (a) forming the digital signal from said source into a plurality of channels of digital signals including control bits and payload bits, wherein the control bits identify to each set top terminal the portion of the payload bits destined for that set top terminal; (b) modulating a plurality of carrier signals with said respective channels of digital signals; (c) multiplexing the modulated signals to form a combined signal; (d) transmitting the combined signal to a local distribution box; (e) broadcasting the electrical signal to a number of set top terminals wherein each set top terminal detects a corresponding channel; and (f) generating in the set top terminal control signals in response to user input and transmitting the control signals to the central office.