Abstract: Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.

Abstract: An optical combiner for a communications network transmitting both upstream signals and a downstream optical signal. The communications network includes an array of amplifiers, each receiving a respective instance of the downstream optical signal. The output of each amplifier is split among a plurality of ports in a first splitter/combiner unit. The first splitter/combiner unit transmits the amplified downstream optical signal to respective second splitter/combiner units.

Abstract: An optical combiner for a communications network transmitting both upstream signals and a downstream optical signal. The communications network includes an array of amplifiers, each receiving a respective instance of the downstream optical signal. The output of each amplifier is split among a plurality of ports in a first splitter/combiner unit. The first splitter/combiner unit transmits the amplified downstream optical signal to respective second splitter/combiner units.

Abstract: Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.

Abstract: Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.

Abstract: An active optical combiner for a CATV network.

Abstract: Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media can facilitate digitizing a broadcast transmission and transporting the digitized broadcast transmission along with one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions to a subscriber. In embodiments, a digitized broadcast transmission and one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions can be separately demodulated and the transmissions can be combined at one or more receiving nodes. In embodiments, a digitized broadcast transmission can be combined with one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions. Lossless compression and de-compression techniques can be used to optimally transport digitized broadcast and narrowcast signals.

Abstract: An active optical combiner for a CATV network.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and network device for detecting IP address conflict. The method for detecting IP address conflict comprises: collecting all the ARP entries from a broadcasting network segment; and carrying out a data check on the ARP entries collected, and determining that there is an IP address conflicted when it is detected that there are ARP entries with the same IP address but different media access control (MAC) addresses. The network device includes a collecting module and a detecting module. The present invention may achieve the function of IP address conflict detection in a broadcasting network segment by employing one or several network devices and uses the ARP flexibly. The outer appearance of the ARP protocol is not changed, and the other devices in the broadcast network segment do not need to modify the protocol or provide special function support.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided to digitize an analog multi-channel RF narrowcast signal in an overlay system by dividing the signal into a plurality of subband signals and digitizing each subband signal using practical A/D converters.

Abstract: Systems and methods of this disclosure can operate to provide digitization and optical transport of legacy and extended return path signals in hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) based broadband networks. A common radio frequency (RF) front-end can be used for the digitization of return path signals comprising analog to digital converters (A/Ds) with a precision and sampling rate to meet the SNR requirements of the communication system. Additionally the same digital signal processing logic can also be used through the implementation of digital filter(s) in FPGA technology where different FPGA images can be used to support different digital filtering configurations.

Abstract: An optical-to-electrical converter may include and/or involve a splitter to separate one or more narrowcast signals from a broadcast signal, at least one broadcast signal receiver to receive the broadcast signal separated from one or more narrowcast signals, at least one narrowcast signal receiver to receive the narrowcast signal separated from the broadcast signal, the narrowcast receiver including an attenuator and a filter, and a controller including logic to dynamically monitor and adjust the attenuator to maintain separation between the broadcast and narrowcast signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media can facilitate digitizing a broadcast transmission and transporting the digitized broadcast transmission along with one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions to a subscriber. In embodiments, a digitized broadcast transmission and one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions can be separately demodulated and the transmissions can be combined at one or more receiving nodes. In embodiments, a digitized broadcast transmission can be combined with one or more digitized narrowcast transmissions. Lossless compression and de-compression techniques can be used to optimally transport digitized broadcast and narrowcast signals.

Abstract: A optical transmission system includes light sources generating light of at least two wavelengths, where any two adjacent wavelengths are separated by less than 10 nm. The wavelengths fall within the zero dispersion zone of an optical fiber, and may be shifted by 1 nm or less to reduce crosstalk effects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided to digitize an analog multi-channel RF narrowcast signal in an overlay system by dividing the signal into a plurality of subband signals and digitizing each subband signal using practical A/D converters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and network device for detecting IP address conflict. The method for detecting IP address conflict comprises: collecting all the ARP entries from a broadcasting network segment; and carrying out a data check on the ARP entries collected, and determining that there is an IP address conflicted when it is detected that there are ARP entries with the same IP address but different media access control (MAC) addresses. The network device includes a collecting module and a detecting module. The present invention may achieve the function of IP address conflict detection in a broadcasting network segment by employing one or several network devices and uses the ARP flexibly. The outer appearance of the ARP protocol is not changed, and the other devices in the broadcast network segment do not need to modify the protocol or provide special function support.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided to digitize an analog multi-channel RF narrowcast signal in an overlay system by dividing the signal into a plurality of subband signals and digitizing each subband signal using practical A/D converters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided to modify existing overlay system architectures in a cost effective manner to meet the growing demand for narrowcast services and to position the existing overlay systems for additional future modifications. The implementations of the improved overlay system of this disclosure re-digitize narrowcast analog signals after they have been QAM modulated and upconverted to RF frequencies and replace the analog narrowcast transmitters with digital narrowcast transmitters. In the fiber nodes, the received narrowcast signals are converted back to analog signals and combined with analog broadcast signals for transmission to the service groups.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aggregating service groups are provided. A chain of fiber nodes in a DOCSIS system is formed to aggregate the service groups served by the fiber nodes to form a super-service group. Multiple channels of a multiplexed data stream are used to transmit the signals from the super-service group. By creating a chain of fiber nodes and using multiple channels to transmit the signals from the super-service group, a DOCSIS system can be more efficiently reconfigured to segment a super-service group once the system has become exhausted.