Abstract: A communication system for coupling telephony or other digital networks to a broadband network such as a CATV network. The system transmits a multiplex of telephony signals in the forward band of the broadband network, with individual signals directed to an addressed subscriber. Telephony signals returning from subscribers are modulated onto the reverse band of the broadband network in a frequency division multiplex (FDM). The modulated telephony signals are received at a telephony network interface coupled to the broadband network. A selected plurality of modulated telephony signals are frequency shifted to baseband. The baseband-shifted telephony signals are sampled to generate a plurality of time division multiple access telephony signal samples. A plurality of time division multiple access telephony signal samples are channelized into a serial data stream with a channelizer.

Abstract: A multichannel communication system has a transmitter for frequency-division-multiplexing and transmitting signals in a plurality of channels, and a receiver for selectively receiving the signal in one of the channels. The multichannel communication system prevents additional information from being interrupted in reception due to a channel change, for thereby reliably transmitting such additional information. The transmitter has a control information multiplexing unit for time-division-multiplexing main information in each of the channels with control information common to the channels at the same timing, and a transmitting unit for frequency-division-multiplexing and transmitting the main information in each of the channels which has been time-division-multiplexed with the control information by the control information multiplexing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus that retrieves data from a plurality of long-term memory devices and delivers the data to a packet network over a plurality of channels, wherein each of the channels has a specific bandwidth requirement. The apparatus comprises a storage device adaptor which is connected to the long-term storage devices (such as disk systems, CD ROM, etc.). The adaptor reads data responsive to a selected channel from a storage device to a location in a buffer memory. A network interface reads data from the location in the buffer memory, formats the data, and sends the data to the packet network. A controller selects the channel in such a way that all channels receive their required bandwidth. The controller includes a table having a plurality of entries, wherein each entry may contain a channel identification. All channels have at least one entry in the table, and channels that require more bandwidth have multiple entries in the table.

Abstract: The hybrid medium access control MAC system is configurable to the type of communication required to support a desired application or service. The MAC system analyzes services requested from a settop terminal, or a network controller client, and determines the best MAC component for transmitting signals upstream based on the resources required by the service and the available network resources. A portion of the upstream channel spectrum is allocated to each of the MAC components: 1) POP; 2) assigned static TDMA; 3) assigned dynamic multi-rate TDMA; and 4) random slot reservation-dynamic slot allocation TDMA. Depending upon the communication requirements of the service desired, the configurable MAC system will select the MAC component best suited to support the service. A frequency agile transmitter is then tuned to the channel which has been preallocated for the selected MAC component(s).

Abstract: A system for the wireless transmission of multiple information signals utilizing digital time division circuits between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations. The subscriber stations may be fixed or movable. The number of time division circuits is determined by the transmission quality of the signals. The base station is interconnected with an external information network, which may be analog and/or digital. The information signals are selected from the group consisting of voice, data, facsimile, video, computer and instrumentation signals. The modulation level of the signals and the power applied to the system are adjusted in accordance with signal error detection in the system. The system is provided with spatial diversity by using a plurality of antennas selectively spaced from each other to provide relatively high signal reception despite signal fading. The base station operates over a plurality of RF channel pairs.