Bellsouth Corporation

Cox Communications, Inc.

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Management Corporation

Daniel L Estes

David W Levenson

Mark E Pellegri

David P Swanson

Providing bandwidth expansion in existing HFC infrastructures. A break in a fiber ring is established. A temperature hardened demultiplexer is coupled at the break to an input side of the fiber ring. A temperature hardened multiplexer is coupled at the break to an output side of the fiber ring. The temperature hardened demultiplexer is configured to pass-through a first predetermined wavelength to the temperature hardened multiplexer and to drop out a second predetermined wavelength. The second predetermined wavelength is extended from the demultiplexer for providing a first predetermined wavelength to an expansion node. The temperature hardened multiplexer is configured to receive the first predetermined wavelength from the temperature hardened demultiplexer and to receive the second predetermined wavelength from the expansion node.

Hardened, wavelength enabled optical capacity

A system and method for the transmission of signals from a device to a communications network connection card. In particular, a return path is provided for the transmission of signals from a device to an interface where the signals are converted into a format acceptable for transmission to a communications network connection card. The signals are then transmitted to the card and/or may be transmitted to an optical network unit, thereby establishing a connection from the device to systems that employ optical networks. An embodiment also provides a transport system for the delivery of video signals to a device, for the return of analog signals from the device, and for the transmission of digital signals to a signal destination. This embodiment includes a broadband communications module that receives video signals from a signal source and delivers the video signals to the device. The module also receives analog signals from the device and transmits the analog signals to an interface. The interface receives the analog signals, converts the analog signals to digital signals and transmits the digital signals to an optical network unit or a communications network connection card for further transmission to a signal destination.

Method and system to transmit video/data signals from a device to a communications network connection card

A fiber optic cable having a plurality of buffer tubes. Within at least one of the buffer tubes is a plurality of main fibers. Within the cable outer sheath, the main fibers are factory-spliced with optical splitters at predetermined distances. Distribution fibers are factory-spliced to the outputs of the optical splitters. The distribution fibers reside within distribution buffer tubes, and are available for access at substantially any location along the length of the fiber optic cable. A certain number of the distribution fibers from a particular optical splitter extend in an upstream direction of the fiber cable, and the remaining distribution fibers from that optical splitter extend in a downstream direction.

Remote-splitter fiber optic cable

A method and system for testing the continuity of a transmission line in a non-addressable network. A method and system in a communications service environment are provided, the environment including an addressable network and a non-addressable network, for testing transmission line continuity in the non-addressable network. In an embodiment, a signal generator connected to a first transmission line in the addressable network generates a signal on the first transmission line. The first transmission line is connected to a second transmission line in the non-addressable network by a bridge. The bridge transfers the signal from the first transmission line to the second transmission line. The system also includes a signal receiver connected to the second transmission line for receiving the signal over the second transmission line when the second transmission line is continuous. The receipt of the signal over the second transmission line at the signal receiver indicates that the second transmission line is continuous.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Daniel L Estes