The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1998
Terry Wright, Norcross, GA (US);
Broadband Royalty Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend. The return cables isolate the data messages of each service site from the data messages sent by the other service sites. At the distribution hub and headend, a switch is provided for each return cable and the switches are coupled to one another. At a distribution hub, data messages having a destination address corresponding to one of the other switches at the hub are routed to the corresponding switch. Messages so received by a switch at a distribution hub are coupled to a transmitter for transmission to the next lower network level coupled to the switch. Destination addresses in data messages not recognized by a switch at a distribution hub are coupled to a return cable for transmission to the next higher level in the network. At the highest level of the network, a headend is provided which includes a switch for each return cable coupled to the headend and each switch at the headend is coupled to the other switches for the routing of data messages as performed at the distribution hub. The system preferably includes frequency stackers and destackers so data messages from each service line may be placed on separate data channels to further enhance message isolation and reduce message traffic in the spectrum of a transmission or return cable.