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:
Jun. 14, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2003
William C. Hart, Jr., Huntley, IL (US);
David J. Smentek, Addison, IL (US);
John L. Moran, Iii, Millville, MA (US);
William C. Hart, Jr., Huntley, IL (US);
David J. Smentek, Addison, IL (US);
John L. Moran, III, Millville, MA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus are employed for individually monitoring the connectivity status of cables connected at a cable modem termination system (CMTS), where the cables conduct upstream and downstream RF communication signals. The monitoring is self-contained within the CMTS. The monitoring is achieved by producing a reference signal having a frequency outside the frequency range of the RF communication signals. The reference signal is injected onto the RF communication signal. The power level of the reference signal is detected within the CMTS, whereby the power level correlates with an expected cable load impedance. A DC control voltage based on the detected power level of the reference signal is generated, which allows a controller to determine the connectivity statuses of the connected cables.