Method and apparatus for a digitized CATV network for bundled services
US7984474B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4347
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cost-efficient digital CATV network to improve signal quality, provide reliability, and offer the ability to meet demands for interactive services is described. Analog or digital video downstream channels are converted to a digital format by a digital headend transmitter. Relatively costly error-encoding for digital video channels is also part of the digital headend transmitter. Downstream analog and digital video channels in the digital format are transmitted using time-division multiplex technology from a headend to nodes using standard network protocols, such as SONET. Standard network protocols provide error-monitoring and status indication of transmit data, thus ensuring high signal quality and reliability. Time-division multiplexing facilitates easy adding or dropping of information to a transmit path. Flexibility to add or drop information is critical in providing interactive services. Data from interactive services can be added or dropped at points of presence throughout the digital CATV network. Subscribers to the digital CATV network can communicate with each other. A digital node transmitter receives the analog or digital video channels in digital format and converts t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.