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United States Patent | 5,528,582 |
Bodeep , et al. | June 18, 1996 |
A communication network (e.g., a coax network or an optical fiber network) comprises a signal distribution network (e.g., fiber node FN) for transmitting communication signals downstream over a first communication path to a plurality of end user apparatuses connected thereto. At least one end user apparatus is arranged for sending the return signals downstream over at least part of the first communication path to a converter apparatus which collects the return signals and converts them to an upstream signal for transmission over a second separate communication path to the distribution unit.
Inventors: | Bodeep; George E. (Point Pleasant, NJ), Darcie; Thomas E. (Middletown, NJ), Lu; Xiaolin (Matawan, NJ) |
Assignee: |
AT&T Corp.
(Murray Hill,
NJ)
|
Appl. No.: | 08/282,247 |
Filed: | July 29, 1994 |
Current U.S. Class: | 370/276 ; 348/E7.07; 370/465; 370/478; 370/486; 375/257; 398/66; 725/114; 725/119; 725/123; 725/126; 725/129 |
Current International Class: | H04N 7/173 (20060101); H04N 007/14 () |
Field of Search: | 370/16,24,29,30,37,49.5,50,69.1,123,124,71,73,79 379/58,59 375/257 455/5.1,33.1 348/12,13 359/113,114,125,137,135,136 |
4079414 | March 1978 | Sullivan |
4347604 | August 1982 | Saito et al. |
4494138 | January 1985 | Shimp |
4686667 | August 1987 | Ohnsorge |
5189673 | February 1993 | Burton et al. |
5263021 | November 1993 | Ortel |
5321514 | June 1994 | Martinez |
Stephen D. Dukes, "Next Generation Cable Network Architecture," 1993 NCTA Technical Papers, p. 8 and FIG. 15. Comment: Technological background; describes parallel coaxial network. . Lee Thompson, "Introduction to Cable Television Technology, OFC 94" (Short Course), Feb. 1994, p. 6.1. Comment: Background of invention; viewgraph shows coaxial telecommunications spectrum. . Roger Brown, "Jerrold/GI Develops Architecture To Support Interactivity," CED: Communications Engineering and Design, Dec. 1993, p. 22. Comment: Technological background.. |