Patent ID: 11930249
Assignee: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A method for operating a network communication node, the method comprising:
enclosing a local processor, a first remote physical device (RPD) implemented on a first chip, and a second RPD, implemented on a second chip, separate from the first chip, within a generic access platform (GAP) node housing of the network communication node, by mounting the first chip and the second chip to at least one backplane within the node housing;
the local processor receiving a first signal on a logic link control (LLC) layer from a head end receiver outside the node housing;
the local processor transforming the first signal to a second signal at a medium access control (MAC) layer;
the local processor forwarding the second signal to the first RPD, which is adapted to implement at a physical (PHY) layer a first communication protocol;
the local processor forwarding the second signal to the second RPD, which is adapted to implement at the PHY layer a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol;
the first RPD forming a third signal on the PHY layer by modifying the second signal according to the first communication protocol, wherein the third signal is compliant with DOCSIS 4.0 FDX specification;
the first RPD forwarding the third signal from the node housing to first consumer premises equipment (CPE) without an intervening amplifier;
the second RPD forming a fourth signal on the PHY layer by modifying the second signal according to the second communication protocol, wherein the fourth signal is different than the third signal, wherein the fourth signal is compliant with one of DOCSIS 3.0, DOCSIS 3.1, and DOCSIS 4.0 FDD specifications;
the second RPD forwarding the fourth signal from the node housing to second CPE via an amplifier; and
hanging the node housing from a cable strand that is suspended from telephone poles.