Patent ID: 9357408
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: G01R,H04B,H04L,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A switch-extender comprising: multiple input ports and multiple output ports, wherein a first input port, a first output port, a first group of the multiple input ports and a first group of the multiple output ports are connected to a first multiplex/demultiplex means, wherein the first multiplex/demultiplex means connects the first input port to the first group of output ports and the first group of input ports to the first output port, wherein a second group of the multiple input ports and a second output port are connected to a second multiplex/demultiplex means, wherein the second multiplex/demultiplex means connects the second group of input ports to the second output port, wherein the first multiplex/demultiplex means comprises a first signal splitter for splitting a signal at the first input port, at least one attenuator for each output port of the first group of output ports for attenuating the split signal at every output port, and a first multiplexer for multiplexing one signal of the first group of input ports to the first output port, wherein the second multiplex/demultiplex means comprises a second multiplexer for multiplexing one signal of the second group of input ports to the second output port, wherein the second multiplex/demultiplex means further comprises the same elements as the first multiplex/demultiplex means with the difference that the second output port is connected to a switch and that one output port of the switch is connected to an input port of an amplifier and that another output port of the switch is connected to an output port of another amplifier which amplifies a signal from the second multiplexer so that the second output port acts as a bidirectional port, wherein the first input port, the first group of input ports, and the second group of input ports are different input ports, and wherein the first output port, the second output port, and the first group of output ports are different output ports.