Patent ID: 7751451
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for providing channel reuse in a cable network comprising: an analog modulator configured for receiving an analog channel signal as an input and providing a modulated analog channel signal as a first output signal; an Internet Protocol Quadrature Amplitude Modulator (“IP QAM”) modulator capable of receiving digital signals as an input and providing digital IP QAM signals as a second output signal; a programmable RF switch capable of receiving the first output signal and the second output signal, the programmable RF switch providing a third output signal for distribution over the cable network, wherein the third output signal comprises either the first output signal or the second output signal according to a control signal received as an input to the programmable RF switch; and an automated switch scheduling system providing the control signal, the automated switch scheduling system receiving program guide data defining a schedule used in generating the control signal so as to cause the programmable RF switch to switch the second output signal to the output at certain times according to the schedule wherein the automated switch scheduling system comprises: a scheduling server providing a first control signal and an indication of a channel identifier associated with the analog channel and a switch controller receiving the first control signal and the indication of the channel identifier causing the switch controller to generate the control signal to the programmable RF switch.