Patent ID: 6295148
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
A method for transmitting signals in a CATV communications system having a headend, a hub connected to the headend, a plurality of nodes connected to the hub, and at least one subscriber connected to each of the plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:(a) modulating a broadcast signal with a first optical signal of a plurality of optical signals to form a broadcast optical signal at the headend;(b) modulating a plurality of narrowcast signals with a respective optical signal of the plurality of optical signals to form a plurality of narrowcast optical signals at the headend, wherein the frequency of each respective optical signal of the plurality of optical signals may be varied to form each of the plurality of the narrowcast signals;(c) transmitting the broadcast optical signal from the headend to the hub;(d) transmitting the plurality of narrowcast optical signals from the headend to the hub, wherein each respective narrowcast optical signal is targeted to a respective targeted node;(e) optically processing the broadcast and narrowcast optical signals at the hub, wherein each respective narrowcast optical signal is combined with the broadcast optical signal;(f) distributing the broadcast optical signal from the hub to each of the nodes not targeted by a respective narrowcast optical signal;(g) routing the broadcast optical signal combined with each respective narrowcast optical signal to the respective targeted nodes on a single respective transmission path;(h) utilizing a single converter at the respective targeted node for converting the broadcast optical signal to a broadcast radio frequency (RF) signal and each respective narrowcast optical signal to a respective narrowcast RF signal;(i) distributing each respective narrowcast RF signal and the broadcast RF signal from the respective targeted node to the at least one subscriber; and(j) distributing the broadcast RF signal from each of the nodes not targeted by a respective narrowcast optical signal to each subscriber connected to the non-targeted nodes.