Patent ID: 8214871
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A fiber node comprising: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to a plurality of cable modems, the ADC adapted to convert an analog data signal received from at least one of the plurality of cable modems to a digital data signal, the digital data signal having a central frequency; a down converter coupled to the ADC for moving the central frequency of the digital data signal down; a decimater coupled to the down converter for decimating the digital data signal; an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier coupled to the decimater adapted to amplify the decimated digital data signal; a quantizer coupled to the AGC amplifier adapted to quantize the digital data signal; an on/off switch having an input and an output, the input being coupled to the quantizer, the switch being adapted to produce a digital signal at the output; and an analysis and control circuit coupled to and adapted to control the AGC, quantizer and switch, wherein the analysis and control circuit: turns off the on/off switch when no data signal is present; and identifies at least one silence period to conserve bandwidth in at least one output data channel from said fiber node, said at least one silence period corresponding to an absence of data signals from at least one of said plurality of cable modems; and dynamically allocates slots within said bandwidth based on said at least one silence period; and wherein an upstream data signal received from at least one of said plurality of cable modems is compressed.