Patent ID: 8032916
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. In a cable distribution network environment that includes a cable hub and a cable node, a method for synchronizing data transfers over both a return path and a forward path using a single master clock, the method comprising the following: an act of the cable node using a master clock to sample RF data and combine the RF data with Ethernet data; an act of the cable node transmitting the combined RF data and Ethernet data along with master clock information to the cable hub in a data stream over a subscriber to head end return path; an act of the cable hub recovering the master clock information from the data stream to acquire an approximate in-frequency replicate signal of the master clock; an act of the cable hub using the replicated master clock signal to desample the RF data; and an act of the cable hub receiving Ethernet data in a parallel format and using the replicated master clock signal to convert the parallel Ethernet data to serialized Ethernet data; an act of the cable hub transmitting the serialized Ethernet data along a head end to subscriber forward path.