Patent ID: 6757493
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
An apparatus, comprising:a first splitter-combiner coupleable to a headend, said first splitter-combiner including: a first signal splitter communicatively coupled to a first headend input and communicatively coupled to a first downstream output; and a first signal combiner communicatively coupled to said first signal splitter via a first shunt, communicatively coupled to a first upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a first headend output; and a second splitter-combiner communicatively coupleable to the first splitter-combiner, said second splitter-comber including: a second signal splitter communicatively coupled to a second headend input and communicatively coupled to a second downstream output; and a second signal combiner communicatively coupled to said second signal splitter via a second shunt, communicatively coupled to a second upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a second headend output, wherein the first splitter combiner switches from a shut state to a bypass state when the second headend output is communicatively coupled to the first upstream input and the second, headend input is communicatively coupled to the first downstream output, signals from the first headend input switched to the second headend input and signals from the second headend output switched to the first headend output and wherein the first splitter combiner is then switchable back to the shut state from the bypass state when the either the second headend output is communicatively decoupled from the first upstream input or the second headend input is communicatively decoupled from the first downstream output, signals from the first headend input switched to the first headend output via the shunt.