Abstract:
A wireless communications system comprises a first splitter separating at least two signals, a wireless circuit for processing a first signal as a wireless signal and a combiner connected to the wireless circuit and the splitter, combining the two signals and transmitting the signals into a service area. The wireless communications system further comprises a second splitter separating the wireless signal from a second signal, and a transmitter for broadcasting the wireless signal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to voice/data transmission, and more particularly to a method for providing voice/data transmission over cable networks.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art  
           [0004]    As cable operators switch the existing analog cable systems over to two-way capable digital systems additional types of content can be carried. Other benefits include an increased number of available channels and improved video quality. The two-way capable digital systems have been implemented with proprietary or DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) cable modems. The need for the delivery of voice services to the home over the digital cable system has been established.  
           [0005]    For both the video service and the high-speed data service, the end device has been inside the home, e.g., digital cable set top box or digital cable modem. However, for voice services, it is more traditional to have the digital termination device outside the home. This is the usual practice of the phone companies, which use a Network Interface Device “NID” on the side of a home or other building. One difficulty with the NID outside of the home is integrating a wireless capability because of the low transmit power of the available wireless bands.  
           [0006]    Therefore, a need exists for a method of providing voice/data transmission over cable networks.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A wireless communications system comprises a first splitter separating at least two signals, a wireless circuit for processing a first signal as a wireless signal and a combiner connected to the wireless circuit and the splitter, combining the twp signals and transmitting the signals into a service area. The wireless communications system further comprises a second splitter separating the wireless signal from a second signal, and a transmitter for broadcasting the wireless signal.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for providing voice/data transmission over cable networks according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for providing voice/data transmission over a cable network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method provides for voice/data transmission over cable networks. It should be noted that throughout the Detailed Description, the terms voice and data are used interchangeably.  
         [0012]    It is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention may be implemented in software as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage device. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and input/output (I/O) interface(s). The computer platform also includes an operating system and micro instruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may either be part of the micro instruction code or part of the application program (or a combination thereof), which is executed via the operating system. In addition, various other peripheral devices may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage device and a printing device.  
         [0013]    It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituent system components and method steps depicted in the accompanying figures may be implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components (or the process steps) may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention is programmed. Given the teachings of the present invention provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the related art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present invention.  
         [0014]    One difficulty with an NID outside of the home is integrating a wireless capability for either the voice or the data services. This is because the transmit power allowed by the current unlicensed wireless bands, e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz, is not enough to effectively penetrate an exterior wall of the home.  
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless data can be passed over an existing coax into the home and splitting the wireless data off once inside the home. Existing video services do not go above approximately 860 MHz in most cases. Thus, data from the unlicensed bands can be placed on the same cable as video services and split off once inside the home. Once inside the home the wireless voice or data signal can be separated from the video signal, amplified and transmitted via antenna. In addition, power for the amplifier can be sent as a DC supply over the coaxial cable or it can be powered by a standard AC/DC power supply.  
         [0016]    An advantage of using a wireless system for the telephone/cable operator is the reduced amount of wiring needed inside the home. With a wireless phone system, the operator does not need to rewire the twisted pair wiring inside the home.  
         [0017]    Most currently installed coax cable does not effectively transmit frequencies above 900 MHz very well. However, in most cases the wireless band extraction circuit will be close to the entry point of the coaxial cable. It is expected that the length of coaxial transmission will be short enough, e.g., less than 15 feet, that the coaxial cable losses will not be very large even at high frequencies.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1, a signal arrives at an interface  101  via a cable  103 . A splitter  105  receives the signal and separates a voice portion from a video portion. A voice over HFC (Hybrid/Fiber optic Coaxial) circuit  107  processes the voice portion of the signal. A wireless phone circuit  109  can be connected to the voice over HFC circuit  107 . The wireless phone circuit  109  converts the voice portion to a wireless signal, for example, a wireless signal having a desired frequency. The wireless phone circuit  109  can be replaced or augmented with another wireless circuit, such as an 802.11B wireless data circuit, or any other suitable wireless communications device. Thus, the system can support wireless voice and/or data services. Wireless data can be combined with a television signals at a combiner  111 . A coaxial cable can be connected to a wireless transmitter  113 . The wireless transmitter comprises a hi/low filter  115  for separating the television signal from the wireless data. The television signal can be sent to a television. The wireless data signal can be passed through a narrowband filter  117  and an amplifier before be broadcast by an antenna  121 .  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 2, the signal can be split into telephone and television portions  201 . The telephone portion can be processed as a wireless voice and/or data signal  203 . The wireless signal is combined with the television signal and the combined signal enters a building or service area  205 . The wireless signal can be split from the television signal, filtered and amplified before being transmitted  207 . Thus, a voice over HFC signal can be transmitted wirelessly inside a service area (e.g., a business).  
         [0020]    The wireless data can be transmitted on various channels to improve quality and security. The wireless data can also be encrypted prior to wireless transmission, for example, by the wireless phone circuit  109 . A receiver, e.g., a telephone, can decrypt the wireless signal to prove secure service.  
         [0021]    Having described embodiments for a method for providing a status to a mobile device, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.