Patent ID: 7657919

Claim:
A fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) system for transmitting and receiving IP signals, the FTTH system including a headend facility in communication with a plurality of subscriber premises, each subscriber premises comprising: an optical network terminal (ONT) for receiving downstream and upstream IP signals and for routing the IP signals to a coupled device or the FTTH system; a receiving device for receiving downstream IP signals from the optical network terminal and for providing upstream IP signals to the optical network terminal, the receiving device comprising: an Ethernet switch for routing downstream IP signals: and a modulator for receiving downstream IP video and audio signals from the Ethernet switch, the modulator for modulating the IP video and audio signals to provide RF signals; at least one digital home communications terminal (DHCT) for receiving the RF signals from the modulator; and the FTTH system further comprising a reverse path, comprising: the at least one DHCT for transmitting reverse RF signals, the reverse RF signals including header information and payload data; the receiving device for receiving the reverse RF signals, demodulating the reverse RF signals, and converting the demodulated signals to Ethernet signals; the ONT for converting the Ethernet signals to optical signals, and for transmitting the optical signals to the headend facility via optical fiber; and a downstream modulator located in the headend facility for receiving signals corresponding to the optical signals and for sending the forward signals downstream to the at least one DHCT via the ONT, the downstream modulator having an identification number that is inserted into the forward signals, wherein the at least one DHCT inserts the received modulator identification number in the reverse header information, and wherein the receiving device converts the modulator identification number into an Internet Protocol address indicative of the modulator identification number.