Patent ID: 7146104

Claim:
A method for providing a return path for signals in an optical network system comprising the following steps in seriatim: receiving one of upstream electrical video control digital information packets and first data packets, the video control digital information packets and first data packets comprising Ethernet packets; modulating the packets on a radio frequency (RF) carrier with a first RF modem that is positioned within a building, the step of modulating further comprises determining if video control digital information packets have been received and activating a switch in response to detecting video control digital information packets; propagating the RF carrier on an electrical waveguide comprising a coaxial cables positioned within the building; receiving the RF carrier with a second RF modem positioned at one of within the building and attached to the building; demodulating the RF carrier with the second RF modem, the second RF modem demodulating the RF carrier into at least one of the upstream electrical video control digital information packets and the first data packets; combining at least one of the upstream electrical video control digital information packets and the first data packets with second data packets prior to a data service hub, the second data packets comprising Ethernet packets; after combining at least one of the upstream electrical video control digital information packets and the first data packets with second data packets, converting the combined packets into the optical domain; and propagating the optical packets over an optical waveguide outside of the building towards the data service hub.