Patent ID: 8464301

Claim:
A upstream bandwidth conditioning device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on a premise of a user, the device comprising: a variable signal level adjustment device configured to variably create a variable amount of signal level adjustment to an upstream bandwidth; a signal measurement circuit configured to measure a first signal strength value of the upstream bandwidth prior to variably applying an incremental amount of additional signal level adjustment to the upstream bandwidth and a second signal strength after variably applying the amount of additional signal level adjustment to the upstream bandwidth, wherein the signal measurement circuit connected to the variable signal level adjustment device; a voltage circuit configured to generate a threshold value, wherein the threshold value comprises a predetermined voltage value; a comparator circuit connected to the voltage circuit, wherein the comparator circuit is configured to generate a signal path selection signal; and a circuit connected to the variable signal level adjustment device, the signal measurement circuit, and the comparator circuit, wherein the comparator circuit connected between the voltage circuit and the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured (i) to compare the first signal strength value to a threshold value, (ii) to variably apply the incremental amount of additional signal level adjustment when the first signal strength value is not less than the threshold value, (iii) to compare the first signal strength to the second signal strength, and (iiii) to variably reduce at least a portion of the incremental amount of additional signal level adjustment when the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength, wherein said signal path selection signal is applied to said circuit, and wherein the circuit is capable of retaining at least one of the first and second signal strengths until utilized at a later time.