Patent ID: 7978977

Claim:
A method for adjusting the power level of reverse subcarrier signals, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an analog electrical subcarrier signal at an optical node, the analog electrical subcarrier signal having a desired power level; converting the analog electrical subcarrier signal into a digital optical subcarrier for transmission on an optical link; receiving the digital optical subcarrier signal at an optical receiver upstream from the optical node; converting the digital optical subcarrier signal into a digital electrical subcarrier signal; receiving the digital electrical subcarrier signal at a CMTS blade; detecting a power level of the digital electrical subcarrier signal at the CMTS blade, wherein the detected power level of the digital electrical subcarrier signal is equivalent to the desired power level of the analog electrical subcarrier signal received at the optical node; and depending on the detected power level, transmitting a control signal to one of amplify or attenuate the power level of the analog electrical subcarrier signal, such that clipping is mitigated at the optical node.