Patent ID: 7778246

Claim:
An IP data transmission apparatus using a legacy transmission system and a broadband downstream transmission system in a hybrid fiber coaxial cable (HFC) network, the IP data transmission apparatus comprising: an headend means for receiving data from an application server system that is a service providing apparatus, wherein the headend means is configured to transmit the received data using a broadband or an existing service band, wherein the received data from the application server is split into general user data and management message, determining whether the general user data is transmitted using the broadband or the existing service band, and transmitting the general user data through the HFC network, wherein the split management message is removed from being transmitted using the broadband in the HFC network and inserted for being transmitted using the existing service band in the HFC network; and a user cable terminal means for receiving the split data transmitted from the headend means through the HFC network, transmitting the received data to an IP based user device, and transferring the management message to the IP based user device through the legacy transmission system, wherein the headend means includes: an IP routing means for splitting data transmitted from the application server system into general user data and management message, and determining whether the general user data is transmitted using a broadband or an existing service band; a broadband downstream transmission means for transmitting the general user data determined in the IP routing means; a legacy DOCSIS cable MODEM terminal means for transmitting or receiving the management message determined in the IP routing means through an existing band; a headend managing means for managing information about services provided from the headend means and for managing the entire network; and a first RF signal splitter and combiner means for splitting and combining a RF signal transmitted/received to/from the headend means.