Provider equipment identification
AssigneeTimes Fiber Communications, Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Shapson, Robert L. Romerein, Rong Hui Li, Hai Qun Hong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A provider equipment identification (ID) device includes a provider equipment with a plurality of output ports and an ID beacon device. The provider equipment is configured to perform a signal processing operation on an input signal and deliver an output signal to one or more of the output ports. The ID beacon device is coupled to the provider equipment. The ID beacon device is configured to output at least one pilot beacon signal which is receivable by each of the output ports to electrically excite each of the output ports such that the at least one pilot beacon signal is introduced in the output signal to generate an altered output signal capable of identifying the provider equipment.
Claims21
A provider equipment identification (ID) device comprising:
- a provider equipment including a plurality of output ports, the provider equipment configured to perform a signal processing operation on an input signal and to deliver an output signal to one or more of the output ports;
- and
- an ID beacon device coupled to the provider equipment, the ID beacon device configured to output at least one pilot beacon signal which is receivable by each of the output ports to electrically radiate each of the output ports such that the at least one pilot beacon signal is introduced in the output signal to generate an altered output signal.
A provider equipment identification (ID) device comprising:
- a provider equipment including a plurality of output ports, the provider equipment configured to perform a signal processing operation on an input signal and to deliver an output signal to one or more of the output ports, wherein the output signal includes at least one guard band;
- and
- an ID beacon device coupled to the provider equipment, the ID beacon device configured to output at least one pilot beacon signal which is receivable by each of the output ports to electrically radiate each of the output ports such that the at least one pilot beacon signal is introduced in the output signal to generate an altered output signal, wherein the at least one pilot beacon signal is within the at least one guard band and wherein the at least one pilot beacon signal is encoded to indicate at least one characteristic of the provider equipment.
A cable television (CATV) amplifier identification (ID) device comprising:
- a drop amplifier comprising:
- an input port configured to receive an input signal;
- a passive output port coupled to the input port to receive the input signal;
- and
- a bi-directional amplifier including an amplifier input coupled to the input port and the passive output port, and an amplifier output coupled to the one or more active output ports;
- and
- an ID beacon device coupled to the drop amplifier, the ID beacon device configured to wirelessly broadcast at least one pilot beacon signal which electrically radiates the one or more active output ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.