Centralized nodes in a fiber optic network

A central server for use in a fiber optic network, said central server capable of providing video and Internet services to customer premise equipment coupled to said fiber optic network, said central server comprising:

• a plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes coupled to a high speed Internet connection, said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes operable to provide downstream Internet services intended for said customer premise equipment, said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes further operable to process received upstream Internet data from said customer premise equipment and forward said upstream Internet data to Internet servers via said high speed Internet connection, each of said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes including a high speed network databus for coupling said node to said high speed Internet connection, a plurality of cable modem termination systems coupled to said high speed network databus and a remote access server coupled to said high speed network databus, said remote access server operable to interface said customer premise equipment to said high speed network databus;
• digital services;
• analog services;
• and
• an optical transmission system capable of generating, from said Internet services, said digital services, and said analog services, a downstream optical signal for transmission to said customer premise equipment via said fiber optic network.

A bidirectional hybrid fiber coax data communications system having centralized fiber optic nodes, said data communications system comprising:

• a fiber optic network for transmission of downstream optical signals such as video and Internet services;
• an optical converter for converting said downstream optical signals into downstream electrical signals;
• a cable network for distributing said downstream electrical signals to customer premise equipment;
• a telephone line for transmitting upstream electrical signals from said customer premise equipment;
• and
• a central server for generating said downstream optical signals, and processing said upstream electrical signals, said central server including:
• a plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes coupled to a high speed Internet connection, said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes operable to provide downstream Internet services intended for said customer premise equipment, said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes further operable to process received upstream Internet data from said customer premise equipment and forward said upstream Internet data to Internet servers via said high speed Internet connection, each of said plurality of centralized fiber optic nodes including a high speed network databus for coupling said node to said high speed Internet connection, a plurality of cable modem termination systems coupled to said high speed network databus and a remote access server coupled to said high speed network databus, said remote access server operable to interface said customer premise equipment to said high speed network databus;
• digital services;
• analog services;
• and
• an optical transmission system capable of generating, from said Internet services, said digital services, and said analog services, said downstream optical signal for transmission to said customer premise equipment via said fiber optic network.

A computer implemented method for controlling a central server used within a hybrid fiber coax network system, said method comprising the acts of:

• receiving from remote servers downstream Internet signals intended for customer premise equipment;
• preparing a downstream optical signal for transmission to customer premise equipment, said downstream optical signal including said downstream Internet signals intended for said customer premise equipment;
• transmitting said downstream optical signal via a fiber optic network;
• receiving from said customer premise equipment upstream Internet signals intended for remote servers via a telephone line;
• preparing said upstream Internet signals intended for remote servers for transmission to said remote servers;
• and
• transmitting said upstream Internet signals to said remote servers.