Method and system for providing protocol-based equipment redundancy

Abstract

A single spare QAM modulator module, or circuit, provides redundancy for and can substitute for one of multiple spare modulator circuits corresponding to components providing signals to an HFC network when one of the component's modulator fails. Various parameters may be monitored and fed to a resource manager that determines, based on the monitored parameter information, whether a particular modulator circuit has failed. Then, the resource manager instructs content signals destined for the failed modulators be directed to the spare QAM modulator according to an IP address identifying it. Messaging of parameter information and control information occurs across a local IF network, to which the signal components and the spare modulator are coupled, using a variety of protocols, including DEPI. The resource manager may also control isolation switches at the spare modulator and at the tailed modulator to prevent non-desired signals from reaching the HFC.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.