Apparatus and method for increasing upstream capacity in a broadband communications system

An apparatus for providing enhanced broadband services over a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving from the communications network at least first signals in a first frequency band, the first signals comprising at least one of (i) programming material that has been converted from a second frequency band, and (ii) material originally generated in the first frequency band to be converted to the second frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping;
• means for translating one or more first signals from the first frequency band to the second frequency band;
• and
• means for combining the one or more first signals translated to the second frequency band with the first signals in the first frequency band to generate combined programming material comprising one or more signals in the first frequency band and one or more signals in the second frequency band for reception by receiving location equipment.

An apparatus for interfacing between one or more customer premises devices and a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface couplable to the communications network and operative to receive at least first signals in a first frequency band, the first signals comprising at least one of (i) programming material that has been converted from a second frequency band, and (ii) material originally generated in the first frequency band to be converted to the second frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping;
• a frequency converter coupled to the interface and operative to translate one or more first signals from the first frequency band to the second frequency band;
• and
• a combiner coupled to the frequency converter and to the interface, the combiner being operative to combine the one or more first signals translated to the second frequency band with the first signals in the first frequency band to generate combined programming material comprising one or more signals in the first frequency band and one or more signals in the second frequency band for reception by one or more receiving location devices.

An article of manufacture for interfacing between one or more customer premises devices and a communications network, said article of manufacture comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

• receiving from the communications network at least first signals in a first frequency band, the first signals comprising at least one of (i) programming material that has been converted from a second frequency band, and (ii) material originally generated in the first frequency band to be converted to the second frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping;
• translating one or more first signals from the first frequency band to the second frequency band;
• and
• combining the one or more first signals translated to the second frequency band with the first signals in the first frequency band to generate combined programming material comprising one or more signals in the first frequency band and one or more signals in the second frequency band for reception by receiving location equipment.