Data distribution system and apparatus thereof
AssigneeGlobal Invacom Limited
InventorGary Stafford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system, apparatus and method for the distribution of digital data signals, which are received at a receiving means, to be sent to a plurality of locations downstream therefrom, in an efficient manner. The received data is received in a first format such as an RF format with a plurality of different components and is then changed in format, in one embodiment to an optical format. The data path is also split to allow a plurality of data paths to be defined which allow the data to be transmitted along the plurality of data paths to each of the downstream locations.
Claims29
A system for the provision of digital data to a plurality of locations along a plurality of data paths, said system comprising:
- receiving means for receiving digital data from at least one source;
- conversion means at or adjacent to each of the plurality of locations for providing the digital data in a suitable form for subsequent use;
- intermediate the receiving means and the conversion means there is provided a means for changing the format of the digital data from that in which it was received at the receiving means and
- splitting means are provided to split a data path into a plurality of data paths along which said data is transmitted to supply data to the plurality of locations so that the said received digital data, or at least portions thereof, is provided to each of the plurality of locations.
A method for the distribution of digital data to a plurality of locations along a plurality of data paths, said method comprising the following steps of:
- receiving at a first location digital data from at least one source;
- passing at least portions of the digital data to a means for changing the format of each of the components of the received digital data;
- and
- generating a plurality of data paths, as required, along which said data in the new format is transmitted to supply the appropriate data to the plurality of locations.
An optical unit, said unit comprising:
- an optical data feed and a diffractive member for changing the data feed to an optical format;
- and
- means are provided such that a plurality of data output connections are created and each of said data output connections is provided to connect to an optical cable which defines the optical data paths emitting from the optical unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.