Reverse path allocation and contention resolution scheme for a broadband communications system

A customer interface unit for connection to a broadband communication network, the customer interface unit operative for receiving first signals in a first frequency band from a headend associated with the broadband communication network, for receiving second signals from the headend, and for communicating telephony signals between a subscriber and the headend, said customer interface unit comprising:

• a first demodulator for demodulating first signals in the first frequency band and for coupling them to an output port;
• a second demodulator for receiving second signals and for determining, from said second signals, an acknowledge signal and one or more selected frequency subbands in a second band of frequencies in the broadband communication network for communicating telephony signals to the headend;
• a frequency agile modulator responsive to the determined one or more selected frequency subbands in the second band of frequencies for modulating the telephony signals from the customer interface unit in the one or more selected frequency subbands;
• and
• a timer for causing said frequency agile modulator to wait a predetermined time period before further transmission in response to failure to receive said acknowledge signal from the headend within a predetermined time period after an initial transmission.

A method of operating a broadband communication network, including a telephony network interface for connection to a telephony network, for communicating signals between subscribers and the telephony network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a multiplexed incoming telephony signal from the telephony network comprising a plurality of telephony signals provided in a standard multiplexed telephony format;
• demultiplexing the incoming multiplexed telephony signal to obtain at least one selected incoming telephony signal intended for a particular subscriber on the broadband communication network;
• transmitting the selected incoming telephony signal to the particular subscriber in a first frequency band on the broadband communication network;
• receiving the selected incoming telephony signal at a customer interface unit connected to the broadband communication network associated with the particular subscriber;
• coupling the selected incoming telephony signal to a telephony port associated with the customer interface unit;
• receiving an outgoing telephony signal from a particular subscriber at the telephony port;
• assigning plural subscribers to a selected subband in a second frequency band on the broadband communication network;
• transmitting said outgoing telephony signal on at least one assigned carrier in said selected subband;
• resolving contention between plural subscribers assigned to said selected subband;
• demodulating said outgoing telephony signal in the selected subband;
• multiplexing said outgoing telephony signal from the particular subscriber with other telephony signals associated with other subscribers to obtain a multiplexed outgoing telephony signal comprising a plurality of telephony signals in a standard multiplexed telephony format to telephony network;
• and
• coupling the multiplexed outgoing telephony signal to the telephony network.

An apparatus for the communication of telephony signals to and from a telephony network and to and from a plurality of subscribers of a subscription system including a subscription network having a first band of frequencies for communicating signals to subscribers in the subscription network and a second band of frequencies for communicating signals from the subscribers, comprising:

• a telephony network modulator for modulating the telephony signals from the telephony network on said first band of said subscription network;
• a subscriber terminal including a subscriber terminal demodulator for demodulating the telephony signals in said first band from the subscription network and coupling them to a subscriber;
• a frequency tunable second modulator associated with each of said plurality of subscribers for modulating telephony signals from each subscriber in a selected frequency subbands in said second band of the subscription network;
• a telephony network demodulator for demodulating the telephony signals from said second band of the subscription network and coupling them to the telephony network;
• and
• a device for detecting contention in said selected frequency subband and reassigning one or more of said second modulators to a different frequency subband in said second band.

A method of operating a communication system to couple telephony signals to and from a telephony network and to and from a plurality of subscribers of a subscription system including a tree-and-branch type broadband subscription network extending from a headend to the subscribers, comprising the steps of:

• providing an interface for telephony signals from the telephony network to the headend;
• providing an interface for telephony signals from a subscriber to a subscriber terminal connected to the subscription network;
• providing a first band of frequencies for communicating signals to subscribers from the headend;
• modulating the telephony signals from the telephony network on the first band of the subscription network;
• providing a second band of frequencies for communicating signals to the headend from subscribers;
• subdividing the second band of frequencies into a plurality of selectable subbands;
• initially assigning each of the plurality of subscribers to one of the plurality of selectable subbands, where more than one subscriber is assigned to any given selectable subband;
• transmitting the subband assignments to the plurality of subscribers in the first band;
• in response to a request for telephony service from a requesting subscriber, transmitting a signal in the selected subband comprising requesting subscriber identification information;
• at the headend, in response to receipt of subscriber identification information, re-assigning other subscribers that were initially assigned to the selected subband in which the requesting subscriber transmitted to another selected subband;
• and
• modulating telephony signals from the requesting subscriber in the selected subband.

A method of operating a communication system to couple telephony signals to and from a telephony network and to and from a plurality of subscribers of a subscription system including a tree-and-branch type broadband subscription network extending from a headend to the subscribers, comprising the steps of:

• providing an interface for telephony signals from the telephony network to the headend;
• providing an interface for telephony signals from a subscriber to a subscriber terminal connected to the subscription network;
• providing a first band of frequencies for communicating signals to subscribers from the headend;
• modulating the telephony signals from the telephony network on the first band of the subscription network;
• providing a second band of frequencies for communicating signals to the headend from subscribers;
• subdividing the second band of frequencies into a plurality of selectable subbands;
• initially assigning each of the plurality of subscribers to one of the plurality of selectable subbands, where more than one subscriber is assigned to any given selectable subband;
• transmitting the subband assignments to the plurality of subscribers in the first band;
• in response to an incoming call to a selected subscriber, re-assigning other subscribers that were initially assigned to the subband associated with the called selected subscriber to another selected subband;
• and
• modulating telephony signals from the called selected subscriber in the selected subband.

A method of operating a bidirectional communication system to couple telephony signals to and from a telephony network and to and from a plurality of subscribers of a subscription system including a broadband subscription network extending from a headend to the subscribers, comprising the steps of:

• assigning a plurality of subscribers to a particular subband in a reverse frequency band in the subscription system for communication of signals from the plurality of subscribers;
• receiving a multiplexed telephony signal containing a plurality of predetermined telephony signals in a plurality of telephony channels;
• demultiplexing the multiplexed telephony signal to obtain a selected telephony signal from a selected telephony channel;
• determining a selected subscriber for the selected telephony signal;
• communicating the selected telephony signal from the headend to the selected subscriber in a forward frequency band in the subscription system;
• in response to contention for use of the particular subband, reassigning other subscribers of the plurality of subscribers assigned to the particular subband in the reverse frequency band that included the selected subscriber to a different subband;
• communicating subscriber telephony signals from the selected subscriber to the headend in the particular subband;
• and
• coupling the subscriber telephony signals to the selected telephony channel.