System and method for routing data messages through a cable transmission system

A spectrum parallel router for a service site within a CATV network comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a transmission signal from a next higher level in a CATV network:
• a plurality of group transceivers, each group transceiver being coupled to a service line for coupling said transmission signal to a plurality of subscribers coupled to said service line and for receiving data messages from said subscribers coupled to said service line;
• a transmitter for transmitting data messages to a next higher level in said network;
• and
• a switch coupled to each of said group transceivers for receiving data messages from said subscribers coupled to said group transceivers, said switch routing said data messages from a first subscriber coupled to a group transceiver coupled to said switch to another subscriber coupled to a group transceiver coupled to said switch in response to said data message from said first subscriber having a destination address corresponding to said other subscriber coupled to said group transceiver and said switch routing to said transmitter said data messages from said group transceivers having destination addresses not corresponding to one of said subscribers in said plurality of subscribers coupled to said service lines coupled to said group transceivers in said plurality of group transceivers.

A spectrum parallel router for a distribution hub comprising:

• a receiver for coupling to a next lower network level;
• a first transmitter for coupling to a next higher network level;
• a second transmitter for coupling to said next lower network level;
• and
• a switch coupled to said receiver, said first transmitter and said second transmitter, said switch receiving data messages from said receiver and a switch at a same network level, said switch for routing data messages having destination addresses which correspond to an address in an address table of said switch to another switch at said same network level, said switch for providing said data messages to said first transmitter for transmission to said next higher network level in response to said destination address in said message not corresponding to one of said addresses in said address table of said switch and said switch for routing to said second transmitter data messages having destination addresses which correspond to a lower network level coupled to said switch.