US 6,320,878 B1Granted

Active demarcation point of an access network

AssigneeAlcatel

InventorsHeinz Krimmel, Rainer Fritschi, Rolf Heidemann

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Abstract

In a hybrid fiber/coax access network (NET) with downstream and upstream channels, the upstream channel serves to transmit voice and video signals as well as data signals from groups of customer locations (END) to a subcenter (HUB). A demarcation point (UP) provides the interface between the access network (NET) and the private network of the customer location (END). It contains at least two devices (BP4, BP5, BP6) for frequency-splitting received signals in the upstream frequency band, at least two switches (S4, S5, S6) following the at least two devices (BP4, BP5, BP6) and serving to block or unblock individual upstream frequency ranges, a measuring unit (MESS2) for measuring the amplitudes or intensities of the signals in the split frequency ranges, and a control unit (CTRL) for evaluating the measured values and controlling the at least two switches (S4, S5, S6). For a customer location (END), individual upstream frequency ranges can thus be telemetrically blocked for a limited time. Decentralized and autonomous monitoring of individual upstream frequency ranges is accomplished by a measuring unit which is controlled by the demarcation point (UP) itself.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An active demarcation point (UP) of an access network (NET) having a single downstream channel and a single upstream channel for bidirectional signal transmission, comprising:

at least two devices (BP4, BP5, BP6, BS4, BS5, BS6) for frequency-splitting received signals in the single upstream channel;
at least two switches (S4, S5, S6) connected with the at least two devices (BP4, BP5, BP6, BS4, BS5, BS6) and serving to block or unblock individual upstream frequency ranges;
a measuring unit (MESS2) for measuring the amplitudes or intensities of the frequency-split received signals in the individual upstream frequency ranges;
and
a control unit (CTRL) for evaluating the measured amplitude or intensity values and controlling the at least two switches (S4, S5, S6),
wherein the active demarcation point (UP) provides an interface between the access network (NET) and customer premises equipment (END), wherein the active demarcation point (UP) is between the customer premises equipment (END) and a cable (COAX), and wherein the customer premises equipment (END) comprises at least two terminal types selected from the group consisting of a computer (PC) attached via a modem (MODEM), a television set (TV) attached via a set-top box (STB), a telephone (TEL), and a fax unit (FAX).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.