Communication system transmitting modulated orthogonal carries with service units that scan spectrum to identify assigned band

A method of initializing and activating a plurality of service units in a distribution network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the plurality of service units, a plurality of modulated orthogonal carriers having a plurality of regions of a first frequency bandwidth transmitted from a head end terminal, each of the regions having at least one control channel associated therewith;
• and
• determining, at each of the plurality of service units, within which region of the first frequency bandwidth the service unit is to receive information, wherein determining includes:
• scanning each of the plurality of regions of the first frequency bandwidth;
• and
• detecting a unique identifier corresponding to the service unit.

A communication system, comprising:

• a head end terminal;
• at least one service unit;
• a distribution network, coupled between the head end terminal and the at least one service unit;
• wherein the head end terminal includes:
• a head end multicarrier modem adapted to modulate signals on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in a plurality of regions in a first frequency bandwidth, the plurality of orthogonal carriers in each of the regions including a plurality of telephony information channels for transmission of telephony information thereon, each of the regions having at least one control channel associated therewith for transmission of control data;
• and
• a head end controller operatively connected to the head end multicarrier modem for controlling receipt of signals;
• and
• wherein the at least one service unit includes:
• a second multicarrier modem, operatively connected to the distribution network for modulating signals on at least one carrier orthogonal at the head end terminal to at least one other carrier in a second frequency bandwidth;
• a second controller operatively connected to the second multicarrier modem for controlling the modulation performed by the second multicarrier modem;
• and
• a scanner adapted to scan each of the plurality of regions in the first frequency bandwidth and to lock onto the at least one control channel in each of the plurality of regions and detect a unique identifier for the at least one service unit to determine within which region of the first frequency bandwidth the service unit is to receive information.

A communication system, comprising:

• a head end terminal adapted to modulate signals on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in a plurality of regions in a first frequency bandwidth, the plurality of orthogonal carriers in each of the regions including a plurality of telephony information channels for transmission of telephony information thereon, each of the regions having at least one control channel associated therewith for transmission of control data;
• at least one service unit;
• a distribution network, coupled between the head end terminal and the at least one service unit;
• and
• wherein the at least one service unit includes a scanner adapted to scan each of the plurality of regions in the first frequency bandwidth and detect a unique identifier for the at least one service unit to determine within which region of the first frequency bandwidth the service unit is to receive information.

A method of initializing and activating a plurality of service units in a distribution network, the method comprising:

• transmitting from a head end terminal a plurality of modulated orthogonal carriers having a plurality of bands of a first frequency bandwidth, each of the bands having at least one control channel associated therewith and having control information modulated thereon;
• receiving, at the plurality of service units, the plurality of modulated orthogonal carriers;
• scanning, at each service unit, the at least one control channel to detect identification information;
• and
• identifying, at each service unit, a particular band of the plurality of bands that the service unit is assigned to use for receiving information from the head end terminal.