CN104836712A

CN104836712A - Distributed-type cable modem terminal system

Info

Publication number: CN104836712A
Application number: CN201510264103.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 塞利姆·什洛莫·拉基布
Original assignee: Acceleration Co Ltd
Current assignee: Weixima Network Co; Nokia of America Corp
Priority date: 2011-03-19
Filing date: 2011-03-19
Publication date: 2015-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-19
Also published as: CN104836712B

Abstract

The invention relates to a distributed-type cable modem terminal system. The system is used for a distributed-type CMTS (cable modem terminal system) device which serves HFC CATV networks of a plurality of adjacent regions through a plurality of independent cables. A plurality of QAM modems which are used for providing data for the plurality of independent cables are disposed between a plurality of QAM modems located at a cable facility and a plurality of remote QAM modems ideally located at a plurality of optical fiber nodes. The system can employ one first optical fiber to transmit a group of basic CATV QAM data waveforms to the nodes, and also can employ one substitute optical fiber or substitute optical fiber frequency. Moreover, the system can freely employ protocols, such as an Ethernet protocol to enable a second group of IP/ required data to be transmitted to the nodes. The nodes extract the dedicated data of each adjacent region, and enable the data to be injected into a plurality of untapped QAM channels, thereby improving the data transmission rate through finer granularity.

Description

Distribution cable modem terminal system

The divisional application that the application is application number is 201180015258.3, the applying date is on March 19th, 2011, denomination of invention is the application for a patent for invention of " distribution cable modem terminal system ".

Background technology

At first the cable TV (CATV) that television signal transmission is introduced to the mode in the house being arranged in mush area is revised for many years and expanded as a kind of by coaxial cable in late 1940s, thus dissimilar numerical data cable media can being carried be on the increase, comprise Digital Television and broadband the Internet data.

One of most important improvement occurs in the nineties in 20th century, the a large amount of primary electron device worked by cable laboratory (Cablelabs, a non-commercial R & D association) at that time and cable operator company introduce data over cable service interface specifications (docs is) (DOCSIS).First introduce in late 1990s as DOCSIS version 1.0, and upgrade afterwards many times (current is DOCSIS version 3 .0), DOCSIS standard definition sends physical layer (PHY) required for relatively a large amount of numerical datas and medium education (MAC) layer by coaxial cable, and these coaxial cables are designed to management simulation Standard Definition Television channel at first.

At first, simulated television (in the U.S.) in scope from about 54MHz (at first for VHF channel 2) until about 885MHz (the UHF channel 83 for not re-using now) frequency the radio frequency waveform of television channel as a series of roughly 6MHz bandwidth is transmitted.This TV signal is transmitted by as combination amplitude-modulated signal (for black and white part), quadrature amplitude modulation signal (for chrominance section) and frequency modulated signal (for audio-frequency unit), and this composite signal will be called frequency division multiplex (FDM) signal.

Along with in the Digital Television of late 1980s and early 1990s and the development of high-definition television standard, the basic 6MHz bandwidth spectrum of simulated television is retained, but modulation scheme is changed to quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) scheme that is more complicated and more high data rate, this QAM scheme can by coding digital information in very complicated QAM analog signal (waveform).

DOCSIS standard builds on this analog-and digital-TV basis, and be based on the previous QAM transfer of data waveform (being also generally that 6MHz is wide) set up for numeral and HDTV (High-Definition Television) in order to provide the special additional criteria of broadband the Internet service (Internet Protocol, or IP), ip voice, on-demand customization video and other modern services.

Therefore, by series of steps, the simple coaxial cable leading to millions of family at first from the 1950's and the sixties in 20th century under great expense is upgraded to adapt to ever-increasing demand to digital data gradually.At each house (or apartment, office, shop, restaurant or other positions) place, family is connected to CATV cable by cable modem, use cable modem to extract downstream DOCSIS numerical data (through being usually used in high-speed Internet), and inject upstream DOCSIS numerical data (equally through being usually used in high-speed Internet application).

Regrettably, even if in coaxial cable, also there is the limited amount bandwidth that can be used for transmitting data.Coaxial cable and the radio frequency interface equipment be associated thereof have typically only used the frequency range of about below 1000MHz, and therefore can finally transmit how many data for the coaxial cable of the 1950's and there is the limit.

Comparatively speaking, use optical fiber (fiberoptics, the fiber) technology of much higher light frequency (its medium wavelength is typically in the scope of 800 nanometers to 2000 nanometers) that the data of much higher amount can be transmitted.Fiber data speed is typically in tens of or even hundreds of kilomegabit per second.In fact, whole RF CATV cable spectrum from 0MHz to 1000MHz can be converted into optical wavelength (such as, 1310nm or 1550nm), via bearing optical fiber, and be converted back at the other end place of optical fiber as complete RF CATV cable spectrum subsequently, and can not close to the ability exhausting bearing optical fiber excessive data.

This transfer process can be realized by relatively simple light/number or number/photoconverter, wherein CATVRF wavelength is converted to light signal simply back and forth by simple (" low energy ") E/O or O/E transducer, and these E/O or O/E transducers are arranged in the node (Fiber Node) of Fiber connection to CATV cable.

The higher data bearer cap of optical fiber allows also to carry excessive data, and in some versions, an optical wavelength (such as, simulation in essence (numeral of the encoding in an analog fashion) frequency spectrum of CATV waveform is carried 1310nm), and under an alternative optical wavelength (such as, 1550nm), be carried through the numerical data of diverse protocol code.This dual schemes is commonly referred to as Wave division multiplexing.

Optical fiber technology has been widely used in high capacity computers network, and these networks do not use DOCSIS agreement or QAM agreement to transmit data usually.But these high capacity computers networks use completely dissimilar Data Transport Protocol usually, such as Ethernet protocol IEEE 802.3ah, 1000BASE-LX10,1000Base-BX10 and other agreements.These networks and agreement are commonly referred to as GigE network, and GigE network is the abbreviation of GB speed for the computer network based on optical fiber and Ethernet protocol.

Therefore, if user wants the computer data of the RF QAM waveform that comfortable CATV cable is in the future carried to be sent to high speed GigE fiber optic network, so these data must docsis cable QAM waveform and for the alternative (being generally Ethernet protocol) in optical fiber GigE network between change back and forth.

Although ideally, the best mode meeting the ever-increasing household demand of (such as, video, high-speed Internet, ip voice etc. as required) to digital data will be by optical fiber being stretched over each family, this solution that will be surprising costliness.Comparatively speaking, for tens million of family family implements CATV solution based on cable, and this expense is sustained and share in the use of many decades from the 1950's.Therefore, tool economic attractiveness far away, finds and makes existing (when Bandwidth-Constrained) CATV cable system can obtain further expanding the scheme meeting the ever-increasing demand to excessive data.

Cable system component:

At facility or " head " end place of typical CATV cable system (cable), manage the many dissimilar data of combination (analog television channel, digital-TV channel, as required channel, ip voice, DOCSIS channel etc.) partially by Cable Modem Terminal System (CMTS) device and the tool challenge task of user (family) in many different neighborhood in these data being sent to each district being dispersed in cities and towns, city, counties and cities and even state.One end of these CMTS devices is connected to various data source (TV station, video server, internet etc.), and the other end is connected to many different CATV cables.

Typically, one end of CMTS device will have to various data source and suitable data switching exchane (such as, level 2/3 switch) connection, and the other end has the connection to multiple different line card (usually become to look like blade server by physical package, and be placed in the main CTMS case of the multiple line card of fixing).Each line card will typically be connected to cable or optical fiber, and these cables or optical fiber are advanced away from cable end towards multiple neighborhoods of difference group, and wherein typically, each is organized multiple neighborhood and will be in roughly adjacent geographic region.Typically via various splitter and node, line card cable or optical fiber are segmented further subsequently, and finally, signal flow is to independent neighborhood, and each neighborhood is by the CATV cable service of himself.

At each neighborhood level place, an independent CATV cable will serve about 25 families to hundreds of family family (house, apartment).These are connected to this independent cable by cable modem.Here, each cable modem will be considered as one family or " house ", and no matter this cable modem serves a house, apartment, office, job site or other application.

CMTS line card typically will at least comprise transmission and the MAC received required for suitable CATV signal and PHY device.Typically, line card PHY device will comprise multiple QAM modulation device, the plurality of QAM modulation device can modulate the digital signal that level 2/3 switch has been sent to that specific line card, and is sent as multiple QAM channel by these signals on cable or optical fiber.These line cards also will typically comprise MAC and PHY device to receive the upstream data sending back to cable end from the various cable technique and cable modem.

It is unpractiaca for directly each independent neighborhood CATV cable being connected to cable installation.But arrange cable system with more complicated scheme, the signal wherein to and from the independent neighborhood of many differences is combined by network, arrive cable installation or cable end afterwards.Therefore, each CMTS line card will typically send signal to multiple neighborhood and from multiple neighborhood Received signal strength.

As being sent by cable and receiving substituting of data, various CMTS line card can communicate alternatively by the neighborhood of next different from it groups of optical fiber.But, independent optical fiber is directly routed to cable installation from independent neighborhood or cable end is also unpractiaca.Therefore, fiber optic network is also usual to be arranged with more complicated scheme, and the signal wherein to and from different independent neighborhoods is also combined by fiber optic network, and signal arrives cable installation or cable end afterwards.

On minimum level, near few " low " typically usually by not changing fiber-optic signal of fiber optic network can be carried out along separate routes (or combination) fiber-optic signal by optical fiber splitter/combiner (referred to herein as splitter), and will be sent to different neighborhood by sub-optical fibre subsequently through signal along separate routes.There, fiber-optic signal can be converted into RF signal by " low energy " Fiber Node and be converted to fiber-optic signal (being suitable for independent cable) from RF signal, only light signal should be converted to RF signal and RF signal is converted to light signal by " low energy " Fiber Node self, and otherwise can not change the content of signal.These hybrid fiber-cable systems are called as hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network.

Prior art works together with dissimilar CMTS system, and Fiber Node comprise in the United States Patent (USP) 7,149,223 of the people such as watt (Liva); Soviet Union looks into the U.S. patent application case 2007/0189770 of people such as sufficient gram (Sucharczuk); And the United States Patent (USP) 7,197,045 of Amy spy (Amit).

Typically, nearly all CATV user wants directly to access the cable television channel of at least one group of standard, and therefore in order to meet this basic expectation, usually all CATV cables correspond to the television channel (these channels can also comprise various conventional pay-per-view channels) on one group of basis that this " substantially " or " standard " wraps by receiving.In addition, hope is accessed large-scale individualized data by most of user, and here, the finite bandwidth of CATV cable starts to become larger obstacle.

As the first step towards more efficient cable utilance, simulated television progressively exits, thus discharging a large amount of FDM bandwidth (simulation standard definition TV channels), this bandwidth can the more efficient QAM channel of carried numeral TV and DOCSIS data replace.But, although make old-fashioned FDM TV signal progressively exit can discharge extra cable bandwidth, the ever-increasing household demand several years to digital TV and DOCSIS service (data) only will be met at most.Therefore, the additional method of more substantial data (specifically as required video data, ip voice data, broadband the Internet (IP) data and other data) is needed to supply.

Summary of the invention

There is disclosed herein a kind of novel distributed functionality CMTS system and method for hfc plant.Between multiple cable installation CMTS device and multiple remote fiber node CMTS (referred to herein as cable modem teleterminal system, or CMRTS) device, various CMTS function is divided under the network configuration that this system and method controls at an overall computer and Data distribution8 scheme.

This computer-controlled signal and Data distribution8 scheme are designed to make the granularity (neighborhood characteristic) of the customization data being delivered to multiple independent CATV cable (serving multiple independent neighborhood) to maximize.Simultaneously, this system and method remains the backward compatibility with old-fashioned hfc plant and device, and under many different CMRTS plant failure situations, moderately can be downgraded to standard and the customization data delivery service of prior art level from the standard of higher levels and customization data delivery service.This system allows multiple existing hfc plant to upgrade gradually, thus on cost-effective basis, customization (IP-as required) service improved is supplied to multiple selected neighborhood, and all neighborhoods can be finally allowed to upgrade when demand and fund allow.

The present invention partly depends on Distributed C MTS design, wherein divides in whole hfc plant and the QAM modulation device in CMTS PHY part of distributing (for being finally provided for multiple data-signal to be sent to multiple waveforms of a given independent cable).Here, some QAM modulation devices are positioned at such as, in multiple PHY unit of multiple main (centralized, to be cable end or cable installation) the CMTS line card on multiple central CMTS unit.Other QAM modulation devices are arranged in PHY part that is long-range or Distributed C MTS.These long-range CMTS unit are called as cable modem teleterminal system (CMRTS) unit.These CMRTS unit will be usually located at multiple final network fiber node (FN) place between multiple fiber section of HFC system and multiple cable sections of this HFC system.

In one embodiment, these QAM modulation devices being arranged in multiple centralized CMTS PHY part mainly concentrate on and send data, the DOCSIS service of a standardization bag of such as general multiple cable tv channels of usually being asked by many neighborhoods and perhaps a basic level.Therefore, in an example simplified, drive the multiple central QAM unit in the central CMTS line card of three cables in three neighborhoods to be sent to all three neighborhoods by multiple identical QAM signal at one.Simultaneously, (namely this central CMTS unit and CMTS line card optionally can coordinate its work with the long-range or distributed QAM modulation device being arranged in nearly three long-range CMTS (CMRTS) unit, divide responsibility for the multiple QAM channel of generation), these three CMRTS unit are arranged in these the final Fiber Nodes (FN) be connected with these three cables of these three neighborhoods of supply by the fiber section of hfc plant.

It is configurable that CMRTS unit of the present invention typically will be designed to height software, its long-range or distributed QAM modulation device of these CMRTS unit operations can be reconfigured by remote software to the ability of the ability and the various RF packet handler of these CMRTS unit operations that send downstream data, these RF packet handlers receive the multiple RF bursts through modulation downstream data from various cable modem, these bursts of demodulation, this upstream data digitlization is reassembled as multiple bag, and this data retransmission is got back to upstream, this remote software can be used for simplifying management and the configuration of this Distributed C MRTS network.

In this example, in order to one group of standardization TV channel and other service provisions being given these three cables in three neighborhoods, this central CMTS unit and central CMTS line card drive an optical fiber by making these QAM modulation devices in this CMTS line card be set to the multiple QAM signals under multiple optical wavelength, wherein these QAM waveforms make these light QAM waveform can directly be converted to radio frequency QAM waveform with cheap " low energy " transducer, and are directly injected in these three cables to provide the service of basic level.

In order to supply data drives these long-range CMRTS QAM modulation devices, thus provide the service of a higher levels, two different options are possible.

Designing in the first option of more back compatible with multiple existing CTMS, is that independent level 2 switch of use one and independent fibre system typically use digital Ethernet protocol to send in order to drive the data of these long-range CMRTS QAM modulation devices.This level 2 switch and the second fibre system will operate independent of cable installation CTMS unit to a great extent.Here, the operator of this cable installation CTMS unit only will be configured to this CTMS to have some the empty QAM channels that can be used for being used subsequently by these QAM modulation devices in these long-range CMRTS unit, but in addition according to the CTMS of multiple normal method operation standard (prior art).

Design in the second option of more extreme disengaging in representative and previous CMTS, except sending the CATV RF data of standard group, excessive data is also sent to these CMRTS unit by this centralized CMTS unit and CMTS line card on second communication media, and coordinate which information intelligently to send on the first communication medium and which information sends on second communication media, to make the functional maximization of total system.

An advantage of CMRTS unit of the present invention is, because these CMRTS unit can be designed to height, software is configurable, so multiple identical CMRTS unit may be reconfigured also with the CMRT option of the first back compatible, the second more extreme CMTS option (design) or extensively work together with other options multiple.Because this CMRTS design is that software is configurable and allow prior art CATVRF passing through to light signal, so these CMRTS are also height back compatibles, and can implement the mode that cable operator is transparent to a great extent, until need the higher function of this CMRTS.

For the first or second option, these second communication media for transferring data to this CMRTS can use second optical fiber and an alternative data host-host protocol, such as previous discussed various Ethernet protocols.If use this scheme, so needs are undertaken changing, reformatting and QAM modulation by these long-range CMRTS unit by data.These QAM modulation devices in these CMRTS unit will provide radio frequency (RF) QAM signal subsequently, and this RF QAM signal can be injected in this cable, and is attached to the cable modem identification of various cable.In order to avoid conflict, the frequency of these QAM waveforms provided by these CMRTS unit (or at least timeslice) should be different from the frequency (or at least timeslice) of these QAM waveforms provided by these central CMTSQAM modulators.

Alternately, these second communication media can use also for carrying identical (first or main) optical fiber from multiple QAM signals of this CMTS by Deta bearer to these CMRTS unit.In this alternate configuration, CMRTS data can be carried under an alternative wavelength.For example, main bag and the CMTS data that perhaps some DOCSIS serve that can carry CATVTV platform can use the optical wavelength transmission of a 1310nm, and the CMRTS data that can carry complementarity IP/ data as required can use the optical wavelength transmission of a 1550nm.Such scheme is commonly called Wave division multiplexing.As discussed previously, these complementarity CMRTS data are encoded (although can do like this) without the need to using CATV biddability QAM modulation, but different agreements and modulation scheme can be used to carry, such as previous discussed GigE Ethernet protocol.

These second communication media (self being optical fiber media) by generally can transfer ratio may the much more IP/ data as required of the data that can transmit on standard C ATV cable.Regrettably, at the end of fiber optic network, we run into CATV cable bandwidth bottleneck again, and this limits the data volume that can be transferred to any given independent neighborhood again.

The present invention partly depends on following observation, i.e. under current quite coarse granular level (wherein multiple neighborhood is served by multiple identical CATV QAM signal), the total demand of IP-data as required from multiple cables of serving multiple neighborhood can easily make limited CATV bandwidth saturated.But, under thinner granular level (wherein each neighborhood may obtain the CATV signal of the customization of himself), for an independent neighborhood IP-as required data more may be matched with in the finite bandwidth of CATV cable of each neighborhood.Therefore, knack is by select and the mixing of standard QAM and the QAMIP/ selecting to be delivered to each neighborhood signal as required avoids making the specific CATV cable bandwidth overload of each neighborhood.But this scheme of sending the changing mixing of a possibility of the proprietary CATV channel of multiple neighborhood produces some quite complicated network management problems.

As discussed previously, in order to deal with the network management problem of these complexity, the present invention also partly depends on a complicated computer control system and adjusts the operation of central CMTS and multiple long-range CMRTS unit with (or even continuously) continually, thus balancing user is to the demand of normal data (such as carefully, the DOCSIS service of standard QAM TV channel and perhaps a limited standard level) and customization data (such as, IP/ data as required).

For example, this computer control system can the available bandwidth of management service on the various cables of various neighborhood.Time in for the first option pattern of back compatible, " standard " QAM channel transmitted is fixed by cable operator in advance, and these keep relative constancy.Time in for higher throughput and the second more extreme option pattern, computerized system can change just by " standard " QAM channel of any given central CMRT line card transmission, and just by multiple long-range customization of CMRTS unit transmission or the IP/ QAM channel as required of " paying ".

In CATV jargon, the various CMTS systems at cable end place are commonly referred to as " support " or " CMTS support ".Although from angle of network management, the functional of CMTS unit is distributed to whole network from cable end by the present invention, but in some embodiments, other network equipments and software can continue network distribution type CMTS therewith more simply and communicate, as this network distribution type CMTS remains individual cable facility or cable end CMTS.Therefore, in one embodiment, this CMTS and CMRTS computer control system of supervising the network Distributed C MTS and software will be also referred to as " virtual bracket " hardware and software, because this computer control system can be involved in management operating Distributed C MTS system the allocation problem of complexity, and when needed this complexity is shielded to the remainder of system subsequently.Therefore, the remainder of cable installation system is functional without the need to being redesigned managing distributed CMTS, but can continue to process Distributed C MTS of the present invention, as the non-distributed CMTS that this Distributed C MTS is prior art.

Therefore, virtual bracket hardware/software system can such as using the user's request of serving (IP-as required) to TV as required or paying DOCSIS IP that is senior or that pay in the user's request of serving basic TV channel and basic DOCSIS in multiple neighborhood, multiple independent neighborhood and the finite population of total QAM channel that can carry on cable as input.

In the first option, virtual bracket system carrys out work by using any empty QAM channel can supplied by cable operator simply, and by work to be optimized to the data of multiple user in this overall constraint.

In the second option, in order to send more data, virtual bracket system can initiatively many.For example, this virtual bracket system can be selected the QAM modulation device in the PHY unit of the central CMTS line card of guiding one to stop on a QAM channel (frequency) and send signal, comes for the proprietary QAM channel (frequency) of a neighborhood to discharge this QAM channel (frequency).

In arbitrary option, this virtual bracket system can indicate the multiple GigE PHY unit on identical central CMTS line card use second communication media and by Ethernet modulated transmission protocol, proprietary for neighborhood (IP/ is data as required) be sent to those neighborhoods subsequently.This virtual bracket system can indicate subsequently serve target neighborhood Fiber Node on long-range CMRTS unit obtain this IP/ data as required from these second communication media, decode and these data of QAM modulation, and use now empty QAM channel (frequency) that this is flow into the cable for that particular neighborhood through QAM data of RF modulation now.

This virtual bracket system can also indicate serves another long-range CMRTS unit on a different fiber node of a different neighborhood and obtains IP/ data as required for this neighborhood from these second communication media, decode and these data of QAM modulation, and also this is flow into the cable for this neighborhood through QAM data of RF modulation now.

It should be noted that by the method, even if two neighborhoods can receive some common QAM channel and data from identical centralized CMTS line card, but overall CATV QAM channel is not identical.But at least for IP/ data as required, identical QAM channel (frequency) now carrying is used for the different pieces of information of these two different neighborhoods.

By using these system and methods, the valid data bearer cap of various cable and QAM channel increases to some extent.But simultaneously, if suitably configure this centralized computer system (virtual bracket), so can optionally hide to upstream (cable installation) and downstream (cable modem) system the most of complexity exchanging and arrange, therefore realize the good backward compatibility with existing HFC equipment.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Figure 1 shows that a typical various frequency for CATV cable distribution for carrying old-fashioned simulated television FDM channel, QAM digital-TV channel and various types of DOCSIS data and the general view of data channel.

Figure 2 shows that the example using multiple optical fiber and multiple Fiber Node data to be transferred to a prior art HFC cable system of various independent cable from cable end.

Fig. 3 compared for the difference between prior art optical fiber-cable (optical fiber) node and cable modem teleterminal system (CMRTS) Fiber Node improved of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows that how the CMRTS Fiber Node improved of the present invention can also transmit more substantial upstream data.

Figure 5 shows that how the downstream data of larger effective dose can be distributed to the various CATV cable of the multiple users served in different neighborhood by an embodiment (shown here is the second option) of the distribution cable modem terminal system of the present invention worked together from cable installation place senior CMTS.

Figure 6 shows that how some embodiments of CMRTS Fiber Node can carry out the additional detail building and operate in the second option.

Figure 7 shows that the additional detail of CMRTS Fiber Node.

Figure 8 shows that and how can pass through the general view that " virtual bracket " software carrys out configuring distributed cable modem system, be somebody's turn to do operation and the data flow of CMTS and the CMRTS device of this system of " virtual bracket " software control.

Figure 9 shows that how the downstream data of larger effective dose can be distributed to the various CATV cable of the multiple users served in different neighborhood by an alternate embodiment (shown here is the first option) of the distribution cable modem terminal system of the present invention worked together from a prior art CMTS.

Figure 10 shows that how an alternate embodiment of CMRTS Fiber Node can carry out the additional detail building and operate in the first option.

Embodiment

In one embodiment, the present invention can be a distribution cable modem terminal system (CMTS) for hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network.This system will typically be made up of multiple part.

In some embodiments, this system will work independent of the CMTS at cable installation place in fact, and carrys out the functional of supplementary prior art CMTS by being used in fact by adding minimum new equipment at cable installation place.Here, this new equipment at cable installation cable place will primarily of level 2/3 switch, a virtual bracket management system (will describe) and in order to send along optical fiber and to receive the multiple suitable MAC of data and PHY device composition.The prior art cable installation CMTS continues to operate as before, but has not same, and namely cable operator should provide the channel of some skies, so that for providing space by new channel provided by the invention.

In other embodiments, multiple parts of this system will be embedded in a senior CMTS head together with at least one first packet switching exchange, a MAC (medium education) and PHY (physical layer), and data can be sent to first end of first optical fiber through digitally coded simulation QAM waveform (the first light signal) from a layer 2-3 switch as at least multiple first and receive data from this layer of 2-3 switch by a MAC and a PHY.

In some embodiments, this CMTS head can also have the 2nd MAC and the 2nd PHY, data can be sent to this first end of this first optical fiber or this first end of second optical fiber from this layer of 2-3 switch by the 2nd MAC and the 2nd PHY, and receive data from this layer of 2-3 switch.If use this first end of this first optical fiber, so typically, 2nd PHY is by use alternative wavelength and usually use an alternate data host-host protocol (such as, an Ethernet protocol) send and receive data, but also can use QAM waveform.For example, this first wave length can be 1310nm, and this second wave length can be 1550nm.In general, these two different wave lengths will be enough far away to avoid crosstalk every obtaining, and usually have the interval of 20nm, 50nm, 100nm or more, this depends on the bandwidth of light signal.

Alternately, the 2nd MAC and the 2nd PHY can use the first end of second optical fiber to send out this data.In both cases, these are called the second light signal.For discuss simple and clear and simple and easy for the purpose of, this secondary signal will also be called " optical fiber 2 " usually, and is plotted as an independent optical fiber, and is actually regardless of this secondary signal and sends on the second optical fiber, still only sends in second wave length on the first optical fiber.

This system also will have the one or more long-range CMRTS Fiber Node of the second end being positioned at the first optical fiber usually.(here, term " the second end " also will be used for indicating the far-end (apart from CMTS and cable end farthest) of optical fiber, even after shunt.)

Parts of CMRTS Fiber Node can be first " low energy " light/RF (radio frequency) conversion equipments, and the first light signal (being sent as QAM waveform in the first end of optical fiber by CMTS) is converted to first group of RF signal by this first " low energy " light/RF conversion equipment.These are typically called O/E or E/O transducer, and this depends on the direction that electric RF/ optical fiber is changed.

Another parts of this CMRTS can be at least one QAM modulation apparatuses, and this at least one QAM modulation apparatus can detect the selected part of the second light signal, and are second group of RF QAM waveform by these selection section Codeds.This QAM modulation device can be the part of a CMRTS PHY unit, and this CMRTS can have corresponding MAC and packet switching capability usually, and an optional controller (such as, microprocessor and the software be associated), in order to select multiple part of the second light signal and to control this packet switch, MAC and PHY (comprising CMRTS QAM modulation device) when needed.

This CMRTS also will comprise at least one software-controllable switch usually, this at least one software-controllable switch can be selected at least some second light signal (the second selected light signal) by remote boot, and guides at least one CMRTS QAM modulation apparatus described to be one group of second group of RF QAM waveform (the QAM signal of long-range generation) selecting under frequency by the second selected coded optical signal.Usually, this software-controllable switch is by the part for this optional controller or control by this controller.

This CMRTS can also comprise the controlled RF packet handler of at least one remote software, the controlled RF packet handler of this at least one remote software can detect the upstream data that the CATV RF stream signal that produced by least one cable modem carries, and described upstream data is digitally repacked, and again transmits described upstream data as the 3rd upstream digital fiber-optic signal.

Usually, this software-controllable switch and/or software-controllable RF packet handler can be configured at least one subset of implementation criteria DOCSIS upstream and downstream function by remote software.For example, on upstream side, can implement in DOCSIS upstream time division multiple access (TDMA) and DOCSIS S-CDMA—Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (SCDMA) function one or more.On downstream, can implement in various DOCSIS QAM modulation pattern (such as, 16 levels, 32 levels, 64 levels, 128 levels and 256 level QAM modulation patterns) one or more.According to functional level of required CMRTS, CMRTS can produce the QAM channel of carrying Digital Broadcast Video, as required digital video, digital high-definition (HD) video, speech data and DOCSIS (data) channel at Fiber Node place.

In other embodiments again, the additional functionality (that is, non-DOCSIS is functional) of the formal part being not yet docsis specification can also be implemented by CMRTS, such as, from the upstream data of the non-DOCSIS standard set top box gateway of various new model.This can provide the service in most advanced and sophisticated forward position to distinguish self by making cable provider by the competitor that can lead over him.In this example, CMRTS can be considered as the superset processing DOCSIS function, because this CMRTS is used for, and the functional expansion of HFC system is exceeded the functional of standard DOCSIS function.Here, term " superset " is used for and represents that extra (non-standard DOCSIS) is functional.Therefore, for example, the CMRTS as the complete or collected works of DOCSIS function or the subset of DOCSIS function will be described to when it also implements extra non-standard DOCSIS function implement DOCSIS " superset ".Other examples of extra non-standard DOCSIS functional (non-DOCSIS is functional) comprise transmitting the functional of various forms of digital video (such as, standard digital video, high definition HD digital video and various forms of digital video as required).

Software-controllable switch and software-controllable RF packet handler will be incorporated to they self microprocessor or microcontroller and memory (such as usually, flash memory, ROM, RAM or other memory storage apparatus), thus be incorporated to order bag that these switches of operation and processor, decipher send from virtual bracket manager and by the software required for multiple data packet transmission to this virtual bracket manager.

This CMRTS also has a combiner apparatus usually, or be at least attached to a combiner apparatus (such as, a duplex apparatus), the QAM signal of first group of RF signal and long-range generation combines by this combiner apparatus, thus generation is suitable for being injected into the composite type RF signal be connected in a CATV cable of at least one cable modem.Alternately, this duplex apparatus can be outside at the CMRTS unit of reality, but this CMRTS unit will depend on usually for functional inside or outside combiner (such as, a duplex apparatus).

This system also will have a centralized computer system or computer processor operating software (such as, virtual bracket software) usually, and this centralized computer system or computer processor operating software control many aspects of its function.As discussed previously, because the CMTS unit of the non-functional upper dispersion of prior art is commonly referred to as " support ", so the functional computer software controlling distributing CMTS-CMRT unit of the present invention will be referred to as " virtual bracket " in replacement scheme.This " virtual bracket " software by with a kind of by manageable mode ideally complex management many distributing CMTS-CMRTS system, and it is sometimes almost transparent to cable installation ideally, with the more complicated Data distribution8 character making the other system in cable installation usually can manage distributing CMTS-CMRTS system of the present invention, as the behavior of this system better as better simply prior art CMTS system.

Specifically, a critical function of computer processor and " virtual bracket " software is selected being and is controlled the QAM signal of at least the second light signal and long-range generation.These by with a kind of greatly increase cable system user can the mode of the IP-amount of data as required manage, as discussed.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the present invention can be long-range CMTS Fiber Node (CMRTS) system for hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network.This CMRTS part of this system typically will comprise the first light/RF (radio frequency) conversion equipment, and first group of fiber-optic signal through RF modulation is directly converted to first group of CATV RF signal by this first light/RF conversion equipment.This CMRTS part also will generally include at least one QAM modulation apparatus, and the selection section Coded through digitally coded second fiber-optic signal can be second group of RF QAM waveform by this at least one QAM modulation apparatus.This CMRTS part also will comprise at least one software-controllable switch usually, this at least one software-controllable switch can be selected at least some second fiber-optic signal (the second selected light signal) by remote boot, and guides at least one QAM modulation apparatus described to be one group of second group of RF QAM waveform selecting under frequency by some second selected coded optical signal.These will be called as the QAM signal of long-range generation.This CMRTS part also will generally include the controlled RF packet handler of at least one remote software (and the MAC be associated and PHY unit), this at least one remote software controlled RF packet handler can detect the upstream data that multiple CATV RF stream signal of being produced by least one cable modem carry, this upstream data is digitally repacked, and again transmits back this upstream data (final usually again transmission gets back to cable installation usually) as the 3rd upstream digital fiber-optic signal subsequently.The present invention is a kind of system, because here, this at least one software-controllable switch and/or this software-controllable RF packet handler can be configured at least one subset of implementation criteria DOCSIS upstream and downstream function by remote software by being generally designed to.

It should be noted that the user data in order to realize strengthening is experienced, this CMRTS is without the need to the functional complete or collected works of implementation criteria DOCSIS.This is because the functional CATVRF signal by the direct conversion by obtaining from the CMTS of cable installation of at least some DOCSIS being finally delivered to the various cable modems on each house is sent.

In many embodiments of the present invention, the technical ability of the controlled RF packet handler of technical ability and at least one remote software described of this at least one software-controllable switch is preferably subject to a remote dummy support manager Systematical control.

In another embodiment, the present invention can be a kind of for strengthening the method for the data-carrying capacity of hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network, this hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network has a cable end, fiber optic network, multiple Fiber Node, the multiple independent CATV cable being connected to described multiple Fiber Node and a multiple independent cable modem, each has different data demands, is connected to each in described independent CATV cable.The method will generally include and use multiple QAM waveform that first group of data is transported to these Fiber Nodes from cable end, and the plurality of QAM waveform can be directly injected in multiple independent CATV cable by a light/RF transducer.These QAM waveforms will be called as RF QAM waveform.

Second group of data is transported to these Fiber Nodes from this cable end by also usually comprise by the method.Here, these second group of data will can not be directly injected in independent CATV cable by light/RF transducer usually.But the selected of these second group of data is partially converted to RF QAM waveform by alternatively usual at these Fiber Node places by the method.RF QAM waveform from these long-range generations of the multiple selected part of these second group of data will be called as the 2nd RF QAM waveform.

Usually, a RF QAM waveform and the 2nd RF QAM waveform will combine by the method subsequently, and these RF QAM waveforms combined are injected into and are served in the multiple independent CATV cable of multiple independent neighborhood.

The method will control this and select and mixed process, to make for each independent CATV cable (it can be comprise a large amount of group of other independent CATV cables or a part for multiple cable), a RFQAM waveform and the 2nd RF QAM waveform will be selected such that RF QAM waveform that these combine is no more than the available bandwidth of any one in these independent CATV cables.

Here, the method will control this selected part of these second group of data and these second group of data to meet the different pieces of information requirement of (usually meeting better than art methods) a large amount of different cable modem.Here, in general, when considering compared with the group of multiple independent CATV cable, different independent CATV cables will generally carry the 2nd different RF QAM waveforms, and wherein each different RFQAM waveform is by the unique data requirement of general satisfaction clasp joint to the various cable modems of specifically independent CATV cable.

Figure 1 shows that the general view of various frequency and the data channel distributed for CATV (100).Typically, distribute lower frequency (such as, 5 to 42MHz) and get back to cable end or cable installation (102) for by " upstream " transfer of data from independent cable modem.Typically, share TDMA (time division multiple access) mode service time to transmit upstream data, wherein independent cable modem is assigned with certain number of times to transmit data on the QAM channel that roughly 2MHz is wide.Start until roughly 547MHz at about 54MHz, current is old-fashioned analog video channel (104) allocation space, and these analog video channels transmit on the FDM channel that roughly 6MHz is wide.Higher than with under the frequency of upper frequency, current for carrying out Digital Television (106) dividing frequency (space, bandwidth) transmitted on the QAM channel that roughly 6MHz is wide, and higher than under this frequency, current is DOCSIS service (108) allocation space, these DOCSIS services can transferring voice, as required video, IP and other information, again using this space substantially as the QAM channel that a series of 6MHz is wide.At about more than 1GHz, cable bandwidth there be limited evidence currently of uses, but the service in future may further expand in this district.

The present invention is indiscriminate in the use of higher frequency cable bandwidth sum channel.If available, so the present invention can use them.If unavailable, so the present invention will deal with existing cable frequencies and bandwidth.

Therefore CATV cable has the finite bandwidth of about 100 to 200 QAM channels at the most.When this bandwidth is for serving the dissimilar in a large number customization data going to a large amount of different subscriber, this bandwidth can be drained unnecessarily quickly.

(110), (120) are depicted as that illustrate can if the chart how more simplified be to describe the graphic of CATV spectrum allocation may below.This chart will be used in each figure, thus clearly show that CATV spectrum allocation may aspects more of the present invention.

" upstream " section (112) is the abstract concept of all upstream channel, comprises the upstream channel in 5 to the 42MHz districts used at present, and higher frequency upstream DOCSIS channel that is present and future." video " section (114) is " digital video " channel of analog TV FDM channel and the standard of almost discarding and the abstract concept of calculated digital video channels, and these calculated digital video channels will take the analog bandwidth (once analog channel progressively exits) at once will regained.Section (114) also represents digital radio and the FM channel of other standards, and generally can represent the standardization downstream channel of any group that will usually do not customize between the user and neighborhood of difference group.

" DOC1 " channel (116) can be complete or collected works or the subset of the DOCSIS channel in (depending on using forestland) present or future.Conventional in specification like this, DOC1 usually represents the DOCSIS service on one group of basis, and the basic DOCSIS service of this group can in more High Performance IP/be used for retreating use by neighborhood as required or in DOC2 channel (118) out of order situation.Usually select DOC1QAM channel, thus do not exhaust whole bandwidth of CATV cable, the DOC2 channel that neighborhood can be allowed to customize to make the remaining QAM channel of at least some uses." IP/ as required or DOC2 " channel (118) (depends on using forestland) in fact and is the downstream bandwidth that the residue on CATV cable is available, and be usually preserved for transmission neighborhood proprietary data (IP/ is data as required), usually by different communication medium (such as, second optical fiber or second wave length, and usually by non-QAM agreement) be transported to independent neighborhood from cable end.

Should note, when discussing prior art and using, the summation being sent to the DOC1 (116) of a neighborhood group and IP/ (118) channel as required by optical fiber can never exceed the effective bandwidth (that is, the bearing capacity of CATV cable and the ability of cable modem detection streamer RF signal) of CATV cable.

Comparatively speaking, when discussing of the present invention, the effective bandwidth of CATV cable that the summation being sent to the DOC1 (116) of a neighborhood group and IP/ (118) channel as required by optical fiber will often exceed on a neighborhood group basis, but the effective bandwidth of CATV cable that the summation of DOC1 (116) and IP/ (118) as required will never exceed on each neighborhood basis.

If by light method (namely, optical fiber) transmit identical CATV frequency spectrum, to make to transmit identical waveform under identical frequency interval, but be only displaced to multiple optical wavelength, so this frequency spectrum will be called (120), but various waveform minimizes keeping identical name in addition to make to obscure.

Figure 2 shows that how data are transferred to the simple version of the different fiber node (204) of serving different neighborhood (206) by prior art HFC system (200) from cable installation or cable end (202).Each neighborhood will typically by forming up to hundreds of different buildings, apartment, office or shop (208) (being generally called in " house ") herein, and each is equipped with they self cable modem (not shown).Here, for clarity, the downstream part of HFC system is only shown.

This cable installation will obtain standardized media content (210) (such as from one group of source, the criteria classification of analog and digital video channel), and obtain more individualized data (212), such as, from the video as required of internet, IP and other individualized data from other sources.These data are compiled in the CATV broadcast channel that different in a large number QAM (and being also FDM now) modulates at CTMS support (214) place.This CMTS (214) will have a large amount of different blade-like line cards (216) usually.These line cards transfer signals to zones of different (multiple neighborhood group) by optical fiber (218).

It should be noted that the CATV broadcast singal that FDM modulates is analog signal (simulated television for more old-fashioned), and even QAM signal (although it is carried through digitally coded information) self is also analog signal.For historical reasons, on downstream direction, in the U.S., both FDM and QAM waveforms (signal) have the bandwidth of about 6MHz usually.

In order to illustrate this situation, as in Fig. 1 previously institute discuss, being depicted as by FDM and QAM signal and having a centre wavelength and bandwidth, to emphasize the character simulated in fact of this signal, is also even like this when carrying digital information.These analog signals can be carried by optical fiber, and use very simple and cheap equipment these analog signals to be converted to the RF signal of the CATV cable section for network.

As discussed previously, in fact typical hfc plant has quite complicated topology.Be not that an optical fiber is sent to each different neighborhood from CTMS, typically, multiple optical fiber will serve multiple neighborhood.For this reason, from CTMS side optical fibers signal will at least usually by along separate routes (by optical fiber splitter (220)) in some different sub-optical fibres (222), and each sub-optical fibre again by then by signaling bearer to a different Fiber Node (Fiber Node, FN) (204).Here, the quite complicated ring topology of hfc plant will be simplified, and alternatively be represented by these optical fiber splitters.

At Fiber Node (FN) (204) place, fiber-optic signal is converted into CATV radio frequency (RF) signal, and is sent to the independent cable modem at individual building (208) place in each neighborhood via multiple CATV cable (226).Typically, each neighborhood will be made up of 25 to hundreds of houses, and these houses are served by the CATV cable (226) being connected to local fiber node (204).

The all houses (208) in this neighborhood (206) are connected to due to this CATV cable (226), if so the cable modem in a house in a neighborhood wants the video as required or the IP that ask customization, in fact all houses being attached to that specific CATV cable so in this neighborhood will receive customization signal.Although the cable modem be only associated with the house (not shown) sending request by fact be tuned to asked signal is decoded in the signal of asking, but should be appreciated that, if each individual building in this neighborhood asks himself one group to customize video or IP as required at same time simultaneously, so the finite bandwidth of CATV cable will be saturated fast.Therefore, a upper end is existed to the amount of the customization data that can be transferred to each house, exceeds this upper end, just must limiting bandwidth and/or must be rejected the request of additional customized data.

Although the different blade of the CMTS support (214) at cable installation (202) place or line card (216) can by different customization IP/ as required channel be sent to different neighborhood groups, but the granularity of this process is secondary good, because all independent neighborhood being connected to identical optical fiber splitter will obtain identical customization IP/ signal as required.In the band-limited situation of given CATV cable, if all neighborhoods all obtain identical signal, the data volume that so can be sent to each independent neighborhood must limit reluctantly, to be no more than total available bandwidth.

Fig. 3 compared for the transfer process between optical fiber (222) and CATV cable (226) occurred when typical prior art Fiber Node (204) and when CMRTS Fiber Node (300) that improve of the present invention.Here, for clarity, the downstream part of only this process of graphic extension.

In prior art transfer process (top), optical fiber (218) carrying is used for Digital Television and DOCSIS purposes (it can carry video or IP data as required) both stadardized video signals and simulates both QAM signal (it comprises digital information).

In prior art " low energy " Fiber Node (204), simply the light FDM of optical fiber or QAM analog signal are converted to RF FDM or QAM signal, and by these signal transmission to CATV cable (226).Therefore, if (such as) there are four different fiber to be connected to this different Fiber Node, so all optical fiber will obtain identical customization IP/ signal as required, and then suitable for this signal poor efficiency can be transferred to the possible thousands of non-targeted families not asking this customization signal.

Comparatively speaking, " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) improved of the application of the invention, (here can be called " optical fiber 1 " by " mainly " fiber channel, and be plotted as thicker line) carry complete or collected works or the subset of normalized signal (such as, stadardized video channel) and (for backward compatibility) DOCSIS QAM channel.For backward compatibility, optical fiber 1 can be usually the same fibre for carrying prior art signal, and in order to emphasize this backward compatibility aspect of the present invention, indicates optical fiber 1 by by identical numeral (222).

Typically, optical fiber 1 (222) will carry CATV frequency spectrum as a series of optical wavelength, and this series of optical wavelength directly corresponds to the RF QAM waveform that will be injected in CATV cable (120).

But in the present invention, the subset of DOCSIS QAM channel, complete or collected works or superset also can be carried by other physical media device, such as, by the second optical fiber, or by the light of an alternative wavelength on optical fiber 1.For clarity, be called the media of these additional set data of carrying " optical fiber 2 ", and emphasize at least in the starting stage by it being plotted as thinner line (302), optical fiber 2 may be used for carrying complementarity data to expand the data carrying capabilities of optical fiber 1 circuit (222) of back compatible.Certainly, finally, optical fiber 2 may can carry substantially than the data of optical fiber more than 1.

Although optical fiber 2 (302) can also transmit its data by being suitable for light QAM waveform that simple conversion is the RF QAM waveform used on cable (may by means of only the identical signal under QAM modulation different frequency), never require that in fact optical fiber 2 use the QAM of any type to encode.Usually, optical fiber 2 can transmit this complementarity data by the Gigabit Ethernet agreement of standard.In order to emphasize that optical fiber 2 carries the fact of data usually by non-CATV compatibility or QAM signaling bearer method, optical fiber 2 signal (304) is depicted as a series of line (306), thus the fact of the substituting digital method of Signal transmissions can be used with symbol performance (such as).Here, every bar line representative is converted into QAM signal the most at last and is sent to the data of particular neighborhood.

As discussed, in some embodiments, the such as complete system be made up of " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300), optical fiber 1 (222) is basic without the need to carrying any customization (user is proprietary) information, such as DOCSIS information (116) or IP/ channel (118) as required.Can remove these customizations channel (that is, passing through filtering) from optical fiber 1 (222), or more generally, first some or all customizations IP/ as required channel/DOCSIS will can not be injected in optical fiber 1 by cable installation CMTS simply.

Alternately, optical fiber 1 (222) can carry stadardized video channel (114), and some customizations DOCSIS (116) or IP/ DOCSIS information (118) as required, and can by the IP/ of this part group as required DOCSIS information be sent to those users still served by prior art " low energy " Fiber Node.But, can access by the user of the CMRTS Fiber Node service improved of the present invention the extraneous information sent by optical fiber 2, GigE or fiber optic wavelength 2 (304).

At CMRTS Fiber Node (300) place improved of the present invention, its particular neighborhood that the CMRTS unit of Fiber Node will be determined (or at least selecting) ask one group of customization data (308), (310), (312), and retrieve this information from optical fiber 2 media (302).This information will subsequently by QAM modulation, and be converted into suitable RF frequency, be placed in suitable empty IP/ as required on QAM CATV cable channel (314), (316), (318), and be sent to the neighborhood of once asking that particular data subsequently by CATV cable.At this neighborhood place, from once asked the particular cable modulator-demodulator in the house of those data can be tuned to extract this data in this QAM channel, and other cable modems being attached to that cable equally will be ignored this QAM channel and/or ignore this data.

As discussed tout court, the method will allow the corresponding higher transmission rate of much meticulous granularity and customization data.

Figure 4 shows that the present invention also can use a kind of similar system and method to transmit the upstream data of more a large amount.As discussed previously, only distribute limited amount bandwidth (112), from the independent cable modem a neighborhood, cable installation or cable end are got back in upstream data transmission.In this example, the Limited Area (112) from 5MHz to 42MHz is depicted as.In prior art process, the signal from multiple different fiber will be merged on single optical fiber (222), thus again increase congestion problems.Comparatively speaking, by using the CMRTS Fiber Node (300) improved, upstream data from each neighborhood (400), (402), (404) can be extracted, QAM signal is optionally decoded, data are placed on suitable (sky) Return Channel (or empty TDMA timeslice for a suitable Return Channel) (406), (408), (410), and send back to cable end or cable installation by more not congested the second customization data transmission medium (such as, optical fiber 2 (302)).

Alternately, in order to retain backward compatibility, can continue to use prior art upstream process.As another replacement scheme again, this new method and art methods and can need to be used interchangeably by cable system during regulation in system configuration.

Figure 5 shows that an example of the second option previously discussed, the distribution of the RFQAM channel wherein produced by CMTS and the distribution of QAM channel produced by CMRTS manage together in a kind of more complicated system using CMRTS and novel higher function CMTS.

Here, in this embodiment, " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) improved can carry the customized user data of higher effective dose.Here, these " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) improved are shown as and work in conjunction with the CMTS support (500) improved at cable end place and the CMTS line card (502) that improves.

In prior art systems example previously shown in fig. 2, be three root optical fiber (all carry identical data) (222) along separate routes from an optical fiber (218) of the prior art CMTS unit (214) at cable installation place by optical fiber splitter (220), and these sub-optical fibres are routed to three different neighborhoods subsequently.Because will identical data be carried from all optical fiber of optical fiber splitter, so customization data is sent to all three neighborhoods by poor efficiency, although may in fact request this customization data from an only house of a neighborhood.

Therefore, the limited bearer cap (bandwidth) that CATV customizes IP/ video channel as required may become saturated.

Comparatively speaking, the CMTS support (500) improved by using one and the CMTS line card (502) improved, can obtain and import data into, and by this Data Segmentation in two transport medium (such as, the optical fiber (301) of optical fiber 1 (218) and not shunt)." intelligence " of the present invention CMRTS Fiber Node (300) (usually after optical fiber 1 and optical fiber 2 are sub-optical fibre (222), (302) by splitter (220) further along separate routes) can transport the data of much higher amount now.

As discussed previously, more data can be transmitted, because at CMRTS Fiber Node (300) place that each is different, different CMRTS Fiber Nodes can customize and the DOCSIS optimized to and from the cable of serving that particular neighborhood or other signals, thus serve that neighborhood better, and be far not do like this by the mode of joint current bandwidth constraint.

Here, suppose the CMTS (500) that improves and the CMTS line card (502) that improves by suitable data placement on optical fiber 1 (218) (222) and optical fiber 2 (301) (302).(this respect will be discussed tout court.)

For this reason, " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) retrieves excessive data (304) from optical fiber 2 (302); This excessive data of QAM modulation, and this excessive data is put on a suitable empty QAM CATV cable channel (118).

In Figure 5, neighborhood 1 has requested IP/ data (312) as required.This is selected by neighborhood 1CMRTS (300), carry out QAM modulation by CMRTS, and as the IP/ in IP/ as required channel (118) as required signal or waveform (316) be put into serve neighborhood 1 cable (226) on.Similarly, neighborhood 2 has requested IP/ data (310) as required.This is selected by neighborhood 2CMRTS (300), carries out QAM modulation by CMRTS, and as IP/ as required signal or waveform (318) be put into serve neighborhood 2 cable on.It should be noted that this QAM channel or frequency (318) can take and signal (316) identical channel (118).Therefore, transmit more data, and simultaneously, have not exceeded the finite bandwidth of the CATV cable of serving two neighborhoods.

Therefore, if not yet ask those data by the neighborhood of that intelligent CMRTS Fiber Node service, so empty QAM CATV cable channel (118) becomes and can be used for the Deta bearer of alternative type to that neighborhood.Be not the limited bearer cap filling up CATV cable with the QAM channel of the set undesired for other neighborhoods, the limited bearer cap of CATV cable alternatively can concentrate on the needs of that particular neighborhood.

In Figure 5, neighborhood 1 and 2 is served by " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) that improves of the present invention.Comparatively speaking, neighborhood 3 is only served by prior art " low energy " Fiber Node (204).

In order to continue that the DOCSIS of appropriate level or other customize services are supplied to neighborhood 3, the CMTS support (500) improved and CMTS line card (502) can select at least one subset (being depicted as DOC1 here) of the DOCSISQAM channel (116) sent required for neighborhood 3.

Here, this will be efficient not, because neighborhood 3 data are also sent to all neighborhoods together with the video data (114) that all neighborhoods are general used by optical fiber 1, and neighborhood 1 and 2 is lost interest in these neighborhood 3 data.But this remains neighborhood 3 and serves, and keep the complete of backward compatibility.

In order to excellent DOCSIS or other IP/ on-demand services are supplied to neighborhood 1 and 2, the customization data that neighborhood 1 and 2 is asked is loaded on optical fiber 2 (302) (304) (312), (310) by the CMTS support (500) improved and CMTS line card (502).Optical fiber 2 will be routed to all neighborhoods usually, and can be the optical fiber 1 of use substituting wavelength and (optionally) different agreement in fact certainly simply.

Therefore, effective capacity customization data being delivered to the neighborhood 1 and 2 of being served by " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) improved and the CMTS (500) improved, (502) of system increases substantially because IP/ as required channel can customize together with the data proprietary with each neighborhood.Meanwhile, backward compatibility is retained, because still use the neighborhood 3 of prior art low energy Fiber Node 3 (204) can continue to utilize the DOCSIS subset channel transmitted by optical fiber 1 (222).

Figure 6 shows that " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) can how in conjunction with the additional detail that the cable installation improved and the CMTS line card (502) that improves of cable end CMTS (500) operate.For clarity, the downstream part of system is mainly shown again.CMRTS Fiber Node (300) will have simple light/electricity (O/E) (600) transducer usually, thus main (standardization) CATV simulation (FDM and QAM) data/waveform (120) by optical fiber 1 optical transport is converted to RF signal.That is, this O/E transducer is light/RF (radio frequency) conversion equipment, and first group of fiber-optic signal through RF modulation is directly converted to first group of CATV RF signal by this light/RF conversion equipment.CMRTS Fiber Node (300) will also have electrical/optical (E/O) (602) transducer usually, thus obtain upstream RF data from CATV cable, and this upstream RF data are converted to are adapted to pass through the light signal that optical fiber 1 (not shown) or optical fiber 2 send back to cable place when needed.In other words, this E/O transducer is RF (radio frequency)/light conversion device, first group of upstream CATV RF signal is directly converted to the fiber-optic signal through RF modulation by this RF/ light conversion device, and sends the described fiber-optic signal through RF modulation relative to CMRTS unit in upstream.

CMRTS Fiber Node (300) also will comprise a CMRTS unit (604), this CMRTS unit (604) will obtain customization IP/ data-signal (304) as required from optical fiber 2 (301), (302), by this data QAM modulation to suitable empty CATV RF QAM channel (118), and this customization data is transferred on CATV cable (226).

From optical fiber 1 (218), (222) the main CATV through RF conversion simulates (QAM channel) signal (114), (116) and from optical fiber 2 (301), (302), (312) the customization IP/ through frequency displacement as required QAM channel (318) is combined (such as, by using the duplex unit (606) be positioned in or beyond CMRTS Fiber Node (300)), and use CATV cable (226) the CATV signal of the IP/ comprising the CATV video (114) of standard and DOCSIS CATV subset (116) and the expansion Perfect Reconstruction of the data (318) of QAM modulation to be as required issued to different buildings in neighborhood.

As discussed previously, should be appreciated that, because the change mixing by the CMRTS Fiber Node improved and older " low energy " Fiber Node forms by least initial most of HFC system; So the CMTS unit (500) to cable installation (202) place is forced considerable configuration and problem of management by this.This complexity is managed by computerization NMS software (being called " virtual bracket ") of unifying.

In an embodiment of " virtual bracket " system improved, can with packet handler (610) and in order to standard C ATV is simulated, QAM and DOCSIS Signal transmissions is to the MAC (612) on first (mainly) optical fiber 1 and PHY (614) device or the functional CMTS line card (502) configuring CMTS (500) and improve.Also can with packet handler (616), expand the MAC (618) of DOCSIS data as required and PHY (620) is functional configures identical line card in order to transmit complementarity IP/ on fibre circuit 2 or fiber optic wavelength 2.As discussed previously, optical fiber 2 growth data can be encoded by the method (304) of a kind of completely different (non-QAM) usually.Therefore, for the MAC (618) of optical fiber 2 and PHY (620) can different (such as, following the GigE agreement of standard) in for the MAC (612) of optical fiber 1 and PHY (614).

The optical fiber 1 transmitted by the line card improved and receive and the definite mixing of optical fiber 2 signal will be connected to line card (502) according to which type optical fiber node in downstream (south) and change.

For example, if all Fiber Nodes are all " low energy " prior aries Fiber Node (204), so CMTS line card will only on optical fiber 1 transmit, and that specific CMTS line card functional will with prior art CATV DOCSIS equipment and Fiber Node back compatible.That is, optical fiber 1 (218), (222) are by the complete or collected works of transmission DOCSIS channel, and optical fiber 2 (301), (302) will not transmit whatever, because do not have CMRTS Fiber Node (300) to can be used for listening to optical fiber 2 data.

Comparatively speaking, if all Fiber Nodes are all the CMRTS Fiber Nodes (300) improved of " intelligence ", the CMTS so improved (500) and CMRTS line card (502) can select all DOCSIS channels (116) of going to different home on optical fiber 2 and all available customizable data to maximize.In the case, optical fiber 1 will only be used for the video channel (114) of transmission standard.

The number of the idle QAM channel made on CATV cable maximizes by this alternative, and therefore allows, in that specific distance of cable, the customization data of maximum amount is sent to these houses.

In " low energy " Fiber Node (204) of mixing and the situation of " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) (as previously shown in Figure 5), the video channel (114) of standard and the subset of DOCSIS (116) information should be transferred to neighborhood 3 (by the service of " low energy " Fiber Node) and receive the video channel (114) of standard and the subset of DOCSIS (116) information from neighborhood 3 by choice for use optical fiber 1 by the CMTS (500) improved and CMTS line card (502) ideally, thus continue to give neighborhood 3 and serve fully.

But, in order to give neighborhood 1 and 2 (being served by " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300)) excellent performance, the CMTS improved (500) and CMTS line card (502) should keep some DOCSIS QAM channel idle ideally on optical fiber 1." intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) that can be indicated by external command (will discuss) will determine or at least select its particular neighborhood to need which the GigE data (304) transmitted by optical fiber 2 (302) subsequently, QAM modulation is carried out to these GigE data, and on empty QAM channel by these GigE Data distribution8 to its neighborhood.In the example in fig .6, data (312) by QAM modulation, and are transmitted by as QAM waveform or data (318).

Therefore, identical empty QAM channel frequency can by one group of transfer of data to the multiple houses in neighborhood 1, and on identical empty QAM channel frequency by a different set of transfer of data to the multiple houses in neighborhood 2.

This scheme is highly efficient and back compatible, but this imposes a large amount of configurations and administrative burden to cable installation CMTS.This is because whenever " low energy " Fiber Node (204) being converted to " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300), the configuration of network just changes.

As discussed previously, in order to manage this complexity, functional by the CMTS (500) that uses extra " virtual bracket " network management computer, controller and software to expand to improve and CMTS line card (502), and expansion CMRTS Fiber Node (300) usually is functional.

In one embodiment, by Unified Network Management (such as, illustrated by the ConfD management system provided by the Tail-f be incorporated to) add the CMTS (500) and line card (502) that improve to, thus Unified Network and CMTS hardware and virtualization layer, provide operating system service, management middleware, and configure this system to use suitable networking protocol.In this embodiment, all or at least most network configuration data is stored on the database in CMTS manager, and the configuration of this network is by a process control, in this process, management software (ConfD) is via the interapplication communications of IPC (socket) with the function of various packet handlers, MAC and the PHY device on CMTS and the CMRTS unit controlling to improve.

Here, computer or processor and the software memory (622) that is associated are shown as various other controllers (624) by being arranged in CMTS backbone (627) and the line card (502) improved, (626) directly control the operation of the CMTS unit (500) improved.To communicate with these between local controller processor (624), (626) in these " virtual bracket manager " (622) and be shown as dotted line (628).Virtual bracket manager can also control the operation of level 2/3 switch (629) and/or other devices, other services that the CMTS unit improved is connected to media content (210), the data of Internet IP/as required or " cloud " (212) and is provided by cable installation (202) by these other devices.

This virtual bracket manager can also manage the configuration of various " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) usually, usually by with the controller embedded together with CMRTS Fiber Node (not shown) and interapplication communications.(virtual bracket manager (622) and the CMRT (500) improved will be usually located at cable end or cable installation place for given CMRTS Fiber Node (300) and virtual bracket manager (622) and the CMRT (500) that improves, apart from various node (300) number mile or farther) between the long distance of typical case, usual various signal by transmitting by optical fiber 1 or 2 and signaling protocol have come to the communication of virtual bracket manager (622) by CMRTS Fiber Node (300).In a preferred embodiment, interprocess communication (IPC) agreement based on socket is used.

This makes the configuration of CMTS support and in fact whole network to be reconfigured rapidly, thus meets the changing network model produced by the present invention.Usually, being stored in a configuration database (630) and configuration database storage arrangement (not shown) by the character of this network configuration and various network equipment will be easily.

Figure 7 shows that the more details of CMRTS Fiber Node (300) (shown here for not having duplex unit and/or signal combiner (606) (such as, duplexing RF signal combination apparatus)) and CMRTS unit (604).Under abstract concept that is higher or that at least substitute level, the CMRTS unit of CMRTS Fiber Node will typically comprise the QAM-RF packet handler (700) that has MAC and PHY unit, downstream data on optical fiber 2 is converted to multiple radio frequency (RF) QAM waveform (channel) by these MAC and PHY unit, and this downstream data (702) is outputted to local CATV cable.As discussed previously, in order to maintain retrogressing ability, CMRTS Fiber Node also will have a light/electric transducer (600) usually, and the CATV waveform that optical fiber 1 sends can be directly converted to the RF CATV waveform being suitable for being injected in cable (226) by this light/electric transducer (600).

This CMRTS unit optionally can also comprise the 2nd RF-upstream packet handler (704), upstream RF signal (data) sent by the cable modem being connected to local CATV cable (706) will be read in 2nd RF-upstream packet handler (704), and this upstream data will be converted to the suitable Ethernet or other data communication protocols that are suitable for by optical fiber 2, this cable modem data being transmitted back to the CMTS (500) improved in upstream at cable end or cable installation place.This RF-upstream packet handler is optional, because alternately (for backward compatibility), the upstream data sent by cable modem can turn back to CMTS by following operation: obtain upstream RF signal (708) simply, make this upstream RF signal (708) travel across electric to optic converter (602), and by optical fiber 1 (222), CMTS is got back in upstream RF signal (708) transmission.

The operation of packet handler (700), (704) and O/E and E/O transducer (600), (602) when needed can carry out Long-distance Control by virtual bracket manager (622) by suitable controller (being generally microprocessor) and local application software (Apps), these controllers and local application software tackle the data from optical fiber 1 (222) or optical fiber 2 (302), and usually receive by special communication protocol (such as, previous discussed socket protocol) and send order.

At QAM-RF packet handler (700) and both middle more deep layer level places exposing the more details of PHY unit, optional RF-upstream packet handler (704), CMRTS unit (604) will generally include: a data switching exchane, such as docsis layer level 2 transponder (710); At least one controller (software being generally a microprocessor He being associated, not shown); Various QAM modulation device (712), in order to obtain DOCSIS data and/or other IP/ data as required from optical fiber 2 (302), and when needed these data are changed, QAM modulation and frequency displacement, to be matched with in suitable empty CATV channel.For this reason, CMRTS unit can use a controlled clock generator (714) to control multiple QAM channel and multiple variable gain amplifier (VGA) unit (716), the frequency of (718) and sequential, thus helps the simulation process of multiple PHY part management of these unit between CMRTS unit (300) and cable RF signal back and forth in switching signal.

As before, docsis layer level 2 transponder (710) exchanges, and the multiple switches controlling QAM modulation device (712) and mould/number (A/D) unit (720) remotely can be controlled via the order to and from virtual bracket software by local (embedded) controller (being generally microprocessor) and the application software that is associated by virtual bracket manager (622).As before, these orders can send via the same fibre 1 or optical fiber 2 path being generally used for transmitting other data usually, and again can use interprocess communication (IPC) agreement based on socket.

As before, the return course for the treatment of upstream data can implement previous electrical/optical (E/O) transducer, and except not sending it back stream signal with revising in fact except the conversion of optical wavelength.Alternately, this upstream process can be a upstream version of previously discussed downstream process of the present invention.

In one embodiment, variable gain amplifier (VGA) unit (718) is converted to a signal by the upstream RF signal imported into from local neighborhood CATV cable, this signal to be tuned in clock generator and A/D converter and subsequently by A/D converter digitlization, and usually use optical fiber 2 (302) to forward towards cable installation by docsis layer level 2 transponder or other switches (710) subsequently, thus allow to send more substantial upstream data.Here again, docsis layer level 2 transponder and change-over circuit (710) can control in the order of origin self-virtualizing support software.

Figure 8 shows that how virtual bracket manager (622) and configuration database (630) (previously in figure 6 shown in) can control multiple CMRTS Fiber Node (300), the CMTS (500) improved and CMTS line card (502) and other active nodes optionally in hfc plant system and the great majority in switch or whole functional more details.

In this example, virtual bracket manager software (622) be shown as one widely CMTS manager software bag (800) a module and run; But virtual bracket manager software (622) can also independently wrap as one and run.By the usual CMATS manager software (800) run on one or more computer processors that may be positioned at cable installation or other convenient location places by usual configuration management software (802) Network Based.This network configuration software (802) (being also called operations support systems (OSS) software) can be the software of the ConfD network management software that (such as) produces based on the Tail-f system house by Stockholm, SWE city (international location) and Virginia city surrounded by mountains (U.S. position).

In this embodiment, use the softwares such as such as ConfD to be useful, because the network management software of this type additionally provides a large amount of facilities and conventional interface, thus allow user and this network interaction, and net control configuration subsequently.These interfaces can comprise NETCONF administration agent, SNMP agency, order wire interface (CLI), internet (Web) interface and other agency/interfaces when needed.

May be used for the virtual CMTS support software of the state controlling various CMTS line card (502) and CMRTS Fiber Node (300) by usually mutual with the network configuration database (630) run under the control of this network configuration software (802).Order will be sent out to great majority or whole various long-range CMRTS Fiber Node again by this virtual CMTS support software, and the operation of the CMTS (500) at control cables head (cable installation) place and when needed other devices.As discussed previously, a kind of preferably by based on interprocess communication (IPC) agreement of socket and bag (804) in order to what realize that this controls, these interprocess communications based on socket (IPC) agreement and bag (804) can send via the same communication circuit (such as, optical fiber 1 circuit (218) and optical fiber 2 circuit (302)) for sending CATV and DOCSIS data.In this case, for example, in multiple long-range packet handler (700) in long-range CMRTS Fiber Node (300), (704), the controller of the various types of application software of operation (Apps) can listen to the appropriate command from virtual bracket manager (622), and correspondingly adjusts the operation of CMRTS bag (700), (704) processor.These CMRTS Fiber Nodes can also use identical agreement that its state transfer is got back to virtual bracket manager.

The device configuration database (630) of this virtual bracket manager system, by usually having multiple data field, comprises the cognizance code of the various CMRTS unit comprised in network and/or multiple fields (CMRTS identifier field) of address.The information of state that this database also will have about the various cable modems being connected to various CMRTS unit usually, the privilege of various users comprising cable modem identification data (cable modem identification data field) and be associated with these various cable modems.For example, a user may have the wide array of services high bandwidth of access one and upload the privilege with downloading data, and another user may have the limited access of a different set of service and more limited to upload and the privilege of downloading data.Other functions that can implement comprise logout, certification, authorization and accounting (AAA) support, DOCSIS management information BASE (MIB) function, etc.

Usually by information that other fields in this database will comprise about following each: user's identification field (user privileges field), available DOCSIS channel, available IP address, for how remotely configuring the instruction of various CMRTS software-controllable switch and the instruction for how remotely configuring various CMRTS software-controllable RF packet handler.

The miscellaneous part of virtual bracket manager and configuration database and this system will run usually in a computer system, this computer system has at least one microprocessor, and the such as standard hardware such as MAC and PHY unit and software, this standard hardware and software will make this virtual bracket manager on network, Packet Generation can be received packet (usually by IPC agreement) to various long-range CMRTS unit.

OSS software (802) can inform to this virtual bracket manager software the privilege, certificate and the encryption key that are assigned to various user.This OSS can also set policy about the frequency and bandwidth that will be assigned to various channel or assignment constraint.This OSS can also respond to the inquiry from virtual bracket manager when new modulator-demodulator being detected.This OSS can obtain the statistics of being collected by this virtual bracket manager further, such as transmit and the multiple bags, the data volume that receive, and use this information for keeping accounts and network management object.

The further information and the more examples of function that can implement in for OSS software of the present invention that find about OSS function can be drawn in " OSS for communication network: the introduction (OSSfor Telecom Networks:An Introduction to Network Management) to network management " (Springer (Springer) (2004)) of (Misra) in Meath.

For example, consider the situation of a new cable modulator-demodulator First Contact Connections to this system, how this system will operate.This cable modem will be sent to CMRTS (604) upstream DOCSIS signal (226).RF-up packet handler (704) in CMRTS (604) will collect the information relevant with other relevant parameters to cable modem identifier again, in a digital format data are repacked, and on optical fiber GigE link (302), data are sent back to virtual bracket manager system in upstream.This virtual bracket manager system (622) will search cable modem identification data in device configuration database (630), and determine the privilege of the user be associated with described cable modem identification data, and according to the value of user privileges fields, available DOCSIS channel and available IP address, usually by the IPC agreement (804) that controls that particular cable modulator-demodulator by Packet Generation to CMRATS (700) unit.

These packets will with multiple application program (such as, App 1, App n) mutual, and the software-controllable switch configured on CMRTS unit (700), thus software-controllable switch in configuration QAM-RF packet handler (700) and cable modem can IP address so that on the first available DOCSIS channel by downstream data traffic to this cable modem.These packets also by controlled for configuration software RF packet handler (704) to receive upstream data from cable modem in the second available DOCSIS upstream channel and IP address, and this upstream data to be transmitted again as the 3rd upstream digital fiber-optic signal (302).

Usually, virtual bracket manager (622) will by acting on behalf of DHCP (DHCP) service or additive method manages IP address for cable modem.

As also discussed in other places, the special advantage of the method is that it is splendid forward and backward compatibility.Identical CMRTS unit can be used for current hfc plant, uses the hfc plant of conventional CMTS unit (option one) or use in the senior hfc plant (option two) of senior CMTS unit.

As an example of the senior CMTS option two system in operation, suppose the result as routine maintenance, " low energy " Fiber Node 3 (204) from Fig. 5 is replaced by " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node 3 (300) now.As the result that this changes, the network CMTS line card (502) that may wish a signal to be sent to optical fiber splitter " n " (220) by (such as) now configuration optical fiber 1 (218), (222) sends DOC1 (116) channel and the performance of optimizing this branch of this network to stop at now.By no longer transmitting DOC 1 channel on optical fiber 1, this branch of hfc plant is formed extra vacant channels (frequency), and these extra vacant channels are alternately for transmitting extra IP/ data as required by optical fiber 2 (301), (302).

Change to realize this, virtual bracket manager (622) will be sent to multiple order suitable level 2/3 switch (629) and CMTS line card (502), thus reconfigures CATV video and DOCSIS packet handler (610), CATV MAC (612) and CATV PHY (614) no longer transmit DOC 1 channel.This virtual bracket manager also will be sent to multiple order suitable level 2/3 switch (629), GigE (GB Ethernet) packet handler (616), GigE MAC (618) and GigE PHY (620), alternately to send usually by by the data of DOC 1 transmission on optical fiber 1 (218), thus transmit this data by optical fiber 2 (301) now.This virtual bracket manager also will communicate with CMRTS Fiber Node 1,2 and new CMRTS Fiber Node 3 (300), thus indicate the former DOC1 data on these Fiber Nodes use QAM-RF packet handler (700) and/or DOSCIS L2 transponder (710) searching optical fiber 2 (302), and use QAM modulation device (712) to carry out these DOC1 data of QAM modulation, and send out this data on empty DOC1 channel (116).This virtual bracket manager can utilize the DOC1 channel (frequency) of this poor efficiency use in the past now better, because this channel is for sending neighborhood proprietary data now.

Here, the improvement in flexibility adds the available data volume of system user.Under prior art systems, DOC1QAM signal on Doc1 channel (frequency) (116) is transferred to all three Fiber Nodes towards the cable in three different neighborhoods, and no matter clasp joint to being attached to any cable modem of CATV cable of a particular fiber node the need of these data.Now, by replacing " low energy " Fiber Node 3 (204) with " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node 3 (300), the ability that other neighborhoods receive wider customization IP/ on-demand service array increases to some extent.

Continue this example, the CMRTS unit (604) further in the new CMRTS Fiber Node 3 (300) of hypothesis just experiences an early stage critical fault after mounting soon.In the case, continuation operates by O/E and E/O part (600) of CMRTS Fiber Node 3, (602), and therefore, out of order CMRTS Fiber Node 3 (300) action as " low energy " Fiber Node 3 (204) again now.In the case, virtual bracket manager (622) can deal with this fault by making the change just formed return simply, and can continue (under the level lower than previous level) the service of all three neighborhoods while serving out of order new CMRTS Fiber Node 3.

The wherein CMRTS system of the present invention of Figure 9 shows that is for an example in a more conventional CMTS HFC system.Here, CMTS support is the CMTS support (214) of a standard (prior art), and this support is configured to allow some QAM channels (DOCSIS channel) be empty by cable operator.The data managed by the CMRTS unit (604) in CMRTS Fiber Node (300) are to manage with the mode that the data that the CMTS support (214) by standard manages are separated completely, and these data are transmitted from the local cable (226) various neighborhood simply back and forth by the simple O/E (600) in CMRTS Fiber Node (300) and E/O (602) device.

Here, go to level 2/3 switch management that the data (212) such as the internet/IP of various CMRTS unit (604) are independent of CMTS (214), be converted into a light signal by previous discussed GigE MAC and PHY unit (not shown), and send along optical fiber 2 (301) as before.Here, virtual bracket manager (622) only with level 2/3 switch (629) and the CMRTS unit (300) that is associated mutual, and directly with the CMTS support (214) of standard alternately.As before, virtual bracket manager (622) controls by network configuration management software (OSS) (802).

Figure 10 shows that the additional detail how " intelligence " CMRTS Fiber Node (300) can operate in conjunction with prior art cable end CMTS (214) and prior art CMTS line card.As for Fig. 9, the function of CMRTS is in fact identical, but prior art CMTS support (214) will manage its QAM channel no longer intelligently, but alternatively will only there are some the pre-assigned empty QAM channels can filled by CMRTS unit.

Although it should be noted that multiple CMRTS example employs packet handler (700), (704), in an alternate embodiment, can not need in these packet handlers one or more.Alternately, signal can transmit simply, or revises additionally by waveform shaping, or is revised by some other devices.

As an example, then another embodiment, CMRTS can not comprise QAM modulation device.In this alternate embodiment, QAM signal can be sent (such as up and down on the second optical fiber, Fiber Node to and from cable installation or closer cable installation), and the second optical fiber QAM signal to be converted to a suitable empty CATV QAM channel (DOCSIS channel) by using frequency shift circuit simply by CMRTS.

When this puies forward power or Magnus side force for rotating a turbine apparatus, the resulting net force 210 of gained drives this turbine around a central point, as shown in Figure 13.Resulting net force 210 acts on cylinder 195, and on direction 240 revolving wormgear.

Although illustrate and describe the present invention relative to detailed embodiment of the present invention, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that, without departing from the scope of the invention, various change can be made and its multiple element can be replaced with multiple equivalent.In addition, when not departing from essential scope of the present invention, can modify to make particular condition or material to adapt to and of the present inventionly teaching content.Therefore, wish the multiple particular that the invention is not restricted to disclosed in above detailed description, but the present invention will comprise all embodiments fallen in the scope of appended claims.

Claims

1., for a long-range CMTS Fiber Node CMRTS system for hybrid fiber cable hfc plant, comprising:

A first light/RF radio frequency conversion equipment, first group of fiber-optic signal through RF modulation is directly converted to first group of CATV RF signal by this first light/RF radio frequency conversion equipment;

At least one QAM modulation apparatus, the selection section Coded through digitally coded second fiber-optic signal can be second group of RF QAM waveform by this at least one QAM modulation apparatus;

At least one software-controllable switch, this at least one software-controllable switch can be selected the second fiber-optic signal described at least some by remote boot, and guides at least one QAM modulation apparatus described described the second selected fiber-optic signal to be encoded to one group of described second group of RF QAM waveform selected under frequency;

The controlled RF packet handler of at least one remote software, the controlled RF packet handler of this at least one remote software can detect the upstream data that the CATV RF stream signal that produced by least one cable modem carries, and described upstream data is digitally repacked, and again transmits described upstream data as a 3rd upstream digital fiber-optic signal;

At least one software-controllable switch wherein said and/or described software-controllable RF packet handler can by remote software be configured to implement that extra non-DOCSIS is functional, a subset of the functional complete or collected works of DOCSIS or standard DOCSIS upstream and downstream function;

The function of the controlled RF packet handler of function and at least one remote software described of at least one software-controllable switch wherein said is subject to a remote dummy support manager Systematical control,

Wherein this virtual bracket manager system comprises: a device configuration database, this device configuration database have at least multiple CMRTS identifier field, multiple cable modem identification data field, the user privileges field be associated with described cable modem identification field, multiple available DOCSIS channel, multiple available IP address, in order to configure described multiple instruction of at least one software-controllable switch and the multiple instructions in order to configure described remote software controlled RF packet handler;

At least one processor; And

Hardware and software, multiple Packet Generation can be received multiple packet from it to multiple long-range CMRTS unit by this hardware and software.

2. the system as claimed in claim 1, the upstream electrical cable modem identification data that multiple Packet Generation is transmitted by least one new initialized cable modem to described remote software controlled RF packet handler with detection by wherein said virtual bracket manager system, and described modulator-demodulator identification data is transferred to described remote dummy support manager system.

3. system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said virtual bracket manager system searches described cable modem identification data in described device configuration database, and determine these privileges of this user be associated with described cable modem identification data, and according to this user privileges field, the value of available DOCSIS channel and available IP address, by multiple Packet Generation to this CMRATS unit be associated with described cable modem identification data, thus configure described software-controllable switch and described available IP address, so that on a first available DOCSIS channel by downstream data traffic to described cable modem, and configure described software-controllable RF packet handler to receive upstream data from described cable modem in a second available DOCSIS upstream channel and IP address, and described upstream data is transmitted again as a 3rd upstream digital fiber-optic signal.

4. system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said virtual bracket manager system is by acting on behalf of dynamic host configuration protocol DHCP service to manage these IP addresses for described cable modem.

5. system as claimed in claim 3, being wherein sent to this CMRTS unit to configure these packets of described software-controllable switch and described software-controllable RF packet handler by this virtual bracket manager system is transmitted by the interprocess communication IPC agreement based on socket.

6., for a long-range CMTS Fiber Node CMRTS system for hybrid fiber cable hfc plant, comprising:

Wherein said virtual bracket manager system is again by an operations support systems OSS network configuration management processor and OSS software system management;

The data relevant with the state of this hfc plant are stored in a network configuration database by wherein said OSS software, and wherein said OSS network configuration management processor and OSS software systems can be managed by multiple agreement, and these agreements are selected from the group be made up of following each: NETCONF, CLI, SNMP or web interface agreement.

7. one kind for strengthening the method for the data-carrying capacity of hybrid fiber cable hfc plant, this hybrid fiber cable hfc plant has a cable end, fiber optic network, multiple Fiber Node, the multiple independent CATV cable being connected to described multiple Fiber Node and a multiple independent cable modem, each has different data demands, be connected to each in described independent CATV cable, the method comprises:

Use a multiple RF QAM waveform that first group of data is transported to described Fiber Node from described cable end, a plurality of RF QAM waveform can be directly injected in multiple independent CATV cable by a light/RF transducer;

Second group of data is transported to described Fiber Node from described cable end, described second group of data can not be directly injected in multiple independent CATV cable by a light/RF transducer, and selected are partially converted to multiple 2nd RF QAM waveform at described Fiber Node place by one of described second group of data;

A described RF QAM waveform and described 2nd RF QAM waveform are combined, and these RF QAM waveforms combined are injected in described independent CATV cable;

Wherein for each the independent CATV cable in described multiple described independent CATV cable, the available bandwidth of CATV cable independent described in each described in the RFQAM waveform that a described RF QAM waveform and described 2nd RF QAM waveform selection become to make these to combine is no more than; And

Wherein this selection section sorting of described second group of data and described second group of data is selected to the described different pieces of information requirement met for described multiple cable modem, make the different independent CATV cable in described multiple independent CATV cable can carry at least multiple the 2nd different RF QAM waveform, wherein selected the selected part of described second group of data and described second group of data by the virtual bracket computer processor of an operational network configuration software;

Wherein said virtual bracket computer processor uses multiple IPC agreement based on socket that transfer of data will be selected to described Fiber Node;

And wherein the controller being positioned at Fiber Node place of multiple operation application software receives described selection data, and configure described Fiber Node the described selected of described second group of data is partially converted to multiple RFQAM waveform.

8. method as claimed in claim 7, the data relevant with the state of this hfc plant are stored in a database by wherein said network configuration software, and wherein said network configuration software can be managed by multiple agreement, and these agreements are selected from the group be made up of following each: NETCONF, CLI, SNMP or web interface agreement.

9. one kind for strengthening the method for the data-carrying capacity of hybrid fiber cable hfc plant, this hybrid fiber cable hfc plant has a cable end, fiber optic network, multiple Fiber Node, the multiple independent CATV cable being connected to described multiple Fiber Node and a multiple independent cable modem, each has different data demands, be connected to each in described independent CATV cable, the method comprises:

Wherein this selection section sorting of described second group of data and described second group of data is selected to the described different pieces of information requirement met for described multiple cable modem, make the different independent CATV cable in described multiple independent CATV cable can carry at least multiple the 2nd different RF QAM waveform

Wherein select a described RF QAM waveform and described 2nd RF QAM waveform by the virtual bracket computer processor of an operational network configuration software;

Wherein said virtual bracket computer processor uses multiple IPC agreement based on socket by selection transfer of data to the multiple CMTS line cards being positioned at described cable end Nodes;

And the controller of the multiple operation application software in wherein said CMTS line card receives described selection data, and configure described line card to select a described RF QAM waveform and described 2nd RF QAM waveform;

The data relevant with the state of this hfc plant are stored in a database by wherein said network configuration software, and wherein said network configuration software can be managed by multiple agreement, and these agreements are selected from the group be made up of following each: NETCONF, CLI, SNMP or web interface agreement.