WO2007133149A1

WO2007133149A1 - A method and a device in a generic media platform

Info

Publication number: WO2007133149A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl-Axel ÅHL
Original assignee: Aahl Karl-Axel
Priority date: 2006-05-12
Filing date: 2007-05-14
Publication date: 2007-11-22

Abstract

A method to create new wire and or wireless based networks is shown by enhancing the use of available medium cables or air in combination with the use of active networks and switching and routing means. In order to achieve this are a number of methods functions system and means presented, over how available medium resources and active network can be better and more efficiently utilized, while simultaneously enabling the creating new broadband communications infrastructures and or accesses, in parallel with existing services. The new created networks are shown to reach longer, be implemented faster and simultaneously enables the creation of a much better use of the limited radio frequency spectrum, especially in dense user environments, with considerably less investment needed, in comparison to create a similar new separate broadband infrastructure based on traditional methods for wireless and or wire based networks.

Description

A METHOD AND A DEVICE IN A GENERIC MEDIA PLATFORM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to methods functions and means to expand active access networks in reach, capacity and efficiency and create new network solutions and network structures by including adoptions of medium including optimise transparent transfers on controlled frequency spectrum of modulated carriers through air and or wire respectively by using part of existing or new wire infrastructures or combinations with air. The network solutions improvement over current network solutions is to reach longer improve capacity and enable new structures, based on the use of transparent transfer as above and by adding active network and switching and or routing devices resources to achieve wire and or wireless broadband access networks or broadband wireless or fibre links supporting last mile to meters access and communications requirements including in broadband home network multimedia solutions.

PRIOR ART

Prior art methods to create networks for broadband distribution and or communications or infrastructure purpose of tele- data and media applications are using active networks(like WLAN, WiMAX, UMTS through air or DSL, DOCSIS, PLC etc. through wires) to transfer digital data over air or cables. Transfer of digital data is modulated and coded and associated with logical protocol to handle access, quality, channel selections, roaming and hand over and similar issues related to each communications within each type of active networks, as an example for wireless. In order to transfer digital data and signalling information etc. from switching and or routing devices etc. are modulation and coding methods used to transport data on carrier or carriers in an analogue format and or in some cases also carrying additional data for antenna system direction coding information. The logical portion of such data is typically not influenced when standards systems transfer such data via cables and or via air. For example a base station transfer data on a feeder to access a far mounted antenna, typically transferring the same carrier frequency, trough the feeder and the air.

Transfer of TV channels and or Internet access services etc. to end users connected to cable TV networks is another example. A High End at connect end users via user modems connected to outlets, based on DOCSIS standards etc. Another alternative to create Internet access is to use the last portion of the coaxial cable networks near end users in or around buildings etc. like Ethernet To The Home (ETTH) solution via frequencies below traditional Cable TV traffic, i.e. the return channel for Internet access via DOCSIS. A drawback is that DOCSIS and ETTH can fully coexist without interferences and the band below TV channels is far more limited in frequency spectrum in comparison to what a coaxial cable can offer.

Examples of limitation obstacles for transferring data on various frequencies on cable infrastructure are splitters combiners, amplifiers, directions couplers etc. applied on cable TV networks. Another obstacle is various ownerships and or responsibilities on selective parts of various coaxial cable networks, which may prevent a full use of such infrastructure in and around buildings. Physical obstacle devices, legal issues etc. are making it difficult to allow transfer of data on modulated carriers by active networks at all or on frequencies that may blocked or interfering with other services. Various ways to come around such obstacles could be highly appreciated for example to use available transfer and often unused transmission resources in a better way.

Broadband access to Internet is further established by using active networks such as DSL technique on existing telecom wires (the wording cable and wires is in this document used as synonyms). DSLAM at a telephone exchanges or similar connect end users via xDSL modems connected to their first outlet. Pulling in new cables CAT 3, 5, 6, 7 and or fibre FTTx and or PON and or use modem based on Power Link Communications, PLC on electrical wire etc. which all have their pros and cons in terms of reach, speed and quality etc. These kinds of active networks are typically including switching and or routing devices at the ends of the used medium including user ports (RJ 45 etc.), for user or network connections. Active networks such as DSLAM and xDSL modems over existing telephone wires, twisted pairs is normally based on 2 wire transfer with some limited physical transfer performance characteristics, in relation to coaxial or fibre. The distance to and from local exchanges is a further limitation unless moved much closer. The unshielded wire makes it unsuitable to carry frequencies above certain frequencies due to interference leakage and or from regulatory point of view. Active networks based on wireless access, fixed and or nomadic and or mobile IEEE 802.16X, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.15x and UMTS 2 or 3 or next generation Long Term evolution LTE and other standards and or de-facto standards, global or local. Most of these are based on modulations and coding that offers both high bandwidth and robust communications per active network, between stations. This is due to the fairly efficient and robust modulation and coding technique, adaptive modulation level, adaptive to channel transfer reflections adaptive antennas etc. In addition are roaming and hand over issues etc. further easing the service availability and adaption to moves etc. Use of a number of active networks designed for one or more channels per station (MIMO), or mesh topologies etc., are examples on improvement spectrum efficiency. However, the increasing demand for bandwidth and the cost to implement high dense base stations sites will still be a limiting factor, based on the dependency on the limited air frequency spectrum, environment requirements etc. As an example in order to keep the cost low are typically mobile networks designed as wide area access networks even if more effective use of frequency spectrum could improve capacity in such networks etc. Thus high speed data transfer is not effectively supported via wireless in highly dense user networks indoors as well as outdoors servicing services like streaming videos, IPTV etc. by the limited frequency bands that are available for such services.

New modern modulating and coding techniques such as OFDM high level QAM etc. is used in wire and wireless standards offers robustness to multi path influences. This improves wireless networks capability to expand speed, reach and spectrum efficiency, at a reduced cost, by the use of various techniques, such as Multiple Input Multiple Output, MIMO (IEEE 802.11 n etc).

Additional methods to wirelessly reach longer are to use repeaters to spread access, leaking coaxial cables, etc. in tunnels, indoors or in general reach hided places are other alternatives. The advantages in transporting data through air medium in comparison to cables are the flexibility it offers. The cost and the difficulties to us its limited spectrum efficiently enough, when transferring data between stations, for example in comparison to a shielded coaxial cable, which carry data on carriers through such cable much more spectrum efficient normally without interference with standard radio band communications. In addition it transfer may reach longer due to a less signal attenuation within a certain frequency band. It is a fact that a huge amount of coaxial cables and or other cables exists, indoors as well as outdoors and that these are far from fully utilized. For example active data communications or media distribution systems using them for baseband and or modulated and coded carrier transfer services over typically longer local distances (like DSL₁ DOCSIS modulated TV channels etc.) are typically using part of the frequency band that could be used to transfer data carrier on at non colliding frequency bands for other services between selected paths (distance) of each such wires or cables. In spite of recent improvements in air systems it has in many cases limited performances in terms of transferring data between stations in comparison to cables such as described above. Limited frequency bands, high transfer attenuation through air, shorter reach including difficulties to pass obstacles like floors, walls, roofs indoors well as trees and or houses, terrain etc. outdoors are example of natural barriers, which is often getting worse, the higher the air carrier frequencies that are used. It has been developed switched and or routed meshed network topologies, MIMO and transparent transfer via repeaters, leaking coaxial cables spreading air carriers at multiple locations to bypass obstacles and improve efficiency. However, there is and will be still further need to spread of access points (BNA etc.) to come closer and closer to end users to bypass obstacles and create line of sight or near line of sight, etc. This demands a lot of investment in P network backbone infrastructure and such infrastructure demands considerable investment if new cables are needed to be applied to match the connection of end users or BNA sites (for example instead of enabling the use of free frequency bands on the existing cables in combination with air between selected paths of such existing cables).

Specifically are the increasing need for transfer bandwidth, reach to efficiency use air or cable spectrum a key issue so solve in high dense user environments, in spite of progress in MIMO, mesh and investments in fibre FTTx, PON and or CAT 5,6 and soon CAT 7 and or VDSL and or DOCSIS 3.0 etc. to access end users. High speed communication and or media distribution, personal flexibility and efficiency to access and communicate multi-play e-services TV, VOD, VoIP, IPTV HDTV including music games, security etc. requires considerable improvements from today's available or planned active networks within the wire and or wireless sector. The above shows examples of limitations, technical, physical, juridical or financial implications, in creating better infrastructure for the new multi play IP services and similar.

SUMMARY OF THE INNOVATION

An object of the innovation is to overcome drawback, limitations or obstacles etc. mentioned above and create high speed network for fixed nomadic mobile broadband access and connections.

The background to the invention is to ease the creation of such services considerable in less time at a less cost and serve more users and applications more effectively. The focus of the improvements is to include a better use of already available cable or wire infrastructure by using active networks for air and wire communications and or distribution based normally on the use of selective medium per system and combine it selectively by air transfer when such systems and frequency bands is used to allow it .

The shown methods functions systems and means in this document are aimed to bypass obstacles of various kinds and enable creation of new and extended networks systems. It is achieved by including use of wireless and or wire based active networks for fixed, nomadic and mobile services. It further includes selection and adoption of transfer through various existing cable mediums and air resources transparent on selected non interference carriers to ease communications between stations in active networks and increase throughput between user stations US, such as BNA to and from mobile terminal, another node in a mesh net or CPE or modem in a WLAN and or a xDSL - DOCSIS modem etc . As such it is aimed to bypass various obstacles mentioned above, including creation of new expanded forms of wire and or wireless high speed links and or high level network and applications (ISO 3-7). This is achieved by combining one or multiple active networks and or types of active network to transfer over common cables (coax, CAT, tele, fibre, el) and or air, including adding switching and or routing standards as gateways to Internet or to active systems or user access or user applications in homes and or business (fig 7).

The methods functions systems and means presented include expansion of selective standard and de-facto standards type of active network based on wireless and or wires in reach - area coverage, frequency spectrum efficiency. It further describes improved cost efficiency, transfer capacity per Mbit/s/Hz/m² in space, reduction of cost to install new cables as old can be utilised. It shows that obstacles in cable ownerships is bypassed by enabling the use of segments of existing cables for satellite reception, CATV operator cables and or telecom access cables and or data cabling networks in single as well as multi dwelling units (SDU, MDU) as well as around these.

As such the innovation enables enhancement of available active networks and includes creation of dual directed broadband end user access to and from Internet for multi play e-services. Such enhanced networks, are shown to include, creation of service provision capabilities of content provider to end users by switching and or routing means via digital ports. Serviced passed through expanded broadband access network from content providers are exemplified to includes switched and or routed IP traffic to and from scattered end users - subscribers to use an enhanced broadband access network that transfer data in dual direction as an broadband access in combination and possible coexistence with other networks such as TV distribution and or fixed telephony when applied on such cables on non interference transfers. In addition it includes enhanced wireless access by usin existin cables indoors and or creation of repeating and or boosting systems for wireless to reach in and out to and from users of buildings - flats etc. including broadband home networks and or expansion to connect next building etc. It is also aimed to show an establishment of local and remote control of communications functions and means for operators network operating control (NOC) purposes including internal home network applications networks and or its connections to and internet (HGI and similar). The creation of high speed links over air and or fibre and or other cables based on parallel adoption including active network channel allocations and or in combination with medium converter means per active channel transfer are shown to include FDM alike structured to enable parallel stations of multiple active networks to work in parallel over selected paths etc. A selected part of an existing network is shown to include the last part of exiting cables or other parts inside and or outside of SDUs, MDUs and or other locations. With active networks we mean to include today's and tomorrow's active network for fixed and or nomadic and or mobile broadband communications. The improvement of these includes the adoption to use one and or multiple type of medium of the same and or different types to transparently transfer modulated and coded data on carriers to spread access and make better use of frequency resources etc. Such transfers includes use of existing and or new infrastructural resources, cables and or air to connect any two communications stations devices at any spot and for selected communications routs between BNAs and or US.

The innovation includes enhancement of active network and creation of new networks with an improved performance in comparison, by the use and coordination of one or more active networks analogue transfer resources. This is based on the fact that available medium resources such as cables and or licensed and or unlicensed air spectrum and active networks is used in a better way as these are often not efficiently utilised for selective communications requirements to bridge stations between various spots through one and or multiple medium.

The new approach includes combine and coordination of transfer of modulated and coded data through selection of number and type of active networks, forming selectable communications resources to transfer data over selected mediums at least on selected frequencies which may include transfer per, via Analogue Medium Converters) where selected modulated channel on stations include adopted to (AMC) to different frequencies(non interference with other traffic), impedance or level or amplitude and or time equalisation than respective active network was designed for to match it to the selective alternative medium transfer. Such mediums consist of cables and or air, forming available medium resources. Establishment of communication between sites is using such communication and medium resources to establish communications between and at selected locations.

Thus the adoption of medium enhanced existing and new expanded broadband access network by using multiple number and if needed different types of active communications and or distribution systems to enable broadband communication to share common medium, such as coaxial cables at least the last portion before the end users outlets. As shown it includes creation of broadband communications networks for various purposes including those for multi-play IP based electronic services by expanding the reach, capacity and functions of medium, active broadband networks, additional network switching etc. to include carrying of multimedia access or applications etc. between selected sites internally in homes or offices or access to and from Internet to these.

In order to achieve a specific required network function or bandwidth or topology etc. are a number of methods functions and means included to established, for each network created which is presented in this document. A core function involved to create the required networks, is to include transparent transfer of pair of stations passing its modulated and coded digital data using via signals which includes a transparent transferred to be carried through selectable mediums via AMCs, i.e to bypass or enhance the active networks and mediums, reach, efficiency.

Transfer information between stations within active networks consisting of modulated and coded user data and signalling information arranged for transfer at for the medium it has been designed for. An active network include single access and CPE, as well as selective base stations using one or more channels or carriers in different frequency bands or as adjacent channels.

Alternatively the one and or more Wireless and or DSL and or DOCSIS and or separately modulated TV channels and or PLC active network technology system may be transferred on selectable frequency bands by an appropriate arrangement of AMCs for each or for a group (like an FDM arrangement) . This includes the use of one and or multiple of these active networks to be arranged in parallel on a common medium (like a cable etc. which could carry multiple active networks) at non interfering frequencies with each other and or with other carrier or base band signal. Parallel operation of more than one active network include functions to expand bandwidth beyond the maximum capacity of each active network. This is enabled by combining traffic flow from more than one active network via external switching and or routing devices etc. Thus by making such combinations are the capacity of each radio stations or DSL technologies, each using fairly narrow bands, by carrying these on a "broader" analogue medium, such a coaxial or fibre cable, or other radio and or non radio spectrum, light waves etc. on selectable frequency channels, are far higher bandwidth transfer achievable than using licensed and unlicensed frequency spectrum only which the systems where designed for.

DSL technique for telecom wires, DOCSIS for coaxial networks, PLC for electrical wires, Base band Ethernet CAT 5, 6, 7 wireless access standards for air etc. Such active network technologies are in many cases built on similar modem technologies, QFDM, bpsk to 64 or 128 or 256QAM with or without modulation level adoptions. In the case of wireless, which is typically using fairly high level efficient coded modulation technique is including fairly robust access and signalling protocols and flexible adoption of modulation level to transfer quality and or channel selection features, hand over etc. to maintain quality. DSL has to match rate adoptions due to cable transfer distances and interference between cables etc. Slightly similar situation appears for DOCSIS standards, which is however de facto limited in terms of dual direction communications capability by built in amplifiers with limited bandwidth for return traffic etc. PLC offer high speed short range capacity where cable medium may need to be shared and or isolated efficiently by coding etc. unless used for very short distances, etc. The consequences of this is that various medium and technologies such as these above may technically being able to use various cables. However, without changing modulation coding etc. are transparent transfers typically only possible by systems using modems adopted to wireless standards. The transparent transfer via wireless modems does therefore not require any additional conversion included than AMCs at the end of medium to use of air or cable spectrum on selected carriers (without re modulation and coding). A natural approach is to interface such active networks on each other interfacing them on a digital logical level, for example a bus and switches and or routers typically equipped with Ethernet interfaces etc.

Respective station in the used active network transfer data transparent via selected cables and or air as medium by including AMC functions and means which adopt the transfer of data over elected cable and or air medium at least as to become transparent in frequency and or effectively adjusted to impedances levels and equalised in level and or time delays, should this be required. For example in allowing transparent distant antenna MIMO functions suitable the specific transfer medium used. This method include functions based on the type of active networks used, wire and or wirelessly based. Communication between station may be adopted to transfer data over alternative mediums based on a similar approach for wireless and or wireless. However, active networks based on wireless standards have the advantage that it may be able to transfer on virtually any medium cables as well as air whatever applicable to connect respective spots. Should standard BNA stations be applied at an end the transparent transfer of such structures includes transfer of a group of such stations in parallel should this be needed to transparently locate sich antenna sites from outdoors to indoors and the from indoors to outdoors (should for example base stations, access points nodes etc. being applied indoors and being carried out on internal wires to and from end users and to and from users outside of such building.

The method of sharing medium to create new networks includes functions to coordinate the occupation of frequency bandwidth on selected medium to avoid interference between carriers from active networks using the medium in parallel and or from other services that are already using such medium. For example locally available coaxial-, telephone- or CAT cables is including adoption to services such as TV distribution or fixed telephone or base band data to being carried over the same cable medium. Using the last part of the existing cables are end users accessed via the same outlets. By including the use of air and different cables of different owners are juridical obstacles being included to become bypassed (fig. 7).

Thus methods functions and means included to optimise and coordinate the use of available transfer resources to enable transparent transfer through selected cables and or air medium to meet a required speed, quality etc. with minimum or no requirement to install new cables. This is achiever without the need to change the existing internal communications within active networks used by including AMC functions. Transfer quality detections evaluation, normally available is foreseen used to evaluate transfer quality and potentially use such data for frequency selection between AMCs of the same type. It similarly include detection of interference between different active networks and include coordination data for the purposes of adapting carriers between multiple active networks of various types and other existing system that risks to use overlapping frequencies that interferer on common medium. In order to arrange for transfer of data through selected medium is selective methods functions and means included. This include selection of channel bandwidth (if applied on used active network such as may be applied on WLAN and or WiMAX chipsets from 5. 19, 20 25, 40 MHz or whatever), In addition it includes pre selection of standard channel frequency bands. For wireless systems this includes means to select the use of different radio channels and or includes automatic channel selection if such functions are applied. In addition to this is a selection of an appropriate transfer frequency via AMC for a group of channel carriers and or selective channels carriers applied, depending on the applications. Selection of transmit level to pass through each medium are included as AMC function and in addition are impedance, selection of equalisation of cables if amplitude flatness and other equalisation such as time delay over a used pass band included if this needs to be compensated for to enable needed transparency for the actual transfer. In summary the transfer between stations in each active network do not need to include any change of user data and or modulation coding and or logical signalling protocols between the stations in communication over one or multiple mediums.

The method to enhance transfer speed and improve mentioned capabilities and create new network functions and structures functions and means included use of switches and or routers etc. at the communications ends (see example fig 7). In order to adopt various medium to a transparent transfer without the need to manually and of a fixed set up are external or built in functional devices included at least at one point of a network which includes a local and or remote control and supervision of AMCs via data program applied on one are more processor (PC and or alike). As such adoption of medium includes remote control and or supervision of data to create and or optimise the transfer quality by controlling the actual devices used frequency and the used AMCs (such as visualised in fig 7 by 48, 48' and 80, 80' and 50, 51 ,52 ...etc ).

Via such functional devices, is controlled of channel selection, transfer of data quality flow per active network. As a whole the respected required logical network that is shaped are equipped with means to balance and optimise the capacity of the active network transmission equipment used and the additional switching and or routing devices etc., with the medium used. Said switches and or routers, includes communications protocols like single and or double tagged VLAN₁ IGMP for IP TV etc, OSPF, MPLS etc. Referring to broadband access and or home networks and or wireless access networks are functions and means to select speed between digital ports like RJ 45, transfer of specific data services (content provider) to certain user ports is included for created access networks. Overall network management includes facilities to control and supervise handling of transfer resources and or management of active networks and or medium adoptions from network operating centre (such as 50, 51 etc.), including extension of home applications management for end users and or support of such on operators HGI alliances and or WiFi alliances and or other alliances for such networks.

Method functions means includes further creation of access, home and other broadband networks structures spanning over distances between stations which includes few meters per medium used indoors and or hundred meters access between and users and nearest fibre etc. connecting users in villa areas or MUSs or within such areas. Thus networks applicable to be created for applications based on the methods functions etc. mentioned is those for subscribers in home and or business in or around SDUs or MDUs.

Active networks based on MIMO technology, like available PRE or coming IEEE 802.11 n standard and other similar systems that includes such functions and interoperability's with such solutions etc. are included for transparent transfer of all and or selective modulated and or coded channels inclusive remote antenna beam steering if applied. All or selective MIMO channels may be transferred via air and or cables to connect and communicate between such stations. When passed via a common cable medium are channels transferred (on non interfering frequency bands). On contrary when and if it is needed to transfer via air again it is adjusted to a corresponding AMC which at the other end include conversion of the wanted radio channels (typically the original band if converted from a standard at the other end) to operate on overlapping frequency again in accordance to the transparency that is required to maintain or set the transmit and receive at a required level, which may be higher and or lower than on the other end. By applying an antenna system that matched the needed performances such as to meet the transparency of the one that is used and could be used at the other end (site) to each channel that is transferred over a cable medium is a transparent remote antenna function included. Methods functions systems and means are included to transparent transfer data consisting of modulated and coded channels included those used by MIMO systems to be transferred through selective paths and or mediums. This includes transfer of channels passing one common medium and or where all such channels are passed via two and or more medium to reach stations via different paths and or where one and or more channels are passed via one medium and or one or more channels are passed via another medium etc. Methods to enable extended reach etc. in MIMO systems (and other radio based systems using narrow band channels that allows multipath to improve quality) via multi path etc. includes functions and means to includes the use of similar mechanism by transferring through cables and air as between radio signal reflexes from walls etc.

Transfer time delay is different through the air and or cable and that the phase of each channel may effects beam performances. Methods functions and means to include correspond appropriate corrections of optimizing transfers based on such applications is foreseen applicable internally in the MIMO and or externally via AMCs which includes functions to change delays per channel to meet certain performances.

In order to improve the area coverage, reduce cost etc. are methods and means included to transfer carriers of stations related to different active networks to be converted in frequency for a group of carriers in an FDM alike arrangement. As such is a group of stations from a similar site is enabling creation of higher speed that each active network is able to create and includes adaption to establish wide area coverage networks where a group of carriers converted to radio and or light wave bands, fig 5 500, 510 or by using a common AMC to convert multiple carriers from different active networks to become converted as a group. For example, as earlier described stations based on WLAN and WiMAX etc. may be set to a separate radio channels and each such group may be combined as an group in a FDM like arrangement adopted to transfers over a specific frequency band suitable to a specific medium. The reverse may be applied at the other end or using a selective number of stations there to match the actual speed requirement at each connection. In addition various active networks may be separated to separate carrier frequencies and arranged in a similar fashion via AMCs (20, 70 etc. fig.5 ) also via set up via combiners splitters and or converted by a common AMC for such group.

Functions and means include control and or coordination of transfer of data between stations within active network through selected medium at least to avoid interference between stations passing through same medium.

Functions and mean is included on AMC to control frequencies (and more described) for transfer in either and or both directions, without the need to demodulate and modulate and or change modulation and or coding where transferring over one or more mediums.

AMC includes functions and means to enable each modulated and or coded channel to pass modulated signals through selective medium (and or mediums in parallel) at selected frequency and or level and or impedance and or equalising and or for suitable duplex arrangement. I.e. stations in active networks which are based on TDD protocols may be transferred as a TDD on various medium on the same frequency and or transferred in an half duplex arrangement on the same cable (like a coaxial cable) on different frequencies and or at selected physical channels via different cables or wires (like CAT cables).

Methods functions and means include the use all or part of available cable infrastructure once arranged for TV distribution and or traditional fixed telephony services via selected outlets. By plugging in AMCs and or antenna and or antenna system (applied on respective AMC) and or connect AMC on selected TV and or telecom outlets and or connect and antenna and or antenna system to AMC and or AMCs and or connecting via one or more station ( including modems and or transmit and receive means) to a plugged in AMC and or group of AMCs, are data transfer enabled wirelessly and or via wires between an end users location and stations connected at the other end via a cable and or air medium, connecting to other users, other applications and or to Internet.

Method and means includes control of data between selective digital data ports, such as Ethernet RJ 45 based on 10, 100, 1 000 10 000 Mbit/s etc., see example A... D figure 5 or a..d figure 6 for different network and applications. Methods and means are further shown that enables use of existing local cable infrastructure for cable TV and or for fixed telephony by using separate carrier frequencies for different active medium networks used. Thus by including the use of the same outlets as these services and part of such cable mediums are and offering multiple services enabled in parallel. Using common cables for multiple services included methods and means to separate such systems via filters similar to how filters is used for DSL for such services. However, by using telecom cables (or coax) during the past portion in and or near en end users locations and or its premises includes filters to block such external services from remote sites, including locally injected carrier or carriers (by wireless and or wire based networks) above ordinary fixed telephone services per subscriber (or CATV for cable operation). Thus, in existing in and around SDUs and or MDUs is included methods and means to create access and or internal networks for owners of such physical networks enabling bypassing obstacle related to ownerships if further access to Internet is achievable at such locations or if such local network telecom and or coaxial is possible to use for transparent transfers such as describer in this document. Methods and means included where the interconnection between various cable infrastructures is used via AMCs that enabling the use of the various medium via cables and or air to increase the efficiencies described in this document.

Method functions and means includes thus an optimize use of frequency spectrum of used and or shared medium to avoid disturbances and or interferences. It includes methods and means to control and supervise and optimize use of medium for transparent transfer of digital data between pair of stations within each active networks used via physical means like 48, 50, 80 etc. and or such means controlling and or supervising other distant located functional means 48', 80' etc. Network management functionalities includes local and or remote control and supervision of adoptions of medium via AMC including the use of transfer via active networks (and 48 to and from 48' at distant locations etc.) and or via Internet or other networks (such as spread remote mobile) for enable more than manual control of for AMCs only equipped with appropriate mixers, amplifiers, filters etc. being accessible via such external network physically via a wire and or via wireless interface (GSM, Bluetooth WLAN etc.).

In addition access networks as well as internal home networks and or expanded wireless access networks and or groups of active networks arranged as links via analogue conversion of groups of active networks via fibre or free space optic (FSO) on or via radio bands and or combinations, as visualized by fig, 5, 6, 7. These include adaptable network management features of handling adoptions of mediums and or combine it with the active networks used per connection and or with existing collocated communication or media distributions systems (TV etc.). This includes handling of internal applications in home networking by end users as well as operators NOC features for fixed and or mobile broadband accesses and or handling via user applications connected via gateways such as Home Gateway Initiative, etc.

In summary method function and means enables a considerable enhancement in communications on OSI levels 2 and or above. This is achieved by taking advantage of available transferring means like cable and or airs and coordinate its use by selecting suitable transfer trough selectable medium for used active networks to enable a minimum of resources to be used per hop with a maximized performance without the need to necessarily change a content of the data on the channels transferred when passing over more than one medium. Methods functions and means are shown that include mapping of available medium to suit it to a transparent transfer similar to an OSI level 1 per link connection (summarized by7 a and 7b) irrespective of medium used, cable and or wireless, Such arranged mediums is than shown to form a base from were spectrum considerable more efficient reach and high speed high capacity networks structures are created with limited new investment etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments thereof shown in the occupying drawings.

Figure 1 Is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the innovation Figure 2 Is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the innovation Figure 3 Is a schematic view of an embodiment of an analogue medium conversion means to transfer data in dual directions between stations per medium Figure 4 Is a diagram illustrating a generic attenuation profile of cables which may typically be less than air transfer Figure 5 Is a schematic view on an example of an expanded network based on transparent transfer on various mediums used by multiple active networks Figure 6 Shows schematic examples of active networks of different types created on overlapping physical medium. Figure 7a Show a schematic model of a generic medium platform to suit different active networks for access to extend their reach etc. It shows adding on higher OSI level external networks solutions to create tailored communications systems. Figure 7b Shows and additional generic view of a medium platform which aims to illustrate further the ability to create variable network access and or infrastructure and other solutions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below is some examples described that visualizing some of the main features that is enabled by including combined use and coordination of available medium with active network transfers and in combinations with other additional standards communications means. It is leading to far if we fully cover all the networks structures enhancements etc. made possible. Thus, the detailed description is therefore only concentrating on visualizing some few examples of the strengths that will come out by including many more transfer routes which makes it possible to enhance wireless and or wire communications considerable and in particular the spectrum efficiency and access bandwidth and network capacity and capability and reach on a given standards frequency band by including part of available cable infrastructure to transfer data between stations.

Fig 1 includes an embodiment of part of the innovation that includes forming of expanded networks via active networks using cable and or air medium. The example describes an application consisting of one active network, in this case of a wireless type. The active network shown is meant to visualize the possible selection to include transparent transfer through air and or cable and or wire by one and or more stations under one and or more active networks. It visualizes a first network 10, using air 14, as medium. In the active network shown is included a plurality of stations 11 and station 12. The normal method in wireless access is to access 11 via licensed and or unlicensed bands from 12 of it operates in point to multi point mode. The actual network structure depends on the type of active networks used. A normal air transfer between stations is visualized as 900 which could be based on WLAN₁ WiMAX and UMTS type of standards.

Any wireless station within such active network is including means for: transmit and receive, modem and coding, user connections ports built in software for handling access etc. generally visualized as 111. In addition may an antenna and or antenna system be included based on internal directional arrangements, including MIMO type of antenna system arrangements, with and or without inherent directional functions or not, and or external antenna systems for fixed and or redirect able and or controllable in directions etc, externally, represented by 112. In the shown illustration 12 can be seen as a fixed nomadic and or mobile wireless access point and or node in a mesh networks and or base station etc. such as WLAN, WiMAX, UMTS and or combinations etc. available today and or tomorrow. The station 12 include methods functions and means to handle data traffic within the active network to and from users and a gateway to handle data traffic to and from internet 13. At 12 area connection point included to handle data transfer to and from internet. In order to at least extend the coverage of the reach of station 12 is methods, functions and means included to enable data traffic to transparently being transferred to and from said first network area coverage 10 and to and from a second networks coverage 15 and or further to and from a third 91 network area coverage by applying analogue medium converters to enable path between at least pair of stations in communications, through one and or more mediums, including virtually any cable and or air without the necessary need to demodulate and re-modulate when passing data over mediums.

What is said in this document in regard to active networks is a way to describe the use of enable transfers through various medium. An active network is typically not a not a static network. The number and types of stations connected within each active network for example on a common channel is dynamic and vary over time which is obviously the case considering systems for public access and in mobile networks. It typically consist of one or more access points, a base station, node and or High Ends, DSLAM etc. which serve multiple stations on different radio or carrier channels and similar for High Ends and partly similar for DSLAM etc. in cases multiple active networks are connected at the same point 12, methods functions and means include gateway function for routing and or switching of traffic that is passed through stations 12 to and from 24 etc.

In addition a corresponding gateway functions as mentioned for 12 handles traffic to and from internet and may include functions and means to handle data transferred through selected number of station of equal number of active networks, between selected end user access points equipped with a corresponding switching routing means within areas such as 10 and or 15 and or 91 etc. to communicate with each other, without changing protocol within each active networks, as stations (111 and if applied 112) appears as if they are logically interconnected due to the transparent transfers. A gateway such as 12 is meant to includes additional functions, systems and means like data switching and or routing devices equipped with suitable protocols for the type of traffic transferred through the respective active networks to and from Internet. I.e. including handling of interactive data and or multimedia applications, IP based voice and or IP TV type of services, etc. for end users traffic.

The gateway at 12 includes methods functions systems and means of a processor which my consisting of a PC with memories applied, software program etc. and or similar external and or a built in type of device. See example 80 fig. 5, where station 12 includes functional unit 80 which controls and or supervise connected AMCs locally and or remotely via 48 and or 48' which in its turn include remote centralized control and supervision via 50, 51 , 52, 53 etc. Additional gateways and or similar gateway devices includes functions and means envisaged by Home Gateways Initiative, HGI and similar for DSL and or similar applied for Wi-Wi and other industry and or operators associations that enables connected user applications at user sites are enabled to communicate with each other. Such networks local networks may include a first, second and third networks etc. depending on the applications (see also 26 - 26' fig. 2 and 5. Figure 5 includes examples of a wide area network solution and or local network solution in an MDU and or an home network application based on multiple active networks arrangements over various mediums. In order to enable suitable transfers over various medium are methods functions and means included to control and or supervise and or coordinate the sharing ability and or the exploiting possibility of the various medium resources (air and or cables, wire coax, CAT, fibre, telecom etc.) which the respective active networks are set to communicate through by including selection of carrier frequencies per channel. In addition are evaluation capabilities of available medium resources included, which includes trial frequencies set up between AMCs and quality detection, including through the standard transfer detection including adaptive modem level adjustment detection etc. in order to adopt frequency to non interference frequencies. External end user services using the same cable medium like TV, shown as 79 via cable, is combined at 19 where the carrier transferred between station 12 and 23 is transferred through 20 and 22 in the example. This illustrate that stations within each such active network located within a first area and or a second and or a third is communicating with station 12 as if they where all where located within the same vicinity. This with or without a complete transmit and receiving means, modems etc. at 21. 21 is visualised to include AMC 20 and an antenna and or antenna system connected to it. AMC 20 and 22 passes data between each other transparently on selected frequency and enables wireless connections between 12 and 24 as if they were located in the vicinity. In addition a complete transmit and or receiving means including modem, user ports etc. if applied may be connected in parallel to an applied antenna and or antenna system which enables such stations (111 ) to add capacity in the local environment at such selected locations and boost the capacity and or expand the network capacity and capabilities further. However, a core function to enable use of various medium transparently is the possible to used the AMCs like those applied at 20, 22 etc. which enables extension of the wireless network as well as it includes an expanded use of existing infrastructure, like coaxial cables and or telecom cable infrastructure.

Methods and means includes stations that is using one or more carriers such as in IEEE 802.11 n and or similar active networks based on wireless and or wired networks any and or all of modulated and coded channels. In order to utilise AMCs are methods functions and means to adopt selective channel of each used station for its transparent transfer through selective mediums. This on specific frequency per channels between each pair of AMC while transferring through wire and or air medium. Transfer between stations via AMC includes improvement of the reach and spectrum efficiency on traditional and for MIMO based stations operating in active networks systems. Except to transfer frequencies may transparent transfer include adoption to impedance, level and or various equalisation of level and time per medium used of passed by pairs of AMC involved in transfers,

A wired second network 15, consist of a cable network for example inside of a building and or outside of a building and or at a home and or an office etc. It is shown to involve connection of end users for access to and from internet and or to connect buildings and or including other communications purposes. Such wired networks 15 include a cable network 17 of one or more connections points and or outlets, where I6 represents connection and or outlet where one or more stations may be connected through. TV reception services related to 79 may via such standard modems and or outlets be connected at the outlet in parallel with the connection of an AMC such as 22. As such it is shown that dual directive communication access is performed via 24 via an AMC 22 connected to a complete station (such as 111) or an AMC connected via an antenna and or antenna system 23 to and from stations 24 in a third network (area) in this case again air.

Methods and means are included that enable connection of AMCs and or stations (111) and or antenna and or antenna system to be connected at 16 in parallel with modems and or similar that allows end users to simultaneously connect to TV distribution services and or DOCSIS applications in parallel to broadband access via 12 etc. Thus various network applications accesses via various active networks are achieved in parallel on outlets initially used for fixed and or traditional Cable TV operator services and or satellite and or telephone and or DSL services see fig 5 and 6 and 7. Connection of an AMC may include a high low and or band pass filter to isolate the applied active network of 12 20, 22 etc. from interfering with other carriers or base bands carrying data on shared medium.

The cable and or wire represented by 17 include various network structures such as star and or tree and branch and or combinations. This may be applied in buildings and or in homes and or in business. A wire network 17 is visualized to exemplify a coaxial cable structure in D1 and or D2 and or D3 type of coaxial networks. Similar structure to D3 may apply in homes. As such arrangements of transparent transfers of data via AMCs apply between the types of outlets used (see also fig 6.). At the other end of an access network may a connection point such as connection of 12 before and or after a demarcation point. In case 17 is a cable network shown to include reception of video and or TV channels from a satellite receiver and or a terrestrial cable TV operator network and or from other service provision and or arrangement representing of 210. The connection point 19 of 210 and the active network (or networks) connected to Internet via 12, may be located next to and or inside a building (for example before and or after demarcation point) and or far from a building and transported through various medium and or means including fibre and or coaxial cables. The connection 37 is to indicate that the service provision via active network for end users TV may include Internet access (DOCSIS and other).

What is said about network 17 is referring typically to a cable TV coaxial infrastructure with outlets 16 at selected locations. However use of other cables like telephone wires and or data CAT 3, 5, 6, 7 to transfer data on adjusted via AMCs when needed with or without other services applied on the same cables, like fixed telephony or data communications from other solutions. In the case of telephone wires and or cable TV cables connected to Single and or Multi Dwelling Units such cables may be used to transfer on by stations in active networks. Transfer over such wires includes carrying of data over operators and or real estate owners and or end users parts and or domain, before or after the demarcation point. Methods and means are included to connect active networks as 19 at connecting point and or drop point on similar device may be applied on the outlets for TV and or telephony.

A suitable arrangement to enable transparent transfer to and from one or more outlets in home based coaxial cable and or telecom wire networks structure is to carry data on suitable carrier frequency per medium on top or below of other communication services to boost active network transfers within wireless communication networks and enable such network to reach end users easier and spread area coverage while bypassing walls, roofs etc. Methods and means includes extending of coverage and or boosting of traffic capacity by including arrangement such as new stations at selected AMCs and or include functions to repeat data transfer transparently through obstacles. Extension of coverage is shown by including two AMCs at each end of used medium transfer 20, 22. Applying antennas and or stations (111) are repeater functions including further boost of the active network capability of such stations capacity included at least providing repeating and or mesh function capability various kinds is as well established using various types of cable and the existing cable infrastructure include connection before and or after a demarcation point, including before and or after amplifiers and or splitters and or combiners . Thus, methods functions systems and means are shown which to include creation of repeating and of capacity gain injection by applying AMCs for transparent transfer and or functions and adding new transfer capacity by applying new stations (111 ) on AMCs and or to extend coverage by adding an antenna and or antenna system to applied AMCs. Such connection includes connections at selected user ports on existing cable networks and or other locations in parallel with other communications and or distribution services or not.

In the case 17 is a cable network the use of an analogue and or digitally modulated media distribution and or with Internet access connection may be applied at end user ports. Such traffic may be injected to a cable at a terminating point inside and or near a Single and or a Multi Dwelling Unit and or far from it (see 500, 510 fig. 5). A terminating point (12) may be located in the cellar and or similar location to serve users locally where the local net originates from and or a site which offer cable/wire connection of spread single dwelling unit location.

In accordance to the description of the innovation transparent transfer of data through various medium to expand coverage and capacity at selected locations improve spectrum efficiency which is specifically the case when applying wireless transfers via cable medium to bypass obstacles. It is visualized by the arrangement of transfer through a first medium 14 where data is passed over to a second medium, 17 which includes to pass signals further to and from a third medium or area 91 , etc. This is enabled by introducing a first AMC 20 that converts at least radio channel carriers to and from the air to be transferred to and from selected outlets 16 by applying a corresponding station 23 or not to match the station at 12 which may communicate via a first and a second AMC 21 and 22. In addition station 23 and or via antennas included on AMC 22 means includes connection of stations 24. AMCs quipped with an antenna and or antenna system enable wireless connection of 24 in a third network or creating a new service area 91 in this case is air again used indoors and or outdoor access. The first AMC 20 includes connection via at least an antenna and or an antenna system and or a complete station with transmit and or receiving modems means (111) etc. The shown stations 11 , 21 , 23, 24 in the example is belonging to the same active network (at least for a certain time) and uses identical digital protocols for signalling and transmission regardless the number and type of medium is passes. In the shown embodiment the interconnection of the user data flow between stations uses cable 17 in combination with other type of traffic from other active networks etc. to be transferred on different non interfering frequencies from other services such as 19. To isolate traffic from different active networks may filter (band pass high pass and or low pass or combinations) be included to separate the different types of active networks. Corresponding arrangement and or filter may be applied at outlet 16, in combination with AMCs. Air signals transmitted and or received via antennas at 21 are transparently transferred through the cable network 17 between 20 and 22 on include methods and means to select transfer frequencies and or levels and or impedances and or level equalisation for transfer between sites. Methods and means to isolate traffic flows and applications from interfere include filters at combining point such as 19 enables transfer of separate carriers from different network to use a common cable 17 on different frequencies and in addition include similar filtering isolation in combinations to AMC connected to user outlets in parallel with traditional TV if such services is also connected.

Methods and means included control supervision and or coordination of transfer of channels on frequencies on selected medium, by including quality detection of transfers of the used active networks at least at the stations ends, in accordance to used frequency spectrum on cable mediums and or air to avoid interference. Included are methods and means to include coordination of the selection of frequencies of multiple active networks (wireless and or wired type) on the same cable 17. methods and means to optimise reach by at least selecting a non interference transfer frequency on used medium between AMCs is included for various carrier frequency used on each path passed by selected mediums. Modulated and coded channels are visualized to be appropriately converted by the use of 20 and or 22. It is aimed to show that transfer between stations does not require any involvement in demodulation and or modulation and or coding and or signalling data applied when transferring between stations based on active networks based on wireless and or wires. An embodiment of AMC used to transfer modulated and coded data between them includes methods and means to transfer modulated and coded signalling data on selected carrier frequencies which is further described in fig. 3.

A second AMC 22 connected to the second network 15 (a service area related to cable 17) transfers signals from said first network (and or area coverage) 10 which is being transferred trough the second medium 17 on frequencies that do not interfere with the frequency scheme used by other services (like tele, data, media transfer and or other stations arranged in parallel etc.) that may used the wire network 15 - 17 and or other active networks based on wireless and or wired technologies (WLAN, WiMAX, UMTS, DOCSIS, xDSL etc.). Stations transfer through 17 enables similarly enhanced area coverage 15 where as the transmission of a converted frequency that is carried trough cable 17. Users is being accessible at each port 16 which include functions and means of an outlet that may includes TV reception (including star & tree & branch) in homes offices and or SDUs or MDUs or similar for two wire telephony and or other cables and structures. A similar station to 11 in the first network as the ones connected via 20, 22 and or 23 and or 24 is being able to adopt in such case at any of the outlet.

Methods and means include functions to establish communication between stations such as the shown transfer between 12 and 24 is meant to visualised that transparent transfer via air and or cable is achieved by including AMC between each medium path. It transmit and receive is not applied 23 an antenna and or antenna system is enough to add to AMC 22, to react station 24 which is connected via air through the antennas on the shown AMC 22. An AMC my be applied as a separate plug in unit to any of the outlets 16 which makes in possible to wirelessly accesses such location within the same logical network. Again the transfer trough mediums and or between mediums do not require changes of communications data protocols and or coding and or modulation of the original user data and or any logical data between any used stations transferring data through mediums including AMCs. By assigning corresponding transmit gain to required hop lengths etc. through the air at the point of each outlet a corresponding reach is being applicable at each outlet, preventing unnecessary radiation for short indoor hops and or includes higher gains for outdoor applications etc. A plurality of stations 24 in third area network 91 , can be seen to work transparent to the station 11 and similarly are stations connected to the outlets 16, of the second cable network 17 forming area coverage 15 where one or more AMCs connected to each outlet with a corresponding antenna connected which allows a stations 24 to be connected wirelessly and or via cable (see also 38, 39 fig. 2). Thus if 12 was part of a base station, transfer transparently on an appropriate frequency band through AMC 20 to each respective AMC connected to the outlets of the cable 17, each such outlet at a home business etc. and or an MDU connecting multiple homes etc. include functions and means to establish a new area coverage, at each connected AMC equipped with at least an antenna and or antenna system. Each such area functions as they all locations where in the vicinity of traditional base station similar to 12 but now with far better reach and efficiency, as frequency spectrum is used in a better requiring less transmit power in comparison to as only transfers through the air is applied. Initiation stations (111 ) at outlets in addition, may improve this further as described earlier.

AMC equipped with an antenna at either side of a cable connected to respective AMC 20 and 22 include method and means to bypass and or create area coverage 15. This means that any obstacle to wirelessly connect stations to communicate within same active network or networks include transparent bypassed functionalities via corresponding AMC and antennas and or and or further ignited with new transmit and or receive capacity (is 23), at each such station from outlet may be usable for other users in the shown network areas 10, 15, 91 or sites connected further if the type of stations and active networks used, includes support of multipoint - mesh - topologies within the respective active networks used, functions and means to bypass obstacles includes arrange data to flow through air obstacles though wire/cable via AMC and transmit and receive means at both sides of such obstacle to enable transparent connection of stations on both sides of the obstacles similar may be arranged for each air obstacle along a route. Thus again, 11 and 24 may work as one logical network trough obstacles as if they where connected to one common antenna. Transfer functions of AMCs include selection of frequency through a used cable for the transfer to include the same frequency channel as used for the air transfer and or not. Signals originating from the first area network 10 is received by the stations 24 as if they where physically located as stations 11 in the vicinity of the first station and gateway 12 and communication between the stations included takes place in both directions in the applied mode TDD and or FDD etc. The first stations 11 and well as the third stations 24 are connected or related to the gateway and stations 12 and to each other as the stations where connected physically within 10 via AMC 20 and 22. As such functions and means include transparent access to the internet 13 for the stations 23, 23, 21 , 11 , however physically separated.

Depending on the type of gateway used at 12 ( and 26 to 26' see fig.2), and if one or more than one and or type of active network is used, the respective active network internal network structure, point to point, multi point (mesh), the type of cable infrastructure and or devices such as amplifiers, splitters, combiners, outlets directional couplers, filters, etc used, are finally defining the actual internal and or external or overall communications capabilities to and from internet 13 and or internally between stations 11 , 23, 24 etc. and applications applied to these.

Methods functions and means includes to add new stations (111 ) at selected points include not only expanded reach and capacity but also to add more than one path than for example 600 to Internet, to improve network capability, capacity and or security by adding more than connection to and from public network such as internet, 13. This is achieved by including ability to add new alternative paths to and from internet improve ability to share frequency spectrum in addition even more efficient.

The methods and means to achieve this is exemplified by adding station 94, via AMC 93 (with and antenna in this example), to include access and expand area coverage 99, connecting stations 96, 97, such as 24 etc. within 15. In order to use the capacity of such added station better a new route to connect to internet 13 is visualized. Thus not only the path via 20 and 600 but a new connection includes that station 94 is included, via mesh network and or repeating station capabilities and or that such that such capabilities are added via external switching and or routing devices. For example including a gateway 26' fig. 2) with appropriate signalling protocols for routing traffic to and from 94 are route via 600 and or 601 etc enabled. Methods functions and means thus include routing of traffic within the network to select appropriate route to and from public network.

Appropriate protocols for added stations, 94, 23 etc., include functions and means for connected users to share station capacity by end users privately and or open stations for public access. Access to and from such stations 94, 23 etc include WiFi, WiMAX, UMTS etc.

Methods and means to adopt to transfer delay coursed by used paths though the respective used medium per modulated channel in accordance to he access and or internal signalling protocols applied for the used active networks. To compensate for transmission delay includes functions and means to adopt delay as if free space where used communications for systems that includes TDMA. Methods and means are included to adopt access protocols including CSMA/CD CSMA/CS etc. to widen area coverage capability between stations such as 12 to and from 24 if it separated far away. See also Fig. 5 when APs and CPEs (such as for IEEE 802.11x) are separated by a transfer over fibre etc. to include larger network area coverage than the active network is normally designed for.

Functions and means include conversion of modulated and coded stations channel and or channel(s) per active networks stations (channels) to become adopted for transfer over certain mediums in an FDM like carrier structure for channels that are passed through AMCs to establish transfer paths for the required number of carriers and capacity etc. needed in parallel on separated channel frequencies on a same media, see example figure 5. This is arranged to improve transfer capacity etc. over a given medium by including arrangement of a required number of stations for example applied at each side of a cable and or passing over multiple medium while to operating in parallel. See also complementary examples 200 and 201 fig. 5 and or various switching and or routing means at the different ends. Multiple stations may be organised to support transferring data on carriers on a common medium coaxial, fibre and or radio etc. to become transferred in parallel over each medium path and or where such stations data flows is interconnected via switching and or routing devices enabling creating of different network structures from OSl level 2 to applications Ieven7. See also fig. 5 describing expanded networks based on combined use of the communications resources of multiple stations and of the coordination of the frequency resources to be used for establishing required communications speed and or bandwidth between sites.

Methods and means are include apply a selected number of stations of a corresponding number and or types of active networks, including WiMAX and or WLAN etc. at one end which includes connection to and from Internet and which are transferred via one or more cables via selective AMCs and or via a group conversion of one AMC. Such FDM arrangement are included to transfer transparent over a cable and or cables in star and or tree and or branch network at which ends are one and or a number of outlets applied (with and without other traffic applied) to which one and or a group of stations is applied via a corresponding AMC and corresponding AMCs. End users are enabled to connect them self to Internet by transferring data transparent through AMCs via pair of stations by transferring its data via the station and or stations they are connected to. Multiple users connected may share the transfer capacity with the stations at the other end which is typically directly connected to Internet. Each user is foreseen connected to an outlet of a coaxial cable network and or a telecom cable and or via the air depending of the application.

Functions and means include conversion of selected modulated channel carrier per active networks station to become converted via an AMC at each end. Such AMCs are organised to group selective channels in an FDM like structure of separated carrier from respective active network as mentioned above. These channel carrier frequencies are set to by the used medium by AMCs at corresponding ends (see 20, 70 AP-B fig. 5) for coaxial (typically may as an example a bands up to 3-5 GHz being applicable to transfer re on depending of the medium hop distance used and the available traffic applied amplifiers splitters combiners etc. CAT 3-7 vary considerable in bandwidth and shielding ad are applicable to use at least up to 30 MHz but typically much wider. Using radio, fibre cables and or FSO to carry data on carriers on (on THz) includes use of applied AMCs including conversions of group of channel carriers for such medium. Transfer via air on radio frequencies out of the bands that are used by applied active networks including wireless may be applied in other licensed and or unlicensed bands than such frequency bands the used active networks are designed for. Functions and means are included to control supervise and or coordinate and combine the use various active networks and or of sharing medium by enabling selection of frequencies for respective medium transfer by including organising and control of selection of channels including detection of transfer quality between stations via network management arrangement 50, for access and or 51 visualized for other network structures such as home networks or combinations, see fig 5, 6, including other network management features for other network structures.

An alternative embodiment in accordance with the innovation is shown in Fig 2. Here is a cable network 25 shown to offer TV reception via a satellite receiver 210/18 or includes media services including Internet access services in accordance to DOCSIS etc. The figure illustrate a terminating box 19 and a interconnection box 31 (like a filter and or splitter and combiner). A dual directive active network of selected standard transfers data on overlapping medium to reach multiple end users and or other applications in single and or multi dwelling units. Star and or three and branch structure and or combinations are foreseen being used to transport data on. The methods and means includes a combine transfer of one and or multiple active networks with traditional TV distribution where stations per active network is selected to use a an appropriate non interference carrier frequency to carry data in parallel with the active network (or similar) distributing at least TV channels on such local network applied typically on D3 level and or part of D2 level.

Via a plurality of end users outlets 29, are end users connected to the cable networks 25, representing one building and or multiple buildings and or a home and or an office etc. End user is either is directly connecting its TV set (with or without modem) via the outlet and or through an external device set top box etc. depending on the type of services required and or applied to the network.

Communications via station(s) 27 involving transfer trough selected medium including transfer via air and or cables by applying AMC 28 to an appropriate transfer frequency what was described for 11 and or 23, 24 etc. in fig. 1. From a combing unit at 31 is active networks applied like 27 including TV channel and or TV and or Internet services (210) distribution and or Internet access applied to carry data through such cable 25 on selected frequencies. Stations 27 includes enabling transparent dual direction data transfer between end users outlet offering dula direction Internet access via stations (27) of each used active network, used from respective outlet 29 in parallel to traditional TV distribution and or DOCSIS services by selection of suitable transfer carriers via 28 and 29, should such services be applied.

It is understood that methods and mean include transparent transfer via different wire structures such as various CAT cable including the local telecom wire may be used instead and or as a complementary medium to coaxial cable to also carry data on suitable selected carrier frequencies of such network depending on what is available air and or cables.

Methods and means are included to by pass splitters and or combiners and or amplifiers entirely and or partly for selected frequency bands including band pass filters covering such frequency bands that shall be possible to loop channels transparent through, see 60 and 61 figure 5.

The methods functions systems and means includes bypass of signals to bypass obstacles in the air and or by using cables including means to bypass obstacle on existing wires via bypass and or filter and or including single and or dual direction bypass of transparent transfers between AMCs. Thus it is possible to create new and more powerful networks by using active network and or existing cables instead of air and or cables alone for respective network.

Data transfer includes various ranges to pass via selected medium, for example between rooms and or for accessing users in apartments etc. in SDUs and or MDUs to nearest fibre connection (201 etc.) .

A coaxial cable network based on DOCSIS standards is normally occupying up to 860 MHz for TV services and it includes asymmetrical Internet access. While excellent transfer performances may be achieved over short distances longer distance transport through such cables may be limited due to amplifiers etc. Active network may typically today have the performance to maintain transfer including a attenuation of 50-60 dB. Thus transport of data on carrier services within 1-3 GHz (on coaxial cables) would still be able to serve ranges between 50 - 500 meter depending on cables and frequency carrier chosen dependent on transmitter amplification, type of duplex arrangements, etc. Thus arranging multiple stations in parallel, such as active networks using 20, 40 MHz bandwidth per channel, with 64 about 64 QAM modulation, would offer Gbit/s capacity transfers per cable by arranging a corresponding type and or number of active networks to operate in parallel, see example fig 5 and 6. A coaxial cable offer transfer performance up to multiple hundreds of meters. In cases where less bandwidth is used than DOCSIS standards envisaged such as non return activated networks higher transfer capacity and longer distances is reached.

Methods and means are included to apply active network for enabling injection of local TV distribution via modulated carriers to standard TV channels in combination with carrier transfer of active networks based on wireless and or wires via AMCs. Thus traditional TV distribution modulation solutions means is enabled to become arranged in parallel with end user communication services from active networks to work in parallel. Thus, active network for TV distribution and or those for dual directions are included to offer a combined service to end users via selected carrier below and or above each other depending on the cable network and the existing services used etc.

A gateway 26, connects user traffic to the Internet 13. A gateway may also have other services functions like enable connective use of multiple stations data flows and or to handle other communications services requirements, like free structures internally in meshed home network and or to create meshed network structures at various connecting points. By connecting to a first receiving and transmitting means 27, and or an antenna and or antenna system 27 may additionally communicate with a station which includes receiving and or transmitting modems etc., which in addition may add its channels to be transferred over the cable (coaxial, fibre, CAT etc.), in parallel to air via 900 and or through the cable 25 via 32 33 34. The localisation of the combiner 31 may be located inside and or outside of a multi and or a single dwelling unit and or units 30, from where it reaches end users via cables and or via air transfer. The gateway 26, the receiving and transmitting means, modems (station 111 ) 27 form an Access point (Node point and or Base station point etc. - BNA) when such wireless active network is used. Multiple of such access points forms a network with an improved capacity in comparison to traditional transfers as active networks applied to share medium and or combined these offer more services offer better services and more capacity by combining cable and or coordinate transfer resources. The innovation includes use of one or more wireless active networks, including IEEE 802.11 x standards to offer low cost high speed dual direction capacity solution in and around buildings which includes to carry data on standard frequencies through the air and or the cable and on addition it includes transparent transfer on selective cables in parallel. As such virtually 10 or 20 or 30 more stations could be carried on selected carrier frequencies on the same cable (such as a coax and or a fibre), a solution that is not applicable when transferring data via air, due to the limited frequency resources. Using a coaxial cable only for such transfer would hardly occupy any air spectrum due to the isolation of such cable. The limited frequency spectrum for air transfer is improved and the difficulties to pass obstacles in heavy dense user environment makes it more feasible to utilise higher frequency bands and more bandwidth, such as 5 GHz, rather than to relay on 2,4 GHz as usually done to enable transfers through walls etc.

xxx

To illustrate an example of the realisation of a network based on the methods functions and means shown fig 2 include a first AMC 28 for one active network based on one channel, also including transfer of more than one channel per active network like MlMO, on different frequencies on the same media. It is meant to shown an arrangement multiple active networks converted to different channel frequencies including conversion of these as a group of channels to be transferred data via AMC 32 to one and or multiple stations 33 via outlet 29. A first connected transmitting and or receiving means (station 111 ) 27 may operate with 11 at a same location with the same function with 33 and or 34 by including transfer of channel signals on higher and or lower frequency than they use for air transmission and or in comparison to carriers used by other services applied on the cable, such as TV and or fixed telephony. In the first AMC 28 signals prepared for radio frequency communication from the first receiving and transmitting means (111 ) 27 includes direct adoption to a suitable transfer trough the shown cable network and or by applying an external AMC that converts a radio frequency carrier to a suitable transfer frequency for the transfer over the cable network. The first AMC 28 is connected to the cable network through a combining unit 31 (like on cable TV and or one or more wireless active network and or one or more wire based active networks DOCSIS, DSL etc.) that will allow signals to and from the gateway 26 to pass through the cable network without interfering with the cable TV services and or other services, should such networks be transferred over the cable 25 simultaneously.

The second AMC 32 is shown provided at the location of outlet of end user locations 29 using the same cable 25 as TV services including tree and or branch structures for access networks. Alternatively a similar internal home network may serve as broadband network connecting end user applications including accessing the Internet.

However, multiple stations similar to 27 may be used at the same and or other location using the same cables or jump between different cables or air, based on selection on adjusted non interfering frequencies between two or more stations for each path, using as common and or separate AMCs, as in case of figure 2. In this case each 27 set to separate non interference carrier f1 , f2, for example including control and or supervision via 48 and a local and or centralized network management centre 50 including interconnection via 80, see fig 3, 4, 6,7. Selective end users may in such a case be served by one and or two stations 27 via 29. Applying more stations enable multiply the communications resources and use the number of stations (1111) that corresponds to each active network to tailor for the needed transfer capacity coordinated with available transfer resources in cables and or air between each pair of stations in communication. Each such station 27 is applicable to transfer on cables like tree and branch and or star structure coaxial and or telecom wires for access and or for home networks by equipping and or adjusting a corresponding AMC at each outlet 29. However, not shown in the figure it is understood that each outlet may be equipped with a corresponding combining unit (splitter combiner filter etc.) similar to 31 to combine and or separate applied active network (based on wireless and or wires) from TV transfer if and in accordance to isolation needed. The illustration is meant to show that arranging a station and or more stations 27 to one and or more AMCs 28 these stations 27 will be able to connect stations at the other via one and or more corresponding AMCs 32 at each side. Arranging two stations doubles the transfer capacity over the cable or triples it if three is used etc. By applying a corresponding number of stations at each outlet are a selected number of transfer channels enabled at selected outlets which could be arranged with one and or a group of stations at another outlet (depending on type of outlets networks etc.) switching and or routing means applied (26, 26' etc.) and or trough stations like 27 connecting to Internet.

The combining unit 31 may include a filter arrangement that separates different types of active networks including cable TV based. For fixed telephony services using such wires filter is included to enable blocking of other traffic, such as DSL form a telephone station in order to utilize a cable network locally. A second AMC 32 is functionally identical to the first AMC 28 for each active network. At the location of the end user there is provided an antenna and or antenna system and or a corresponding transmitting and receiving means to 33 to 27. If the second AMC 32 has an antenna and or antenna system applied it includes forming of a tailored wireless (micro) cell related to the used transmit power of an AMC and or to increase coverage with higher gain, allowing wireless connection of spread user devices 34 as if they logically is part of the active network formed by 27 forming different cell sizes. If a corresponding station to 27 is applied it allows in addition connecting end user devices to and from AMC 32 via a cable, shown by 38. A user device or access application may by a computer, TV, mobile terminal, a set top box etc. and or a device that offers a comprehensive broadband multi play multi media e-services to be transferred via 27 and 28 to and from internet. The spread of fixed access and or multiple cellular coverage to and from an initial access point (at 27 in this illustration) may be arranged and tailored as multiple, micro and or macro area cells covering structures for indoor and or outdoor access, which includes accesses transparent to public wi-fi and or UMTS and or WiMAX access services and or other types of short and or long range wireless accesses in addition to the creation of new infrastructure based on active networks and wire and or wireless transfers.

In the case the cable network 25 (or telecom CAT wire etc.) corresponds to a home network. It is clear that such cable or wire network can include expansion on wireless access services to reach multiple locations (rooms) at higher speeds in a home (and or business) as an alternative and or create networks that operate as complement to wireless transfer only and or cable transfer only. Functions and means are included to transfer all modulated and coded data and or signalling protocol of one and or more radio carriers to be selectively arranged to pass through selective cable and or air medium to pass through different paths (cables and or air) through a building (and or an apartment etc.) and or between buildings for transfers transparently between stations.

In case cable network such as 25 is of a type tree and branch and or star or combinations, including those based on directional coupling at outlets, (for cable operator connections) it is foreseen that traffic between stations and or AMC (32, 33, 34) at separate locations 35 may include certain isolation preventing all ports in such network to freely access each other from all outlets. This limit of accesses between such outlets, is enabled by transferring data between such outlets to bypass such obstacles by transferring data via an entrance point (for example 19), in this case through 27 and or gateway the 26 from where communications are transferred to any other location 29 within the reach of such cable network.

Communication to and from end users and or between them and end users applications (music, video, supervision etc.) and transfer traffic to and from internet (13), through the gateway 26, is enabled over cables. This is visualized by using cable and or air, via the cable 25 and the added expansion of access by leakage" at multiple locations throughout end users premises 35, or beyond, within the vicinity of the AMC and by accessing such network leakage from second antenna and or antenna system means connected at selected outlet of each end user. Data transfer to and from internet including the protocols used by Wi-Fi type (and other wireless networks) of services is enabled applying such active networks on the cable. This and similar improved services is achieved by transferring data transparently by active networks via AMCs, without changing any of the logical protocols used, including the overall network signalling data like authorization, authentication, security hand over etc. by the used .

Fig. 2 is further illustrating interconnection options of end users and or end user application in this case shown to be transferred on a cable 38 that physically may contain modulated and coded data on selected frequencies connecting the outlet to a built in station (111 ) at 34. Methods and means includes connection of one and or multiple AMC represented by 32 including include connection of and users devices 34 TV and or computer and or mobile terminal and or set to box, etc., via a cable 38 containing data on a frequency that built in devices such at WLAN and or other short and or long distance device, built into such application, and that is containing the appropriate transmit and or receive means (with wireless and or wire based modem and coding etc.) to enable transparent transfer with station 27. The interconnection type depends on the type of active network used wireless and or wire based (21...27 etc. or 210...230 etc.). The abilities to establish similar services at multiple outlets from the same source (27 in this case), depends on the ability to support point to multipoint services. In cases an active network supports multi point networks structures user data and or applications such as home application music media games security etc. may include exchange of data between separate outlets. Cable 38 may include carrying of digital data modulated and codes containing user data to and from 27 in this case on a radio channel frequency to be carried to and from AMC 32 and or built in station at 34 (in the example). This applications 34 includes access corresponding built in wireless access station and or a wire based active network modem (DSL, DOCSIS etc.). In the visualized case that is connected to 27 (a wireless station) is a built in the device enabling 34 to be connected through a wire and or wirelessly should it be preferred, rather than connecting it through an antenna and or system applied on the AMC 32 at that location.

In order to support physical port connection of standard digital interfaces for user applications at an outlet, such as, Ethernet 10, 100 and 1000 Mbit/s etc. are a station device including local controlling and supervision means visualised as 33/48 to be connected to the AMC 32. Applied RJ 45 ports, Firewire, USB 39, etc. used on such station and for user applications. In cases more and other functionalities are or speed is needed requiring more than one station etc. may a gateway 26/26' etc. (not shown), be applied to 33/48. In cases where only an AMC is applied a virtual control and supervision function may be applied enabling remote control via another communication system (see further fig. 3).

Functions and means are included to handle logical to data to flow through each active network and or multiple active networks and or stations from multiple active networks. Such data transfer includes switching and or routing functions and or devices may be applied at end user stations 33 connected to the local network 25 physically and or through the air. Using external and or built in standard data networks switching and or routing means added on transfer via active networks used to transparent transfer data between station, it is obvious that new and enhanced networks is enabled at a central terminating point to Internet and or at various locations. Methods functions systems and means to create more comprehensive networks which grows in service coverage capability, capacity, reach and spectrum efficiency is enabled. It include creation of broadband access (13) and or enable creation of internal home and or office network in and around single and or multi dwelling units, referred to 30. In addition it include creation of high speed linking by parallel operation of multiple stations via cable and or air and or expansion of reach indoors and or expand in capacity wireless networks by locally injection of stations (111 ) to outlets etc. to be used for connected end users and or add network capacity to be used by more, etc.

Functions and means include data traffic to pass through stations of more than one active network (via 2728 and 32, 33 48 etc.) operating on different non interference frequencies when needed, for example arranging multiple carriers from the same and or from different active network to be transferred on overlapping cable medium (25) on coordinated to be using non interference carrier frequencies (48, 50, 51 etc). Such arrangements includes switching and or routing means at corresponding ends to to select one and or more stations for transferring data in either direction. Based on such transparent transfer arrangement gateways 26 and or 39 and or 26' and or 26" etc. offers any obvious ability to both increase data transfer capacity reach and network structures in comparison to use each such active network separate and without conversion to different medium (see also Fig. 5).

Fig. 3 visualizes an example of a possible embodiment of an analogue medium converter, AMC. It can bee seen a generic model of functions and means included to convert modulated and coded channels of active networks based on wireless and or wired base network. Thus it includes methods functions and means to transparent transfer data between stations to and from other medium, cable and or air medium that respective station was designed for. This is achieved by including adoptions on appropriate transfer frequencies and or impedances and or appropriate transmit receive level and or equalisation in amplitude over used frequency and or compensate for varying time delay characteristics over used frequencies (inclusive those used through air and or cables if that's the case when MlMO is applied). Any and or selective functions of these are applied for the selectively pairs of AMCs used to carry data transparent over a used medium via cable infrastructure and or air. Using existing cables in a better way is obviously possible in many more cases as many active networks, such as wireless systems includes fairly efficient and robust modulation techniques (DSL, Wireless) and quality and rate adoptions due to the used paths transfer performances in different frequencies and mediums. As such AMCs makes it applicable to transfer much more data between stations, on a number of different cables like CAT, fibre, coax etc. as long as appropriate channels characteristics is applied on used medium on selected channel carrier frequencies used. Thus, by including transfer on other carriers than used by the respective active networks standards at an appropriate level impedance, equalisation when data is passed over various existing cables much more data can be transferred between sites for such active networks. By including wireless standards an addition medium is applicable to be selected at any location in addition to cables.

The AMC 20 is meant to show that a connection of and antenna and or antenna system and or a transmitting and or receiving means modems coding port etc. represented by a complete station 21 (111) - with or without antennas connected. By including an antenna and or antenna system only (for example antenna system including MIMO and or other antennas external etc.) such means is possible to become connected at 55 on one side and or at 56 on the corresponding side. The figure visualises the possible communication through the air to and from 11 etc. in a first network with an active network station is applied 21 which is as well connected to 20 which enables data to be transferred transparently to and from 22. At the corresponding end (22) may an antenna and or antenna system and or a station be applied at 56. As such 23 may represent a complete station with or without and antenna and or antenna system connected and or only an antenna and or antenna system. Applying a station at 22 enables transfer of digital data to be physically available and connected to a switch and or routing device 26'. In cases where only an antenna and or an antenna system is applied it includes only wireless access to other stations. The stations and or included are of type BNA for fixed and or mobile and or nomadic IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, IEEE 802.15x and or UMTS etc. operating in point - multipoint and or multipoint (mesh) mode including based on various duplex arrangements Time Division Duplex, TDD and or FDD. However now shown but it is obvious that AMCs used for DSL and or DOCSIS and or other active networks for broadband access etc. to use other carriers may be added or used in parallel with each other and or with active networks for wireless systems.

The AMC 20 shows a connection to a wired network 17/25 including a plurality of possible devices via outlets 16. Such outlets and or devices include TV sets and or telephones, computers etc., music applications tools, flat screens etc. connected to it for example via outlets physically and or wirelessly.

AMCs include transfer through various mediums where it adopt to the medium used whether it is FDD and or TDD and or Space Division Duplex SDD (using different medium per direction and or per channel) and or half FDD. As such AMCs includes transfer over a different types of cable medium is such as above mentioned modes which include adaption to transfer of stations based on TDD to half FDD and or TDD to SDD and or FDD to FDD. Thus transferring including wireless TDD to transfer on TDD at another frequency than the one ode through the air. Or alternatively transmit on one frequency band and or receive on another through the cable medium. An or transmit on one cable (on one frequency) and receive on another medium, like coaxial cable, on the same or different frequency as the transmit (i.e. like using two pairs of cables).

Fig. 3 show an example of an embodiment on AMCs to handle transparent transfer of a station based on TDD and or FDD. In an example station 21 for example based on TDD includes transfer of signals in a TDD mode via 43 to and from the cable. In addition a half duplex arrangement is briefly shown where transmit and or receive means are separated 44, 45 via selected cables per direction and or via separate frequency carriers per direction on a common cable via 43. Signals that are passed trough an AMC are shown to be converted in frequency, visualised by 40 and 46 transmit to respective reception path. A VCO 41 may be set to the same frequency by 41 when TDD is used for the cable transfer and or to different frequencies and VCOs if half FDD is selected. Appropriate functions to set and or adjust transmit and or level and or control of set of level are applied per link. Achievement of appropriate transmission and or reception level between AMCs and or stations and or antennas applied for each medium used are included by selecting at least a transmit leler to the cable and or to the antenna and station. AMCs include functions to isolate transmit amplification while receiving data by including circulators and or power dividers and or switching functions of data during transmit time at least for TDD. Using TDD stations and TDD transfer over a cable include functions to internally and or externally detect time period of transmission and or reception period and include such data for isolation from interferences and or quality transfer improvements.

A station based on TDD which include transmitting and or receiving means and connect to an antenna and or antenna system, includes signal to pass through circulators and or other devices for example a switching arrangement that enable separation of transmission time with reception time, like 39, 42 for station 21 to route signals and or activated transmit and receive path when needed during each transmission and or reception period.

The shown AMCs 20 and 22 arrangements are understood to normally have a mirrored function versus each othe when transferring in dual directions. This means a signal received from 20 and passed through cable/wire 17 is converted back to its original frequency (if that is wanted) at 22 to which is connected a station and or an antenna and or antenna system 23. This is further connected via a wire (digital port or an analogue to such station) and or wirelessly connecting AMC 22 equipped with and an antenna and or antenna system to one and or more stations 24.

AMCs adoptions to transfer characteristics are pre set to convert between fixed frequencies, impedances, levels equalisations etc. and or manually controllable and or locally and or remotely controllable and or supervised. It is clear that such functions may be applied and handled via an interface sp a corresponding control and or supervisory means, here schematically shown as 48. 48 includes communication wire and or wireless interfaces and or functions and means for changing frequencies etc. In addition it is a ling of an overall control and supervisory arrangements shown as 80 which in it turn communicate with 50, 51 etc. The supervision of the actual transfer quality is enabled by detecting the actual signal to noise and or bit error rate and or the means internally in each used active network that record channel transfer quality and in case needed change modulation scheme such as in most wireless and wire standards. Such information is derived at 80 which is programmed to make changes in frequencies and or level etc. to optimise each the transfer quality between AMCs etc. 80 is foreseen to be a processor connected to an IP network and 80 and 48 are foreseen physical means while 80' and or 48' are foreseen containing similar functions but it may not contain all means at AMC (plugged in to an outlet without a station) and or at a station site where a user is connected such user station application may by remotely controlled and supervised form another site , for example located at a gateway 26 or similar. By assigning scattered AMCs, for example to various outlets of a cable network 17/25 it is meant to show that each such AMC is enabled to become controlled and or supervised internal signalling and or via other external networks like a mobile network device via 80 and 80' and further are remote control and or supervision via Internet visualized to become enabled via a centralized network management (including local network management depending on application) system which includes remote supervision and or control via 50, 51 ,52,53 etc. In addition in order to remotely access AMCs which do not include their own means for controlling and or supervising, such as to include simple applications where only a converter may be applying an antenna or antenna system 8and not an station involved in the transaction that makes it possible to receive and transmit control and supervisory information to 80 and or 50, 51 , etc. To enable such features without building is all communications functions may a mobile terminal shown as 48751' include such function which enable such AMC to communicate via a mobile network. The abbreviation 51' is schematically meant to visualize that a mobile terminal may be equipped with network management capability enabling a user of such mobile to remotely and locally control and or supervice part of the network (such as in a home network controlling media applications, security applications, etc. functions that may be more local, in addition to a corresponding control and or supervisory system 51. The shown controlling and or supervision functional means visualised by 48 for controlling AMC 20 and or 48' include control of AMC 22 in case no station is applied but only antennas etc. In case a station 23 48 may be included. 80 includes a locally organised control supervision means including functions for selection of frequencies and or other transfer parameters and or quality detection etc. of traffic transparently transferred via AMCs, which data is further accessible at another location 50/51/52 etc. remotely from where the creation of resource sharing through cables and air between selected sites may be handled. In order to control and or supervise and select free and non interference resources includes selection of frequency on radio carrier channel (or channels) and or bandwidth of such channel, transfer between stations such as 21 and or 23 over selectable medium includes selection of suitable frequency bands for transmit and or receive data through such medium and or to set transmit gain and or impedance and or equalisation and or duplex arrangements for each specific path AMCs 20 and 22 for every used medium like cable/wire, 17 and or air where it is applied if wireless stations is used.

Methods and means include ordinary detection of transfer quality on used standards, such as WLAN, WiMAX, between stations 21 , 23 to detect quality of transfer characteristics and feedback to detect quality dependent on transfer quality due to transfer characteristics and or interference from other services using the same medium between each AMC such as the pairs 20, 22 used in this figure. Functions and means are included to optimise and coordinate use transfer of carriers on each medium and or to change selected characteristics (frequency, level etc. equalisation) on each medium involved.

Arranging transparent transfer between stations in active networks like inside homes (or for broadband access networks) include station or stations (like 23) to be plugged in to outlets in addition to corresponding AMCs. Such added stations may be used to connect end users via ports (401) and or to be used as an extra capacity injection which could be used to create its own communications network on cables and or air. However, only an antenna and or antenna system may be applied on one AMCs connecting 56 etc. Such applications enable wireless access in the surrounding area of the outlets used for such applications. AMCs may be applied at user ports to include functions to select transfer frequency channels etc. for establishing wireless access at such spot serving access to and from a remote located station via a wire. In addition by including station corresponding AMC such stations capacity may be used locally in a room etc. near such outlet and or serve it self as an added capacity resource that may transferring its data transparent over used air and or cables. Stations based on wireless standards may be integrated with a built in AMCs functionality where an AMC functionality may use modem ports and processing means and replace conventional transmit and or receive means. As such methods are included to benefit from the added extra transfer capacity, digital port connections, control and supervision capability (48), inclusive enabling further creation of accesses to such station providing its supports such features internally (as operating in multi point mode by it self) or via added switching and routing means s 26'.

If not AMC are equipped with a station connected (23) it may be set to fixed conversion frequency corresponding to the frequencies bandwidth available for the particular outlet or cable. In addition, the set op to a corresponding frequency transfer frequency include locally and or remote control and or supervision of AMCs via external and or built in wire and or wireless communications devices, of the same type as used for the transfer and or different types. Control may be achieved from central or local network management 50, 52,53 etc. via another network, such as a mobile terminal including a public access network. Such control and or supervision (see example 420 connecting via mobile connecting to AMCs enabling control similar to the internal from 80 of such AMCs). Such functionalities are shown to be 420 communicating locally via 422 and or enabling remote control and supervision from 50/ 51 etc. using a mobile as a link.

Methods functions systems means include control and or supervision of applied antenna and or antenna system connected to an AMC and or AMCs, with and or without stations applied 21 , 32. I.e. depending of the applied function such antenna and or antenna system include functions and means to include transparent transfer delay trough AMCs for transparent transfer of one or multiple channels. This includes selection of the number of antenna elements arrangement for appropriate directional purposes including transparent operation to a original set up of a remotely access point (or BNA) such as for MIMO based networks, including WLAN, WiMAX, UMTS etc. and IEEE 802.11n type of solutions and or similar for wire based systems if and when applied. In addition are functions and means included to allow any and MIMO coded channel signals to be transferred either trough air and or a cable and or wires and or both. In addition this includes transparent functions and means to control such antennas in directions and or to operate transparent and or to include external control and or supervision means to effect applied antennas in direction via 48 and or 49 when such is applied at a remote site 56 (in the TDD is used). Such control includes means to varying of delays through each channel and combines such delays to achieve forming of beams.

Methods functions and means includes expansion by converting each selected modulated and or coded channel on active networks based on MIMO technology. The respective MIMO channel may be transparently carried on carriers either through the air and or through a cable on selected non interference carrier frequency per channel with other channels from the same station and or coordinating the use of frequency spectrum on cables with other services that may use the same cable. Additionally methods and means include use of either air and or cables and or cables pr channel transfer and or both air and or cable medium in parallel. This to improve the number of possible routes between such stations and enable use of cables with a varying type of frequency bandwidth available, such as telephone cable which may have limited frequency in comparison to coaxial cables, however still better to use than being blocked by transferring via air through walls etc .

The above explanation is manly to give a brief explanation of some of the major functions of an AMC and it is further apparent from Fig.3 that the second AMC 22 operates the same way as 20 and no further explanations are therefore necessary in this respect. Using AMCs working separate and or integrated with stations at outlets for TV and or telecom access includes further means to be plugged into such outlets with and without an antenna and or antenna system built in and or with and without a remote power supply over the used wire from another network device such as AMC and or stations etc. supporting others with power supply.

It is apparent that varying network structures created by including to use and adopt to transfer over various mediums may include different types and or functions bandwidth resource coordination interference control supervision in real network applications. It is not aimed to describe this all this detail, however it is obvious from the explanation of all of the figures that various types of AMC and external devices assigned etc. expand active network standards and by adding additional devices that coordinates the use of cables by more services is applicable and in addition much wider area coverage and or network structures capacity may be derived by adding additional switching and or routing means to it, supporting varying size of broadband access including fibre and or coax and or telecom and or home networking and or wireless extension and or new types of wireless links using multiple active networks and or to combine such networks over shared medium (see fig 6).

One further example includes transfer of multiple stations carriers to pass through an AMC at selected end of a medium.

Except to adopt transfer through different medium by enable selection through AMCs are functions system and means included to arrange to set stations that operates in selected active networks, for example access points, nodes, base stations etc, to operate on different radio channels and or combine it by including selection through AMCs. As such methods and means includes separate selections of channel carrier frequency of selected stations, using one (and or more channels etc. if MIMO may include AMCs in addition) and a group of such channels of separate channels organised in an FDM structure arranged via splitting and combining means and feed as a group of carriers concerted one AMC to operate in parallel on adjacent separated non interference channels over various medium air, coax fibre CAT etc. This includes functions and means to select frequencies for separate FDM groups on different frequency bands structure and transfer such groups over a cable medium and or make a similar arrangement with the same number of transmitting and receiving means (station) at each corresponding end depending or the actual transfer capacity requirement per user application. See also illustration fig. 2 and fig. 5.It is obvious that an appropriate splitting and or receiving means (31/19) are applicable to combine carriers of multiple active networks to and from 20 and or 22 in particular wireless systems using stations operating on fixed and or dynamically assigned to selected channel carriers and or for wire based system may mainly AMCs be applicable to convert such transfer on different channels, 70 and or 71.

Functions and means to transfer data to and from access points, nodes, base stations and or HE - modem and or TV channel distribution only and or DSLAM - DSL modem (from cable and or telecom sector and or other active network to be adjusted in carrier frequency (70) if needed and carried as a an FDM groups of carriers on a local network and or over some longer distance. In such case methods functions and means include that a larger number and or types of active networks are be applied at a spot (AP-B) serving a larger area of scattered houses etc. where fibre is used as part of the transport part of such carriers and that a analogue medium converters for such medium. At the other end such group of carriers is adjusted to be carried on an existing infrastructure and or air, see fig 5.

Methods functions systems means includes use of AMCs for adapting active networks stations to various medium transfers, including conversion of wire based transfers, like HE - end user DOCSIS modem and or DSLAM to xDSL modems and or for CLINK and or PLCs and or any other active network including TV distribution transferring in single direction TV channels. The figure show a schematic view of such parallel traffic arrangements. The example show transparent transfer of dual direction data based on active networks for wireless, for example 21 , via 20 etc, to be transferred on the same medium (500, 510, 17/25) on non interfering carrier channels with TV traffic and or other wire based traffic, combined and or filtered at 31/19. See also Fig. 4 which illustrate combine of such transfer on coaxial cables and or telecom wires, including air medium. The frequency used by radio and or on cable may overlap each other, which may in some cases be the case using specifically coaxial or CAT cables while fibre normally carries signals via light wave bands. However, radio spectrum and 500 and 510 is meant to include transfer of groups of channels via fibre and or FSO and or on other frequency band than usually used by radio access standards mentioned. Such spectrum may be used on selected bands where groups of channels of more active network are arranged in parallel to include high speed wireless linking facilities. Using fibre for such transfer include an appropriate analogue medium converter for it for example enabling transfer of a group of carriers covering from few MHz up to 3, 6, or more GHz where the AMC 200 convert such data to appropriate carrier frequencies in the light wave bands, and re-convert such at another end. Figure 5 aims to visualise that a group converted at 200 may be transferred via same and or separate or a common single fibre and or fibre pair and or dropped and inject at multiple locations, MDUs etc.

A generic type of frequency and level characteristics of a cable network is schematically visualised by Fig. 4. Y axis depicts a carrier signal level S and the x axis depicts a frequency f. f1 represents an approximate upper limit of frequency spectrum used by an active networks solution for the medium. Other frequencies may be usable for example for shorter transfer paths. In an application using coaxial network services by the cable up to fl could be equal of up to 862 MHz for systems based on DOCSIS standards for down and return links on the same cable. If not DOCSIS is used or it TV and or radio and or other services is applied via satellite or modulated by modems to selected TV channels much larger spectrum may be usable by other active networks, at least within or near MDUs. The ability to use coaxial cables for other active network outside of certain frequency bands for dual directional traffic such as for (AMC) converted wireless standards are for example amplifiers ranging up to 470 MHz 570 MHz etc. and or 862 MHz and or other systems using it within such frequency bands for single and or dual directions. However, depending on of the direction are further limitations typically occurring such as return link bandwidth of 65 MHz etc. Methods and means are included to use parts of a cable network for transport data on in dual directions and or create end user access to and from Internet using at least a last portion of a cable network to access home subscribers within buildings and or around buildings and or to connect users in multiple MDUs and or SDUs and or to create home networks. In cases where needed bypass amplifiers and or splitters and or combiners etc. is applicable see 60, 61 figure 5 to enable dual direction of transparent transfer of channels on other frequencies than those that may block and or degrade signals. Such network includes star and or tree and or branch net structures for cable TV and or local satellite traffic.

Fig. 5 illustrates one of many possible structures to establish a wide area broadband network (BA) for dual direction IP broadband access including coexistence with traditional services, such as analogue and or digital TV. In addition is briefly an extension network to the BA shown marked as HN. HN represent a home network or part of it or similar. The total network structure includes use of one and or more of the methods functions systems and means to establish expanded coverage and capacity by a combined use of medium and or active networks and or switching and or routing means. It includes at least combinations of active networks stations by splitters and combiners (31/19) and in addition by optional AMCs 20, 70 etc. at an end which centralise connection to and from Internet for one and or multiple SDUs and or MDUs. A common AMC (200 at one end) may be use to convert a group of channel carriers from multiple stations. At the other end is various end user access sites tailored with the number and type of active networks used, depending on the speed and service requirements needed. Thus utilising transfers from the selected active network station at the corresponding (AP-B) end.

To the left are a number and of different types of active networks shown. This can be based on wireless standards 21 , 20. For the example assume it is based on WLAN standards where 21 represents access points (APs). Other types of active networks other wireless and or cable based solutions (210, 220, 230 etc.) may be applied on suitable carriers (via 70 if needed) and combined via 31/19. The active networks at either side includes transfer of data transparently via fibre 510, and or air 500 etc. by including a suitable conversion of a group of carriers in either directions via AMC 200 or 201. The connection at the end user (right side) may or may not include bypass 61 , if available amplifiers, splitters, combiners etc. 60, needs to be bypassed. The bypass 61 includes functions and means of band pass filter and or high pass and or low pass filter and or other arrangement to enable data to be transparently transferred through such obstacle on separate frequency carriers without degrade data carried on modulated channels through such obstacle. The dotted line between 17/25 and 31/19 illustrate a network structure that is more locally arranged. I.e. AP-B may be applied inside and or near a group of users connected to a local network 17/25 which is establishing connection to a home 35 via CPE-B utilising part of an existing local network 17/25. A plug in device at an outlet may include a filter and or combiner splitter arrangement 31', 31" similar to 31 at the other side, corresponding to respective CPE-B (without passing through 200-201). As such may TV channel distribution to be arranged at each customer outlet in parallel directed digital data transfer as shown at CPE-B2. One active network is used for access at (CPE-B1) and one and or different types of active networks including potentially access user network gateway and or including gateways functions such as briefly visualized by 26" for further expansion into home networks, such as shown by CPE-H.

The network illustration visualizes method and means included where the last part of the existing local network is used and expanded to reach end users with dual direction high bandwidth (22, 23) physically and or wirelessly and or including reception of traditional TV channel reception 79, applied via 210 and transferred to 211 and carried on another band than usually applied by standard equipment by re- converted via corresponding AMCs 70 and 71 on each side. In addition is further envisaged the potential of coexistence on the same local cable 17/25 with a traditional cable-TV operator service 210-O.

Wire based active networks is included systems for transfer of TV channels 79 by modulating it for TV transmission on cable TV networks, D-SLAM, DOCSIS, CLINK, so called Ethernet To The Home ETTT, Power Line Communications devices, PLCs etc. , these and other active network than WLAN based are represented by 210, 220, 230. Functions and means include in such case it is needed AMC 70 to adopt transfer of data on carriers to be transferred to selected carrier frequency and or medium if other than it was originally designed for or if coordination of these carriers etc. is deemed needed with those from 20.

The example of a wide area network visualizes the possible use of different medium for active networks to become centrally located together to transfer as a group via fibre to and from Internet terminating points, such as at a POP (for example at 201) next to or near buildings local network terminating points etc. from where the last portion of the coaxial- and or telecom wire is potentially usable, for example to serve users oven en existing cable the last few hundred meters or meters with broadband access and or home networks in single- or multi dwelling units in the home and or office environments etc.

Methods and means to transfer digital data and or multi-play electronic services, triple play, etc. described above are represented by A... D. The Fig 5 is visualising methods and means to create a wide area network which includes capabilities beyond traditional use of active networks by including transparent transfer of data on carriers through one and or more active network trough one or more medium without effecting data transfer or standard signalling protocols of the active network used and add standard switching and or routing device at either side 26 and 26" or 26" etc. to address electronic services (such as Internet access, VoIP, IPTV, VoD, Wi-Fi, etc. from one and or various content providers represented by A... D, to be transferred through such network to reach corresponding ports at 26". Small letter a...d is meant to include internal communications applications facility set up between locations in homes etc. such as routing switching of traffic for supervision, music, TV, games etc. Such control is either handled between the devices 26 to 26' respective via these and or with the involvement of a separate services and or coordination unit 80 which may consist of an external (like a PC etc.) and or built in processor, server, etc at the left and or similarly at the other end or where 80 controls the other end visualised as 80' Methods and means to further select services included via IP network management functionalities, visualised by 50 for example based on broadband access applications and 51 for home networking support and management etc. inclusive applied management standards SNMP based and or protocols and or arrangements for home networking 52 centrally and or locally.

In fig. 5 is CPE-H meant to visualise a creation of a home networks similarly based on active network of wireless and wires. As in the example a station 21' designed with more than one channel (example IEEE 802.11 n) each modulated carrier is either using cabling and or the air and or both to improve the number of paths and hence reach, visualised by 21' connected to at least one AMC while communicating with 23'. In this case all channels may use either and or both air and cable mediums. Depending on the type of frequency bandwidth available on existing cable active networks include options to select such channel bandwidth to match the transfer over respective medium. Realisation of access and or home network applications utilising existing cables and or wires applied for cable TV operation and or satellite reception of TV media via existing networks end users outlets, includes communications arrangements of integrated plug in units to (IPU) be plugged to either outlet such a TV outlet and an telephony outlet. In case telephone outlets are used plug in devices enables the existing telecom wire to be constantly linked through enable devices on such network in homes etc. to be constantly on line on the 2-wires used in chain. Such IPUs may be equipped with one and or multiple AMCs and one and or multiple stations with and or without switching and or routing means and or one and or multiple antenna elements etc., corresponding to the types of access digital connection via wires and or wireless connections only and or speed that is transferred through such outlet .

Methods and means for local control of respective AMCs is visualised by 48 (which may be included or not in 80 and a control of AMCs at remote sites but connected to transmit and receive means is visualised as 48'. Control of AMCs such as these without transmitting and receiving means within the said network include control and or supervision via other external device such as a mobile unit 48751.

Methods and means are included to combine home network supporting internal communications in multipoint mode with broadband access networks to create the needed Internet access 13.

Methods and means included where end users handle data transfer between sites in a home network and or selection of applications via fixed and or mobile terminal 48751. Local and or remote management of home networks is visualised by 51 which is obviously based on a similar type of network devices however where 51 indicates the use of handling each users own private network and tailor it to its respective needs. 51 includes local network management facilities on HN as well as connection options for suppliers and network owners operators content providers to maintain and upgrade such networks as well as the broadband access network controlled typically entirely by operators network operating centres. Methods functions and means to create network management functions and facilities that in process of being included as standards or de facto standards or any of the active network based is envisaged to be included in 51 and as such case it is visualised as 52. This includes TR069 and similar standards under development for wire and or wireless home networking.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiments where broadband access and home network arrangements is sharing the same cable medium (25/17) on different frequencies and potentially the air medium as well.

The cable medium on top of the figure is meant to resemble of a coaxial cable infrastructure in a home network forming a star and or a tree & branch structure. A similar cable structure may appear in an internal MDU and or when connecting scattered SDUs to cable TV networks. It is meant to visualize connected users via coaxial networks for cable operators and or similar which may appear in locally injected TV distribution network transferring media via satellites and or other routes via fibre etc. including locally injected modulated analogue and or digital TV channels on any such cable network to support traditional TV reception services. In some cases are one and or two such physical cable networks available in a home network and or an MDU etc. serving more than one household. In such networks may cable operators use up to 860 MHz for DOCSIC applications and the other cable may use intermediate carrier frequencies from a satellite above the DOCSIS frequencies. Thus leaving the frequency bands above 860 MHz free to be used for other services (carried by other active networks), and the other to use the frequencies below the one used for satellite reception. In other cable installations may two such cable services being carried on the same physical cable. In such case may the two services being spliced and isolated via filters, for example built in to outlets. Thus virtually two cables are created by one by such filter separation. Outlets are typically seen as a splitter combiner connecting two ends to one where user devices are connected. Such devices may vary dependent on the operator services as mentioned briefly above. In the case outlets are used for cable operators such outlets may include directional couplers isolating outlets on a same cable (tree & branch) to be isolated from each other. Thus, as such it may prevent free and open access between such outlets ports. Should multiple outlets of this kind be used in a home network where a mesh network architecture being appreciated may such outlets be replaced and or traffic routed to another outlet, for example at a centralised from where different outlets are reachable, containing at least switching and or routing means 26 which has the ability to access all or multiple outlets.

Methods and means are included to wirelessly and or via wire share the free frequency in such infrastructures and in addition with telecom infrastructure is applied and selectively are air or if needed may for example short new infrastructure be applied to bridge between networks and or to enable a path through a wall, floor, roof etc. Alternatively may in addition a telecom 2 wire network structure be applied. The types of networks and structures may further vary in different areas of the world. A local or operator driven coaxial network may consist of a tree and branch and or star structure or combinations. Outlets of such networks may include directional couplers isolating applications and or end users from interfering with each other's traffic and instead direct the respective user or application connection. Functions and means to enable traffic to pass traffic between end user ports is applicable by selecting applicable transfer frequencies which may disables appropriate blocking performances of used directions means and or to connect for example home user applications via each port to pass via one centralised switch router means 26. At the same location may alternatively and or a telecom or other wire be used as mentioned above. The wire representing it resembles of a fixed telecom wire infrastructure connecting users in single or multi dwelling units from a nearest cross connection in and or next to buildings etc 170. A BA access (and or a home network) is visualised for such network by one or a number of stations 21 each applied with converter means 20 connected to a combining unit and or filter 31 allowing ordinary telephone traffic to pass through and enable the active stations to communicate via carriers on stations applied on selective outlets, of the telecom wire 8 which is the first which may contain a 4 wire connection and the interconnection via a number of outlets further on in each home etc. Not shown, however, when available the remaining 2 wires may be used to improve the capacity to the first outlet. One of the outlets (7) is equipped with a converter and an attached antenna or system with and or without a transmitting means 23 (a traditional station which is part of an active network in this case). In such case it include control via 48' via an external network wirelessly.

A mobile network for example 48751 'is meant to include direct physically or wireless connection locally to an AMC via a local built in network management applications in mobile terminals servicing as a local management function to handle communications between end user applications. In addition to an internal logical connection to and from AMC active networks being controlled via 48 it is implied as 48' in a remote site. If no station function is applied at an outlet (i.e. only AMC with antenna or antenna system) and or if control of selection of frequencies and other medium transfer characteristics are deemed needed to be applicable etc. and needed to become controlled and or supervised, in such cases communication is included via another network such as a mobile terminal connected via a network. Such network includes further interconnection via a centralised site 50, 51 , 52 etc. to get an appropriate information and or ability to control, if deemed necessary. It is also understood from the description of the innovation that one and or more networks may be transferring data using the cables available to bypass various obstacles and improve reach, capacity and speed etc. Figure 6 additionally illustrate examples of transparent transfer via different cable medium and or through air for selective paths. The dotted lines visualize creation of a network structure originated at 170 for access and or home networking using telecom wire at least in and or outdoors, that may include coaxial cable structure for transparent transfer on such structure. The example shows a wireless bridging between the two cable structures.

Additionally is a wireless system visualised consisting of a base station, node, access point etc. (UMTS, WiMAX₁ WLAN-WiFi, xMAX MMDS LMDS etc.) applied outdoors 180. It is shown that the carriers entering either indoor cable infrastructure is expanded the reach of such mobile, nomadic and or fixed access network on normally hidden locations via AMCs which is adapted to the medium and or wireless communications system used.

Expended networks are shaped by methods functions systems and means shown in this document. This involve use of medium conversion (AMC), control of the coordination of the use of spectrum resources on cables and or air at selective sites and or paths, including handling of data flows of data to transparent passes through multiple active networks of the same and or different types including external devices such as switching and or routing devices at central and or at other selectable user sites for internet access and or for applications in homes including coordination of resources locally via 80 and centrally located management functions like 50, 51 ,52 including remotely accessible control and supervision, handhelds, special applications added on mobile terminals, etc.

Figure 7a aims as a summary to visualize the comprehensive method function and means of enabling the use of various mediums via medium conversion to be used in combination with active networks and when applicable with switching and or routing means which use available cables and or air medium to establish access and or other communications network solution supporting OSI level 12 - to 7. In addition such networks is based on the idea to avoid various obstacles by including transparent transfer of carriers for each path, enabling communications between stations through various mediums 17/15/500/510/170/900 where one and or multiple mediums may be used in parallel and or in cascade, for each pair of station in communication. Such medium may for each path be of the same type and or of different types for transfer between stations.

In addition it is shown that applicable gateways etc. enables expansion in the creation of bandwidth where one or more stations of the same or different types are interconnected digitally to such gateways (switching and or routing means 12, 26, 26', 26" .. which is used to create new networks, variable speed and functions beyond the individual used active networks, derived for the use of multiple active networks etc.

To enable a general medium platform for active networks are a number of methods functions system and means shown to be included, as it been described, where suitable adoptions between medium and active networks are managed by the introduction of AMCs for selectable paths to be passed via air and or cables. The stations applied communicate through the arranged medium includes standard active network for wireless and or wire type of access to and from internet and other network. Such networks are generally described in this applications and visualized in the fig 7a as 210/220/230..etc - 11/24/94/180 etc.

Methods functions and means include medium adaption through AMCs such as those additionally described in the document and here abbreviated to 20/22/70/71 etc. Such AMCs enable medium to be used for transparent transfer for each active network similar to OSI level 1 for used active network. To enable such transfers AMCs are including necessary adaption's such as frequency selection, level adjustment, level and or time delay equalisation etc. of passed carriers. Further are functions and means included to coordinate use of medium with other services occupying for example the same cable and or functions and means to include quality detections in order to strive to use medium effective and avoid interference between active networks and or other applications occupying frequency band in used medium.

Methods and means include reduction and or elimination of line of sight obstacles by enabling passages via cable or cables part of or for the complete path per link between stations. Bypass of obstacles transferring data transparently on cables includes means to use part of an existing cable infrastructure and or to bypass existing amplifiers, splitters etc. on selected frequency bands. In addition it enable use of more than one type cable as multiple cables may be available, cable operators and or those for satellite receiving local networks and or those used for telecom wire and or air to prevent obstacles.

Co-location of different services is shown for access and or home network and or other networks or wireless access solutions. As an optimized use of equipment transmission transfer resources are being coordinated with the available frequency transfer resources through air and or through cables to transfer data between pair or stations. Each path between a pair of stations in communication may include one and or several mediums per such path, as visualized by fig 1 , air, cable - air and or cable only and or cable - cable - air etc. in any combination by applying appropriate AMC functions per medium passed.

Methods functions and means are included to locally and or remotely control and supervise and or coordinate the flow of data and or control and or supervise of use of medium via AMCs, schematically visualized via 80Υ422, 80/80', 48/48748" locally and or remotely. Network management facilities are visualized, by 50/51/52/53, that is meant to show that various kind of networks structures created are being controlled and supervised and coordinated via internal signalling through networks and or that when applicable external networks such as mobile networks may be applied to control, supervise and or monitor AMC and other devices, for example integrated plug in units, IPUs. This feasibility includes separated functions and or integrated functions to operators network operation centres, NOC and or similar for home networks and or other networks. It is clear, that besides the shown networks applications etc. in this document, that other combinations and network structures may be created by expanding the use available cable and licensed and or unlicensed air frequencies, to create new infrastructure and networks. Thus by combining active networks over adopted medium with other standard network devices are new forms of network being enabled supporting broadband access for multi play multimedia services, by expanding fibre infrastructure within the last mile and or communications networks in homes and or enable expansion of wireless access network in area coverage and or capacity indoors and well as outdoors. Thus, Broadband Access and or Home Networks and or Wireless Expansion networks and or Wireless and or Fibre Links arrangements that are briefly shown and or visualized combined in some cases but also other network application and structure being enabled by the methods described.

Methods functions systems and means are included where stations in active networks per path use one and or multiple adapted mediums in parallel or in cascade without the need to change modulation and or coding and or other user data and or signalling information. The applied active networks includes those arranged as links or as networks i.e. typically arranged as OSI level 2 to 3 to transfer data between them in point - point and or point to multi point and or multi point mode (not excluding base band carriers such as for point to point Ethernet) to the specific medium and higher up including hand over roaming end user applications up to OSI level 7. These are typically designed for either air and or different types of cables and or services. Cables such as coaxial and or CAT for data transfer and or telephony and or fibre and or electrical etc. are included to be used for various selected paths based on reach and or speed requirement the used modems and coding applied and the infrastructure resources to that is being available for transfer through the air and or cables, trough a wall, floor or multiple such obstacles, house, etc. Thus methods and means includes creation of active networks with extended coverage geographically and or extended spectrum efficiency and or in new expanded network structures and applications on OSI level 3 to 7, by including adding switching and or routing devices and applied protocols see 12/26/26726" to enable gateways to and from Internet and or achieve mash network and or combine traffic flows from multiple station in multiple active network to increase speed, etc . In the figures are applied Internet services from different services provider visualized as A - D. Such services are enabled to become accessible by end users through appropriate switching and routing means via network management functions and or similarly may applications applied in home networks music, TV, Game, security etc. and or others networks visualized as a-d enables data for such applications to be included in the transfer between existing user ports and or through wireless means and or through home gateways (such as HGI) and similar means.

One or a number of stations is meant to be able to transfer either trough air or trough a selected type of cable due to the modulation coding used provided it is able to adjusted in frequency and impedance cable characteristics, level etc. by AMCs (20/22/70 etc.). Coordination of transfer resources are visualized by ANCR1 , ANCR2, ANCR3...etc, with available medium resources are briefly meant to be visualized by 410/240/244 etc... via 80, 80' in control of AMCs.

Figure 7b) is aimed to exemplify and clarify the earlier shown figures and descriptions by visualizing an example where stations consisting of one and or multiple numbers and types of active networks are adapted to transparently transfer data over selected medium and as such expanding the capacity and capability of the active networks used and the mediums used where appended in addition external switching and or routing means in addition together enables a further enhancement. The shown creation of a generic medium platform in combination with active networks and switching and or routing means are applicable to be used to create more effective network than used separately of in shown applications.

Claims

1. A method to create communications networks, including fixed and or nomadic and or mobile, where establishment of communications networks includes data, voice, video, multi play or multimedia services, characterized in

that transfer between stations in enabled through air and or cables consisting of the same modulated and coded digital data, that communication between stations includes conversion means enabling transparent transfers of digital data over selected medium, that transparent transfers through selected medium is enabled by including use frequency conversion means.

2. A method to create communications networks by using active networks based on wireless and or wire based transfer to and or to and from end users connected to existing cables, characterized in

that communication between stations within active networks is extended in reach, that extension in reach is including by adapting cable and or air medium for a transparent transfer on analogue medium based on air and or on cables, that that transfer on analogue medium is based on adaption to the available frequency of the used medium for the actual transfer.

3. A method to create network based on one or more than one active network that includes wireless access standards and or de facto standards etc., that are enhanced by bypassing obstacles, characterized in

that modulated and coded channels applied for transfer between stations within networks includes transfer trough air and or through cable and or any combination, that transfer between station that include a cable and or multiple cables and or any such combination includes adoptions to enable appropriate transparent transfers frequency over used medium path should it be different to air.

4. A method to create network based on one or more than one active network that includes wireless access standards and or de facto standards etc., that are enhanced in reach and or network capacity, characterized in

that modulated and coded channels applied for transfer between stations within networks includes transfer through air and or through cable and or any combination, that transfer between station that include a cable and or multiple cables and or any such combination includes adoptions to enable appropriate transparent transfers frequency over used medium path should it be different to air, that a connected station to outlet communicating with another station via a cable/wire includes that connected station communicate with other stations on the same and or other air or cable/wire medium.

5. A method to create communications networks including fixed and or nomadic and or mobile where establishment of communications networks includes data, voice, video, multi play or multimedia services include end user services such as TV distribution and or fixed telephone to operate in parallel , characterized in

that transfer between stations in enabled through air and or cables consist of the same modulated and coded digital data, that communication between stations includes conversion means enabling transparent transfers of digital data over selected medium, that transparent transfers trough selected medium is enabled by including use frequency conversion means, that that transfer over cable/wire medium for various services is carried on different and or non interfering frequencies.

6. A network in accordance to Claim 1 , wherein a method to create selectable area coverage and improve use of frequency spectrum based on air and or cables transfer, characterized in that obstacles such as line of is by passed, that obstacles such as use of air spectrum is avoided, that use of frequency spectrum for transfer includes any applicable and or free frequency band on a cable/wire.

7. A method to create a home network in accordance to Claim 1 , characterized in

that existing cable networks are used to access end users via outlets, that licensed and or unlicensed radio frequency spectrum is used for transfer where applicable.

8. A method to create network with variable capacity in cable and or air medium Claim 1 , characterized in

that selectable number of operations of stations is applied at selectable sites, that such sites may include connection to Internet and or at a end users, access and or users application.

9. A method to create new networks by using multiple number and or types of active networks to create access networks and or home networks and or broadband connection via wireless links and or via cable medium, characterized in

that create a medium platform that enables transfer of modulated and or coded data between stations to become adjuster for transparent transfer through paths of selected medium, that transfer transparent transfer includes adoption to available frequency spectrum, that transfer of transparent transfer includes adoption to impedance.

10 A method in accordance to Claim 1 , where outlets for end user are connected to cable TV from operators and or satellite TV reception and or telecom services, where dual direction communication via active network independent of existing services is applied, characterized in that end user equipped with a corresponding station are connected to another station via a wire connection, that end users equipped with a station is wirelessly connected via the cable.

11. A method to expand coverage in MIMO based active networks by including use of Cable/wire and or air transfer, characterized in

that transparent transfer of selective channels which are each modulated and coded for air transmission, that includes transfer transparent on selective and or all channels via cables on non interfering frequencies, that transfer of more than one channel on a same cable include at least conversion to non interfering frequencies for the transfer over used cable, that transferred channels through conversions at one end of a used medium includes reconversion at the other end of used medium.