Intelligent device system and method for distribution of digital signals on a wideband signal distribution system

DC CAFC

US 7,941,822 B2
Filed: 02/01/2008
Issued: 05/10/2011
Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
Status: Expired due to Term

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First Claim

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1. An intelligent device for receiving and processing RF signals, comprising:

an input configured to receive a modulated RF signal containing multiple channels, and to receive channel in use information which identifies each channel in the modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to at least one addressable device;

a demodulator unit configured to demodulate at least two channels contained in the modulated RF signal when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device; and

a combiner configured to combine the at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit into a digital stream when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to output the digital stream to the at least one addressable device.

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Abstract

A plurality of intelligent device systems for use with a wideband signal distribution network, and methods for transmitting digital information and receiving digital and non-digital information onto and off of an RF carrier through a wideband signal distribution network, are disclosed. The intelligent device systems provide networks of intelligent devices that modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband signal distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, using existing EIA/TIA 568 standard wiring infrastructure. The methods modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, and separate IP portions from non-IP portions.

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31 Claims

1. An intelligent device for receiving and processing RF signals, comprising:
- an input configured to receive a modulated RF signal containing multiple channels, and to receive channel in use information which identifies each channel in the modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to at least one addressable device;
  
  a demodulator unit configured to demodulate at least two channels contained in the modulated RF signal when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device; and
  
  a combiner configured to combine the at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit into a digital stream when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to output the digital stream to the at least one addressable device.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- - 2. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:
    - a processor configured to receive the channel in use information, wherein;
      
      the demodulator unit comprises a plurality of demodulators each being configured to demodulate a respective one of the channels contained in the modulated RF signal; and
      
      the processor is configured to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device to demodulate the at least two channels, respectively, based on the channels identified in the channel in use information that contain information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 3. The intelligent device of claim 2, wherein:
    - the processor is configured to access a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and
      
      the processor is configured to instruct the demodulator unit which channels contained in the modulated RF signal are to be demodulated by comparing the received channel in use information with the respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device, and to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the channels containing information respectively addressed to the each one of the at least one addressable device to respectively demodulate the channels containing information addressed to the each one of the at least one addressable device.
  - 4. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the demodulator unit comprises at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 5. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:
    - when the channel in use information identifies a single channel as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, the demodulator unit is configured to demodulate at least the single channel; and
      
      the combiner is configured to output the single channel demodulated by the demodulator unit when the channel in use information identifies the single channel as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 6. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the input is configured to receive the channel in use information as part of the modulated RF signal.
  - 7. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:
    - a processor configured to receive the channel in use information; and
      
      a detector configured to detect each channel contained in the received modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device, wherein;
      
      the processor is configured to instruct the detector of a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and
      
      the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device in accordance with the respective address of each addressable device.
  - 8. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:
    - the intelligent device is connected to a plurality of addressable devices each having a respectively unique address; and
      
      the combiner is configured to combine at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit and output a respective digital stream containing the combined at least two channels to at least one of the plurality of addressable devices to which information contained in the received modulated RF signal is addressed, respectively.
  - 9. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein the modulated RF signal is of a frequency in the range of 5 MHz to in excess of 1 GHz.
  - 10. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:
    - the modulated RF signal contains at least one channel carrying an IP portion and at least one channel carrying a non-IP portion; and
      
      the intelligent device comprises a separation unit configured to separate the at least one channel carrying the IP portion from the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion, transmit the at least one channel carrying the IP portion to the demodulator unit, and transmit the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion to an outlet.
  - 11. The intelligent device of claim 10, wherein the outlet is connectable to at least one of a video receiver and a device having an IP address assignable thereto.
  - 12. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:
    - a converter configured to convert at least one of the channels contained in the modulated RF signal into a wireless signal; and
      
      a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the wireless signal to a device configured to receive the wireless signal.
  - 13. The intelligent device of claim 1, comprising:
    - a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless signal carrying digital information thereon; and
      
      a wireless demodulator unit configured to demodulate the digital information carried on the wireless signal,wherein the combiner is configured to output the digital information demodulated by the wireless demodulator unit as an outgoing digital information stream to a wideband distribution unit.
  - 14. The intelligent device of claim 13, wherein the combiner is configured to combine the digital information demodulated by the wireless demodulator unit with digital information received from at least one addressable device, and output the combined digital information as the outgoing digital information stream to the wideband distribution unit.
  - 15. The intelligent device of claim 1, wherein:
    - the intelligent device is configured to be implemented as a distribution unit for use in a wideband signal distribution system, the wideband signal distribution system being configured to distribute signals modulated onto carrier signals of a frequency in the range of about 5 MHz to at least about 1 GHz among a plurality of outlets;
      
      the input of the intelligent device comprises a plurality of input ports configured to receive at least one incoming signal from at least one outlet;
      
      the output of the intelligent device comprises a plurality of output ports;
      
      the combiner is configured to combine all incoming signals at said input ports into an additive signal;
      
      the intelligent device further comprises at least one splitter configured to split the additive signal and distribute the additive signal among said plurality of output ports for distribution to the plurality of outlets; and
      
      the additive signal distributed to the plurality of outlets comprises at least one baseband signal on a carrier signal of a frequency in the range of about 5 MHz to at least about 1 GHz.
  - 16. A signal distribution system comprising:
    - the intelligent device of claim 1;
      
      a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the modulated RF signal to the intelligent device; and
      
      at least one addressable device connected to the intelligent device and configured to receive the digital stream outputted by the intelligent device.
  - 17. A signal distribution system comprising:
    - the intelligent device of claim 12;
      
      a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the modulated RF signal to the intelligent device; and
      
      at least one addressable device configured to receive at least one of the digital stream outputted by the intelligent device and the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless transmitter of the intelligent device.
  - 18. A signal distribution system comprising:
    - the intelligent device of claim 13;
      
      a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to receive the outgoing digital information stream from the combiner of the intelligent device; and
      
      at least one addressable device configured to transmit the wireless signal carrying the digital information thereon to the intelligent device.

19. An intelligent device for receiving and processing RF signals, comprising:
- an input configured to receive a modulated RF signal containing multiple channels;
  
  a detector configured to detect each channel contained in the received modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to at least one addressable device, and to generate channel in use information identifying each channel that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device;
  
  a demodulator unit configured to demodulate at least two channels contained in the modulated RF signal when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device; and
  
  a combiner configured to combine the at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit into a digital stream when the channel in use information identifies the at least two channels as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, and to output the digital stream to the at least one addressable device.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- - 20. The intelligent device of claim 19, comprising:
    - a processor configured to receive the channel in use information generated by the detector, wherein;
      
      the demodulator unit comprises a plurality of demodulators each being configured to demodulate a respective one of the channels contained in the modulated RF signal; and
      
      the processor is configured to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device to demodulate the at least two channels, respectively, based on the channels identified in the channel in use information that contain information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 21. The intelligent device of claim 20, wherein:
    - the processor is configured to access a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and
      
      the processor is configured to instruct the demodulator unit which channels contained in the modulated RF signal are to be demodulated by comparing the channel in use information generated by the detector with the respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device, and to instruct the demodulators of the demodulator unit respectively corresponding to the channels containing information respectively addressed to the each one of the at least one addressable device to respectively demodulate the channels containing information addressed to the each one of the at least one addressable device.
  - 22. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein the demodulator unit comprises at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the at least two channels containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 23. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein:
    - when the channel in use information identifies a single channel as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device, the demodulator unit is configured to demodulate at least the single channel; and
      
      the combiner is configured to output the single channel demodulated by the demodulator unit when the channel in use information identifies the single channel as containing information addressed to the at least one addressable device.
  - 24. The intelligent device of claim 19, comprising:
    - a processor configured to receive the channel in use information generated by the detector, and to instruct the detector of a respective address of each one of the at least one addressable device; and
      
      the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device in accordance with the respective address of each addressable device.
  - 25. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein:
    - the intelligent device is connected to a plurality of addressable devices each having a respectively unique address; and
      
      the combiner is configured to combine the at least two channels demodulated by the demodulator unit and output a respective digital stream containing the combined at least two channels to at least one of the plurality of addressable devices to which information contained in the received modulated RF signal is addressed, respectively.
  - 26. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein:
    - the modulated RF signal contains at least one channel carrying an IP portion and at least one channel carrying a non-IP portion; and
      
      the intelligent device comprises a separation unit configured to separate the at least one channel carrying the IP portion from the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion, transmit the at least one channel carrying the IP portion to the demodulator unit, and transmit the at least one channel carrying the non-IP portion to an outlet, which is connectable to at least one of a video receiver and a device having an IP address assignable thereto.
  - 27. The intelligent device of claim 19, comprising:
    - a converter configured to convert at least one of the channels contained in the modulated RF signal into a first wireless signal; and
      
      a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the first wireless signal to a device configured to receive the first wireless signal;
      
      a wireless receiver configured to receive a second wireless signal carrying digital information thereon; and
      
      a wireless demodulator unit configured to demodulate the digital information carried on the second wireless signal,wherein the combiner is configured to output the digital information demodulated by the wireless demodulator unit as an outgoing digital information stream to a wideband distribution unit.
  - 28. The intelligent device of claim 27, wherein the combiner is configured to combine the digital information demodulated by the wireless demodulator unit with digital information received from at least one addressable device, and output the combined digital information as the outgoing digital information stream to the wideband distribution unit.
  - 29. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein:
    - the modulated RF signal received by the input includes channel identification information identifying the channels contained in the modulated RF signal; and
      
      the detector is configured to detect each channel contained in the received modulated RF signal that includes information addressed to the at least one addressable device based on the channel identification information included in the modulated RF signal.
  - 30. The intelligent device of claim 19, wherein:
    - the intelligent device is configured to be implemented as a distribution unit for use in a wideband signal distribution system, the wideband signal distribution system being configured to distribute signals modulated onto carrier signals of a frequency in the range of about 5 MHz to at least about 1 GHz among a plurality of outlets;
      
      the input of the intelligent device comprises a plurality of input ports configured to receive at least one incoming signal from at least one outlet;
      
      the output of the intelligent device comprises a plurality of output ports;
      
      the combiner is configured to combine all incoming signals at said input ports into an additive signal;
      
      the intelligent device further comprises at least one splitter configured to split the additive signal and distribute the additive signal among said plurality of output ports for distribution to the plurality of outlets; and
      
      the additive signal distributed to the plurality of outlets comprises at least one baseband signal on a carrier signal of a frequency in the range of about 5 MHz to at least about 1 GHz.
  - 31. A signal distribution system comprising:
    - the intelligent device of claim 19;
      
      a wideband signal distribution system connected to the intelligent device and configured to transmit the modulated RF signal to the intelligent device; and
      
      at least one addressable device connected to the intelligent device and configured to receive the digital stream outputted by the intelligent device.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
ChanBond, LLC (Unified Online, Inc.)
Original Assignee
CBV, Inc.
Inventors
Hennenhoefer, Earl, Snyder, Richard V., Stine, Robert D.
Primary Examiner(s)
Kelley, Christopher
Assistant Examiner(s)
BROWN, RUEBEN M

Application Number

US12/068,102
Publication Number

US 20080134273A1
Time in Patent Office

1,194 Days
Field of Search

725/112, 725/113, 725 74- 85, 455/3.01, 330/100, 370/230.1, 370/329, 370/542
US Class Current

725/82
CPC Class Codes

H04H 20/63   to plural spots in a confin...

H04L 5/143   for modulated signals H04L5...

H04N 21/2143   located in a single buildin...

H04N 21/23   Processing of content or ad...

H04N 21/2365   Multiplexing of several vid...

H04N 21/2383   Channel coding or modulatio...

H04N 21/239   Interfacing the upstream pa...

H04N 21/2408   Monitoring of the upstream ...

H04N 21/4347   Demultiplexing of several v...

H04N 21/43632   involving a wired protocol,...

H04N 21/43637   involving a wireless protoc...

H04N 21/437   Interfacing the upstream pa...

H04N 21/4382   Demodulation or channel dec...

H04N 21/44245   Monitoring the upstream pat...

H04N 21/64738   Monitoring network characte...

H04N 7/106   for domestic distribution

H04N 7/108   the cable being constituted...

H04N 7/17309   Transmission or handling of...

Intelligent device system and method for distribution of digital signals on a wideband signal distribution system

First Claim

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Abstract

33 Citations

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Intelligent device system and method for distribution of digital signals on a wideband signal distribution system

First Claim

6 Assignments

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Litigations

4 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

33 Citations

31 Claims

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