Faceted extended interface module

Details Faceted extended interface module Faceted extended interface module

2001-07-27

2003-02-18

Gandhi, Jayprakash N. (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S730000, C361S797000, C439S535000, C174S059000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06522548

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to broadband communications systems, such as cable television systems, and more specifically to an extended interface module used in headend racks that is suitable for use in the broadband communications systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A broadband communications system
100
, such as a two-way hybrid/fiber coaxial (HFC) communications system, is depicted in FIG.
1
. Such a system may be used in, for example, a cable television network; a voice delivery network, such as a telephone system; and a data delivery network to name but a few. The communications system
100
includes headend equipment
105
for generating forward signals (e.g., voice, video, or data signals) that are transmitted in the forward, or downstream, direction along a first communication medium, such as a fiber optic cable
110
. Coupled to the headend
105
are optical nodes
115
that convert the optical signals to radio frequency (RF) signals. The RF signals are further transmitted along a second communication medium, such as coaxial cable
120
, and are amplified, as necessary, by one or more distribution amplifiers
125
positioned along the communication medium. Taps
130
included in the communications system split off portions of the forward signals for provision to subscriber equipment
135
, such as set-top terminals, computers, telephone handsets, modems, and televisions. It will be appreciated that only one fiber link connecting the headend
105
with a node
115
is shown for simplicity; however, there are typically several different fiber links connecting the headend
105
with several additional nodes
115
, amplifiers
125
, and subscriber equipment
135
.
In a two-way system, the subscriber equipment
135
can also generate reverse electrical signals that are transmitted upstream to the headend equipment
105
. Such reverse signals may be amplified by any one or more of the distribution amplifiers
125
and converted to optical signals by the optical node
115
before being provided to the headend equipment
105
.
In a typical headend facility, the necessary equipment for signal processing comprises a significant number of modulators, demodulators, upconverters, and power supplies to name but a few. By way of example, a communications system may deliver 132 stereo channels of broadband video and audio to subscriber equipment that originates from the headend facility. The required headend equipment for 132 stereo channels may be, for example, housed in 8 racks each with 32 chassis for a total of 256 chassis.
FIG. 2
illustrates one such rack
205
having 32 chassis. Spaces
210
are left in between the equipment rows for air circulation and extensive cabling is routed in the back of the racks A (not shown). The additional 7 racks (not shown) are situated tightly against the illustrated rack
205
.
Due to all the required racks for the headend equipment, the headend facility is typically limited in physical space. This space constraint may pose costly problems for the operator. More specifically, operators may be upgrading existing services and adding more channels to the current channel lineup. As a result, more equipment will be required in the headend facility. Consequently, some operators may have to move their headend equipment to a larger facility to accommodate the newly required equipment. What is needed, therefore, are modules that allow the operator to design a more efficient layout of the headend facility using existing racks rather than the conventional layout using the conventional headend equipment.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3892911 (1975-07-01), Codrino
patent: 5216203 (1993-06-01), Gower
patent: 5781844 (1998-07-01), Spriester et al.

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