IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,039,317
Granted Patent B2
US 7,039,317 · App. 10/304,595 · Granted May 2, 2006

Reconfigurable node for a hybrid fiber cable network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,039,317
App. No.
10/304,595
Granted
May 2, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reconfigurable node for a hybrid fiber cable network includes fiber slots housing a transmitter or receiver interfacing to a head end, coax slots housing an RF brick interfacing with subscribers and RF plug-in modules providing connectivity between the fiber and coax slots. The plug-in modules include connection points, for connection to a fiber or coax slot. A fiber impedance element, associated with the transmitter or receiver in that fiber slot, is connected to each fiber slot. Each fiber impedance element has a different impedance value. A coax impedance element, associated with the RF brick in that coax slot, is connected to each coax slot. Each coax impedance element has a different impedance value. An impedance sensing circuit detects a DC level associated with each connection point which corresponds with the impedance element in a respective fiber or coax slot to determine the location of transmitters, receivers or RF bricks.

Claims (8)

1. A reconfigurable node for a hybrid fiber cable network, the node including (i) one or more fiber slots each housing a transmitter or receiver for interfacing with a head end, (ii) one or more coax slots each housing an RF brick for interfacing with subscribers; (iii) one or more RF plug-in modules for providing connectivity between the one or more fiber slots and the one or more coax slots, the RF plug-in modules including a plurality of connection points, each connection point being connected to a fiber slot or a coax slot, the node comprising:

(a) a fiber impedance element connected to each of the fiber slots, each fiber impedance element associated with the transmitter or receiver in that fiber slot, each fiber impedance element having a different impedance value;

(b) a coax impedance element connected to each of the coax slots, each coax impedance element associated with the RF brick in that coax slot, each coax impedance element having a different impedance value; and

(c) an impedance sensing circuit to detect a DC level associated with each of the connection points of the one or more RF plug-in modules, wherein the DC level corresponds with the impedance element in a respective fiber or coax slot, for determining slot location of transmitters, receivers or RF bricks in a given configuration of the node.

2. The reconfigurable node according to claim 1 , wherein the node is HMS compliant and reports a signal path from input to output of the node.

3. The reconfigurable node according to claim 1 , wherein at least two different types of RF plug-in modules are used.

4. The reconfigurable node according to claim 1 , wherein an embedded plug-in module determines the type and configuration of the one or more RF plug-in modules and the slot location of the transmitters, receivers or RF bricks.

5. The reconfigurable node according to claim 1 , wherein the RF bricks include an amplifier.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 060791/0583 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 2, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049649/0062 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS, INC.; BIG BAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
Reel/Frame 048825/0294 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2015
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 037328/0341 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2015
From: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
To: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035176/0620 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS; BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030498/0023 →