Passive multi-port entry adapter and method for preserving downstream CATV signal strength within in-home network
A cable television (CATV) entry adapter interfaces to a CATV network and serves as a hub in an in-home network for passively communicating multimedia content or information from the CATV network and between subscriber devices connected to the ports of the CATV entry adapter, using CATV signals in a CATV frequency band and network signals in a different in-home network band.
1. An entry adapter for delivering downstream and upstream signals between a network and one or more subscriber devices, the entry adapter comprising:
an entry port for connection to the network;
one or more network ports for connection to the one or more subscriber devices;
a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals; and
a frequency band rejection device coupled between the entry port and the input terminal of the signal splitter,
wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream signals from the network, in a first frequency band, to pass through to at least one of the one or more subscriber devices and
wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to block, from entering the network, signals communicated between the one or more subscriber devices in a second frequency band.
2. The entry adapter of claim 1 , wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:
a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports;
a low frequency terminal coupled to the entry port; and
a high frequency terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter.
3. The entry adapter of claim 1 , the entry adapter further comprising:
a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and
wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:
a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports;
a low frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter; and
a high frequency terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter.
4. The entry adapter of claim 3 , wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.
5. The entry adapter of claim 1 , the entry adapter further comprising:
a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and
wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises:
a first diplexer, the first diplexer comprising:
a common terminal coupled to one of the one or more network ports,
a low frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter, and
a high frequency terminal; and
a second diplexer, the second diplexer comprising:
a common terminal coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter,
a low frequency terminal coupled to a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter, and
a high frequency terminal coupled to the high frequency terminal of the first diplexer.
6. The entry adapter of claim 5 , wherein a third of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.
7. The entry adapter of claim 1 , wherein the entry adapter comprises only passive electronic components.
8. The entry adapter of claim 1 , wherein power received by the entry adapter is received via the signals from the network or via signals from the one or more subscriber devices.
9. The entry adapter of claim 1 , wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects signals within signal frequency band of approximately 1125-1675 megahertz, and passes signals from the network within a signal frequency band of approximately 5-1002 megahertz.
10. The entry adapter of claim 1 , the entry adapter further comprising a second signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals,
wherein the input terminal of the second signal splitter is coupled to the frequency band rejection device,
wherein a first of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to the input terminal of the signal splitter, and
wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.
11. The entry device of claim 1 , wherein the network is a cable television network.
12. An entry device for delivering downstream and upstream signals between a network and one or more subscriber devices, the entry adapter comprising:
an entry port for connection to the network;
one or more network ports for connection to the one or more subscriber devices; and
a frequency band rejection device coupled between the entry port and the one or network ports,
wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream signals from the network, in a first frequency band, to pass through to at least one of the one or more subscriber devices and
wherein the frequency band rejection device is configured to block, from entering the network, signals communicated between the one or more subscriber devices in a second frequency band.
13. The entry adapter of claim 12 , wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:
a first frequency terminal coupled to the entry port, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band;
a second frequency terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band; and
a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.
14. The entry adapter of claim 12 , the entry adapter further comprising:
a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and
wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a diplexer, wherein the diplexer comprises:
a first frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band;
a second frequency terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band; and
a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.
15. The entry adapter of claim 14 , wherein a second of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.
16. The entry adapter of claim 12 , the entry adapter further comprising:
a signal splitter comprising an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein the input terminal of the signal splitter is coupled to the entry port; and
wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises:
a first diplexer, the first diplexer comprising:
a first frequency terminal coupled to a first of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band,
a second frequency terminal, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band, and
a common terminal coupled to at least a first one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and
a second diplexer, the second diplexer comprising:
a first frequency terminal coupled to a second of the at least two output terminals of the signal splitter, wherein the first frequency terminal passes signals in the first frequency band,
a second frequency terminal coupled to the second frequency terminal of the first diplexer, wherein the second frequency terminal passes signals in the second frequency band, and
a common terminal coupled to at least a second one of the one or more network ports, wherein the common terminal passes signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band.
17. The entry adapter of claim 16 , wherein a third of the at least two output terminals of the second signal splitter is coupled to a port configured to handle one or more of voice, data, and video communications.
18. The entry adapter of claim 12 , wherein the frequency band rejection device comprises a frequency rejection filter which rejects signals within signal frequency band of approximately 1125-1675 megahertz, and passes signals from the network within a signal frequency band of approximately 5-1002 megahertz.
19. The entry adapter of claim 12 , wherein the first frequency band comprises frequencies from approximately 5 megahertz to approximately 1002 megahertz, and
wherein the second frequency band comprises frequencies from approximately 1125 megahertz to approximately 1675 megahertz.
20. The entry adapter of claim 12 , wherein the first frequency band ranges comprises frequencies from approximately 5 megahertz to approximately 1002 megahertz, and
wherein the second frequency band ranges comprises frequencies above approximately 1125 megahertz.