IP Library Granted Patent US 11,641,509
Granted Patent B2
US 11,641,509 · App. 17/443,343 · Granted May 2, 2023

Intelligent tap with dynamically configurable amplifier gain

Inventor: Charles Cook (Castle Rock, CO)
Assignee: Charter Communications Operating, LLC
H04N21/6168H04L12/2801H04N7/102H04N21/643
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,641,509
App. No.
17/443,343
Granted
May 2, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for an intelligent tap with dynamically configurable amplifier gain. The intelligent tap includes a filter configured to process a signal received from a service provider system via a hybrid fiber-coaxial network, an amplifier connected to the filter, the amplifier configured to apply a feedback controlled gain value to the signal to generate an output signal, where the feedback controlled gain value is based on a comparison of a target signal strength to a sampled output signal strength, and a signal strength measuring component connected to the amplifier in a feedback loop, the signal strength measuring component configured to sample the output signal, and compare a signal strength of a sampled output signal to the target signal strength to generate the feedback controlled gain value, where application of the feedback controlled gain value maintains the output signal at a constant amplitude pursuant to the target signal strength.

Claims (41)

1. An intelligent tap, comprising:

an amplifier configured to apply a feedback controlled gain value to a content signal to generate an output content signal, the content signal received via a hybrid fiber-coaxial network;

a signal strength measuring component connected to the amplifier in a feedback loop, the signal strength measuring component configured to compare a signal strength of a sampled output signal to a target signal strength to generate the feedback controlled gain value; and

a controller connected to a service provider system, the controller configured to obtain measurements from components in the intelligent tap including at least the amplifier,

wherein application of the feedback controlled gain value maintains the output content signal at a constant amplitude pursuant to the target signal strength.

2. The intelligent tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

the controller configured to set the target signal strength based on input from the service provider system.

3. The intelligent tap of claim 2 , the controller further configured to set parameters for the components in the intelligent tap including at least the amplifier and the signal strength measuring component.

4. The intelligent tap of claim 3 , wherein the components in the intelligent tap include at least the signal strength measuring component.

5. The intelligent tap of claim 4 , the controller further configured to set the parameters based on the measurements.

6. The intelligent tap of claim 4 , the controller further configured to receive instructions based on the measurements from the service provider system to set the parameters.

7. The intelligent tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

a filter configured to process the content signal received from a service provider system via the hybrid fiber-coaxial network.

8. A method for dynamically adjusting an output signal of an intelligent tap, the method comprising:

generating an output media signal by applying a feedback controlled gain value to a media signal, the media signal received via a hybrid fiber-coaxial network;

generating the feedback controlled gain value by comparing a signal strength of a sampled output media signal to a defined signal strength; and

obtaining, by a controller, intelligent tap component data including at least amplifier data,

wherein application of the feedback controlled gain value maintains the output media signal at a constant amplitude pursuant to the defined signal strength.

9. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:

setting the defined signal strength based on received content provider system control signals.

10. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:

setting intelligent tap component parameters based on received content provider system control signals.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the content provider system control signals are based on the intelligent tap component data.

12. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:

filtering the media signal to mitigate noise and interference on the media signal; and

sampling the output media signal.

13. A system comprising:

a cable modem termination system configured to transmit content signals;

a hybrid fiber-coaxial network connected to the cable modem termination system, the hybrid fiber-coaxial network configured to carry the content signals transmitted by the cable modem termination system;

a plurality of intelligent taps connected to the hybrid fiber-coaxial network, each intelligent tap connected to a customer premises equipment and each intelligent tap comprising:

an amplifier configured to apply a feedback controlled gain value to the tapped content signals to generate output content signals;

a signal strength measuring component connected to the amplifier in a feedback loop, the signal strength measuring component configured to compare a signal strength of a sampled output signal to a target signal strength to generate the feedback controlled gain value;

a controller connected to a cable modem termination, the controller configured to obtain measurements from components in the intelligent tap including at least an the amplifier,

wherein application of the feedback controlled gain value maintains the output content signals at a constant amplitude pursuant to the target signal strength.

14. The system of claim 13 , each intelligent tap further comprising:

the controller configured to set the target signal strength based on input from the cable modem termination system.

15. The system of claim 14 , the controller further configured to set parameters for the components in the intelligent tap including at least the amplifier and the signal strength measuring component.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the components in the intelligent tap include at least the signal strength measuring component.

17. The system of claim 16 , the controller further configured to receive instructions based on the measurements from the cable modem termination system to set the parameters.

18. The system of claim 16 , the controller further configured to set the parameters based on the measurements.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the target signal strength is the same for each of the plurality of intelligent taps.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2022
From: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 061503/0937 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2022
From: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 061504/0307 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 10, 2022
From: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061633/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: COOK, CHARLES
To: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC
Reel/Frame 056974/0698 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17062665 · Oct 5, 2020
Related Publication 20220109918A1 · Apr 7, 2022