Optical Signal Distribution System for HFC Bandwidth and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) digital communication networks used by multiple system operators (MSOs) face limitations in bandwidth, number of subscribers, content channels, and power consumption, which restrict their ability to efficiently provide content and receive control data from subscribers.
Innovation Solution
An optical signal distribution system that uses optical signals to deliver content data and receive control data, comprising a head-end, signal distribution hub, optical taps, and subscriber units, with optical communication mediums like fibers and ring resonators, enabling higher bandwidth and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If HFC digital communication network is used, then content data can be delivered to subscribers, but bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical/coaxial transmission system with an optical transmission system. Optical fibers substitute for the electrical network between hubs and subscribers, enabling significantly higher bandwidth while reducing power consumption. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving higher data transmission capacity without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from electrical signals in coaxial cables to optical signals in fiber optics. This parameter change enables the system to overcome the bandwidth limitations of HFC networks while maintaining the overall network architecture, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth improvement and system complexity.
2Productivity
If HFC digital communication network is used, then subscribers can be serviced, but the number of subscribers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By substituting optical transmission for electrical transmission, the system achieves higher bandwidth capacity that can support a larger number of subscribers. The optical network infrastructure enables more users to be serviced simultaneously without degrading service quality, resolving the contradiction between subscriber capacity and available bandwidth.
3Productivity
If HFC digital communication network is used, then content channels can be provided, but the amount of content channels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission parameter from electrical to optical domain, which dramatically increases the available bandwidth. This enables the system to carry many more content channels simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between the quantity of content channels and the bandwidth available to support them.
4Ease of operation
If HFC digital communication network is used, then data communication can occur, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical signal transmission system with an optical signal transmission system. Optical fibers require significantly less power to transmit data over long distances compared to electrical signals in coaxial cables. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining full data communication functionality while dramatically reducing power consumption in the network infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical signal distribution system increases the number of subscribers and content channels, reduces power costs, and enhances the entertainment experience while providing environmental benefits by leveraging higher bandwidth and lower power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The optical signal distribution system comprises a head-end, a signal distribution hub, a plurality of optical taps, and a plurality of subscriber units. The head-end includes an optical transmitter for generating and transmitting a forward channel optical signal including the content data to the signal distribution hub
Implementation Method 2
The optical amplifier amplifies the forward channel optical signal received from the head-end in the optical domain
Implementation Method 3
The optical distribution assembly includes an optical splitter configured to split the amplified forward channel optical signal into a plurality of forward channel optical signals
Implementation Method 4
a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to multiplex the forward channel optical signal and the composite reverse channel optical signal onto the optical communication medium
Implementation Method 5
The head-end includes an optical receiver for receiving a composite reverse channel optical signal from the signal distribution hub, and extracting the subscriber control and other data from the signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical signal distribution system is provided herein useful for multiple service operators (MSOs) in providing content data to subscribers, and receiving control and other data from subscribers. The system facilitates the transmission of content data to the subscribers and the control and other data from subscribers substantially in the optical domain. The system includes a head-end configured to transmit the content data via a forward channel optical signal and receive the control data via a composite reverse channel optical signal. The system also includes a signal distribution hub configured to receive and replicate the forward channel optical signal for transmission to optical taps, receive reverse channel optical signals from the optical taps, generate a composite reverse channel optical signal, and transmit the composite reverse channel optical signal. Each optical tap sends and receives the forward and reverse channel optical signals to and from a plurality of subscribers units.