Retasking Upstream Modulators for Legacy Device Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transition from analog to digital television and advancements in video compression and data modulation render legacy devices outdated, necessitating costly upgrades or replacements, while there is a need for backwards compatibility to support these older devices.

Innovation Solution

An interactive services gateway with upstream modulators that can be retasked to operate in downstream mode, allowing legacy devices to receive content in compatible formats by changing modulation types and inserting signals into passthrough frequency ranges, using switched filtering and wireless control commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If legacy devices continue to use old modulation formats, then backwards compatibility is maintained, but they cannot receive modern digital content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with modern content formatsVSAvoidbackwards compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The modem is designed to perform multiple functions by dynamically retasking its modulators between upstream and downstream modes. The same physical modulator hardware can transmit signals in both directions and support both legacy and modern modulation formats, making the device universal rather than specialized for a single function or format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operating mode of modulators based on real-time needs. When legacy device compatibility is required, the modem retasks an upstream modulator to operate in downstream mode with appropriate modulation formats. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its characteristics rather than being fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If dedicated downstream modulators are added for legacy device support, then backwards compatibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackwards compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of modulators

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding dedicated downstream modulators, the invention reuses existing upstream modulator hardware for downstream transmission. The same physical modulator can be tasked to transmit in either direction, eliminating the need for separate hardware components and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers unused upstream modulator capacity by retasking idle upstream modulators for downstream transmission. When upstream traffic demand is low, those modulators are reallocated to serve downstream legacy devices, effectively recovering unused hardware resources rather than letting them sit idle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If upstream modulators are retasked for downstream transmission, then hardware utilization is improved, but signal filtering requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware utilizationVSAvoidfiltering control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filtering system dynamically adjusts its characteristics based on the operational mode of the modulators. When a modulator is retasked from upstream to downstream mode, the switched filter automatically reconfigures to pass the appropriate frequency range and block interfering signals. This dynamic filtering adapts to the changing signal directions and formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Switched filters act as intermediaries between the retasked modulators and the network. These filters mediate the signal flow by selectively passing desired signals while blocking interference from other directions, enabling the shared hardware to operate in multiple modes without signal conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables legacy devices to receive modern content without needing upgrades, by converting incompatible formats and modulation types, thus extending the life of older equipment and reducing upgrade costs.

Implementation Method 1

signal modulation in a modem... The gateway may change the content format and/or the modulation type when transmitting the requested content

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal modulation: Phase Modulation

Implementation Method 2

switched filtering may be used to control the filtering of signals at the gateway, and to remove certain filtering when the upstream transmitter is retasked

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS10181961B2Multi-mode computing device

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

A modem system may include modems that have multiple upstream transmitters for transmitting signals upstream in a communication network. In some embodiments herein, one or more of those upstream transmitters may be retasked to transmit downstream signals for reception at devices within a modem's premises. The downstream signal may be modulated differently from its original modulation as received by the modem, and may be modulated in a manner that can be received by legacy components on the premises, such as analog televisions.