초록 ▼

One or more pieces of equipment of a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network has a frequency agile transponder connected thereto. Each frequency agile transponder includes a transmitter (T) and a receiver (R) which are connectable to a coaxial line of the HFC network. Bidirectional communications can occ

One or more pieces of equipment of a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network has a frequency agile transponder connected thereto. Each frequency agile transponder includes a transmitter (T) and a receiver (R) which are connectable to a coaxial line of the HFC network. Bidirectional communications can occur between a controller and each frequency agile transponder via the HFC network. The frequency agile transponder has analog inputs/outputs connectable to test points of the one or more pieces of equipment of the HFC network. The frequency agile transponder can test the test points and supply to the controller the results of the test. The transmit and receive center frequencies of the transmitter and receiver of the frequency agile transponder can be selectively and remotely adjusted by the controller to avoid signals at carrier frequencies utilized to transmit program material, data signals and/or telephony signals.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A frequency agile (F/A) transponder connectable to at least one test point of equipment of a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, the F/A transponder comprising:a receiver configured to be connected to a first cable of an HFC network, to receive from the first cable signals around a receive center

1. A frequency agile (F/A) transponder connectable to at least one test point of equipment of a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, the F/A transponder comprising:a receiver configured to be connected to a first cable of an HFC network, to receive from the first cable signals around a receive center frequency and to obtain from the received signals receive data; a controller connected to receive the receive data from the receiver, with the controller configured to detect an electrical condition at the at least one test point, to compare the detected electrical condition to a predetermined electrical condition and to produce transmit data as a function of the comparison; and a transmitter connected to receive from the controller the transmit data, with the transmitter configured to produce from the transmit data signals around a transmit center frequency and to supply the signals around the transmit center frequency to one of the first cable and a second cable of the HFC network, wherein: the receive center frequency and the transmit center frequency are different frequencies; and in response to a frequency change command signal received by the receiver on the first cable at the receive center frequency, at least one of (i) the receiver changes to receive signals at another receive center frequency and (ii) the transmitter changes to transmit signals at another transmit center frequency.