Importance

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Abstract

In a traditional HFC plant, the return path signals originating from cable modems, eMTAs, and settop boxes are transmitted in the 5-42 MHz range (other countries use frequencies such as 5-30 MHz, 5-55 MHz, and 5-65 MHz). These signals with entry points at any RF connection point in the home are combined by RF combiners at the side of the house. Furthermore, RF return path signals from multiple homes are combined by RF taps into a coaxial cable TV plant, and transmitted back to a hub or headend either in RF or thru a fiber optic network.In addition to combining all RF signals, the return path system combines all the ingress noise from all the RF connection points, which has an adverse impact on signal quality. This invention takes advantage of the burst nature of RF return path signals to insert an automatic gating function into the return signal path of a house amplifier so that the return signal path is shut off or attenuated when no RF return signal is present. This has the advantage of eliminating completely any ingress noise contribution when the cable modem, eMTA, or settop box are not actively transmitting, thereby improving overall coaxial cable plant's signal quality.

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First Claim