Importance

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Abstract

A broadband network, such as a cable television (CATV) system, for two-way digital communications between a headend and a number of remote terminals dynamically adjusts the power of the upstream signal transmitted by each remote terminal to maintain the bit error rate (BER) of the upstream signal received by the headend below a predetermined limit. In particular, each remote terminal includes a data receiver for receiving signals from the headend (including control signals), and a data transmitter for transmitting digital data signals upstream to the headend. The power level of the data transmitter can be adjustably controlled by the control signals from the headend. The headend includes a data receiver for receiving upstream signals from each of the remote terminals, error detection circuitry for detecting errors in the upstream signals, a data transmitter for transmitting signals to the remote terminals (including control signals), and a processor for calculating the rate at which errors are detected by the error detection circuitry for each remote terminal. The processor directs the data transmitter to transmit control signals to: (1) increment the transmitting power level for any remote terminal having an error rate exceeding a predetermined limit; and (2) decrement the transmitting power level for any remote terminal having an error rate remaining below the limit.

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First Claim