Access device and system for managing television and data communications through a cable television network

摘要

An access device for use with a cable television communications network and a network utilizing such a device. The network includes a cable head end in communication with a television source and a data source and a trunk feed cable. At least one access device is placed in communication with the trunk feed cable. The access device includes an upstream frequency translator, a communications modem, a television band pass filter, a non-television band pass filter, a downstream frequency and a microprocessor for allocating frequency slots for the subscriber, setting the upstream frequency translator. At least one drop cable is in communication with the access device and a subscriber cable modem. In operation, the subscriber sends a service request from the computer, the subscriber cable modem converts the service request signal from the computer and sends the converted signal through the drop cable to the access device. The access device translates the service request signal to a first predetermined frequency and sends the service request signal through the communications modem to the data source via the trunk cable and the head end. The data source responds to the service request signal and sends a cable television network signal through the head end and the trunk cable back to the access device. The access device filters a television signal and a data signal, translates the data signal to a second predetermined frequency, and sends the translated data signal to the subscriber cable modem through the drop cable.