A communications system, a method for managing a communications system, and a controller, where the communications system includes a front-end device and a remote device, where the remote device includes at least one coaxial media converter (CMC), where each CMC includes a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) processor supporting a broadband access service and an edge quadrature amplitude modulation (EQAM) processor supporting a video service, and the at least one CMC and the front-end device are connected using a digital fiber, and the front-end device includes a controller, where the controller is configured to manage the at least one CMC.

A virtual physical layer may be provided. When providing the virtual physical layer, a remote radio head may be used. The remote radio head may comprise a first interface device, a second interface device, a digital-to-analog converter, and an analog-to-digital converter. The first interface device may be connected to a virtual physical layer instance instantiated in a cloud-based environment. The second interface device may be connected to customer premises equipment. The digital-to-analog converter may be connected between the first interface device and the second interface device and the analog-to-digital converter may also be connected between the first interface device and the second interface device.

An electromagnetic signal transport and distribution system simultaneously transports over one single mode fiber various programming specifically requested by multiple users in multiple locations while simultaneously offering bidirectional communications with a public network.

A system for digital aggregation of upstream traffic in a network includes optical nodes coupled to a customer distribution network. Dedicated optical fiber spans are coupled to the optical nodes, where each optical node is assigned a dedicated optical fiber span. An upstream aggregator is coupled to each of dedicated optical fiber spans. The upstream aggregator receives digital data from each optical node over each dedicated optical fiber spans assigned to the optical nodes, aggregates the digital data received from each optical node, and outputs the aggregated digital data. The system further includes a digital receiver coupled to the upstream aggregator. The digital receiver receives the aggregated digital data from the upstream aggregator, processes the aggregated digital data; and outputs the processed aggregated digital data to the network.

Detecting PIM in a downstream signal, wherein the downstream signal is received from a cable plant via a subscriber network and an upstream signal is transmitted to the cable plant via the subscriber network. The upstream signal is transmitted in bursts during active intervals. PIM arises from an interaction between the upstream signal and a nonlinear component in the subscriber network and occurs in bursts corresponding to the upstream signal. The detection steps are: (a) identifying the potentially affected downstream signal from the upstream signal; (b) receiving the downstream signal during an active interval; (c) measuring a metric of the downstream signal to obtain an active value; (d) receiving the downstream signal during a quiet interval; (e) measuring the metric of the downstream signal to obtain a quiet value; (f) comparing active and quiet values; and (g) determining whether PIM distortion has been detected based on the comparison.

An apparatus and a method for converting an upstream radio frequency (RF) signal to a digital signal and transmitting the digital signal via an Internet protocol (IP) packet based on an optical network in a cable broadcasting network is provided. The apparatus for transmitting an upstream RF signal includes a detector configured to detect an upstream RF signal, and a transmitter configured to digitize the detected upstream RF signal and transmit the digitized RF signal to a headend via an IP packet.

Detecting PIM in a downstream signal, wherein the downstream signal is received from a cable plant via a subscriber network and an upstream signal is transmitted to the cable plant via the subscriber network. The upstream signal is transmitted in bursts during active intervals. PIM arises from an interaction between the upstream signal and a nonlinear component in the subscriber network and occurs in bursts corresponding to the upstream signal. The detection steps are: (a) identifying the potentially affected downstream signal from the upstream signal; (b) receiving the downstream signal during an active interval; (c) measuring a metric of the downstream signal to obtain an active value; (d) receiving the downstream signal during a quiet interval; (e) measuring the metric of the downstream signal to obtain a quiet value; (f) comparing active and quiet values; and (g) determining whether PIM distortion has been detected based on the comparison.

Directional wireless drop systems are provided. These systems include a tap unit that is connected to a communications line of the broadband network; a cable modem unit connected to the tap unit; a plurality of wireless routers connected to the cable modem unit; and a directional antenna unit that is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers. Each wireless router is associated with a respective one of a plurality of subscriber premises that are served by the directional wireless drop system and is configured to communicate with at least one device that is located at the respective one of plurality of subscriber premises.

A network test instrument is operable to generate an interference profile for a bursty channel of a cable television network. Frequency spectrum data of a received signal is cross-correlated with predetermined frequency spectrum data to identify traces representative of noise. The interference profile may be built from the traces.

The present invention provides for eliminating the requirement for cable modems and routers to be installed in subscribers homes, and/or establishments, by instead including the cable modems and routers in a CATV provider's main distribution line, for sharing amongst a plurality of subscriber homes and/or establishments.