CN104836712A - Distributed-type cable modem terminal system - Google Patents

Abstract

This application relates to distributed cable modem termination systems. Distributed CMTS installation for an HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods over multiple separate cables, with multiple QAM modulators located at the cable plant and ideally multiple remote These QAM modulators are divided among the QAM modulators that provide data for these individual cables. A first set of base CATV QAM data waveforms can be transmitted to the nodes using a first fiber, and a second set of IP/on-demand data can be transmitted using an alternate fiber or alternate fiber frequencies and optionally using other protocols such as the Ethernet protocol. to these nodes. These nodes will extract data specific to each neighborhood and inject this data into multiple unused QAM channels, thus enabling improved data transfer rates with finer granularity.

Description

Distributed Cable Modem Termination System

This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application number 201180015258.3, the application date is March 19, 2011, and the invention name is "distributed cable modem terminal system".

Background technique

Cable television (CATV), originally introduced in the late 1940s as a way to transmit television signals via coaxial cable to houses located in areas of poor reception, has been modified and expanded over the years, allowing the cable medium to deliver constant Increasing numbers of different types of digital data, including both digital television and broadband Internet data.

One of the most significant improvements occurred in the 1990s when a number of major electronics and cable operator companies working through Cablelabs, a non-profit R&D association, introduced the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS). First introduced in the late 1990s as DOCSIS Version 1.0, and upgraded many times since then (currently DOCSIS Version 3.0), the DOCSIS standard defines the physical layer (PHY) and At the Media Access Control (MAC) layer, these coaxial cables were originally designed to manage analog SDTV channels.

Originally, analog television (in the US) had television channels as a series of roughly 6MHz-wide radio frequencies at frequencies ranging from about 54MHz (originally for VHF channel 2) up to about 885MHz (for the now-defunct UHF channel 83) waveform to transmit. The television signal is transmitted as a combined amplitude modulated signal (for the black and white parts), a quadrature amplitude modulated signal (for the color part) and a frequency modulated signal (for the audio part), and this combined signal will be called the frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) signals.

With the development of digital TV and HDTV standardization in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the basic 6 MHz bandwidth spectrum of analog TV was preserved, but the modulation scheme was changed to a more complex and higher data rate quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme, which is capable of encoding digital information onto a very complex QAM analog signal (waveform).

DOCSIS standards build on this analog and digital TV foundation, and specific additional standards to provide broadband Internet services (Internet Protocol, or IP), voice over IP, video on demand, and other modern services build on previous standards for digital and high-definition TV. The TV creates a QAM data transmission waveform (also typically 6MHz wide).

Thus, in a series of steps, the simple coaxial cable that initially reached millions of homes at great expense from the 1950s and 1960s has been gradually upgraded to accommodate the ever-increasing demand for digital data. At each house (or apartment, office, store, restaurant, or other location), the home is connected to a CATV cable via a cable modem, which is used to extract downstream DOCSIS digital data (often used for high-speed Internet) and inject upstream DOCSIS digital data data (also often used for high-speed Internet applications).

Unfortunately, even in coaxial cable, there is a finite amount of bandwidth available to transmit data. Coaxial cables and their associated radio frequency interface equipment have typically only used frequency ranges below about 1000 MHz, and so there was a limit to how much data coaxial cables of the 1950s could ultimately transmit.

In contrast, optical fiber (fiber optics, fiber) technology using much higher frequencies of light (wherein the wavelength is typically in the range of 800 nm to 2000 nm) is capable of transmitting much higher amounts of data. Fiber optic data rates are typically measured in tens or even hundreds of gigabits per second. In fact, the entire RF CATV cable spectrum from 0MHz to 1000MHz can be converted to an optical wavelength (e.g., 1310nm or 1550nm), carried over an optical fiber, and then converted back to the full RF CATV cable spectrum at the other end of the fiber, without ever coming close to exhausting the fiber's capacity to carry additional data.

This conversion process can be accomplished with relatively simple optical/digital or digital/optical converters, where the CATVRF wavelengths are simply converted back and forth to optical signals via simple ("low-power") E/O or O/E converters , these E/O or O/E converters are located in the nodes (fiber nodes) that connect the optical fibers to the CATV cables.

The higher data-carrying capacity of optical fiber allows additional data to be carried also, and in some schemes, the essentially analog (digital encoded in analog) spectrum of the CATV waveform at one optical wavelength (e.g., 1310 nm), and at an alternate Optical wavelengths (eg, 1550nm) carry digital data encoded by a completely different protocol. This dual scheme is often referred to as wavelength division multiplexing.

Fiber optic technology is already widely used in high-capacity computer networks, and these networks typically do not use DOCSIS or QAM protocols to transmit data. Instead, these high-volume computer networks often use entirely different types of data transfer protocols, such as the Ethernet protocol IEEE 802.3ah, 1000BASE-LX10, 1000Base-BX10, and others. These networks and protocols are often referred to as GigE networks, short for Gigabit Speed and Ethernet Protocol for Fiber-Based Computer Networks.

Therefore, if a user wants to transmit computer data from an RF QAM waveform carried over a CATV cable to a high-speed GigE fiber network, the data must be transmitted between the DOCSIS cable QAM waveform and the alternative protocol used in the fiber GigE network (usually Ethernet network protocol) back and forth.

While ideally, the best way to meet the ever-increasing household demand for digital data (e.g. video on demand, high-speed Internet, voice over IP, etc.) would be by stretching fiber optics to every home, this would be prohibitively expensive solution. In contrast, cable-based CATV solutions have been implemented in tens of millions of homes, and the cost has been incurred and amortized over decades of use starting in the 1950s. Therefore, it is far from economically attractive to find a solution that would enable the existing (with limited bandwidth) CATV cable system to be further expanded to meet the growing demand for additional data.

Cable System Components:

At the facility or "head" end of a typical CATV cable network (cable), the combination of many different types of data (analog television channels, digital television channels, on-demand channels, Voice over IP, DOCSIS channels, etc.) and sending this data to users (households) in many different neighborhoods scattered in towns, cities, counties, and even various districts of states. These CMTS devices are connected at one end to various data sources (TV stations, video servers, Internet, etc.) and at the other end to many different CATV cables.

Typically, one end of a CMTS device will have connections to various data sources and appropriate data switches (e.g. Tier 2/3 switches), and the other end will have connections to a number of different line cards (often physically packaged to look like blade servers, and is put into the main CTMS box that holds multiple line cards). Each line card will typically be connected to cables or fibers that run away from the cable head toward different sets of multiple neighborhoods, where typically each set of multiple neighborhoods will be in roughly contiguous geographic regions . The line card cables or fibers are then further subdivided, typically through various splitters and nodes, and eventually the signal flows to separate neighborhoods, each served by its own CATV cable.

At each neighborhood level, a single CATV cable will serve from about 25 to several hundred households (houses, apartments). These are connected to this single cable through a cable modem. Here, each cable modem will be considered a home or "house," regardless of whether the cable modem serves a house, apartment, office, workplace, or other application.

A CMTS line card will typically contain at least the MAC and PHY devices needed to transmit and receive the appropriate CATV signals. Typically, a line card PHY arrangement will contain multiple QAM modulators that can modulate the digital signals that the Tier 2/3 switch has sent to that particular line card and transmit these signals as multiple QAM modulators over cable or fiber. A QAM channel is sent out. These line cards will also typically contain MAC and PHY devices to receive upstream data sent back to the cable head from the various cables and cable modems in this technology.

It is impractical to connect each individual neighborhood CATV cable directly to the cable plant. Instead, cable networks are arranged in more complex schemes in which signals to and from many different individual neighborhoods are combined through the network before reaching the cable plant or cable head. Thus, each CMTS line card will typically send signals to and receive signals from multiple neighbors.

Instead of sending and receiving data over cables, the various CMTS line cards may instead communicate with their different sets of neighbors over optical fibers. However, it is also impractical to run individual optical fibers directly from individual neighborhoods to the cable plant or cable head. Fiber optic networks are therefore also often arranged in more complex schemes, in which signals to and from different individual neighborhoods are also combined via the fiber optic network before the signals reach the cable installation or cable head.

At a minimum, a fiber optic network will split (or combine) fiber optic signals, at least typically, usually through "low" energy fiber optic splitters/combiners (referred to herein as splitters) that do not alter the fiber optic signals, and The split signal will then be sent to different neighborhoods through sub-fibers. There, fiber optic signals can be converted to RF signals and from RF signals to fiber optic signals (suitable for separate cables) via a "low energy" fiber optic node that itself only converts optical signals to RF signals and The RF signal is converted to an optical signal without otherwise changing the content of the signal. These hybrid fiber-cable networks are known as hybrid fiber-cable (HFC) networks.

Prior art works with different types of CMTS systems and fiber optic nodes including Liva et al. US Patent 7,149,223; Sucharczuk et al. US Patent Application 2007/0189770; and Emmett (Amit) US Patent 7,197,045.

Typically, almost all CATV subscribers want direct access to at least one standard set of cable television channels, and so in order to meet this basic expectation, usually all CATV cables will receive a package corresponding to this "basic" or "standard" A basic set of TV channels (these channels can also include various commonly used premium channels). In addition, most users will want access to a wide range of personalized data, and here, the limited bandwidth of CATV cables starts to become an even bigger obstacle.

As a first step towards more efficient cable utilization, analog TV is being phased out, freeing up large amounts of FDM bandwidth (analog SD TV channels) that can be used by more efficient QAM carrying both digital TV and DOCSIS data channel superseded. However, while phasing out legacy FDM TV signals will free up additional cable bandwidth, it will only meet increasing household demand for digital TV and DOCSIS services (data) for a few years at best. Accordingly, additional methods to serve larger amounts of data, specifically on-demand video data, Voice over IP data, broadband Internet (IP) data, and others, are needed.

Contents of the invention

A novel distributed functional CMTS system and method for HFC networks is disclosed herein. The system and method divides various types of data between multiple cable plant CMTS devices and multiple remote fiber node CMTS (referred to herein as Cable Modem Remote Termination System, or CMRTS) devices under an overall computer-controlled network configuration and data distribution scheme. CMTS function.

This computer-controlled signal and data distribution scheme is designed to maximize the granularity (neighborhood characteristics) of custom data delivered to multiple individual CATV cables (serving multiple individual neighborhoods). At the same time, the system and method retains backward compatibility with legacy HFC networks and devices, and can gracefully downgrade from higher-tier standard and custom data delivery services to state-of-the-art tiers under many different CMRTS device failure scenarios standard and custom data delivery services for . The system allows a gradual upgrade of multiple existing HFC networks to provide improved customized (IP-on-demand) services to multiple selected neighborhoods on a cost-effective Upgrades as needs and funds permit.

The present invention relies in part on a distributed CMTS design in which the QAM modulators in the CMTS PHY section (used to ultimately provide the QAM modulators for sending multiple data signals to a given individual cable) are partitioned and distributed throughout the HFC network. multiple waveforms). Here, some QAM modulators are located in multiple PHY units of multiple main (centralized eg for cable heads or cable utilities) CMTS line cards on multiple central CMTS units. Other QAM modulators are located in the PHY section of the remote or distributed CMTS. These remote CMTS units are known as Cable Modem Remote Termination System (CMRTS) units. These CMRTS units will typically be located at final network fiber nodes (FNs) between the fiber optic sections of the HFC system and the cable sections of the HFC system.

In one embodiment, the QAM modulators located in multiple centralized CMTS PHY sections are primarily focused on transmitting data, such as one standardized packet of multiple cable TV channels typically requested by many neighborhoods and perhaps a base-level DOCSIS service. Thus, in a simplified example, multiple central QAM units in one central CMTS line card driving three cables in three neighborhoods will send multiple identical QAM signals to all three neighborhoods. At the same time, this central CMTS unit and CMTS line cards can optionally coordinate their work with remote or distributed QAM modulators located in up to three remote CMTS (CMRTS) units (i.e., divide responsibility for generating multiple QAM channels), the three CMRTS units are located in the final fiber nodes (FNs) that connect the fiber portion of the HFC network with the three cables that supply the three neighborhoods.

CMRTS units of the present invention will typically be designed to be highly software configurable such that the ability of these CMRTS units to operate their remote or distributed QAM modulators to transmit downstream data and the ability of these CMRTS units to operate various RF packet processors can Reconfigured by remote software, these RF packet processors receive multiple RF bursts of modulated downstream data from various cable modems, demodulate these bursts, digitize and reassemble this upstream data into multiple packets, and convert this data Retransmitting back upstream, the remote software can be used to simplify the management and configuration of the distributed CMRTS network.

In this example, to supply the three cables in the three neighborhoods with a set of standardized TV channels and other services, the central CMTS unit and central CMTS line card will have the QAM modulators in the CMTS line card set to It is designed to drive a fiber with multiple QAM signals at multiple optical wavelengths, where these QAM waveforms are such that these optical QAM waveforms can be directly converted to RF QAM waveforms with inexpensive "low power" converters, and injected directly into the three cable to provide a basic level of service.

To supply data to drive these remote CMRTS QAM modulators to provide a higher level service, two different options are possible.

In the first option, which is more backwards compatible with many existing CTMS designs, the data used to drive these remote CMRTS QAM modulators is to use a single Tier 2 switch and a separate fiber optic system typically using the Digital Ethernet protocol to send. This tier 2 switch and second fiber optic system will operate largely independently of the cable plant CTMS unit. Here, the operator of the cable plant CTMS unit will only configure the CTMS to have empty QAM channels available for subsequent use by the QAM modulators in the remote CMRTS units, but otherwise operate according to normal method standards ( prior art) CTMS.

In a second option representing a more extreme departure from previous CMTS designs, in addition to sending the standard set of CATV RF data, the centralized CMTS unit and CMTS line cards send additional data on a second communications medium to These CMRTS units, and intelligently coordinate which information is sent on the first communication medium and which information is sent on the second communication medium in order to maximize overall system functionality.

One advantage of the CMRTS units of the present invention is that because these CMRTS units can be designed to be highly software configurable, multiple identical CMRTS units can be reconfigured to also be backwards compatible with the first CMRT option, the second more Extreme CMTS options (by design) or a wide variety of other options to work together. Because the CMRTS design is software configurable and allows the passage of prior art CATVRF to optical signals, these CMRTSs are also highly backward compatible and implemented in a manner that can be largely transparent to the cable operator until the need for the CMRTS The higher functionality of the CMRTS so far.

For the first or second option, the second communication medium for transmitting data to the CMRTS may use a second optical fiber and an alternative data transmission protocol, such as the Ethernet protocols previously discussed. If this scheme is used, then the data will need to be converted, reformatted and QAM modulated by these remote CMRTS units. The QAM modulators in the CMRTS units will then provide a radio frequency (RF) QAM signal that can be injected into the cable and recognized by cable modems attached to the various cables. To avoid conflicts, the frequency (or at least time slice) of the QAM waveforms provided by the CMRTS units should be different from the frequency (or at least time slice) of the QAM waveforms provided by the central CMTS QAM modulators.

Alternatively, this second communication medium may carry data to the CMRTS units using the same (primary or primary) optical fiber that is also used to carry QAM signals from the CMTS. In this alternate configuration, CMRTS data can be carried on an alternate wavelength. For example, CMTS data that can carry the main package of CATVTV stations and perhaps some DOCSIS services can be transmitted using a 1310nm optical wavelength, while CMRTS data that can carry supplementary IP/on-demand data can be transmitted using a 1550nm optical wavelength. This type of scheme is often referred to as wavelength division multiplexing. As previously discussed, this supplemental CMRTS data need not be encoded using CATV compliant QAM modulation (although it could be done), but can be carried using a different protocol and modulation scheme, such as the previously discussed GigE Ethernet protocol.

This second communication medium (itself a fiber optic medium) will generally be able to transmit much more IP/on-demand data than is possible on standard CATV cable. Unfortunately, at the end of the fiber optic network, we again encounter a CATV cable bandwidth bottleneck, which again limits the amount of data that can be transmitted to any given individual neighborhood.

The present invention relies in part on the observation that at today's rather coarse level of granularity (where multiple neighborhoods are served by multiple identical CATV QAM signals), data from multiple cables serving multiple neighborhoods The aggregated demands of IP-on-demand data can easily saturate the limited CATV bandwidth. However, at a finer level of granularity (where each neighborhood might get its own customized CATV signal), IP-on-demand data for an individual neighborhood is more likely to fit within each neighborhood's CATV cable within a limited bandwidth. The trick, therefore, is to avoid overloading the specific CATV cable bandwidth of each neighborhood by picking and choosing a mix of standard QAM and QAMIP/on-demand signals delivered to each neighborhood. However, this scheme of delivering a possibly ever-changing mix of multiple neighborhood-specific CATV channels creates some rather complex network management issues.

As previously discussed, to cope with these complex network management issues, the present invention also relies in part on a complex computer control system to frequently (or even continuously) adjust the operation of the central CMTS and the multiple remote CMRTS units, thereby carefully Balance user needs for standard data (e.g., standard QAM TV channels and perhaps a limited standard level of DOCSIS service) with custom data (e.g., IP/on-demand data).

For example, the computer control system can manage the available bandwidth on various cables serving various neighborhoods. When used in the backward compatible first option mode, the "standard" QAM channels transmitted are fixed in advance by the cable operator, and these remain relatively constant. When used in higher throughput and more extreme second option modes, the computerized system can vary the "standard" QAM channel being transmitted by any given central CMRT line card, and the channel being transmitted by multiple remote CMRTS units Transported user-defined or "paid" IP/on-demand QAM channels.

In CATV jargon, the various CMTS systems at the cable head are often referred to as "racks" or "CMTS racks". Although from a network management perspective, the present invention distributes the functionality of the CMTS units from the cable head throughout the network, in some embodiments other network devices and software can more simply continue to communicate with this network distributed CMTS, It is as if the network distributed CMTS is still a single cable plant or cable head CMTS. Therefore, in one embodiment, the CMTS and CMRTS computer control systems and software that manage network-distributed CMTSs will also be referred to as "virtual rack" hardware and software, because the computer control systems can manage the operation of a distributed CMTS system The complex configuration issues involved, and then mask this complexity from the rest of the system if required. Thus, the rest of the cable plant system does not need to be redesigned to manage the distributed CMTS functionality, but can continue to handle the distributed CMTS of the present invention as if it were a prior art non-distributed CMTS.

Thus, the virtual rack hardware/software system can, for example, combine user demand for basic TV channels and basic DOCSIS services in multiple neighborhoods, premium or premium TV-on-demand or premium DOCSIS IP services in multiple separate neighborhoods ( IP-on-demand) and the limited number of total QAM channels that can be carried on the cable take as input.

In the first option, the virtual rack system would simply work using any empty QAM channel that could be supplied by the cable operator, and would work to optimize data to multiple subscribers within this overall constraint.

In the second option, the virtual rack system can be much more aggressive in order to send more data. For example, the virtual shelf system may choose to direct a QAM modulator in a central CMTS line card's PHY unit to stop transmitting on a QAM channel (frequency) in order to free the QAM channel (frequency) for use by a neighboring Domain-specific QAM channel (frequency).

In either option, the virtual shelf system can then instruct multiple GigE PHY units on the same central CMTS line card to use the second communication medium and send neighborhood-specific (IP/data-on-demand) to those neighborhoods. The virtual rack system can then instruct a remote CMRTS unit on a fiber node serving the target neighborhood to fetch this IP/on-demand data from the second communication medium, decode and QAM modulate the data, and use the now empty QAM channel (frequency ) inject this now RF modulated QAM data onto the cable for that particular neighborhood.

The virtual rack system can also instruct another remote CMRTS unit on a different fiber node serving a different neighborhood to fetch IP/on-demand data for that neighborhood from the second communication medium, decode and QAM modulate the data , and also inject this now RF modulated QAM data onto the cable for this neighborhood.

It should be noted that with this approach, even though both neighbors may receive some common QAM channels and data from the same centralized CMTS line card, the overall CATV QAM channels are not the same. Instead, at least for IP/on-demand data, the same QAM channel (frequency) now carries different data for these two different neighborhoods.

Through the use of these systems and methods, the effective data carrying capacity of various cables and QAM channels has been increased. But at the same time, if the centralized computer system (virtual rack) is properly configured, much of the complexity of the switching arrangements can be selectively hidden from both the upstream (cable plant) and downstream (cable modem) systems, so the There is good backward compatibility with HFC equipment.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 shows an overview of the various frequencies and data channels allocated for a typical CATV cable carrying legacy analog TV FDM channels, QAM digital TV channels, and various types of DOCSIS data.

Figure 2 shows an example of a prior art HFC cable system using multiple optical fibers and multiple fiber nodes to transport data from the cable head to the various individual cables.

Figure 3 compares the differences between a prior art fiber-cable (fiber) node and the improved Cable Modem Remote Termination System (CMRTS) fiber node of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows how the improved CMRTS fiber node of the present invention can also transmit larger amounts of upstream data.

Figure 5 shows how an embodiment of the distributed cable modem termination system of the present invention (shown here as the second option) working with an advanced CMTS at the cable plant can distribute a larger effective amount of downstream data to various CATV cables serving multiple customers in different neighborhoods.

Figure 6 shows additional details of how some embodiments of CMRTS fiber nodes may be constructed and operated in the second option.

Figure 7 shows additional details of the CMRTS fiber nodes.

Figure 8 shows an overview of how a distributed cable modem system can be configured through the "virtual shelf" software that controls the operation and data flow of the system's CMTS and CMRTS devices.

Figure 9 shows how an alternative embodiment (here shown as the first option) of the distributed cable modem termination system of the present invention working with a prior art CMTS can distribute a greater effective amount of downstream data to various CATV cables serving multiple customers in different neighborhoods.

Figure 10 shows additional details of how an alternative implementation of a CMRTS fiber node could be constructed and operated in the first option.

Detailed ways

In one embodiment, the present invention may be a distributed cable modem termination system (CMTS) for a hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network. This system will typically consist of multiple parts.

In some embodiments, the system will work substantially independently of the CMTS at the cable plant, and will essentially serve to supplement the functionality of prior art CMTSs with the addition of a minimal amount of new equipment at the cable plant. Here, this new equipment at the cable plant cable will primarily consist of a Tier 2/3 switch, a virtual shelf management system (to be described), and appropriate MAC and PHY devices to send and receive data along the fiber . This prior art cable plant CMTS continues to operate as before, with one difference that the cable operator should provide some empty channels to provide room for the new channels provided by the present invention.

In other embodiments, parts of the system will be embedded in a high-level CMTS header along with at least a first packet switch, a first MAC (Medium Access Control) and a first PHY (Physical Layer) The first MAC and the first PHY are capable of sending data as at least first digitally encoded analog QAM waveforms (first optical signals) from a layer 2-3 switch to a first end of a first optical fiber and from The layer 2-3 switches receive data.

In some embodiments, the CMTS head may also have a second MAC and a second PHY capable of sending data from the layer 2-3 switch to the first optical fiber. an end or the first end of a second optical fiber, and receives data from the layer 2-3 switch. If the first end of the first optical fiber is used, then typically the second PHY will use an alternate wavelength and usually an alternate data transfer protocol (e.g., an Ethernet protocol) to send and receive data, but can also Use a QAM waveform. For example, the first wavelength can be 1310 nm, and the second wavelength can be 1550 nm. Generally, the two different wavelengths will be far enough apart to avoid crosstalk, typically with a separation of 20nm, 50nm, 100nm or more, depending on the bandwidth of the optical signal.

Alternatively, the second MAC and second PHY can use the first end of a second optical fiber to send the data out. In both cases these are called second light signals. For brevity and ease of discussion, this second signal will generally also be referred to as "fiber 2" and drawn as a separate fiber, regardless of whether the second signal is actually sent on the second fiber, or only on the first fiber. The optical fiber is sent at the second wavelength.

The system will also typically have one or more remote CMRTS fiber nodes located at the second end of the first fiber. (Here, the term "second end" will also be used to designate the far end of the fiber (furthest from the CMTS and cable head), even after splitting.)

A component of the CMRTS fiber optic node may be a first "low power" optical/RF (radio frequency) conversion device that converts the first optical signal (by the CMTS at the first end of the fiber as a QAM waveform transmission) into the first set of RF signals. These are typically called O/E or E/O converters, depending on the direction of electrical RF/fiber conversion.

Another component of the CMRTS may be at least one QAM modulator device capable of detecting selected portions of the second optical signal and encoding these selected portions into a second set of RF QAM waveforms. The QAM modulator may be part of a CMRTS PHY unit, and the CMRTS may typically have corresponding MAC and packet switching capabilities, and an optional controller (e.g., microprocessor and associated software) to select Portions of the second optical signal and control the packet switching, MAC and PHY (including CMRTS QAM modulator) as needed.

The CMRTS will also typically comprise at least one software controllable switch that can be remotely directed to select at least some second optical signals (selected second optical signals) and to direct said at least one CMRTS QAM modulation The transmitter means encodes the selected second optical signal into a second set of RF QAM waveforms (remotely generated QAM signals) at a set of selected frequencies. Typically, the software controllable switch will be part of or controlled by the optional controller.

The CMRTS may also include at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor capable of detecting upstream data carried by a CATV RF upstream signal generated by at least one cable modem and converting said The upstream data is digitally repackaged and retransmitted as a third upstream digital fiber optic signal.

Typically, the software-controllable switch and/or software-controllable RF packet processor can be remotely configured by software to implement at least a subset of standard DOCSIS upstream and downstream functions. For example, on the upstream side, one or more of DOCSIS upstream Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and DOCSIS Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (SCDMA) functions may be implemented. On the downstream side, one or more of various DOCSIS QAM modulation modes (eg, 16-level, 32-level, 64-level, 128-level, and 256-level QAM modulation modes) may be implemented. Depending on the level of CMRTS functionality required, the CMRTS can generate QAM channels at the fiber nodes that carry digital broadcast video, digital video on demand, digital high definition (HD) video, voice data, and DOCSIS (data) channels.

In yet other embodiments, additional functionality (ie, non-DOCSIS functionality) that is not yet an official part of the DOCSIS specification (ie, non-DOCSIS functionality), such as upstream data from various newer models of non-DOCSIS standard set-top box gateways, may also be implemented through the CMRTS. This will allow the cable provider to differentiate itself by being able to provide cutting-edge services ahead of its competitors. In this example, the CMRTS can be considered to handle a superset of DOCSIS functionality, since it is being used to extend the functionality of the HFC system beyond that of standard DOCSIS functionality. Here, the term "superset" is being used to denote additional (non-standard DOCSIS) functionality. Thus, for example, a CMRTS that is a full set of DOCSIS functions or a subset of DOCSIS functions will be described as implementing a DOCSIS "superset" if it also implements additional non-standard DOCSIS functions. Other examples of additional non-standard DOCSIS functionality (non-DOCSIS functionality) include functionality to deliver various forms of digital video (e.g., standard digital video, high-definition HD digital video, and various forms of on-demand digital video) .

Both the software-controllable switch and the software-controllable RF packet processor will typically incorporate their own microprocessor or microcontroller and memory (e.g., flash memory, ROM, RAM, or other memory storage), thereby incorporating The software required to operate these switches and processors, interpret command packets sent from the virtual rack manager, and transmit multiple data packets to the virtual rack manager.

The CMRTS also typically has, or is at least attached to, a combiner device (e.g., a duplexer device) that combines the first set of RF signals with remotely generated QAM signals to produce a suitable for injecting a combined RF signal into a CATV cable connected to at least one cable modem. Alternatively, the duplexing device may be external to the actual CMRTS unit, however, the CMRTS unit will typically depend on an internal or external combiner (eg, a duplexing device) for functionality.

The system will also typically have a centralized computer system or computer processor running software (eg, virtual rack software) that controls many aspects of its function. As previously discussed, since the prior art non-functionally decentralized CMTS units are commonly referred to as "scaffolds," the computer software that controls the functionality of the decentralized CMTS-CMRT units of the present invention will be referred to in the alternative as "scaffolds." Virtual Scaffold". This "virtual rack" software will ideally manage the much more complex decentralized CMTS-CMRTS system in a way that will be easily manageable, and ideally at times almost transparent to the cable plant, so that other systems in the cable plant can normally manage The more complex data distribution nature of the decentralized CMTS-CMRTS system of the present invention, as the system behaves more like simpler prior art CMTS systems.

In particular, an important function of the computer processor and "virtual rack" software will be to select and control at least the second optical signal and the remotely generated QAM signal. These will be managed in a way that greatly increases the amount of IP-on-demand data available to cable system users, as will be discussed.

Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention may be a Remote CMTS Fiber Node (CMRTS) system for a Hybrid Fiber Cable (HFC) network. The CMRTS portion of the system will typically include a first optical/RF (radio frequency) conversion device that directly converts the first set of RF modulated fiber optic signals to the first set of CATV RF signals. The CMRTS section will also typically include at least one QAM modulator device capable of encoding a selected portion of the digitally encoded second fiber optic signal into a second set of RF QAM waveforms. The CMRTS part will also typically contain at least one software controllable switch that can be remotely directed to select at least some of the second optical fiber signals (selected second optical signals) and to direct said at least one QAM modulated Transducer means encodes certain selected second optical signals into a second set of RF QAM waveforms at a set of selected frequencies. These will be referred to as remotely generated QAM signals. The CMRTS portion will also typically include at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor (and associated MAC and PHY units) capable of detecting multiple The upstream data carried by the CATV RF upstream signal, this upstream data is digitally repackaged, and then retransmitted back to this upstream data as a third upstream digital fiber optic signal (often often eventually retransmitted back to the cable plant). The present invention is a system because here, the at least one software-controllable switch and/or the software-controllable RF packet processor will typically be designed to be remotely configurable by software to implement at least one of the standard DOCSIS upstream and downstream functions. a subset.

It should be noted that the CMRTS need not implement the full set of standard DOCSIS functionality in order to achieve an enhanced user data experience. This is because at least some of the DOCSIS functionality that is ultimately delivered to the various cable modems on the various premises will be delivered through the directly converted CATVRF signal obtained from the CMTS at the cable plant.

In many embodiments of the invention, the at least one software-controllable switch capability and the at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor capability are preferably controlled by a remote virtual rack manager system.

In another embodiment, the present invention may be a method for enhancing the data carrying capacity of a hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network having a cable head, a fiber optic network, a plurality of optical fibers A node, a plurality of individual CATV cables connected to the plurality of fiber optic nodes, and a plurality of individual cable modems, each having different data requirements, are connected to each of the individual CATV cables. This method will generally involve delivering the first set of data from the cable head to the fiber nodes using multiple QAM waveforms that can be injected directly into individual CATV cables by an optical/RF converter. These QAM waveforms will be referred to as RF QAM waveforms.

The method will also typically involve conveying a second set of data from the cable head to the fiber optic nodes. Here, this second set of data would normally not be able to be injected directly into a separate CATV cable by an optical/RF converter. Rather, the method will instead convert selected portions of this second set of data into RF QAM waveforms, typically at the fiber nodes. These remotely generated RF QAM waveforms from selected portions of the second set of data will be referred to as second RF QAM waveforms.

Typically, the method will then combine the first RF QAM waveform with the second RF QAM waveform, and inject these combined RF QAM waveforms into separate CATV cables serving separate neighborhoods.

The method will control this selection and mixing process so that for each individual CATV cable (which may be part of a group or multiple cables containing a large number of other individual CATV cables), the first RFQAM waveform and the second RFQAM The waveforms will be chosen such that the combined RF QAM waveforms do not exceed the available bandwidth of any of the individual CATV cables.

Here, the method will control the second set of data and the selected portion of the second set of data to meet (usually better than prior art methods) the different data requirements of a large number of different cable modems. Here, in general, different individual CATV cables will generally carry different second RF QAM waveforms when considered in comparison to groups of multiple individual CATV cables, wherein each different RFQAM waveform will generally To meet the unique data requirements of various cable modems hooked up to specific individual CATV cables.

Figure 1 shows an overview of the various frequencies and data channels allocated for CATV (100). Typically, lower frequencies (eg, 5 to 42 MHz) are allocated for "upstream" data transmission from individual cable modems back to the cable head or cable plant (102). Typically, upstream data is transmitted using a time-shared TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) approach, in which individual cable modems are allocated a certain number of times to transmit data on approximately 2 MHz wide QAM channels. Starting at around 54MHz up to approximately 547MHz, space is currently allocated for legacy analog video channels (104), which are transmitted on approximately 6MHz wide FDM channels. At frequencies above, frequencies (space, bandwidth) are currently allocated for digital television (106) transmitting on roughly 6 MHz wide QAM channels, and at frequencies above, DOCSIS services are currently being served (108) Allocating space, these DOCSIS services can carry voice, video-on-demand, IP, and other information, again roughly as a series of 6MHz-wide QAM channels. Above about 1 GHz, cable bandwidth is currently seldom used, but future services may extend further into this area.

The invention is indiscriminate in the use of higher frequency cable bandwidths and channels. If available, the present invention can use them. If not available, the present invention will cope with existing cable frequencies and bandwidths.

CATV cables therefore have a limited bandwidth of at most about 100 to 200 QAM channels. When this bandwidth is used to serve a large amount of different types of custom data to a large number of different subscribers, this bandwidth can be quickly exhausted.

Shown below (110), (120) are diagrams showing how the CATV spectrum allocation can be described in a more simplified diagram. This diagram will be used in the figures to more clearly show some of the CATV spectrum allocation aspects of the invention.

The "upstream" segment (112) is an abstraction of all upstream channels, including currently used upstream channels in the 5 to 42 MHz region, as well as current and future higher frequency upstream DOCSIS channels. The "Video" segment (114) is an abstraction of the nearly obsolete analog TV FDM channels as well as the standard "Digital Video" channels and planned Digital Video channels that will occupy analog bandwidth that will soon be reclaimed (Once the analog channel is phased out). Section (114) also represents digital radio and FM channels of other standards, and may generally represent any set of standardized downstream channels that would not normally be customized between different sets of users and neighborhoods.

The "DOC1" channel (116) may be (depending on the usage pattern) a full set or a subset of current or future DOCSIS channels. As is commonly used in this specification, DOC1 often represents the base set of DOCSIS services that will be used by neighbors as a fallback in the event of failure of the higher performance IP/on-demand or DOC2 channel (118) . DOC1 QAM channels are often chosen so as not to use up the entire bandwidth of the CATV cable so that at least some of the remaining QAM channels can be used by neighborhood customized DOC2 channels. The "IP/on-demand or DOC2" channel (118) is essentially (depending on usage mode) the remaining available downstream bandwidth on the CATV cable, and is often reserved for transporting neighborhood-specific data (IP/data-on-demand), Delivery from the cable head to a separate neighborhood is usually via a different communication medium (eg, a second fiber or a second wavelength, and usually via a non-QAM protocol).

It should be noted that when discussing prior art use, the sum of DOCl (116) and IP/on-demand (118) channels sent over fiber to a neighborhood group can never exceed the effective bandwidth of the CATV cable (i.e., CATV cable carrying capacity and the cable modem's ability to detect the cable's RF signal).

In contrast, when discussing the present invention, the sum of the DOCl (116) and IP/on-demand (118) channels sent over fiber to a neighborhood group will often exceed the CATV cable on a neighborhood group basis. Effective bandwidth, but the sum of DOC1 (116) and IP/on-demand (118) will never exceed the effective bandwidth of the CATV cable on a per neighborhood basis.

If the same CATV spectrum is transmitted by optical means (i.e., optical fiber) such that the same waveform is transmitted at the same frequency spacing, but only shifted to multiple optical wavelengths, then this spectrum will be called (120), but each The waveforms will otherwise keep the same nomenclature to minimize confusion.

Figure 2 shows a simplified version of how a prior art HFC system (200) transmits data from a cable plant or cable head (202) to different fiber optic nodes (204) serving different neighborhoods (206). Each neighborhood will typically consist of up to hundreds of different houses, apartments, offices or shops (208) (generally referred to herein as "houses"), each equipped with their own cable modem (not shown) . Here, for the sake of simplicity, only the downstream part of the HFC system is shown.

The cable facility will obtain standardized media content (210) from a set of sources (e.g., a standard classification of analog and digital video channels), and also obtain more individualized data (212), such as video-on-demand, IP and other Personalized Data from other sources. This data is compiled at the CTMS rack (214) into a number of different QAM (and now also FDM) modulated CATV broadcast channels. This CMTS (214) will typically have a large number of different blade-like line cards (216). These line cards transmit signals to different areas (Neighborhood Groups) via optical fibers (218).

It should be noted that an FDM modulated CATV broadcast signal is an analog signal (used in older analog TVs), and even a QAM signal (although it carries digitally encoded information) is itself an analog signal. For historical reasons, in the downstream direction, both FDM and QAM waveforms (signals) typically have a bandwidth of about 6MHz in the US.

To illustrate this, as previously discussed in Figure 1, FDM and QAM signals are shown with one center wavelength and bandwidth in order to emphasize the essentially analog nature of this signal, even when carrying digital information. These analog signals can be carried over optical fibers and converted to RF signals for the CATV cable portion of the network using very simple and inexpensive equipment.

As previously discussed, a typical HFC network actually has a rather complex topology. Rather than sending one fiber from the CTMS to each different neighborhood, typically multiple fibers will serve multiple neighborhoods. To this end, the signal from the CTMS side fiber will at least usually be split (through a fiber splitter (220)) into several different sub-fibers (222), and each sub-fiber will in turn carry the signal to a different The fiber node (fiber node, FN) (204). Here, the rather complex ring topology of the HFC network will be simplified and represented instead by these fiber optic splitters.

At the fiber optic node (FN) (204), the fiber optic signal is converted to a CATV radio frequency (RF) signal and sent via multiple CATV cables (226) to individual cable modem. Typically, each neighborhood will consist of 25 to several hundred houses served by one CATV cable (226) connected to a local fiber node (204).

Since the CATV cable (226) connects to all the houses (208) in the neighborhood (206), if a cable modem in a house in a neighborhood wants to request custom video-on-demand or IP, then the neighborhood All of the premises in that are attached to that particular CATV cable will actually receive the custom signal. Although only the cable modem associated with the requesting house (not shown) will actually tune into and decode the requested signal, it should be appreciated that if each individual house in the neighborhood Simultaneously requesting its own set of custom on-demand video or IP at the same time, the limited bandwidth of the CATV cable would quickly saturate. Thus, there is an upper end to the amount of custom data that can be transmitted to each house, beyond which bandwidth must be limited and/or requests for additional custom data will have to be denied.

Although different blades or line cards (216) of the CMTS shelf (214) at the cable plant (202) can send different custom IP/on-demand channels to different neighborhood groups, the granularity of this process is sub-optimal , as all individual neighborhoods connected to the same fiber optic splitter will get the same custom IP/on-demand signal. Given the limited bandwidth of a CATV cable, if all neighbors get the same signal, then the amount of data that can be sent to each individual neighbor has to be limited so as not to exceed the total available bandwidth.

Figure 3 compares what happens between the optical fiber (222) and the CATV cable (226) in the case of a typical prior art fiber node (204) and in the case of the improved CMRTS fiber node (300) of the present invention conversion process. Here, for simplicity, only the downstream portion of the process is illustrated.

During the prior art conversion process (top), optical fiber (218) carries standardized video signals and analog QAM signals (which contain digital information) for both digital television and DOCSIS uses (which can carry video on demand or IP data) both.

In prior art "low power" fiber optic nodes (204), the fiber's optical FDM or QAM analog signals are simply converted to RF FDM or QAM signals, and these signals are passed to the CATV cable (226). So if (for example) there are four different fibers connected to this different fiber node, then all fibers will get the same custom IP/on-demand signal, and this signal can then be transmitted rather inefficiently to a network that did not request the custom signal of potentially thousands of non-target households.

In contrast, by using the improved "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) of the present invention, standardized signals can be carried over the "main" fiber channel (here called "fiber 1" and drawn as a thicker line) (for example, standardized video channels) and (for backward compatibility) a full set or subset of DOCSIS QAM channels. For backward compatibility, fiber 1 may often be the same fiber used to carry prior art signals, and to emphasize this backward compatibility aspect of the invention, fiber 1 will be designated by the same number (222).

Typically, fiber 1 (222) will carry the CATV spectrum as a series of optical wavelengths that directly correspond to the RF QAM waveforms that will be injected into the CATV cable (120).

However, in the present invention, a subset, full set or superset of DOCSIS QAM channels may also be carried by other physical media means, such as by a second optical fiber, or by an alternate wavelength of light on fiber 1. For simplicity, the medium carrying this additional set of data will be called "Fiber 2" and will be drawn as a thinner line (302) to emphasize that, at least initially, Fiber 2 can be used to carry supplementary data to expand the data carrying capacity of the backward compatible Fiber 1 line (222). Ultimately, of course, fiber 2 may be able to carry substantially more data than fiber 1.

Fiber 2 (302) is by no means required, although fiber 2 (302) can also transmit its data via an optical QAM waveform (possibly just QAM modulating the same signal at a different frequency) suitable for simple conversion to an RF QAM waveform for use on the cable. Use virtually any type of QAM encoding. Typically, Fiber 2 can carry this supplementary data over standard Gigabit Ethernet protocols. To emphasize the fact that fiber 2 typically carries data via non-CATV compliant or QAM signal-carrying methods, the fiber 2 signal (304) is shown as a series of lines (306), symbolizing that (for example) alternatives for signal transmission may be used Facts about sexual digital methods. Here, each line represents data that will eventually be converted into a QAM signal and sent to a particular neighborhood.

As will be discussed, in some embodiments, such as a system consisting entirely of "smart" CMRTS fiber nodes (300), Fiber 1 (222) need not carry any custom (customer-specific) information at all, such as DOCSIS information (116) or IP/On-Demand Channel (118). These custom channels may be removed from Fiber 1 (222) (i.e., by filtering), or more generally, some or all of the custom IP/on-demand channels/DOCSIS will simply not be injected into Fiber 1 by the cable plant CMTS in the first place .

Alternatively, Fiber 1 (222) can carry a standardized video channel (114), along with some custom DOCSIS (116) or IP/DOCSIS on-demand information (118), and this partial packet of IP/DOCSIS on-demand information can be sent to those customers still served by prior art "low power" fiber nodes. However, users served by the improved CMRTS fiber node of the present invention will be able to access additional information sent over fiber 2, GigE or fiber wavelength 2 (304).

At the improved CMRTS fiber node (300) of the present invention, the CMRTS unit of the fiber node will determine (or at least select) a set of custom data (308), (310), (312) requested by its particular neighborhood, And retrieve this information from Fiber 2 media (302). This information will then be QAM modulated and converted to the appropriate RF frequency, placed on the appropriate empty IP/on-demand QAM CATV cable channel (314), (316), (318) and then sent over the CATV cable to the neighborhood that requested that particular data. In that neighborhood, a particular cable modem from the house that requested that data can tune into this QAM channel and extract that data, while other cable modems that are also attached to that cable will ignore that QAM channel and/or ignore that QAM channel. data.

As will be discussed shortly, this approach allows for a much finer granularity and a correspondingly higher transfer rate of custom data.

Figure 4 shows that the present invention can also use a similar system and method to transmit higher volumes of upstream data. As previously discussed, only a limited amount of bandwidth is allocated (112) to transmit upstream data from individual cable modems in a neighborhood back to the cable plant or cable head. In this example, a limited region (112) from 5 MHz to 42 MHz is shown. In prior art procedures, signals from multiple different fibers would be combined onto a single fiber (222), again increasing the congestion problem. In contrast, by using the improved CMRTS fiber node (300), upstream data from each neighborhood (400), (402), (404) can be extracted, QAM signals are optionally decoded, data is on an appropriate (empty) return channel (or an empty TDMA time slice of an appropriate return channel) (406), (408), (410), and over the less congested second custom data transmission medium ( For example, fiber 2 (302)) is sent back to the cable head or cable plant.

Alternatively, to preserve backwards compatibility, the prior art upstream method can continue to be used. As yet another alternative, the new method and the prior art method can be used interchangeably by the cable system as the system configuration and needs dictate.

Figure 5 shows an example of the second option previously discussed, where the distribution of the RFQAM channels generated by the CMTS and the distribution of the QAM channels generated by the CMRTS are used together in a more efficient configuration using the CMRTS and the new higher functionality CMTS. management in complex systems.

Here, in this embodiment, an improved "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) can deliver a higher effective amount of customized user data. Here, these improved "smart" CMRTS fiber optic nodes (300) are shown operating in conjunction with an improved CMTS bracket (500) and improved CMTS line card (502) at the cable head.

In the prior art system example previously shown in FIG. 2, one fiber (218) from a prior art CMTS unit (214) at the cable plant was split by a fiber splitter (220) into three sub-fibers ( all carry the same data) (222), and these sub-fibers are then routed to three different neighborhoods. Since all fibers from the fiber optic splitter will carry the same data, custom data is inefficiently sent to all three neighborhoods, even though only one house from one neighborhood may have actually requested the custom data.

As a result, the limited carrying capacity (bandwidth) of CATV custom IP/video-on-demand channels may become saturated.

In contrast, by using a modified CMTS shelf (500) and modified CMTS line card (502), it is possible to take incoming data and split that data into two delivery media (e.g., Fiber 1 (218 ) and unsplit fiber (301)). The "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) of the present invention (typically after the splitter (220) splits fiber 1 and fiber 2 further into sub-fibers (222), (302) can now carry much higher volume The data.

As previously discussed, more data can be transferred because at each different CMRTS fiber node (300), the different CMRTS fiber nodes can customize and optimize the DOCSIS or other signal, thereby better serving that neighborhood, and doing so in a manner that is far less constrained by the total cable bandwidth.

Here, it is assumed that the Enhanced CMTS (500) and Enhanced CMTS Line Card (502) have placed the appropriate data onto Fiber 1 (218) (222) and Fiber 2 (301) (302). (This aspect will be discussed briefly.)

To do this, the "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) retrieves extra data (304) from fiber 2 (302); QAM modulates this extra data, and puts the extra data on an appropriate empty QAM CATV cable channel (118) .

In Figure 5, Neighborhood 1 has requested IP/Data on Demand (312). This is selected by the Neighborhood 1 CMRTS (300), QAM modulated by the CMRTS, and placed as an IP/on-demand signal or waveform (316) in the IP/On-Demand channel (118) onto the cable (226) serving Neighborhood 1 )superior. Similarly, Neighborhood 2 has requested IP/Data on Demand (310). This is selected by the Neighborhood 2 CMRTS (300), QAM modulated by the CMRTS and put on the cable serving Neighborhood 2 as an IP/on-demand signal or waveform (318). It should be noted that this QAM channel or frequency (318) may occupy the exact same channel (118) as the signal (316). Thus, more data has been transmitted, while at the same time, the limited bandwidth of the CATV cable serving the two neighborhoods has not been exceeded.

Thus, if a neighborhood served by that intelligent CMRTS fiber node has not requested that data, then an empty QAM CATV cable channel (118) becomes available to carry an alternate type of data to that neighborhood. Rather than filling up the limited carrying capacity of the CATV cable with undesired QAM channels intended for other neighborhoods, the limited carrying capacity of the CATV cable can instead be focused on the needs of that particular neighborhood.

In Figure 5, Neighborhoods 1 and 2 are served by the improved "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) of the present invention. In contrast, Neighborhood 3 is only served by prior art "low power" fiber nodes (204).

In order to continue to provide the proper level of DOCSIS or other customized services to Neighborhood 3, the enhanced CMTS rack (500) and CMTS line card (502) may choose to transmit at least one subset of the DOCSIS QAM channels (116) required by Neighborhood 3 set (shown here as DOCl).

Here, this would not be efficient enough, since Neighborhood 3 data is also sent over Fiber 1 to all Neighborhoods along with video data (114) commonly used by all Neighborhoods, and Neighborhoods 1 and 2 have a negative response to Neighborhood 3 Data is not of interest. However, this preserves the Neighborhood 3 service and keeps backwards compatibility intact.

In order to provide good DOCSIS or other IP/on-demand services to neighbors 1 and 2, the improved CMTS rack (500) and CMTS line card (502) have loaded the custom data requested by neighbors 1 and 2 onto the fiber 2 (302) (304) (312), (310) on. Fiber 2 will normally be routed to all neighbourhoods, and could of course simply be fiber 1 using an alternative wavelength and (optionally) a different protocol.

Thus, the system's effective ability to deliver customized data to Neighborhoods 1 and 2 served by the improved "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) and the improved CMTS (500), (502) has substantially increased because IP/on-demand channels can be customized with data specific to each neighborhood. At the same time, backward compatibility is preserved, as Neighborhood 3, still using prior art low-power fiber node 3 (204), can continue to utilize the DOCSIS subset channels transmitted over fiber 1 (222).

Figure 6 shows additional details of how a "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) can operate in conjunction with the improved cabling infrastructure of the cable head CMTS (500) and improved CMTS line cards (502). For simplicity, again mainly the downstream part of the system is shown. The CMRTS fiber node (300) will typically have a simple optical/electrical (O/E) (600) converter to convert the primary (standardized) CATV analog (FDM and QAM) data/waveform (120) optically transmitted over fiber 1 ) into an RF signal. That is to say, this O/E converter is an optical/RF (radio frequency) conversion device, which directly converts the first group of RF-modulated optical fiber signals into the first group of CATV RF signals. The CMRTS fiber node (300) will also typically have electrical/optical (E/O) (602) converters to take the upstream RF data from the CATV cable and, if necessary not shown) or optical fiber 2 to send the optical signal back to the cable site. In other words, this E/O converter is an RF (radio frequency)/optical conversion device that directly converts the first set of upstream CATV RF signals into RF-modulated fiber optic signals and is relative to the CMRTS unit at sending the RF modulated fiber optic signal upstream.

The CMRTS fiber node (300) will also include a CMRTS unit (604) which will obtain a custom IP/on-demand data signal (304) from fiber 2 (301), (302) and QAM modulate this data to an appropriate empty CATV RF QAM channel (118), and transmit the customized data onto the CATV cable (226).

RF converted primary CATV analog (QAM channel) signals (114), (116) from fiber 1 (218), (222) and frequency shifted Custom IP/on-demand QAM channels (318) are combined (e.g., by using a duplex unit (606) located inside or outside the CMRTS fiber node (300)) and using CATV cable (226) will contain standard CATV video ( 114) and DOCSIS CATV subset (116) and extended IP/on-demand QAM modulated data (318) fully reconstructed CATV signals to different houses in the neighborhood.

As previously discussed, it should be appreciated that since at least initially most HFC systems will consist of a mix of improved CMRTS fiber nodes and variations of older "low power" fiber nodes; 500) imposes considerable configuration and management issues. This complexity is managed through computerized network management systems and software known as "virtual scaffolding."

In one embodiment of the improved "virtual shelf" system, a packet processor (610) and a MAC (612) to transmit standard CATV analog, QAM and DOCSIS signals onto the first (primary) fiber 1 can be used CMTS (500) and enhanced CMTS line cards (502) are configured with PHY (614) devices or functionality. The same line card can also be configured with packet processor (616), MAC (618) and PHY (620) functionality to transport supplemental IP/extended DOCSIS data on fiber optic line 2 or fiber wavelength 2. As previously discussed, the Fiber 2 extension data can typically be encoded (304) by a completely different (non-QAM) method. Thus, the MAC (618) and PHY (620) for Fiber 2 may be different (eg, follow the standard GigE protocol) than the MAC (612) and PHY (614) for Fiber 1 .

The exact mix of fiber 1 and fiber 2 signals transmitted and received by the improved line card will vary depending on which type of fiber node is connected downstream (south end) to the line card (502).

For example, if all fiber nodes were "low power" prior art fiber nodes (204), then CMTS line cards would only transmit on fiber 1, and the functionality of that particular CMTS line card would be the same as prior art CATV DOCSIS Devices and Fiber Nodes are backward compatible. That is, Fiber 1 (218), (222) will carry the full set of DOCSIS channels, and Fiber 2 (301), (302) will carry nothing since there are no CMRTS fiber nodes (300) available to listen to Fiber 2 data .

In contrast, if all fiber nodes are "smart" modified CMRTS fiber nodes (300), then the modified CMTS (500) and CMRTS line card (502) can choose to route the fiber 2 to different All DOCSIS channels (116) of the home and all available customizable data are maximized. In this case, fiber 1 will only be used to transport the standard video channel (114).

This alternative would maximize the number of free QAM channels on the CATV cable, and thus allow the highest amount of custom data to be sent to those premises on that particular run of the cable.

In the case of mixed "low energy" fiber nodes (204) and "smart" CMRTS fiber nodes (300) (as previously shown in Figure 5), the improved CMTS (500) and CMTS line cards (502) should Ideally choose to use Fiber 1 to transmit a standard video channel (114) and a subset of DOCSIS (116) information to Neighborhood 3 (served by a "low power" fiber node) and receive a standard video channel (114) from Neighborhood 3 and a subset of DOCSIS (116) information, thereby continuing to give Neighborhood 3 adequate service.

However, in order to give good performance to Neighborhoods 1 and 2 (served by "smart" CMRTS fiber nodes (300)), the improved CMTS (500) and CMTS line cards (502) should ideally maintain some DOCSIS on Fiber 1 The QAM channel is idle. A "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300), which may be instructed by external commands (to be discussed), will then determine or at least select which GigE data (304) its particular neighborhood needs to transmit over Fiber 2 (302), and perform QAM modulation, and distribute these GigE data to its neighborhood on empty QAM channels. In the example of FIG. 6, the data (312) has been QAM modulated and transmitted as a QAM waveform or data (318).

Thus, the same empty QAM channel frequency can transmit one set of data to multiple houses in neighborhood 1 and a different set of data on the same empty QAM channel frequency to multiple houses in neighborhood 2.

This approach is highly efficient and backwards compatible, however, this imposes a substantial configuration and management burden on the cable plant CMTS. This is because whenever a "low power" fiber node (204) is converted to a "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300), the configuration of the network changes.

As previously discussed, to manage this complexity, the functionality of the improved CMTS (500) and CMTS line cards (502), and generally the extended Functionality of the CMRTS Fiber Node (300).

In one embodiment, a unified network management system (e.g., exemplified by the ConfD management system provided by the incorporated Tail-f) is added to the improved CMTS (500) and line cards (502), thereby unifying the network and CMTS hardware and virtualization layers, provide operating system services, manage middleware, and configure the system to use the appropriate networking protocols. In this embodiment, all or at least most of the network configuration data is stored on a database in the CMTS manager, and the configuration of the network is controlled by a process in which the management software (ConfD) communicates via IPC (Socket word) to communicate with the application programs that control the functions of the various packet processor, MAC and PHY devices on the improved CMTS and CMRTS units.

Here, a computer or processor and associated software memory (622) is shown as being passed through various other controllers (624), (626) located in the improved CMTS backbone (627) and line cards (502) to directly control the operation of the improved CMTS unit (500). These communications between the "Virtual Rack Manager" (622) and the local controller processors (624), (626) are here shown as dashed lines (628). The Virtual Rack Manager can also control the operation of Tier 2/3 switches (629) and/or other devices that connect the enhanced CMTS units to media content (210), Internet IP/data on demand or "cloud" (212) and other services provided by the cable facility (202).

The virtual shelf manager can also typically manage the configuration of various "smart" CMRTS fiber nodes (300), typically by communicating with controllers and applications embedded with the CMRTS fiber nodes (not shown). Given a CMRTS fiber node (300) with a virtual rack manager (622) and improved CMRT (500) (the virtual rack manager (622) and improved CMRT (500) will typically be located at the cable head or cable facility, Typical long distances between the various nodes (300), miles or more), communication from the CMRTS fiber node (300) to the virtual rack manager (622) will typically be via various signals carried over fiber 1 or 2 and signal protocol to complete. In a preferred embodiment, a socket-based interprocess communication (IPC) protocol is used.

This enables the configuration of the CMTS rack, and indeed the entire network, to be rapidly reconfigured to meet the ever-changing network models created by the present invention. Often, it will be convenient to store this network configuration, as well as the properties of the various network devices, in a configuration database (630) and configuration database memory device (not shown).

Figure 7 shows a more detailed view of a CMRTS fiber node (300) (shown here without a duplex unit and/or a signal combiner (606) (e.g., a duplex RF signal combiner device)) and a CMRTS unit (604). Much detail. At a higher or at least alternate level of abstraction, the CMRTS unit of a CMRTS fiber node will typically include a first QAM-RF packet processor (700) with MAC and PHY units that connect fiber 2 The downstream data on the upper is converted to a plurality of radio frequency (RF) QAM waveforms (channels), and this downstream data is output (702) to the local CATV cable. As previously discussed, to maintain fallback capability, a CMRTS fiber node will also typically have an optical/electrical converter (600) capable of directly converting the CATV waveform sent on fiber 1 into a suitable for the RF CATV waveform injected into the cable (226).

The CMRTS unit may also optionally include a second RF-upstream packet processor (704) that will read the the upstream RF signal (data) and convert this upstream data to the appropriate Ethernet or Other data communication protocols. This RF-upstream packet handler is optional because alternatively (for backward compatibility) the upstream data sent by the cable modem can be returned to the CMTS by simply taking the upstream RF signal (708), making The upstream RF signal (708) travels through the electrical/optical converter (602) and transmits the upstream RF signal (708) back to the CMTS over fiber 1 (222).

The operation of the Packet Processors (700), (704) and when required the O/E and E/O Converters (600), (602) can be controlled by the Virtual Shelf Manager (622) through a suitable controller (typically a microcontroller processor) and local application software (Apps) that intercept data from Fiber 1 (222) or Fiber 2 (302) and typically communicate via a dedicated communication protocol (e.g., previously discussed socket protocol) to receive and send commands.

At a deeper level where more details of the PHY units are exposed in both the QAM-RF Packet Processor (700) and the optional RF-Upstream Packet Processor (704), the CMRTS unit (604) will typically include: a data switch , such as a DOCSIS Level 2 transponder (710); at least one controller (typically a microprocessor and associated software, not shown); various QAM modulators (712) for ) takes DOCSIS data and/or other IP/on-demand data and converts, QAM modulates and frequency shifts this data as needed to fit into the appropriate empty CATV channel. To this end, the CMRTS unit can use a controllable clock generator (714) to control the frequency and timing of multiple QAM channels as well as multiple variable gain amplifier (VGA) units (716), (718), thereby facilitating the timing of these units. Multiple PHY sections manage the analog process in converting signals to and from the CMRTS unit (300) and cable RF signals.

As before, the DOCSIS Tier 2 transponders (710) switch, and multiple switches controlling the QAM modulators (712) and analog/digital (A/D) units (720) can be passed by the virtual shelf manager (622) A local (embedded) controller (usually a microprocessor) and associated application software are controlled remotely via commands to and from the virtual rack software. As before, typically these commands can be sent via the same fiber 1 or fiber 2 paths that are normally used to transport other data, and again a socket based inter-process communication (IPC) protocol can be used.

As before, the return process for processing upstream data may implement a previous electrical/optical (E/O) converter and send the upstream signal back substantially unmodified other than the conversion to optical wavelength. Alternatively, the upstream process may be an upstream version of the previously discussed downstream process of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) unit (718) will convert the incoming upstream RF signal from the local neighborhood CATV cable into a signal that is then tuned to the clock generator and A/D conversion and is digitized by an A/D converter, and then forwarded through a DOCSIS Tier 2 transponder or other switch (710) towards the cable plant, typically using fiber 2 (302), allowing larger amounts of upstream data to be sent. Here again, the DOCSIS Tier 2 transponder and switch circuits (710) can be controlled by commands from the virtual shelf software.

Figure 8 shows how the Virtual Shelf Manager (622) and Configuration Database (630) (shown previously in Figure 6) can control multiple CMRTS Fiber Nodes (300), Improved CMTSs (500) and CMTS Line Cards (502) and optionally further details of the functionality of most or all of the other active nodes and switches in the HFC network system.

In this example, the virtual rack manager software (622) is shown running as a module of a broader CMTS manager software package (800); however, the virtual rack manager software (622) can also function as a run as a standalone package. The CMATS manager software (800), which will typically run on one or more computer processors, possibly located at a cable utility or other convenient location, will typically be based on network configuration management software (802). This network configuration software (802), also referred to as Operational Support System (OSS) software, may be, for example, based on Tail-f Systems, Inc., Stockholm, Sweden (international location) and Ring Hill, Virginia (US location) ConfD network management software software.

In this embodiment, the use of software such as ConfD is useful because this type of network management software also provides a number of convenient and commonly used interfaces, allowing users to interact with the network and subsequently control the network configuration. These interfaces may include NETCONF management agents, SNMP agents, Command Line Interface (CLI), Internet (Web) interfaces, and other agents/interfaces as needed.

The virtual CMTS shelf software that can be used to control the status of the various CMTS line cards (502) and CMRTS fiber nodes (300) will typically interact with a network configuration database (630) running under the control of this network configuration software (802) . This virtual CMTS rack software will in turn send commands out to most or all of the various remote CMRTS fiber nodes and control the operation of the CMTS (500) at the cable head (cable plant) and other devices as needed. As previously discussed, one preferred way to achieve this control is through socket-based inter-process communication (IPC) protocols and packets (804), which (804) The transmission may be via the same communication lines used to transmit CATV and DOCSIS data (eg, Fiber 1 line (218) and Fiber 2 line (302)). In this case, for example, controllers running various types of application software (Apps) in a plurality of remote packet processors (700), (704) in a remote CMRTS fiber node (300) can listen to Appropriate commands of the rack manager (622), and adjust the operation of the CMRTS package (700), (704) processors accordingly. These CMRTS fiber nodes can also transmit their status back to the virtual shelf manager using the same protocol.

The device configuration database (630) of the virtual rack manager system will typically have a number of data fields, including fields containing the identification codes and/or addresses of the various CMRTS units in the network (CMRTS identifier fields). The database will also typically have information about the status of the various cable modems connected to the various CMRTS units, including cable modem identification data (cable modem identification data field) and the privileges of the various users associated with these various cable modems . For example, one user may have privileged access to a wide array of services for high bandwidth upload and download data, while another user may have limited access to a different set of services and more limited privileges to upload and download data. Other functions that may be implemented include event logging, authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) support, DOCSIS management information BASE (MIB) functions, and the like.

Other fields that would normally be in this database would include information on: user identification field (user privilege field), available DOCSIS channels, available IP addresses, how to remotely configure the various CMRTS software controllable switches and instructions on how to remotely configure the various CMRTS software-controllable RF packet processors.

The virtual rack manager and configuration database, as well as other components of the system, will typically run on a computer system having at least one microprocessor, and standard hardware and software such as MAC and PHY units, which will This virtual rack manager is enabled to send data packets to and receive data packets (typically via the IPC protocol) on the network to various remote CMRTS units.

The OSS software (802) can inform the virtual rack manager software of the privileges, certificates and encryption keys assigned to the various users. The OSS can also set policies or allocation restrictions on the frequencies and bandwidths to be assigned to the various channels. The OSS can also respond to queries from the virtual shelf manager when a new modem is detected. The OSS can further take statistics collected by the virtual rack manager, such as packets transmitted and received, data volume, and use this information for billing and network management purposes.

An introduction to OSS can be found in Misra, "OSS for Telecom Networks: An Introduction to Network Management" (Springer (2004)) Further information on functions and more examples of functions that can be implemented in the OSS software used in the present invention.

For example, consider how the system operates when a new cable modem is connected to the system for the first time. The cable modem will send an upstream DOCSIS signal (226) to the CMRTS (604). The RF-up packet processor (704) in the CMRTS (604) will in turn collect information related to the cable modem identification number and other relevant parameters, repackage the data in digital format, and send Data is sent upstream back to the virtual rack manager system. The Virtual Shelf Manager system (622) will look up the cable modem identification data in the device configuration database (630) and determine the privileges of the user associated with said cable modem identification data and from the user privileges field, available DOCSIS channels Along with the value of the IP address available, the data packet is sent to the CMRATS (700) unit, usually via the IPC protocol (804) controlling that particular cable modem.

These packets will interact with multiple applications (e.g., App 1, App n) and configure a software-controllable switch on the CMRTS unit (700), thereby configuring a software-controllable switch on the QAM-RF packet processor (700). The switch and the IP address available to the cable modem to transmit downstream data to the cable modem on the first available DOCSIS channel. These packets will also configure the software-controllable RF packet processor (704) to receive upstream data from the cable modem on the second available DOCSIS upstream channel and IP address, and send the upstream data as a third upstream digital fiber optic signal (302 ) and retransmit.

Typically, the Virtual Shelf Manager (622) will manage the IP addresses for the cable modems by proxying Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services or other methods.

As also discussed elsewhere, a particular advantage of this approach is its excellent forward and backward compatibility. The same CMRTS unit can be used in a current HFC network, an HFC network using conventional CMTS units (option one) or an advanced HFC network using advanced CMTS units (option two).

As an example of an advanced CMTS option two system in operation, assume that the "low power" fiber node 3 (204) from Figure 5 is now replaced by a "smart" CMRTS fiber node 3 (300) as a result of routine maintenance. As a result of this change, the network may wish to now stop on fiber 1 (218), (222) by (for example) now configuring the CMTS line card (502) sending a signal to fiber splitter "n" (220) The performance of this branch of the network is optimized by sending on the DOC1 (116) channel. By no longer transmitting DOC 1 channels on fiber 1, additional empty channels (frequencies) are formed on this branch of the HFC network, which can instead be used to transmit additional channels over optical fibers 2 (301), (302) IP/on-demand data.

To effectuate this change, the Virtual Shelf Manager (622) will send a number of commands to the appropriate Tier 2/3 Switches (629) and CMTS Line Cards (502), reconfiguring the CATV Video and DOCSIS Packet Processors (610) , CATV MAC (612) and CATV PHY (614) no longer transmit DOC 1 channel. The virtual shelf manager will also send commands to the appropriate Tier 2/3 switch (629), GigE (Gigabyte Ethernet) packet handler (616), GigE MAC (618) and GigE PHY (620 ), to instead send data that would normally have been transmitted over the DOC 1 channel on fiber 1 (218), so that this data is now transmitted over fiber 2 (301). The virtual rack manager will also communicate with CMRTS fiber nodes 1, 2 and new CMRTS fiber node 3 (300), instructing these fiber nodes to use QAM-RF packet processors (700) and/or DOSCIS L2 transponders (710) Look for previous DOCl data on fiber 2 (302) and QAM modulate this DOCl data using a QAM modulator (712) and send it out on an empty DOCl channel (116). The Virtual Shelf Manager can now make better use of this previously inefficiently used DOC1 channel (frequency), since this channel is now used to transmit neighborhood-specific data.

Here, improvements in flexibility increase the amount of data available to system users. Under the prior art system, the DOC1QAM signal on the Doc1 channel (frequency) (116) is transmitted to all three fiber nodes leading to the cable in three different neighborhoods, regardless of the hooks attached to one particular fiber Whether any cable modems on the node's CATV cable need this data. Now, by replacing the "low power" fiber node 3 (204) with the "smart" CMRTS fiber node 3 (300), the ability of other neighborhoods to receive a wider array of customized IP/on-demand services has been increased.

Continuing with this example, further assume that the CMRTS unit (604) in new CMRTS fiber node 3 (300) experiences an early fatal failure shortly after installation. In this case, the O/E and E/O sections (600), (602) of the CMRTS fiber node 3 will continue to operate, and as a result, the failed CMRTS fiber node 3 (300) now behaves like a "low energy" fiber node again 3 (204) the same action. In this case, the Virtual Shelf Manager (622) can cope with this failure by simply rolling back the changes just made, and service to all three neighbors while serving the failed new CMRTS fiber node 3 can Continue (at a lower level than the previous level).

Figure 9 shows an example where the CMRTS system of the present invention is used in a more conventional CMTS HFC system. Here, the CMTS shelf is a standard (prior art) CMTS shelf (214) that has been configured by the cable operator to leave some QAM channels (DOCSIS channels) empty. The data managed by the CMRTS unit (604) in the CMRTS fiber node (300) is managed in a completely separate manner from the data managed by the standard CMTS rack (214), which is passed through a simple The O/E (600) and E/O (602) devices are simply passed back and forth from the local cables (226) in the various neighborhoods.

Here, Internet/IP etc. data (212) to the various CMRTS units (604) is managed by a Tier 2/3 switch independent of the CMTS (214), via the previously discussed GigE MAC and PHY units (not shown ) is converted into an optical signal and sent along fiber 2 (301) as before. Here, the virtual shelf manager (622) only interacts with the Tier 2/3 switches (629) and associated CMRTS units (300), and not directly with the standard CMTS shelf (214). As before, the virtual shelf manager (622) is controlled by the network configuration management software (OSS) (802).

Figure 10 shows additional details of how a "smart" CMRTS fiber node (300) may operate in conjunction with a prior art cable head CMTS (214) and a prior art CMTS line card. As for Fig. 9, the functionality of the CMRTS is essentially the same, however, the prior art CMTS rack (214) will no longer intelligently manage its QAM channels, but will instead only have some pre-allocations that can be filled by CMRTS units empty QAM channel.

It should be noted that although multiple CMRTS instances utilize packet handlers (700), (704), in an alternative implementation, one or more of these packet handlers may not be required. Alternatively, the signal may simply be passed on, or otherwise modified by waveform shaping, or by some other means.

As an example, yet another embodiment, a CMRTS may not contain a QAM modulator at all. In this alternative embodiment, the QAM signal could be sent up and down the second optical fiber (e.g., to and from the cable plant or a fiber node closer to the cable plant), and the CMRTS would simply use frequency shifting circuitry to convert the The second fiber QAM signal is converted to an appropriate empty CATV QAM channel (DOCSIS channel).

When this lift or Magnus side force is used to rotate a turbine device, the resulting net force 210 drives the turbine about a center point, as shown in FIG. 13 . Net force 210 acts on cylinder 195 and rotates the turbine in direction 240 .

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and various changes may be made and the like may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Effects replace multiple components thereof. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A remote CMTS fiber node CMRTS system for hybrid fiber cable HFC network, comprising: A first light/RF radio frequency conversion device, the first light/RF radio frequency conversion device directly converts the first group of RF-modulated optical fiber signals into the first group of CATV RF signals; at least one QAM modulator device capable of encoding a selected portion of the digitally encoded second optical fiber signal into a second set of RF QAM waveforms; at least one software controllable switch that can be remotely directed to select at least some of said second fiber optic signals and direct said at least one QAM modulator device to encode said selected second fiber optic signals as said second set of RF QAM waveforms at a set of selected frequencies; at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor capable of detecting upstream data carried by a CATV RF upstream signal generated by at least one cable modem and digitally reproducing said upstream data packing, and retransmitting said upstream data as a third upstream digital optical fiber signal; wherein said at least one software-controllable switch and/or said software-controllable RF packet processor can be remotely configured by software to implement additional non-DOCSIS functionality, a full set of DOCSIS functionality, or standard DOCSIS upstream and downstream functionality a subset; wherein the functions of said at least one software-controllable switch and the functions of said at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor are controlled by a remote virtual rack manager system, Wherein the virtual shelf manager system includes: a device configuration database having at least a plurality of CMRTS identifier fields, a plurality of cable modem identification data fields, a user privilege field associated with said cable modem identification fields, a plurality of available DOCSIS channels, available IP addresses, instructions to configure the at least one software-controllable switch, and instructions to configure the remote software-controllable RF packet processor; at least one processor; and Hardware and software capable of sending and receiving multiple data packets to and from multiple remote CMRTS units. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual rack manager system sends a plurality of data packets to the remote software-controllable RF packet processor to detect upstream cable transmissions by at least one newly initialized cable modem Modem identification data and transmitting the modem identification data to the remote virtual rack manager system. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the virtual shelf manager system looks up the cable modem identification data in the device configuration database and determines the user's those associated with the cable modem identification data. privileges, and depending on the values of the User Privileges field, available DOCSIS channels, and available IP addresses, sending packets to the CMRATS unit associated with the cable modem identification data, thereby configuring the software controllable switch and the available IP address to transmit downstream data to the cable modem on a first available DOCSIS channel, and configure the software controllable RF packet processor to communicate on a second available DOCSIS upstream channel and Upstream data is received from the cable modem at the IP address and retransmitted as a third upstream digital optical fiber signal. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the virtual shelf manager system manages the IP addresses for the cable modem by proxying a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service. 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the data packets sent by the virtual rack manager system to the CMRTS unit to configure the software-controllable switch and the software-controllable RF packet processor are via socket-based The inter-process communication IPC protocol of the socket is used for transmission. 6. A Remote CMTS Fiber Node CMRTS System for Hybrid Fiber Cable HFC Networks, comprising: A first light/RF radio frequency conversion device, the first light/RF radio frequency conversion device directly converts the first group of RF-modulated optical fiber signals into the first group of CATV RF signals; at least one QAM modulator device capable of encoding a selected portion of the digitally encoded second optical fiber signal into a second set of RF QAM waveforms; at least one software controllable switch that can be remotely directed to select at least some of said second fiber optic signals and direct said at least one QAM modulator device to encode said selected second fiber optic signals as said second set of RF QAM waveforms at a set of selected frequencies; at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor capable of detecting upstream data carried by a CATV RF upstream signal generated by at least one cable modem and digitally reproducing said upstream data packing, and retransmitting said upstream data as a third upstream digital optical fiber signal; wherein said at least one software-controllable switch and/or said software-controllable RF packet processor can be remotely configured by software to implement additional non-DOCSIS functionality, a full set of DOCSIS functionality, or standard DOCSIS upstream and downstream functionality a subset; wherein the functions of said at least one software-controllable switch and the functions of said at least one remote software-controllable RF packet processor are controlled by a remote virtual rack manager system, Wherein said virtual rack manager system is managed by an operation support system OSS network configuration management processor and OSS software system; wherein said OSS software stores data related to the state of the HFC network in a network configuration database, and wherein said OSS network configuration management processor and OSS software system can be managed by a plurality of protocols selected from the following Groups of each: NETCONF, CLI, SNMP, or Web interface protocols. 7. A method for enhancing the data carrying capacity of a hybrid fiber optic cable HFC network having a cable head, an optical fiber network, a plurality of optical fiber nodes, a plurality of optical fiber nodes connected to said plurality of optical fiber nodes A separate CATV cable and a plurality of separate cable modems, each having different data requirements, connected to each of the separate CATV cables, the method comprising: A first set of data is delivered from the cable head to the fiber node using a plurality of first RF QAM waveforms capable of being injected directly into individual CATV cables by an optical/RF converter middle; conveying a second set of data from said cable head to said fiber optic node, said second set of data cannot be injected directly into individual CATV cables by an optical/RF converter, and at said fiber optic node converting a selected portion of said second set of data into a plurality of second RF QAM waveforms; combining said first RF QAM waveform with said second RF QAM waveform and injecting these combined RF QAM waveforms into said separate CATV cable; Wherein for each individual CATV cable in said plurality of said individual CATV cables, said first RF QAM waveform and said second RF QAM waveform are selected such that these combined RFQAM waveforms do not exceed said each an available bandwidth of said individual CATV cable; and wherein the second set of data and the selected portion of the second set of data are selected to meet the different data requirements for the plurality of cable modems such that different ones of the plurality of individual CATV cables A single CATV cable can carry at least a plurality of different second RF QAM waveforms, wherein said second set of data and selected portions of said second set of data are selected by a virtual rack computer processor running network configuration software; wherein the virtual rack computer processor transmits selection data to the fiber optic nodes using a plurality of socket-based IPC protocols; And wherein a plurality of controllers located at a fiber node running application software receive said selected data and configure said fiber node to convert said selected portion of said second set of data into a plurality of RFQAM waveforms. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said network configuration software stores data relevant to the state of the HFC network in a database, and wherein said network configuration software can be managed by a plurality of protocols, these protocols selected from the group consisting of: NETCONF, CLI, SNMP, or Web Interface Protocol. 9. A method for enhancing the data carrying capacity of a hybrid fiber optic cable HFC network having a cable head, a fiber optic network, a plurality of fiber optic nodes, a plurality of fiber optic nodes connected to said plurality of fiber optic nodes A separate CATV cable and a plurality of separate cable modems, each having different data requirements, connected to each of the separate CATV cables, the method comprising: A first set of data is delivered from the cable head to the fiber node using a plurality of first RF QAM waveforms capable of being injected directly into individual CATV cables by an optical/RF converter middle; conveying a second set of data from said cable head to said fiber optic node, said second set of data cannot be injected directly into individual CATV cables by an optical/RF converter, and at said fiber optic node converting a selected portion of said second set of data into a plurality of second RF QAM waveforms; combining said first RF QAM waveform with said second RF QAM waveform and injecting these combined RF QAM waveforms into said separate CATV cable; wherein for each individual CATV cable in said plurality of said individual CATV cables, said first RF QAM waveform and said second RF QAM waveform are selected such that these combined RFQAM waveforms do not exceed said each an available bandwidth of said individual CATV cable; and wherein the second set of data and the selected portion of the second set of data are selected to meet the different data requirements for the plurality of cable modems such that different ones of the plurality of individual CATV cables A single CATV cable can carry at least a plurality of different second RF QAM waveforms, wherein said first RF QAM waveform and said second RF QAM waveform are selected by a virtual rack computer processor running network configuration software; wherein said virtual rack computer processor transmits select data to a plurality of CMTS line cards located at said cable head node using a plurality of socket-based IPC protocols; and wherein a plurality of controllers running application software in said CMTS line card receive said selection data and configure said line card to select said first RF QAM waveform and said second RF QAM waveform; wherein said network configuration software stores data relating to the state of the HFC network in a database, and wherein said network configuration software may be managed by a plurality of protocols selected from the group consisting of: NETCONF , CLI, SNMP or Web interface protocols.