Upstream aggregation with noise performance improvement

摘要

Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a node in a daisy chain of nodes in a communication network, a first aggregated signal from signals received from customer premise equipment serviced by the node; determining, by the node, when only a first input of a return transmitter/receiver is coupled to receive the first aggregated signal; when only the first input of the return transmitter/receiver is coupled to receive the first aggregated signal, disabling at least one other input of the return transmitter/receiver; determining, by the node, whether a first optical return signal is received from another node in the daisy chain; and when the first optical return signal is received from another node, sending the first optical return signal from the another node on a first channel of the return transmitter/receiver and sending a second optical return signal including the first aggregated signal on a second channel of the return transmitter/receiver.