CABLE TELEVISION RADIO FREQUENCY RETURN METHOD

摘要

2078561 9115064 PCTABS00007 A method of controlling the allocation of a population of remote units (120) among a plurality of groups of remote units (120) is provided. Each remote unit (120) has a digital identifier respectively associated therewith. A maximum and a minimum average number of remote units (120) per group is fixed. The remote units (120) are assigned to the groups of remote units (120) in accordance with the respective digital identifiers. The average number of remote units (120) per group is then determined as remote units (120) are assigned thereto. Next, the average number of remote units (120) per group is compared to the fixed maximum number of remote units (120) per group. The above steps are repeated while the average number of remote units (120) per group is less than or equal to the fixed maximum number of remote units (120) per group. The number of groups is changed such that the average number of remote units (120) per group is between the fixed maximum and minimum number of remote units (120) per group if the average number of remote units (120) per group exceeds the maximum number of remote units (120) per group.