Distributed Gain Subscriber Tap with Power Management

Abstract

A system and method for a distribution network is provided wherein cascaded power amplifiers with bypass switching are disposed along the branches of the network. The amplifiers may have an RF modem and a programmable digital computer that enables communication with a headend or a controlling computer as well as a bypass switch control for disabling the amplification function of the amplifiers. The amplifier may have a wireless communication system for communicating with individual subscriber's homes and communicating with a neighboring amplifier system for use in emergency situations or during installation and configuration of the network. The network comprised of the amplifiers may have redundant signal paths, using the wireless communication devices of the amplifiers, which may be used as backup signal paths for certain communications requiring high uptime such as telephony.

1 . A subscriber tap for a distributed gain cable telecommunications network comprising: 
 an input line;    an output line;    a power tap connected to said input line and capable of drawing power from said input line;    a battery power source; and    a power supply connected to said power tap and capable of detecting if said power drawn from said input line is sufficient to power said subscriber tap, said power supply connected to said battery power source and capable of drawing power from said battery power source when said power supply detects that said power drawn from said input line is insufficient to power said subscriber tap    
     
     
         2 . The subscriber tap of  claim 1 , further comprising distribution taps.  
     
     
         3 . The subscriber tap of  claim 2 , wherein said distribution taps comprise a radio transceiver.  
     
     
         4 . The subscriber tap of  claim 2 , wherein said distribution taps comprise at least one power splitter.  
     
     
         5 . The subscriber tap of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an RF modem and a programmable digital computer that enables communication between said subscriber tap and a headend or a controlling computer.    
     
     
         6 . The subscriber tap of  claim 5  wherein said RF modem further comprises: 
 a directional antenna in communication with said subscriber tap.    
     
     
         7 . The subscriber tap of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a variable equalizer and a variable attenuator in communication with said programmable digital computer, wherein said programmable digital computer is adapted to control said variable equalizer and said variable attenuator.    
     
     
         8 . The subscriber tap of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an auto-location feature for detecting a position in space of said subscriber tap.    
     
     
         9 . The subscriber tap of  claim 8 , wherein said auto-location feature comprises a global positioning system receiver.  
     
     
         10 . The subscriber tap of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an auto-location feature for detecting orientation of said subscriber tap within said cable telecommunications network.    
     
     
         11 . The subscriber tap of  claim 1 , wherein said distributed gain cable telecommunications network modulates signals utilizing at least one of a group composed of Ultra Wide Band Modulation, Discrete Carrier Modulation, Suppressed Carrier Modulation, and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation.