Network interface device with dynamic noise conditioning

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for a network interface device including an entry port connected to a cable television (CATV) network. A noise suppressor is provided that improves the detection and differentiation between ingress noise and valid upstream signals. The noise suppressor can gate the upstream path logically and dynamically to pass valid upstream signals, while blocking ingress noise form the CATV network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network interface device for dynamically controlling ingress noise, the network interface device comprising:
 an entry port configured to connect to a cable television (CATV) network;   an input/output port configured to connect to subscriber equipment;   an upstream path configured to communicate an upstream signal from the input/output port to the entry port;   a noise suppressor in the upstream path and comprising a plurality of noise suppression paths, the noise suppressor comprising a switch configured to route the upstream signal through a selected one of the plurality of noise suppression paths, wherein at most one of the plurality of noise suppression paths is active to transmit the upstream signal from the input-output port toward the entry port at any time, and wherein a different level of noise suppression is applied to the upstream signal in the respective noise suppressions paths; and   a controller configured to:
 compare a continuous power level of the upstream signal in the upstream path and the instantaneous power level of the upstream signal in the upstream path; 
 determine a dynamic ingress noise threshold based on the comparison of the continuous power level and the instantaneous power level; 
 determine a signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal; 
 compare the signal-to-noise ratio with the dynamic ingress noise threshold; and 
 output a control signal to the noise suppressor selecting one of the plurality of noise suppression paths based on the comparing of the signal-to-noise ratio with the dynamic ingress noise threshold, wherein the noise suppressor is configured to route the upstream signal to the selected one of the plurality of noise suppression paths in response to the control signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine an instantaneous power level of a potential signal in the upstream path;   determine a continuous power level of the potential signal in the upstream path;   determine that the upstream signal is present in the upstream path based on the continuous power level of the potential signal or the instantaneous power level of the potential signal.   
     
     
         3 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the continuous power level by determining an average value of a number instantaneous power level values recorded over a predetermined duration. 
     
     
         4 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of noise suppression paths of the noise suppressor comprise:
 a first noise suppression path configured to pass the upstream signal without conditioning the upstream signal;   a second noise suppression path configured to block the upstream signal; and   a third noise suppression path configured to filter-out a portion of the upstream signal over a particular frequency range.   
     
     
         5 . The network interface device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the upstream path includes any signals; and   select, using the control signal, the second noise suppression path when the controller determines that the upstream path lacks at least one signal.   
     
     
         6 . The network interface device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to select, using the control signal, the first noise suppression path in response to determining that the signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal is greater than about 20 decibels. 
     
     
         7 . The network interface device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to select, using the control signal, the second noise suppression path when the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the dynamic ingress noise threshold and the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than a static ingress noise threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The network interface device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to select, using the control signal, the third noise suppression path when the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than or equal to the dynamic ingress noise threshold and the signal-to-noise ratio is less than or equal to a static ingress noise threshold. 
     
     
         9 . A network interface device, comprising:
 an input-output port;   an entry port configured to connect to a cable television (CATV) network;   an upstream signal path configured to carry an upstream signal from the input-output port to the entry port;   a noise suppressor in the upstream signal path, the noise suppressor comprising a plurality of noise suppression paths each configured to connect the input-output port to the entry port, wherein at most one of the plurality of noise suppression paths is active to transmit the upstream signal from the input-output port toward the entry port at any time; and   a controller configured to:
 dynamically determine a threshold value based on a power level of the upstream signal; <select one of the plurality of noise suppression paths based on the threshold value; and 
 cause the noise suppressor to direct the upstream signal through the selected one of the plurality of noise suppression paths. 
   
     
     
         10 . The network interface device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of noise suppression paths comprises:
 a first noise suppression path configured to apply a first level of filtering to the upstream signal,   a second noise suppression path configured to apply a second level of filtering to the upstream signal, and   a third noise suppression path configured to apply a third level of filtering to the upstream signal.   
     
     
         11 . The network interface device of  claim 9 , wherein noise suppressor comprises a switch configured to:
 receive the upstream signal from the input-output port; and   direct the upstream signal to one of the plurality of noise suppression paths based on a control signal from the controller.   
     
     
         12 . The network interface device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of noise suppression paths applies a different level of filtering to the upstream signal. 
     
     
         13 . The network interface device of  claim 12 , wherein a first noise suppression path of the plurality of noise suppression paths entirely blocks the upstream signal. 
     
     
         14 . The network interface device of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to select the first noise suppression path in response to determining that a signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal is less than about 15 decibels. 
     
     
         15 . The network interface device of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to select the first noise suppression path in response determining an absence of the upstream signal. 
     
     
         16 . The network interface device of  claim 13 , wherein a second noise suppression path of the plurality of noise suppression paths provides no filtering to the upstream signal. 
     
     
         17 . The network interface device of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to select the second noise suppression path in response to determining that a signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal is greater than about 20 decibels. 
     
     
         18 . The network interface device of  claim 16 , wherein a third noise suppression path of the plurality of noise suppression paths filters-out a portion of the upstream signal over a particular frequency range. 
     
     
         19 . The network interface device of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to select the third noise suppression path in response to determining that a signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal is between about 15 decibels and about 20 decibels. 
     
     
         20 . The network interface device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 compare noise included in the upstream signal to the threshold value; and   generate, based on the comparison, a control signal, wherein the noise suppressor is configured to select one of the plurality of noise suppression paths based on the control signal.   
     
     
         21 . The network interface device of  claim 20 , wherein comparing the noise included in the upstream signal comprises:
 determining an instantaneous signal power level of the upstream signal; and   determining a continuous signal power level of the upstream signal.   
     
     
         22 . A network interface device, comprising:
 an input-output port;   an entry port configured to connect to a cable television (CATV) network;   a plurality of noise suppression paths each configured to direct an upstream signal from the input-output port toward the entry port when active; and   a controller configured to:
 determine a dynamic noise threshold of a signal communicated within the network interface device; 
 determine a signal-to-noise ratio of the signal; 
 compare the signal-to-noise ratio with the dynamic noise threshold; and 
 cause the signal to be directed to one of the plurality of noise suppression paths within the network interface device based on the comparing of the signal-to-noise ratio with the dynamic noise threshold. 
   
     
     
         24 . The network interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the dynamic noise threshold is based at least partially on a power level of the signal. 
     
     
         25 . The network interface device of  claim 22 , further comprising a noise suppressor comprising the plurality of noise suppression paths, wherein the controller causes a switch in the noise suppressor to direct the signal to one of the plurality of noise suppression paths. 
     
     
         26 . The network interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than or equal to the dynamic noise threshold; and   in response, route the signal by selecting a first noise suppression path of a plurality of noise suppression paths in the network interface device, the first noise suppression path configured to pass the signal without conditioning of the signal.   
     
     
         27 . The network interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the dynamic noise threshold and greater than a static noise threshold; and   in response, route the signal by selecting a second noise suppression path of a plurality of noise suppression paths in the network interface device, the second noise suppression path configured to block the signal.   
     
     
         28 . The network interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the dynamic noise threshold and less than or equal to a static noise threshold; and   in response, route the signal by selecting a third noise suppression path of a plurality of noise suppression paths in the network interface device, the third noise suppression path configured to condition the signal.