Passive entry adapter system for a catv network

Abstract

A passive entry adapter system includes an external band rejection filter connected to an external network; an entry adapter connected to the external band rejection filter, an input port connecting the entry adapter to the external network; a directional coupler connected to the input port; a frequency-based signal separation device connected to a first terminal and comprising a high-pass terminal, and a low-pass terminal; a splitter connected to the high-pass terminal, where the splitter is configured to be connected to one or more first types of devices; and a broadband output port connected to a second terminal of the directional coupler. The broadband output is configured to be connected to one or more second types of devices. The entry adapter and the external band rejection filter are configured to prevent signals from a frequency band associated with in-network communications produced within an internal network from reaching the external network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A passive entry adapter system for mitigating against in-network communications from interfering with an external network comprising:
 an external band rejection filter configured to be connected to a CATV network;   an entry adapter connected to the external band rejection filter, the entry adapter comprising:
 a directional coupler configured to attenuate signals based on signal direction; 
 a frequency-based signal separation device connected to a first terminal of the directional coupler, wherein the frequency-based signal separation device includes a high-pass terminal, and a low-pass terminal; 
 a splitter connected to the high-pass terminal of the frequency-based signal separation device, wherein the splitter is configured to be connected to a first type of device; 
 a resistor connected to the low-pass terminal and to a ground; 
 a second terminal of the directional coupler configured to be connected to a second type of device; and 
 wherein the entry adapter and the external band rejection filter are configured to prevent signals from a frequency band associated with in-network communications produced within an internal network from reaching the external network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of device comprises a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) device and the second type of device comprises a broadband device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the directional coupler is configured to attenuate communications traveling from the input port to the first type of device and communications traveling from the first type of device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the resistor is configured to prevent reflections of signals from the low pass terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any of the directional coupler, the frequency-based separation device, the resistor, and the splitter are integrated together or are separate components. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the resistor has a resistance value of at least 75 ohms. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-pass terminal filters signals within a first frequency band associated with broadband signals and passes signals within a second frequency band associated with the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) communications, and wherein the low-pass terminal passes signals within the first frequency band through the resistor to the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the external band rejection filter comprises a MoCA band rejection filter, wherein the MoCA band rejection filter is configured to filter signals within the second frequency band and allow signals within the first frequency band to pass. 
     
     
         9 . A system for mitigating against in-network communications from interfering with an external network comprising:
 a band rejection filter configured to be connected to the external network;   an entry adapter connected to the band rejection filter;   wherein the entry adapter is configured to be connected to a first type of device and a second type of device that are configured to communicate with each other via network signals of a customer premises local network;   wherein the entry adapter is configured to pass the network signals in a first frequency band between the first type of device and the second type of device so as to terminate signals transmitted between the first type of device and the second type of device at a second frequency band that is lower than the first frequency band and to mitigate against the network signals in the second frequency band from the second type of device from reaching the external network; and   wherein the band rejection filter is configured to selectively filter the network signals in the second frequency band so as to mitigate against the network signals from interfering with the external network.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first type of device comprises a broadband device;   the second type of device comprises a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) device;   the first frequency band is configured to carry broadband data; and   the second frequency band is configured to carry internal network or MoCA data.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the entry adapter includes a direction-sensitive component configured to attenuate the network signals based on signal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the direction-sensitive component comprises a directional coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the entry adapter is further configured to permit communications between the first type of device and the external network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the entry adapter comprises a frequency-based signal separation device including:
 a common terminal configured to communicate with the first type of device;   a high-pass terminal configured to communicate with the second type of device;   a low-pass terminal configured to terminate to a ground via a resistor; and   wherein the frequency-based signal separation device is configured to:
 pass signals within the first frequency band traveling from the common terminal to the second type of device via the high-pass terminal; and 
 block signals within the second frequency band traveling from the second type of device to the common terminal. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the band rejection filter is configured to filter signals within the second frequency band to prevent the signals within the second frequency band from reaching the external network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the band rejection filter is configured to permit signals within the first frequency band to pass through to the external network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the band rejection filter permits signals within the first frequency band produced by the first type of device to the external network, and wherein the band rejection filter is configured to reflect signals within the second frequency band produced by the second type of device thereby preventing the signals within the second frequency band from reaching the external network. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the entry adapter is configured such that signals within the first frequency band transmitted to or from the first type of device comprise a loss of less than approximately 3 decibels. 
     
     
         19 . An entry adapter system for mitigating against in-network communications from interfering with an external network comprising:
 a band rejection filter configured to be connected to the external network;   an entry adapter configured to be connected to the band rejection filter;   wherein the entry adapter is configured to be connected to a first type of device and a second type of device that are configured to communicate with each other via local network signals within a local network;   wherein the entry adapter is configured to pass the network signals in a first frequency band between the first type of device and the second type of device so as to terminate signals transmitted between the first type of device and the second type of device at a second frequency band that is lower than the first frequency band; and   wherein the entry adapter comprises a direction-sensitive component that is configured to mitigate against the network signals in the second frequency band from the second type of device from interfering with the external network.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the direction-sensitive component comprises a directional coupler. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the entry adapter is further configured to permit communications between the first type of device and the external network. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first type of device comprises a broadband device;   the second type of device comprises a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) device;   the first frequency band is configured to carry broadband data; and   the second frequency band is configured to carry internal network or MoCA data.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the entry adapter comprises a frequency-based signal separation device including:
 a common terminal configured to communicate with the first type of device;   a high-pass terminal configured to communicate with the second type of device;   a low-pass terminal configured to terminate to a ground via a resistor; and   wherein the frequency-based signal separation device is configured to:
 pass signals within the first frequency band traveling from the common terminal to the second type of device via the high-pass terminal; and 
 block signals within the second frequency band traveling from the second type of device to the common terminal. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the band rejection filter is configured to permit signals within the first frequency band to pass through to the external network 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein band rejection filter permits signals within the first frequency band produced by the first type of device to the external network and wherein signals within the second frequency band produced by the second type of device are reflected back by the band rejection filter and prevented from reaching the external network. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the entry adapter is configured such that the signals within the first frequency band transmitted to or from the first type of device comprise a loss of less than approximately 3 decibels.