DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in all of the several views, FIG.
1 illustrates an exemplary cable television distribution system ("cable system") 2 representing one possible embodiment of a broadband telecommunication network constructed in accordance with the invention.
The cable system 2 includes the usual head end 4 receiving one or more input rf television signal feeds, such as feeds 6 and 8.
The head end 4 combines or multiplexes the input rf signals onto a cable plant 5 that comprises a network of cable distribution trunks, such as the trunk 10, for distribution to cable television subscribers.
As is conventional, the cable plant trunks can be implemented using 75 ohm coaxial cable or the like.
To counteract signal losses resulting from electrical resistance, dielectric capacitance, signal radiation, and feeder line draw-off, radio frequency (rf) trunk amplifiers, such as the trunk amplifier 12, are spaced periodically along the trunks to provide rf signal amplification.
To minimize signal reflections, each trunk is terminated at an impedance-matched cable termination, such as the cable termination 14 terminating the trunk 10.
Some of the trunk amplifiers, including the trunk amplifier 12, connect to bridger amplifiers, such as the bridger amplifier 16, that amplify and route rf signals from the head end 4 onto a plurality of feeder lines, such as the line 18.
Each feeder line serves a limited subscriber area, such as a street or neighborhood.
Like the trunks, the feeder lines can be implemented using 75 ohm coaxial cables or the like.
Each feeder line typically includes one or more rf distribution (extender) amplifiers, such as the distribution amplifier 20.
Like the trunk amplifiers described above, the feeder line distribution amplifiers counteract resistive, capacitive and radiant cable losses, as well as losses arising from subscriber signal draw-off.
Subscriber signal feeds are provided through a plurality of addressable taps, such as the taps 22, 24, 26 and 28, each of which contains switchable ports, and thus functions as a switching unit, for controllably routing rf signals to cable system subscribers
|
Television 
