US 12,489,957 B1
Headend controller and method of use
Mark E. McNutt, Carlisle, PA (US); and Harish K.G. Palakurthi, Carlisle, PA (US)
Assigned to Z-Band Technologies, LLC, Carlisle, PA (US)
Filed by Z-Band Technologies, LLC, Carlisle, PA (US)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/732,031.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/471,186, filed on Jun. 5, 2023.
Int. Cl. H04N 21/61 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/61 (2013.01) [H04N 21/615 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for the distribution of CATV RF signals comprising the steps of:
A. Providing a headend controller, said headend controller comprising one or more of input ports, a system control unit and one or more output ports;
B. Providing CATV RF signals to said one or more input ports;
C. Evaluating each said CATV RF signal to collect input signal evaluation data corresponding to each said CATV RF signal, said input signal evaluation data comprising CATV RF signal power and CATV RF signal slope data;
D. Recording each said input signal evaluation data corresponding to each said CATV RF signal at said system control unit;
E. Comparing each said input signal evaluation data against system predetermined input signal range values, said predetermined signal range values comprising CATV RF signal power range values and CATV RF signal slope range values;
F. Determining whether said input signal evaluation data falls outside of said predetermined input signal range values for each said CATV RF signal;
G. Applying signal conditioning to each said CATV RF signal having input signal evaluation data outside of said system predetermined input signal range values; and
H. Aggregating each said CATV RF signals into a combined CATV RF signal stream;
I. Evaluating said combined CATV RF signal stream to collect signal stream evaluation data corresponding to said CATV RF signal stream, said signal stream evaluation data comprising CATV RF signal power and CATV RF signal slope;
J. Recording said signal stream evaluation data at said system control unit;
K. Comparing each said signal stream evaluation data against predetermined signal stream range values comprising signal stream power range values and signal stream slope range values;
L. Determining whether said signal stream evaluation data falls outside of said predetermined signal stream range;
M. Applying signal stream conditioning to CATV RF signal stream if said signal stream evaluation data falls outside of said predetermined signal stream range; and
N. Providing said CATV RF signal stream to said output port.