Jay R Vaughan

US Patent:

58986936, Apr 27, 1999

Filed:

Mar 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/400792

Inventors:

Mario P. Vecchi - Aurora CO
Jay Vaughan - Castle Rock CO

Assignee:

Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

H04J 1300

US Classification:

370446

Abstract:

A spectrum manager and a spectrum management method for a communication network. The preferred embodiment is a method of controlling the transmission of multiple information streams in a communication network comprising the steps of providing a communication network and a plurality of information streams corresponding to a plurality of analog and digital services provided by the network; assigning to each information stream one or more spectrum slices within a predetermined frequency spectrum so that each information stream has a different spectrum slice(s) assigned to it; transmitting the information streams over the communication network within the information streams' assigned spectrum slices; assigning to at least one information stream a new spectrum slice within the predetermined frequency spectrum; and transmitting the information streams over the communication network within the information streams' assigned spectrum slices. The invention also includes a communication network comprising a distribution hub; user stations; signal carriers between the distribution hub and the user stations; a network controller comprising function for controlling transmission spectrum slice for service information streams transmitted from the distribution hub to user stations and from user stations to the distribution hub and function for changing a parameter of a transmission spectrum slice.