A hybrid architecture for analog video broadcast and B-ISDN services in customer premises networks

The use of SCM (subcarrier multiplexing) transmission to deliver broadcast analog video signals within a CPN (customer premises network) as an overlay to an all-digital B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) is considered. The feasibility of a proposal where the analog and digital signals are carried on different wavelengths is shown. An architecture for an optical CPN, termed H-Bus and incorporating emerging broadband SONET and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) standards, is taken as a baseline for the delivery of switched digital, two-way voice, data, and video services. An optical overlay for the distribution of analog, broadcast video services using subcarrier multiplexing is considered. Several key alternatives associated with the delivery of broadcast video services are assessed, including signal quality, number of simultaneous channels, number of user terminals to be served, and modulation format. These issues are considered in terms of their impact on the interface with the public local exchange network and on the complexity, topology, and cost of the CPN