Hybrid fiber/coax networks employ the existing cable plant used for cable
TV and transmit data signals in a frequency bandwidth above that which is used
for cable TV. As this cable plant was deployed in a tree and branch topology, data
transmissions may be susceptible to noise, variable transmission loss and frequency
dispersion, particularly in the upstream direction. Further, due to the tree and
branch topology, homes at the far end of the network experience much greater loss
than do the homes that are near to the headend/ONU. The present system, which uses
point-to-point data links between intelligent network elements located in the feeder/distribution
network to provide reliable, secure, bi-directional broadband access. Digital signals,
or messages, are terminated at the intelligent network elements, switched and regenerated
for transmission across additional upstream or downstream data links as needed
to connect a home to a headend or router. Messages indicative of an end user routing
ID (RID) are identified and the information extracted for user with successive
messages. In this manner, the data links are made over relatively short runs of
coax cable, which can provide greater bandwidth than the typical end-to-end feeder/distribution
connection between a home and the headend or optical network unit.