A Cable Television (CATV) digital return link system that provides
dedicated, high-speed, full-duplex and point-to-point connections between
users and the head end system is disclosed. The CATV digital return link
system includes return path transmitters, intermediate hubs and a head
end hub coupled to each other via a network of fiber optics cables. The
return path transmitters are each coupled to a relatively large number of
users via a local CATV-subtree. Signals from cable modems are transmitted
via the local CATV-subtree to the return path transmitters for
transmission to the head end. A number of users are individually and
directly connected to the return path transmitters. Data from these
directly connected users is transmitted to the head end via the network
of fiber optics cables in conjunction with the RF data from the subtree.
Likewise, data from the head end to these directly connected users is
transmitted in the forward path direction using the digital return link
system.