Abstract: System (100) and method for providing power supply status indications and network-originated messages on a user device interface (104) of a user device (102) coupled to an access device (110). The access device (110) receives a supply of main power from a main power supply (204), and the access device (110) is adapted to interface with a communications network (111). A backup power supply (206) is coupled to the access device (110) and is adapted to supply backup power to the access device (110) when the supply of main power (214) fails. The backup power supply (206) provides a signal indicating a power condition of the backup power supply (206) when the supply of main power (214) fails. A processor unit (208) receives the signal and generates a backup power supply status indication in response to the signal. At least one user device (102) is coupled to the access device (110) and also is adapted to receive and/or transmit information over the communications network (111) via the access unit (110).

Abstract: An audio program distribution arrangement for use in connection with a server in a home area network is described. The audio program distribution arrangement is configured to distribute audio programming over a local audio link. The audio program distribution arrangement comprises an audio programming information receiver module, an audio programming information assembler module and a control module. The audio programming information receiver module is configured to receive audio programming information from a plurality of sources. The audio programming information assembler module is configured to generate assembled audio programming information by selectively assembling said audio programming information as received by the audio programming information receiver module into a selected set of frequencies for transmission over the local audio link. The control module configured to control the audio programming information receiver module and the audio programming information assembler module.

Abstract: A method and system for providing locally generated prompts/announcements from a centralized source is presented in which voice and text files can be downloaded from a centralized server to a client device. The client device can include a telecommunications gateway which supports telephony services provided over a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network. By downloading files which are appropriate for the user, the client side receives and stores an appropriate subset of the prompt/announcement files available on the server.

Abstract: A modulator generates a combined signal consisting of audio and video signals and converts the combined signal to one of a plurality of frequencies in dependence upon a desired output frequency and broadcast standard. The modulator includes a summing amplifier, a first frequency synthesizer and a second frequency synthesizer. The summing amplifier has a first input for receiving a video signal, a second input for receiving a first audio signal, a third input for receiving a second audio signal, and an output for outputting a modulated summed signal. The first frequency synthesizer generates a first frequency for mixing with the modulated summed signal to generate a high intermediate frequency (HI-IF) signal. The second frequency synthesizer generates a second frequency for mixing with said HI-IF signal to generate a desired RF output signal.

Abstract: A home networking gateway provides an interface between an HFC network and an in-home network. Full voice and data connection between the HFC network and each device in the in-home network is provided through the interface. A translator included in the home networking gateway is utilized to provide a mapping between the communication protocols used in the in-home network and the protocols used in the HFC network, eliminating the need for the in-home network to be dependent upon the HFC-specific protocols.

Abstract: All upstream messages that are desired to be sent from one of a plurality of settop terminals sharing a common upstream channel are segmented into data packets through an adaptation layer before sending into the upstream channel by a settop terminal, using the present invention using a hybrid of contention and reservation methodologies. If the upstream message is lengthy, a user settop terminal can request and gain exclusive control over the upstream channel and transmit the message using a reservation and self-acknowledging mechanism. In accordance with the present invention, a combination reservation mechanism and calculation method to optimize random backoff time for upstream transmission is added to conventional contention based Media Access Control methods and this embodiment to substantially enhance performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated correlation of digital modulation impairment is described. The technique obtains soft decision data (116, 2502) and extracts signal space location information of sufficient resolution to distinguish different types of impairment to a digitally modulated signal. The technique applies an error vector magnitude mask (117, 502) and determines the signal-to-noise ratio of the digitally modulated signal. The technique applies impairment masks (118, 2504) and provides a characterization (119) of impairment affecting the digitally modulated signal (112). The technique determines a subset of the soft decision data (116, 2502) that falls within the impairment masks (118, 2505) and calculates correlation weights (2506). The technique may be used to identify, isolate, and classify different types of impairment. Given sufficient data collection, sources of impairments may be determined precisely.

Abstract: A receiver which receives a multichannel signal and which detects and outputs an unscrambled desired signal to a video display and speaker unit includes a first unit, a second unit and a controller. The first unit comprises a frequency agile tuner for receiving said multichannel signal and for outputting a selected CATV signal. The a second unit includes a unit means for receiving the selected CATV channel signal; a unit for detecting whether the selected CATV channel signal is scrambled; and a descrambler for descrambling a scrambled CATV channel signal and for outputting a descrambled CATV channel signal. The controller controls the output of the receiver such that a signal is output from the first unit to said video display and speaker unit when the selected CATV signal is unscrambled and a signal is output from the second unit to the video display and speaker unit only when a scrambled signal is detected. The content of the selected CATV channel signal controls the operation of the second unit.

Abstract: A system and method downloads data and reconfigures the data into a database. A telephone user purchases a specific number of lines and specific services (i.e., call waiting) from a telephone company. The telephony company then programs a switch associated with that user so that the user receives the services purchased. The telephone company also inserts the user's purchases into a database used for generating the user's bills. Discrepancies can occur between the data in the switch and the data in the billing database. Billing correction is performed by downloading all of the data within a switch, reconfiguring the data into a database and then comparing the switch database against the billing database to detect billing errors. To facilitate ease of this billing correction process, the switch database is transmitted to the billing correction center via a network instead of the traditional method of using direct tape copies of the switch being physically transported to the billing correction center.