Abstract: Techniques for determining an output rate for a bit stream, the output rate being determined by applying information read from the bit stream to available bandwidths. The techniques are employed to construct a statistical multiplexer that multiplexes varying bit-rate bit streams onto a satellite up-link. Minimum and maximum output rates for each bit stream are determined such that neither a queue for the bit stream in the multiplexer nor the bit stream's decoder will underflow or overflow. The multiplexer looks at the fullness of the memory buffers and correlates the fullness with the likelihood of a condition in which output will exceed bandwidth. If there is not enough bandwidth to give every bit stream its minimum rate, glue frames may be inserted, or low priority channels dropped.

Abstract: Techniques for determining an output rate for a bit stream, the output rate being determined by applying information read from the bit stream to available bandwidths. The techniques are employed to construct a statistical multiplexer 80 that multiplexes varying bit-rate bit streams. Minimum and maximum output rates for each bit stream are determined such that neither a queue for the bit stream in the multiplexer nor the bit stream's decoder will underflow or overflow. The multiplexer first allocates each bit stream its minimum bandwidth and then allocates any remaining bandwidth to the bit streams in proportion to the difference between the minimum and maximum output rates for the bit streams, with no bit stream receiving more than its maximum output rate. If there is not enough bandwidth to give every bit stream its minimum rate, glue frames may be inserted, or low priority channels dropped.

Abstract: A broadcast file system organizes data sent to a client by broadcast via a high capacity data broadcast delivery network from a plurality of servers. The data is organized into a hierarchical file system including a directory index. A server registers to send data via the broadcast file system of the present invention and is assigned a respective directory. The server may create, modify, or delete a subdirectory or a file under the respective directory of that server. The directory index is periodically broadcast. The client caches this directory index and presents the directory index to a client application. The client application may request a portion of data from the directory index. The data available from the plurality of servers is periodically broadcast to the client, and the client filters out the requested portion of data to be provided to the client application.

Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modern, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for restoring operating systems within a set-top box system. The restoration provides for operating a first operating system in a first memory. An application program is operated in a second memory. The first operating system is stored in a second memory so that a second operating system is loaded into the first memory. When a predetermined condition which is associated with the second operating system is detected, the first operating system is loaded into the first memory in response to the detected predetermined condition. Such a system provides such non-limiting advantages to the set-top box as the ability to robustly recover from errors or anomalies associated with downloading an operating system.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a pick list generator which displays selectable terms for inclusion in a selection field. One embodiment of the pick list generator is in assisting an Internet user in the user's population of search fields without the use of a keyboard containing all 26 letters and 10 digits. Accordingly, through application of the present invention, browsing and searching of the Internet is enhanced for the keyboardless user.

Abstract: Apparatus for a cable television subscriber to log onto a computer network with a modem over an upstream path using a USERID and password. The network validates the subscriber USERID and subscriber password with a stored database of valid USERIDs and associated passwords. After the USERID and password are validated, the modem then provides its electronic serial number to the network for validation against a stored database of authorized serial numbers. Upon additional validation of the modem's serial number, the subscriber is authorized to use the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing for a single piece, hinged cable routing device for use with cables. The device includes sections hingedly connected allowing each section to flex and bend. The device can include fingers on an upper portion of the device. Upon pushing a cable through the fingers, the cable securely remains in position within the device. In a preferred embodiment, the device connects cables to an amplifier housing in a cable television network. When the amplifier housing closes, the device folds securely within the amplifier housing ensuring the cable remains in a position within the amplifier housing that avoids electrical interference and noise.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and collecting usage and other statistical data from components of a cable data network comprises a network manager for maintaining and collecting the statistics. Internet protocol addresses are associated with components of the network. The component maintains a software agent that manages a statistics database. Responsive to a manager request generated at a service provider defined time interval, the component software agent provides the usage statistics to the network manager in real-time during an Internet session with a host. When the host to Internet or other data connection is torn down due to failure, disconnect or inactivity time-out, remaining usage statistics data is collected and the session duration updated with the time of tear down.

Abstract: A video memory handling system and method for providing a graphic computer-implemented process with a predetermined amount of video memory to be used by the graphic process to perform a predetermined graphic-related operation within a set-top box environment. A first video memory portion is provided which has an allocation status with respect to the graphic process. A video memory handling data structure indicates the allocation status of the first video memory portion. A video memory manager which is connected to the video memory handling data structure reallocates the first video memory portion based upon the video memory handling data structure. The reallocated first video memory portion is utilized by the graphic process to perform the predetermined graphic-related operation.

Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.

Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down ink conning the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.

Abstract: A bypass switch (155) for use in an electronic device (125) includes a substrate (205) on which first, second, and third terminals (215, 220, 235) are mounted and an electrically conductive primary element (250), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to a bottom surface of the substrate (205) and electrically coupled to the first terminal (215) at its first end and to the second terminal (220) at its second end. The switch (155) also includes an electrically conductive bypass element (255), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to the bottom surface of the substrate (205) and electrically coupled to the third terminal (235) at its first end and vertically aligned, at its second end, with the second end of the primary element (250). A switch actuator (225) is mechanically coupled to the bypass element (255), extends through the substrate (205), and has an actuating surface (290) accessible at a top surface, opposite the bottom surface, of the substrate (205).

Abstract: A cable television system provides conditional access to services. The cable television system includes a headend from which service “instances”, or programs, are broadcast and a plurality of set top units for receiving the instances and selectively decrypting the instances for display to system subscribers. The service instances are encrypted using public and/or private keys provided by service providers or central authorization agents. Keys used by the set tops for selective decryption may also be public or private in nature, and such keys may be reassigned at different times to provide a cable television system in which piracy concerns are minimized.

Abstract: A surface mount, tunable inductor (200) includes a core (205) that is substantially toroidal in shape. The core (205) has a first flattened surface (206) and a second flattened surface (207) opposite the first flattened surface (206), and a hole (208) is formed through the core (205). A wire (210) is wound about the core (205) and terminates in first and second leads (215). The inductor (200) also includes a substrate (220) on which first and second conductive pads (225) are formed. Each of the wire leads (215) is electrically coupled to one of the conductive pads (225), and an adhesive (240) secures the first flattened surface (207) of the core (205) to the substrate (220).

Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.

Abstract: Voltage-induced hum modulation in an amplifier can be caused when shunt capacitors begin to saturate and enter their non-linear region of operation. Bypass coils within the amplifier are magnetically coupled to the shunt capacitors and exacerbate hum modulation by coupling additional energy to the shunt capacitors. By introducing a resistance (R) in series with the shunt capacitors (C), energy that would normally be stored in the shunt capacitors (C) is dissipated. As a result, the shunt capacitors (C) remain in their linear region of operation more often and present a more stable impedance. The resistor (R) is especially beneficial at reducing hum modulation at the resonant frequency of the shunt capacitors (C), when the transfer of energy from the bypass coils (L) is at a maximum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring data traffic through a cable data network in order to guarantee a minimum and maximum bandwidth and burst length. Traffic statistics are kept as credits that are only updated as needed. Each cable modem in the network is assigned a limit on the maximum amount of traffic that it may transmit and receive depending on the service level that the subscriber has purchased. When that limit is exceeded, traffic for that modem will no longer allowed to pass through the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing cladding modes at the signal wavelength in an optical fiber system utilizing an optical amplifier without perturbing the pump wavelength. An outer cladding of the gain fiber is removed providing a short section of a single mode fiber that does not guide the higher order modes, thus attenuating the higher order modes. Therefore, this system eliminates unwanted noise. In an embodiment, the modes are filtered at the end of the gain section of the optical fiber before splicing to an input fiber. Hydro florate etching can be utilized to remove the outer cladding. The resulting fiber maintains fundamental mode propagation and no mode mixing occurs while losing the higher order modes eliminating the noise.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and collecting the installed location of cable modems in a cable data network comprises a network manager for maintaining and collecting cable modem location information. Components of the network manager maintains a software agent that manages a database of modem installation and status information. Responsive to a manager request, the component software agent provides the installation and status information to the network manager. The information is displayed as a map which can show the topology of the cable modem's location in the network with respect to other modems and other components of the network.