Abstract: A device, system and method which provides for automatic selection of an alternative private address space by a gateway-router device which is given a private address on its WAN port is disclosed. The present invention provides for a device, system, and method wherein, in a given network topology, if a gateway-router device is given an IP address on its WAN port that is in a private address space then such gateway-router device will automatically select an alternative private address space to use for its DHCP server that will provision addresses to devices interconnected to its LAN port. The above inventive technique eliminates any conflict in private address provisioning.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Lifetest over a cable network system is provided which minimizes bandwidth usage by the Lifetest procedure while increasing the number of devices that the EMS may support. In accordance with the system and method, the EMS obtains device state information from the CMTS. Since the CMTS is constantly ranging its device population for state information, and since this information is stored in the DOCSIS Radio Frequency MIB, the EMS may obtain device state information by going to the MIB instead of directly to the device. This approach utilizes the distributed process inherently built into the system by taking advantage of the ranging that is already being performed by the CMTS. Since the EMS does not have to interact with every device in the system while performing Lifetest, consumption of bandwidth and processing resources is minimized.

Abstract: A method for providing for the automatic accurate sorting of digital photograph files, without dependence on a particular application or operating-system, by use of its inventive metadata file is disclosed. The present invention provides a metadata file, containing date and time of capture datum, associated with each digital photograph file. When uploaded to the computer for storage on non-volatile storage, the metadata is transferred along with the digital photograph files. Thereafter, an inventive system of the present invention allows consumers to specify events, and view and/or print digital photograph files which fit the event date criteria by querying the metadata associated with each digital photograph file.

Abstract: A device, system and method which provides for automatic selection of an alternative private address space by a gateway-router device which is given a private address on its WAN port is disclosed. The present invention provides for a device, system, and method wherein, in a given network topology, if a gateway-router device is given an IP address on its WAN port that is in a private address space then such gateway-router device will automatically select an alternative private address space to use for its DHCP server that will provision addresses to devices interconnected to its LAN port. The above inventive technique eliminates any conflict in private address provisioning.

Abstract: A correct port forwarding table in a gateway device, after reset of the gateway device resulting in expiration of at least one leased private IP address of LAN devices connected thereto, is disclosed. The present invention provides a port forwarding table which binds a port to be forwarded with the unique Media Access Control (“MAC”) address of the LAN device which such port forwarding corresponds. In this way, if after a gateway device resets resulting in expiration of at least one leased private IP address of LAN devices connected thereto and if the LAN devices are leased new private addresses than prior to the expiration, the LAN devices will still receive correct port forwarding from the inventive port forwarding table of the present invention.

Abstract: A method (20, 30, 40) for automatically self-configuring a network device (13, 17) being added to a network (8, 9) without user intervention operates by providing that the network device (13, 17) discover its network environment. The network device (13, 17) attempts to access each of those services it offers from the network (8, 9) to determine if any of these services are already being provided by the network (8, 9). Upon successfully accessing a particular service by the network device (13, 17), the network device disables the particular service within the network device (13, 17); and upon unsuccessfully accessing the particular service by the network device (13, 17), the network device (13, 17) activates the predetermined service within the network device (13, 17). Another technique for self-configuring the network device (13, 17) provides that the network device (13, 17) examine the IP address (or class of addresses) the network device (13, 17) acquires from the network (8, 9).

Abstract: A system and method for performing Lifetest over a cable network system is provided which minimizes bandwidth usage by the Lifetest procedure while increasing the number of devices that the EMS may support. In accordance with the system and method, the EMS obtains device state information from the CMTS. Since the CMTS is constantly ranging its device population for state information, and since this information is stored in the DOCSIS Radio Frequency MIB, the EMS may obtain device state information by going to the MIB instead of directly to the device. This approach utilizes the distributed process inherently built into the system by taking advantage of the ranging that is already being performed by the CMTS. Since the EMS does not have to interact with every device in the system while performing Lifetest, consumption of bandwidth and processing resources is minimized.