Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for timing correction for a DOCSIS Edge-QAM. Unlike the DTI required at the headend in existing solutions for DOCSIS Edge-QAM timing, the disclosed techniques may use an Edge-QAM timing deeper in to the network. The N-QAM, referring to an Edge-QAM that is deeper in the network, may be in the optical node configured to convert signals from a network headend or hub for delivery to a subscriber network element. The N-QAM device located in the node may include a local clock for deriving a local time for incoming transport streams, modulating the transport streams onto a downstream carrier for delivery to subscriber network elements using the local clock time, and adjusting the local clock time based on an average value of timestamps in the incoming transport streams.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using social networking information to conserve bandwidth in a video-on-demand (VOD) system operated by a service provider. In a VOD server system, a request for a VOD content item is accepted from a first client system associated with a user of the VOD system. A list of social networking friends of the user is obtained. A node-sharing group of the list of social networking friends is determined. The node-sharing group includes the first client system and zero or more client systems sharing a distribution node of the VOD server system with the first client system. A video delivery start message is sent through the shared distribution node to each client system in the node-sharing group.

Abstract: A headend communications device communicates via a network to downstream network elements, such as cable modems coupled behind optical network units, and allocates and grants timeslots for upstream transmissions from the network elements. The headend communications device has a scheduler for managing and controlling timeslot allocations in a manner avoiding interference such as optical beat interference or FM carrier collisions. The scheduler identifies two or more cable modems or like customer network elements served by the headend communications device that will cause at least a pre-determined intolerable level of interference when allocated overlapping timeslots for upstream transmissions and prevents these two or more cable modems or network elements from being allocated and granted overlapping timeslots.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for timing correction for a DOCSIS Edge-QAM. Unlike the DTI required at the headend in existing solutions for DOCSIS Edge-QAM timing, the disclosed techniques may use an Edge-QAM timing deeper in to the network. The N-QAM, referring to an Edge-QAM that is deeper in the network, may be in the optical node configured to convert signals from a network headend or hub for delivery to a subscriber network element. The N-QAM device located in the node may include a local clock for deriving a local time for incoming transport streams, modulating the transport streams onto a downstream carrier for delivery to subscriber network elements using the local clock time, and adjusting the local clock time based on an average value of timestamps in the incoming transport streams.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for scheduling distribution of content to a plurality of devices in a communication network, such as a cellular-based wireless network. According to this disclosure, two or more distribution techniques may be used, and scheduling techniques are performed to determine which distribution technique to use for different content. For example, content can be broadcast to all devices on the network (broadcast), multicast within several cells of the network (multi-cell multicast), multicast in a specific cell of the network (single cell multicast), or unicast to one or more specific devices within specific cells of the network (unicast). The scheduling techniques described in this disclosure may improve content distribution by substantially maximizing the number of content requests that are satisfied, particularly when bandwidth is limited.

Abstract: A headend communications device communicates via a network to downstream network elements, such as cable modems coupled behind optical network units, and allocates and grants timeslots for upstream transmissions from the network elements. The headend communications device has a scheduler for managing and controlling timeslot allocations in a manner avoiding interference such as optical beat interference or FM carrier collisions. The scheduler identifies two or more cable modems or like customer network elements served by the headend communications device that will cause at least a pre-determined intolerable level of interference when allocated overlapping timeslots for upstream transmissions and prevents these two or more cable modems or network elements from being allocated and granted overlapping timeslots.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using social networking information to conserve bandwidth in a video-on-demand (VOD) system operated by a service provider. In a VOD server system, a request for a VOD content item is accepted from a first client system associated with a user of the VOD system. A list of social networking friends of the user is obtained. A node-sharing group of the list of social networking friends is determined The node-sharing group includes the first client system and zero or more client systems sharing a distribution node of the VOD server system with the first client system. A video delivery start message is sent through the shared distribution node to each client system in the node-sharing group.