Patents by Inventor Richard Prodan

Richard Prodan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9722764
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Prodan, Niki Pantelias, Thomas Kolze
  • Publication number: 20160218851
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard PRODAN, Niki Pantelias, Thomas Kolze
  • Publication number: 20150046775
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling encoding/decoding schemes that satisfy the IEEE 802.3 Mean Time To False Packet Acceptance (MTTFPA) requirement in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) are described. The proposed encoding/decoding schemes assume existing Medium Access Control (MAC) layer Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) encoding/decoding, thereby requiring no changes in the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) MAC protocol, but increase error protection in the EPoC physical layer (PHY) to meet the MTTFPA requirement without sacrificing desired Ethernet frame loss ratios and downstream/upstream data rates for EPoC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Prodan, Bazhong Shen, Mark Laubach
  • Patent number: 8776155
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by pre-compensating upstream transmissions according to feedback channel characteristics received from the headend. According to embodiments, pre-compensation is performed using power filtering/amplification and/or bit loading. Pre-compensation can be performed individually per cable modem. Further, pre-compensation can be performed over the entire upstream frequency spectrum and/or over particular sub-hands of the frequency spectrum as appropriate for each cable modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Prodan
  • Patent number: 8743933
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Prodan, Niki Pantelias, Thomas Kolze
  • Publication number: 20130107921
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by pre-compensating upstream transmissions according to feedback channel characteristics received from the headend. According to embodiments, pre-compensation is performed using power filtering/amplification and/or bit loading. Pre-compensation can be performed individually per cable modem. Further, pre-compensation can be performed over the entire upstream frequency spectrum and/or over particular sub-hands of the frequency spectrum as appropriate for each cable modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Richard PRODAN
  • Publication number: 20120269242
    Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Richard PRODAN, Niki Pantelias, Thomas Kolze
  • Patent number: 7233778
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a signal from a first analog format to a second analog format. The apparatus has an input port, a first converter, filters, first mixers, second converters, and an output port. The input port is configured to receive the signal. The signal has the first analog format. In an embodiment, the first analog format complies with the SCTE 40 2003 technical standard. In an embodiment, the second analog format is a conventional analog format. The first converter is coupled to the port and is configured to convert the signal to a first digital format. The filters are coupled to the first converter and configured to isolate a first channel of the signal from a second channel of the signal. The first mixers are coupled to the filters and configured to expand the first channel and the second channel to a second digital format. The second converters are coupled to the first mixers and configured to convert the first channel and the second channel to the second analog format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Nelson, Brian Sprague, Donald McMullin, Richard Prodan, Pieter Vorenkamp
  • Publication number: 20070098007
    Abstract: A communication system that includes a supervisory node (e.g., a headend) and one or more remote nodes (e.g., cable modems). Packets are transmitted between the supervisory node and the one or more remote nodes via RF channels. A plurality of the RF channels are bonded, such that packets may be transmitted via any one or more of the RF channels that are bonded. Bonding may include higher-layer bonding and/or lower-layer bonding. In higher-layer bonding, the communication system further includes a forwarder and a plurality of edge modulators. Each edge modulator is connected to a different RF channel or group of RF channels. The forwarder determines to which edge modulator one or more packets or flows are to be transmitted. In lower-layer bonding, a packet is split into pieces. The pieces are assigned to respective RF channels that are associated with an edge modulator for transmission to a remote node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Prodan, Joel Danzig, Thomas Quigley, Niki Pantelias
  • Publication number: 20070061642
    Abstract: A system and method are used to provide uncorrelated code hopping in a communications system. A multi-bit linear shift register receives data and clocks the data fifteen times. A word assembler receives the shifted data and outputs a fifteen bit word. A mixer mixes the fifteen bit word with an numerical value of active codes to generate a mixed signal. A divider divides the mixed signal to produce a divided signal. A truncator truncates the divided signal to its seven most significant bits to produce a pseudo random hop number. A code matrix shifter circularly shifts the active codes in a code matrix based on the pseudo random hop number to produce a circularly shifted code. A transmitter transmits the circularly shifted code matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Currivan, Thomas Kolze, Kevin Miller, Richard Prodan, Jonathan Min
  • Publication number: 20060056461
    Abstract: A distributed cable modem termination system of the present invention includes a downstream transmitter hub, an upstream receiver hub, and a head end that communicatively couples to the downstream transmitter hub and to the upstream receiver hub via a packet data network. The head end and the downstream transmitter hub are operable to synchronize a clock of the downstream transmitter hub with a clock of the head end. Further, the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub are operable to synchronize a clock of the upstream receiver hub with the clock of the downstream transmitter hub. Clock synchronization between the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub are performed using ranging operations supported by at least one cable modem communicatively coupled to both the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub via cable modem network plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Currivan, Alexander MacInnis, Thomas Kolze, Richard Prodan
  • Publication number: 20050135419
    Abstract: Downstream synchronous multichannel (DSSM) communications are provided among a plurality of carriers, each being a completely DOCSIS™ 2.0-compliant downstream. The synchronous multichannels support communications with both DSSM-capable communications nodes and non-DSSM-capable communications nodes (e.g., legacy cable modems). Non-DSSM packets are transmitted on a single channel. DSSM packets are split into multiple pieces, which are transmitted simultaneously on all available channels. Since the physical delay variation (e.g., group delay change) across the adjacent carriers is small (on the order of a symbol time), the multiple pieces arrive at the receiving communications nodes at nearly the same time and can be reassembled with minimal buffering and no packet ordering problems. To avoid causing trouble for the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes, the packet pieces are encapsulated with a header that causes the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes to silently discard them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Pullen, John Horton, Thomas Quigley, Richard Prodan
  • Publication number: 20050097617
    Abstract: A cable modem communication system includes a plurality of Cable Modems (CMs), a CM network segment, and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The CMTS segregates the plurality of CMs into a first group of CMs with which standard registering and ranging operations are performed and a second group of CMs with which attenuated transmission registering and ranging operations are performed. Each CM of the first group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a first format. Each CM of the second group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a second format that differs from the ranging burst of the first format. The CMTS may include a rake receiver that receives and demodulates a plurality of multi-path copies of the ranging burst of the second format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Currivan, Richard Prodan, Niki Pantelias, Thomas Kolze
  • Publication number: 20050017882
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a signal from a first analog format to a second analog format. The apparatus has an input port, a first converter, filters, first mixers, second converters, and an output port. The input port is configured to receive the signal. The signal has the first analog format. In an embodiment, the first analog format complies with the SCTE 40 2003 technical standard. In an embodiment, the second analog format is a conventional analog format. The first converter is coupled to the port and is configured to convert the signal to a first digital format. The filters are coupled to the first converter and configured to isolate a first channel of the signal from a second channel of the signal. The first mixers are coupled to the filters and configured to expand the first channel and the second channel to a second digital format. The second converters are coupled to the first mixers and configured to convert the first channel and the second channel to the second analog format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Nelson, Brian Sprague, Donald McMullin, Richard Prodan, Pieter Vorenkamp
  • Publication number: 20050020222
    Abstract: An apparatus for tuning a frequency conversion device. The apparatus has a channel identifier, a channel cross-referencer, and a frequency conversion device tuner. The channel identifier is configured to identify a first channel to which a receiver is tuned. The channel cross-referencer is coupled to the channel identifier and is configured to cross-reference the first channel with a second channel. The frequency conversion device tuner is coupled to the channel cross-referencer and is configured to tune the frequency conversion device to the second channel. An apparatus for processing a signal. The apparatus has an input port, a signal format identifier, a switch, a converter, an output port, and a bypass signal path. The input port is configured to receive the signal. The signal format identifier is coupled to the input port and configured to identify the signal as having a first format or a second format. The switch is coupled to the signal format identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Nelson, Brian Sprague, Donald McMullin, Richard Prodan, Pieter Vorenkamp