Abstract: Methods of providing added security for communications between a server and a particular client modem on a shared communication media. The methods provide for passing communications containing scrambled keys to be used to form scrambling seeds for scrambling subsequent messages. In a preferred embodiment, both the server and the client modem generate and pass keys to be used for the communications between the server and that client modem to achieve a dynamic dual key scrambling system.

Abstract: A network processor with modified transmit and receive paths in order to achieve higher bandwidth between a network interface to an attached user's circuit. The network processor includes a shared data buffer in which the network interface, processor, and user's interface all have access. The network processor also includes protocol aware logic that offloads much of the processor's tasks, and improves bandwidth. This abstract is provided as a tool for those searching for patents, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A network processor with modified transmit and receive paths in order to achieve higher bandwidth between a network interface to an attached user's circuit. The network processor includes a shared data buffer in which the network interface, processor, and user's interface all have access. The network processor also includes protocol aware logic that offloads much of the processor's tasks, and improves bandwidth. This abstract is provided as a tool for those searching for patents, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A method of using a modified DVB/MPEG2 data frame is disclosed. The method uses a data frame containing both downstream data and Upstream Request (“USR”) channel information in order to efficiently use the downstream frames. The USR channel is used primarily to poll the client modems to identify which modem need to use the upstream channel to transmit an upstream frame. A preferred location for embedding the USR message is within the FEC field, if the FEC field is not being used. Other inventive aspects of this and related concept are developed in the disclosed material. This Abstract is meant to be an aid to searches and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A method of finding the address of a previously undiscovered client modem first detects the presence of a previously undiscovered client modem on a tree and branch network then uses an efficient method to discern the address for the newly discovered client modem. The method can be coupled with a group polling method for efficiently polling client modems that minimizes the time wasted by polling a modem without data to transmit. In group polling, a broadcast message is sent to all modems (or a selected subset of modems). Each modem requiring service responds with a short burst of energy in its predefined time slot. These time slot responses are recorded and then normal poll messages are sent out to only the modems requesting service. The disclosure contains variations of these methods. This abstract is provided for patent searches, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Methods of providing added security for communications between a server and a particular client modem on a shared communication media. The methods provide for passing communications containing scrambled keys to be used to form scrambling seeds for scrambling subsequent messages. In a preferred embodiment, both the server and the client modem generate and pass keys to be used for the communications between the server and that client modem to achieve a dynamic dual key scrambling system.

Abstract: In a shared transmission media communication system with an upstream frequency and a downstream frequency carrying telephony such as TDM PCM data in addition to other data types, it is useful to use a master frame format that sends downstream the TDM PCM data sub-packets to a set of downstream modem devices and to provide the downstream modem devices with staggered times to respond. The master frame then continues to send downstream data types such as video that do not trigger a response from the downstream modems during a period of time allocated for the downstream modems to send upstream transmissions of TDM PCM. A set of rules can be implemented within this system to favor the transmission of higher priority data types while preventing any data type from taking too much of the downstream bandwidth.