Abstract: A system that transmits data over multiple networks receives data packets at a client node and forms a plurality of data aggregates from the data packets. The system then sends a request for a duplicate transmission to a coordinator node on a first network. In response to the request, the system receives a first transmission slot on the first network and a second transmission slot on a second network for transmission of the data aggregates. The system then splits the data aggregates among the first transmission slot and the second transmission slot and transmits the data aggregates on the first transmission slot and the second transmission slot.

Abstract: A system and method for node admission in a communication network having a NC and a plurality of associated network nodes. According to various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, key determination in a communication network includes an NN sending to the NC a request for a SALT; the NN receiving the SALT from the NC, combining the SALT with its network password to calculate a static key, and submitting an admission request to the network coordinator to request a dynamic key. The SALT can be a random number generated by the NC, and the admission request can be encrypted by the NN using the static key.

Abstract: Several local IEEE1394 buses are bridged together over a second bus type to create a global bus wherein each local bus node is able to address nodes across the global bus without the local nodes being aware of the bridging operation. A bridging device operates by translating local bus node addresses to a global bus for communication over the second bus type. Alternatively, the local bus node identification process is controlled by the bridging device operating as the root node to cause the local nodes to be identified with a node address that is unique for the global network. The second bus type operates as a backbone for the global network and can be any type of communication bus or network with capability to transport the local bus traffic. The bridging devices that interface the local IEEE1394 buses to the backbone contain portals specific to each bus type that can communicate data between the dissimilar buses.

Abstract: A system and method for fragmented transmission and retransmission in a communication network. According to various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, a method for fragmenting a protocol data unit for transmission from a source node in a communication network includes the operations of determining a plurality of subpackets in which to send the protocol data unit having one or more service data units; creating a data unit header for a first of the plurality of subpackets; identifying one or more fragments for inclusion in the first of the plurality of subpackets; creating an aggregation subheader for the first of the plurality of subpackets, wherein the aggregation subheader comprises data identifying the one or more fragments; and concatenating the data unit header, one or more fragments and aggregation subheader to build the first of the plurality of subpackets.

Abstract: A system and method for key determination in a communication network having a network control node and a plurality of associated network nodes. According to various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, an entry node sends to the network control node a submission requesting a salt; the entry node receives the salt from the network control node, wherein the salt is a random number generated by the network control node; the entry node combines the salt with its network password to calculate a network admission key; and the entry node submits an admission request to the network controller requesting admission to the network, wherein the admission request is encrypted by the entry node using the admission key.

Abstract: A system that transmits data over multiple networks receives data packets at a client node and forms a plurality of data aggregates from the data packets. The system then sends a request for a duplicate transmission to a coordinator node on a first network. In response to the request, the system receives a first transmission slot on the first network and a second transmission slot on a second network for transmission of the data aggregates. The system then splits the data aggregates among the first transmission slot and the second transmission slot and transmits the data aggregates on the first transmission slot and the second transmission slot.

Abstract: Several local IEEE1394 buses are bridged together over a second bus type to create a global bus wherein each local bus node is able to address nodes across the global bus without the local nodes being aware of the bridging operation. A bridging device operates by translating local bus node addresses to a global bus for communication over the second bus type. Alternatively, the local bus node identification process is controlled by the bridging device operating as the root node to cause the local nodes to be identified with a node address that is unique for the global network. The second bus type operates as a backbone for the global network and can be any type of communication bus or network with capability to transport the local bus traffic. The bridging devices that interface the local IEEE1394 buses to the backbone contain portals specific to each bus type that can communicate data between the dissimilar buses.

Abstract: A time division duplex (TDD) amplifier switches direction of amplification to amplify signals in both directions as needed for the direction of signal flow in the network. The TDD amplifier switching is controlled by monitoring the time slot information of the communication channel to determine the schedule of transmissions in each direction. The amplifier direction is switched during the inter-frame gaps of the TDD data transmissions. The TDD amplifier can be used for WAN access to homes and in a LAN operating within a home.

Abstract: Several local IEEE1394 buses are bridged together over a second bus type to create a global bus wherein each local bus node is able to address nodes across the global bus without the local nodes being aware of the bridging operation. A bridging device operates by translating local bus node addresses to a global bus for communication over the second bus type. Alternatively, the local bus node identification process is controlled by the bridging device operating as the root node to cause the local nodes to be identified with a node address that is unique for the global network. The second bus type operates as a backbone for the global network and can be any type of communication bus or network with capability to transport the local bus traffic. The bridging devices that interface the local IEEE1394 buses to the backbone contain portals specific to each bus type that can communicate data between the dissimilar buses.

Abstract: A system and method for ensuring a connection to a configuration server by a customer premises equipment. The customer premises equipment is connected to a data network via a network connection. The data network includes a connection to the data network. A temporary configuration server is included to respond to configuration messages from the customer premises equipment before the network connection is capable of sending messages over the data network.

Abstract: Methods for providing restricted access for a network device such as a cable modem or customer premise equipment on a data-over-cable system. An unknown or new network device is assigned a restricted network address such as a restricted Internet Protocol address. The restricted network address allows the network device to access less than all of the available features on the data-over-cable system. A connection timer is started on the data-over-cable system for a restricted connection to the network device. The connection timer restricts access to the data-over-cable system over a timed interval. A restricted connection is created between the data-over-cable system and the network device including the temporary restricted network address and the connection timer, thereby providing restricted access to the data-over-cable system over a timed interval.

Abstract: A method and system for managing network services such as subscription services from a cable modem in a data-over-cable system. The cable modem receives an initialization message on a cable television connection indicating what services are available on a data network. The cable modem uses a connection to a public switched telephone network in the data-over-cable system to send requests to and receive responses from the data network. A telephony remote access concentrator on the public switched telephone network provides an additional security mechanism by not allowing a cable modem to subscribe to unauthorized services. Using the public switched telephone network does not compromise the security of the cable television network. In addition, the public switched telephone network is used to provide administrative support to the cable television network on lower bandwidth connections by providing an administrative pathway outside of the higher bandwidth cable television connections.

Abstract: An MPEG multiplexed data transmission system accepts data from a plurality of sources and supplies them, on a packet basis, to a common data stream. The non uniform jitter experienced by the packets is determined by subtracting the average delay for packets in a program from the current packet delay. PCR packets have their time base extracted, corrected for the calculated non uniform time delay and replaced as the PCR packet is supplied to the common data stream.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a synchronous demodulator including a bi-phase stable PLL for controlling sampling of the received signal to produce data. A phase inverter reverses the phase of the data in response to a control signal. Data segment sync characters are recovered with a sync correlation filter that also yields a sign bit indicating polarity. If the sign bit is wrong for a predetermined number of data segment sync characters, a control signal is produced to operate the phase inverter.

Abstract: An ATV signal includes a field sync reference having a relatively long pseudo-random number symbol sequence followed by three relatively short pseudo-random number symbol sequences, with the middle of the three short pseudo-random number symbol sequences having inverted polarity in alternate fields.

Abstract: An ATM/MPEG system receives individual MPEG programs of different constant bit rates from a plurality of servers. The individual programs are converted into ATM cells which are transmitted along an ATM network at a constant bit rate. The ATM cells are received and arranged into queues of the individual programs. A microprocessor prioritizes the queues based upon the bit rates of the MPEG programs. The queues are multiplexed to 16 VSB modulators based upon their priority assignments with the highest priority queues being sent to the modulators in preference to lower priority queues.

Abstract: A digital data processing system receives compressed variable length encoded digital data in the form of variable length codewords in contiguous variable speed Blocks of data. The boundary signals between adjacent codewords are determined and a demultiplexer sequentially sorts the serial digital data among a plurality of parallelly connected buffers for reducing the bit read speed of the buffers. A corresponding plurality of variable length decoders decodes the data from the buffers and outputs the data in parallel form to a multiplexer where it is reassembled into a serial expanded data stream. The incoming data includes selector information in fixed length headers that are separated, buffered and variable length decoded for controlling the demultiplexer. In one aspect of the invention, the data is sorted into substantially equal sized groups of integral codewords for equalizing the loading of the parallel buffers.

Abstract: A circuit for error correcting a received complex data signal comprises a synchronous detector for recovering an in-phase data component from the received signal and a Hilbert transform filter for estimating the related quadrature component from the recovered in-phase data component, the recovered in-phase data component including a periodically recurring reference signal. A decision feedback loop is periodically operable in response to the reference signal for initially error correcting a selected characteristic of the received signal at a first relatively rapid rate and for subsequently error correcting the selected characteristic at a rate which is less than the first rate and which is dependent upon the estimated S/N ratio of the received signal. In one embodiment, phase errors are corrected at a rate which is also directly related to the value of the estimated quadrature component. In another embodiment, amplitude errors, e.g.

Abstract: A circuit for error correcting a received complex data signal comprises a synchronous detector for recovering an in-phase data component from the received signal and a Hilbert transform filter for estimating the related quadrature component from the recovered in-phase data component, the recovered in-phase data component including a periodically recurring reference signal. A decision feedback loop is periodically operable in response to the reference signal for initially error correcting a selected characteristic of the received signal at a first relatively rapid rate and for subsequently error correcting the selected characteristic at a rate which is less than the first rate and which is dependent upon the estimated S/N ratio of the received signal. In one embodiment, phase errors are corrected at a rate which is also directly related to the value of the estimated quadrature component. In another embodiment, amplitude errors, e.g.

Abstract: A digital data processing system receives compressed variable length encoded digital data in the form of variable length codewords in contiguous variable speed Blocks of data. The boundary signals between adjacent codewords are determined and a demultiplexer sequentially sorts the serial digital data among a plurality of parallelly connected buffers for reducing the bit read speed of the buffers. A corresponding plurality of variable length decoders decodes the data from the buffers and outputs the data in parallel form to a multiplexer where it is reassembled into a serial expanded data stream. The incoming data includes selector information in fixed length headers that are separated, buffered and variable length decoded for controlling the demultiplexer. In one aspect of the invention, the data is sorted into substantially equal sized groups of integral codewords for equalizing the loading of the parallel buffers.