Network Component (e.g., Filter, Tap, Splitter, Amplifier, Repeater, Etc.) Patents (Class 725/127)
  • Patent number: 8327411
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving low-latency, and rapidly attained high-resolution, access reception for transmitted and received video data involving the pre-transmission dividing of a source video stream into two downstream-deliverable data streams that differ by, on the one hand, low-latency, low-resolution characteristics for one stream, and on the other hand, higher-latency, higher-resolution characteristics for the other stream. Latency in these streams is determined by the frame spacing created between stream-inserted marker I-frames. The divided streams are multiplexed and transmitted. At the receiving end, monitoring, selecting and video output-signal switching take place under rules whereby the first-encountered marker frame in either stream directs that stream to provide the first content for the video output signal. If the first-encountered marker resides in the higher-resolution stream, the process ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis J. Kerofsky
  • Publication number: 20120300085
    Abstract: Systems and methods of supporting video streaming operations may involve transmitting a pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal to an imaging device, wherein the imaging devices identifies control data based on a duty cycle of the control signal. The imaging device can configure a video stream based on the control data and synchronize transmission of the video stream based on a frequency of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Huimin Chen, Duane G. Quiet, David J. Harriman
  • Publication number: 20120297439
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a first line card coupled to minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cables, a very high digital subscriber line signal, modifying the very high digital subscriber line signal for transmission over the minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cables to generate an updated very high digital subscriber line signal that overcomes a transmission deficiency, and transmitting from the first line card the updated very high digital subscriber line signal to a second line card to cause the second line card to receive the adapted very high digital subscriber line signal at a desired signal quality and convert the updated very high digital subscriber line signal to a very high digital subscriber line signal for presentation of interactive television services at the customer premise equipment. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Kevin Reese, Alfonso Jones, Steven McDonald
  • Patent number: 8312485
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for the selective filtering of objectionable content from a program. The selective filtering of objectionable content from a program is accomplished by applying an encoding process and a decoding process to the audio and/or video signal of the program. The encoding process includes marking potentially objectionable material in the program with filtering information that identifies the type (e.g., audio, violent content, sexual content, etc.) and intensity level (e.g., mild, graphic, extreme, etc.) of the potentially objectionable material using filter codes. The decoding process includes comparing, during the presentation of the program to the user and prior to outputting the audio or displaying the video, the filtering information to filter criteria, which includes user supplied filter settings, to determine whether filtering of the potentially objectionable content (i.e., audio and/or video) should be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Caption TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Robson, James D. Gee
  • Publication number: 20120278850
    Abstract: An RF directional coupler circuit assembly for matching high frequency cable TV apparatus includes a cover body, and a printed circuit board. The cover body includes a space. The space includes a bottom surface. An RF directional coupler circuit is arranged on the printed circuit board. A 0.01 mm˜2 mm gap is formed between the RF directional coupler circuit and the bottom surface when the printed circuit board is deposited in the space. The distance between the printed circuit board and the cover body is shorten because of the gap, so that the reflections of the high frequency signals and the signal fading are decreasing to achieve matching high frequency impedance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Chien-Chung LEE
  • Patent number: 8302147
    Abstract: A method for processing an input signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input signal. The method also includes applying a first transfer function to the input signal to produce a first signal, wherein the first transfer function exhibits a high pass characteristic. The method further includes applying a second transfer function to the input signal to produce a second signal, the second transfer function exhibiting a low pass characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Richter, Angelika Schneider
  • Patent number: 8302137
    Abstract: A method to provide a signal using a communication link. The method disposes a passive transponder on the communication link, where that passive transponder includes a memory. The method reads information relating to the communication link from the memory, and then, based upon that information, adjusts certain characteristics of a signal provided using the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Cagno, Matthew D. Bomhoff, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenny N. Qiu, Andrew E. Seidel
  • Patent number: 8302148
    Abstract: To improve transmission of digital broadcast information, there is proposed a method of transmitting digital broadcast information from a main transmitter (12) to at least one repeater (14). There is generated a composite digital broadcast signal carrying first digital broadcast information according to a first digital broadcast specification (DVB-T) and second digital broadcast information according to a second digital broadcast specification (DVB-H). The composite digital broadcast is then broadcasted such that the second digital broadcast information (DVB-H) is sent in a transmission mode used for transmission of the first digital broadcast information (DVB-T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Jörg Huschke, Ralf Tönjes, Uwe Horn
  • Patent number: 8296818
    Abstract: Distribution and amplification systems for cable television networks include a tap unit having a first RF tap port and a second RF tap port, a voice-over IP (“VoIP”) RF signal amplifier and a non-VoIP RF signal amplifier. The VoIP RF signal amplifier is connected to the first RF tap port of the tap unit, and includes an amplified signal path and a passive, non-interruptible signal path. The non-VoIP RF signal amplifier is connected to the second RF tap port of the tap unit, and includes an amplified signal path. The VoIP and non-VoIP RF signal amplifiers are each configured to terminate their amplified signal paths to respective matched terminations in response to a power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventor: Robert Ryan Riggsby
  • Patent number: 8296817
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating home networking communications signals over telephone lines to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a television device. A three port adapter has a phone line port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the phone line port through a low pass filter and wideband balun adapted to pass home networking communications signals while being adapted to reject television signals. The first coaxial cable port is also coupled to the second coaxial port through a high pass filter while being adapted to reject home networking communications signals. The phone line port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port to the television device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Fifield, Jason Alexander Trachewsky, John T. Holloway
  • Patent number: 8296815
    Abstract: A method of generating a stream comprising synchronized interactive content is described. The method comprises the steps of: transmitting a first stream from a studio to a terminal or a terminal system of a first user and to a buffer; transmitting in response to the first stream a second stream to a mixer connected to the buffer, the second stream comprising content generated in reaction to the content of the first stream; providing the mixer with a temporal relation between the packets in the first and second stream; generating a first output stream comprising a substantially synchronized content by mixing packets in second stream with packets of the buffered first stream on the basis of the temporal relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke KPN N.V.
    Inventors: Hans Maarten Stokking, Omar Aziz Niamut, Mattijs Oskar van Deventer, Fabian Arthur Walraven, Victor Bastiaan Klos, John Gerard Beerends
  • Publication number: 20120266205
    Abstract: A TV receiver as an electronic device is connected to an adjustment device by an exclusive cable of two transmission lines connected to an HDMI connection terminal. In adjustment mode, a main microcomputer of the TV receiver sends a signal to the adjustment device through a transmission line including an HPD line with an HPD port serving as an output port for the signal, and receives a signal from the adjustment device through a transmission line including a +5V line with a +5V port serving as an input port for the signal. Thus, the microcomputer can perform adjustment processes by receiving product information and various set values from the adjustment device to store them in a memory, and by sending the stored various values to the adjustment device, without providing a UART port, making it possible to reduce manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Keisuke Tsukamoto, Norihiro Higashi, Kensuke Kono, Kenji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20120260296
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for transmission of multiple data streams from a mobile device to a network. In an embodiment, the system includes a multipath wireless router configured to provide a plurality of network connections including cellular, satellite, or wired Ethernet. An encoding module provided on the mobile device is configured to encode high volume data (e.g. high definition video) recorded by the mobile device into multiple data streams in dependence on the number of network connections available for transmission via the multipath wireless router. The encoding module provided on the mobile device transmits the multiple data streams to the wireless router using Wi-Fi to provide a local, short-hop, high capacity network connection. The plurality of network connections available via the multipath wireless router provides the necessary capacity and reliability to transmit a high volume of data, such as high definition video, virtually live.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Wayne Mallet, David Sze, Bogdan Frusina, Hagen Kaye, Arif Hudda, Barry Gilhuly, Robert Flatt
  • Publication number: 20120260301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that is capable of transmitting video signals and/or audio signals using the HDMI interface standard or the DisplayPort interface standard. A dual mode transmitter is disclosed that is configurable to transmit to a first sink device, configured in accordance with a HDMI display interface, in a HDMI mode of operation and/or a second sink device, configured in accordance with a DisplayPort display interface, in a DisplayPort mode of operation. The dual mode transmitter is configured to receive a biasing current from the first sink device in the HDMI mode of operation or to internally provide the biasing current in DisplayPort mode of operation by selecting impedances from selectable impedance networks. The dual mode transmitter is configured to transmit the video signals and/or audio signals by biasing one or more transistors using the biasing current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hai Jie WU, Yow Ching Cheng
  • Patent number: 8286209
    Abstract: A cable television (CATV) entry adapter interfaces to a CATV network and serves as a hub in a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) network. MoCA signals are bypassed around the CATV communication paths within the entry adapter to maintain adequate signal strength and to allow a passive port of the entry adapter to be used as part of the MoCA network. MoCA signals are suppressed from exiting the CATV entry adapter onto the CATV network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Egan, Jr., Chad T. Wells
  • Patent number: 8270419
    Abstract: A fiber node may include a cable modem termination system (CMTS) that includes a first receiver to receive first signals from a plurality of cable modems over a plurality of upstream channels, and extract data from the first signals; a second receiver to receive second signals, the second signals being in a different format than the first signals; and a processor, connected to the first receiver and the second receiver, to receive the extracted data from the first receiver, receive the second signals from the second receiver, compress the extracted data and the second signals, merge the extracted data and the second signals, and transmit, to an upstream facility, the merged extracted data and the second signals over a common network path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Valentino Liva, Alok Sharma, Lance Smith, James Yee
  • Patent number: 8272023
    Abstract: A High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable carries high speed encoded data, which are transmitted differentially over data channels, along with a clock. A Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) cable carries high speed data which are multiplexed to achieve smaller connectors with fewer pins. A MHL-to-HDMI cable is proposed, which includes an embedded MHL to HDMI adapter device for demultiplexing the received MHL-formatted signal and outputting an HDMI-formatted signal. The embedded circuit is powered by a combination of power sources, the power being harvested from the high-speed HDMI signals themselves, including a startup circuit harvesting power from a low speed HDMI signal when power from the high-speed HDMI signals is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Redmere Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: John Martin Horan, David McGowan
  • Publication number: 20120210384
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending high definition multimedia signals from a source to a display over long distances (e.g., up to 300 feet) using a single cable medium having a plurality of twisted pair conductors contained therein. The extender transparently supports HDMI and/or DVI signaling, which allows encrypted video content to be displayed at the remote display (or other sink device). Display data channel control (DDC) information is sampled and transferred in packet from the local unit to a remote unit to comply with high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Madalin Cirstea, Adrian Bica
  • Publication number: 20120210385
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending high definition multimedia signals from a source to a display over long distances (e.g., up to 300 feet) using a single cable medium having a plurality of twisted pair conductors contained therein. The extender transparently supports HDMI and/or DVI signaling, which allows encrypted video content to be displayed at the remote display (or other sink device). Display data channel control (DDC) information is sampled and transferred in packet from the local unit to a remote unit to comply with high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Madalin Cirstea, Adrian Bica
  • Publication number: 20120185908
    Abstract: A network for carrying out control, sensing and data communications, composed of a plurality of nodes. Each node may be connected to a payload, which includes sensors, actuators and DTE's. The network is formed using a plurality of independent communication links, each based on electrically-conducting communication media composed of at least two conductors and interconnecting two nodes, in a point-to-point configuration. During network operation, nodes can be dynamically configured as either data-generating nodes, wherein data is generated and transmitted into the network, or as receiver/repeater/router nodes, wherein received data is repeated from a receiver port to all output ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Yehuda BINDER
  • Patent number: 8218077
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing first image data into second image data having a higher quality includes the following elements. A determination unit determines whether broadcast image data is up-converted image data generated by up-converting different image data by increasing the number of pixels forming the different image data. A down-converter down-converts the broadcast image data into down-converted image data by decreasing the number of pixels forming the broadcast image data. A first image converter converts, if the broadcast image data is not the up-converted image data, the first image data into the second image data by using the down-converted image data and the broadcast image data as the first image data. A second image converter converts, if the broadcast image data is the up-converted image data, the first image data into the second image data by using the down-converted image data as the first image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120174179
    Abstract: There is provided a complex tuner module including a plurality of tuner chips through which users may simultaneously view and record a plurality of channels. The complex tuner module includes: a module substrate having a plurality of tuner chips mounted thereon; and a chassis part connected to the module substrate and having a plurality of blocking sidewalls disposed in spaces between the tuner chips to thereby block interference between the tuner chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Si Young Kwon
  • Patent number: 8214871
    Abstract: A method, device and network for compressing cable modem data signals and conserving bandwidth within the network. Cable modems transmit upstream data signals to a fiber node which compresses the data signals and transmits the compressed signals upstream to a headend which decompresses the data signals. The fiber node compression may be by a shaping filter or a fast Fourier transform (FFT) function. The headend decompression may be by an inverse shaping filter or an inverse FFT function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Mordechai Segal
  • Patent number: 8201208
    Abstract: A broadcaster generates programming content and a carousel containing chunks of data defining one or more interactive applications. The programming content and carousel are received by a local gateway which distributes the carousel and content to receivers at end-users via a distribution network. A carousel proxy in the local gateway receives the inbound carousel from the broadcaster and modifies it to produce an outbound carousel suited for the distribution network, receivers, and/or end-users. The modifications performed by the carousel proxy include filtering chunks and/or data within the chunks from the inbound carousel and transforming data within the chunks to customize the interactive applications for the distribution network, receivers, and/or end-users. The carousel proxy also caches chunks in a cache of a local data store. The carousel proxy uses the cached chunks to send the outbound carousel at a rate optimized for the bandwidth available on the distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: OpenTV, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Delpuch, Bryan Gebhardt, Houman Azarm, Steven Berriatua
  • Patent number: 8179814
    Abstract: A premise signal conditioning device is provided that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on a premise of a user. The device includes at least a first diplexer set, each diplexer set including a supplier side diplexer and a premise side diplexer creating a return path for an upstream bandwidth and a forward path for a downstream bandwidth there between. The device further includes a detector configured to measure a level of signals present in a first segment of frequencies between the upstream bandwidth and the downstream bandwidth. The device further includes a switch controller configured to alter a width of the return path from a first width to a second width in response to a level of the signals exceeding a predetermined threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Michael E. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8175459
    Abstract: A radio-over-fiber (RoF) hybrid wired/wireless transponder is disclosed that is configured to provide both wireless and wired communication between a hybrid head-end and one or more client devices. The hybrid transponder includes optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion capability and is configured to frequency multiplex/demultiplex electrical “wired” signals and electrical “wireless” signals. The electrical wireless signals are wirelessly communicated to the client device(s) via a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system within a cellular coverage area. The electrical wired signals are communicated to the client device(s) via a wireline cable that plugs into a wireline cable port on the transponder. The hybrid RoF system includes a hybrid head-end capable of transmitting and receiving wired and wireless optical signals, and an optical fiber cable that is optically coupled to the hybrid head-end and to at least one hybrid transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Dean Michael Thelen, Jacob George, Luis Alberto Zenteno, Michael Sauer, Martyn N. Easton
  • Publication number: 20120110630
    Abstract: A communication device is provided for enabling a TV viewer to transmit signals towards a service provider. The communication device comprises: a user interface adapted to receive input signal from the TV viewer; a transceiver adapted to communicate wirelessly with a service provider via a remote server; and a TV interface adapted to allow forwarding of signals received from a TV source and of signals received from a service provider, towards a TV device of the TV viewer. Preferably the signals received from both sources are displayed simultaneously within different viewing windows at the screen of the TV device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: TV Terminal Ltd.
    Inventors: Oleg Golobrodsky, Gideon Drori, Yitzhak Peterburg, Moshe Peterburg
  • Publication number: 20120110631
    Abstract: System and method to extend the data carrying capacity of a hybrid fiber cable (HFC) network by adding wideband RF signal capability above 1 GHz, and replacing at least some CATV active devices such as amplifiers with a new type of Coax Domain Node (CDN) device that acts to segment the CATV cable portion of the HFC network into a series of smaller domains. The CDN generally filter RF signals from 5-865 MHz, while amplifying and passing RF signals over 1 GHz. Upstream capability is enhanced because the CDN intercept 5-42 MHz upstream signals from each domain and convert to 1 GHz+ signals. Downstream capability is also enhanced because the CDN can take efficiently encoded 1 GHz+ digital data, QAM modulate it, and locally inject into each domain without crosstalk between domains. The system pushes data management and downstream from the head end to the CDN, creating more throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Shlomo Selim Rakib
  • Publication number: 20120096509
    Abstract: A video relay circuit is provided including an input channel to receive input video data packets; a first circuit to convert the input video data packets into data for a display device; a second circuit coupled to the first circuit to retime, recondition and re-drive the data channels; an output channel to couple the video data packets into an output stream. Also provided is a video data transmission link including a video relay circuit as above and a daisy chain of video display devices including a video source; a plurality of video display devices wherein a first video display device is coupled to the source of video data, and each further video display device receives the source signal from the previous display and provides the video signal to the next display; wherein at least one of the video display devices comprises a video relay circuit as above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Henry ZENG, Ji PARK
  • Patent number: 8160073
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller operable to receive signaling information from a local resource manager (LRM) identifying a recipient media processor (RMP) and describing at least one media characteristic of media content selected by an initiating media processor (IMP) to be presented at the RMP, determine a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP, compare the media capability of the RMP to the at least one media characteristic of the media content, determine a media configuration of at least one network element in an interactive television network based on the comparison, configure at least one network element of a virtual private network (VPN) based on the media configuration, and transmit signaling information to the LRM to enable the IMP to present the media content at the RMP over the VPN. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Troy C. Meuninck
  • Patent number: 8156533
    Abstract: A media transmission system and method for the transmission of a desired one of a plurality of broadcast media channels to a remote client over a data connection is disclosed. The system includes means for routing data for a first one of the broadcast media channels over the data connection to the remote client and means for routing data for an alternate one of the channels over the data connection following receipt of a channel change request from a user; this allows efficient use of a limited bandwidth data connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Crichton
  • Patent number: 8150004
    Abstract: A filter circuit is constructed as a triplex filter having a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter with attenuation in the passband, and a second low-pass filter without attenuation in the passband. The filter circuit has a frequency response with a high-pass portion, a flat loss portion, and a low-pass portion. Attenuation in the flat loss portion is uniform and is predetermined via selection of filter components. The filter circuit is useful in a bidirectional CATV system in which performance is improved by selectable attenuation of a first source of return path signals but without attenuation of a second source of return path signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Palinkas, Ahmet Burak Olcen, Tom Hart
  • Patent number: 8141122
    Abstract: There is provided a terminate or permit device that includes an internal circuitry, which discriminates between noise and non-noise transmissions. In one embodiment, the internal circuitry comprises a switch and termination unit (“STU”) with a signal path that is used to terminate and/or permit the upstream bandwidth based on the presence of non-noise transmissions. The internal circuitry also comprises a signal processing unit (“SPU”) with a processing circuit, which is configured to identify the non-noise transmissions from the upstream bandwidth, and to cause the STU to permit the upstream bandwidth based on the presence of the non-noise transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Erdogan Alkan
  • Patent number: 8132222
    Abstract: Addressable tap units for a cable television network include a radio frequency input and a radio frequency output. These tap units may further include a radio frequency receiver that is configured to receive a radio frequency signal input at the radio frequency input. A filter circuit, which may be a plug-in filter circuit, is coupled between the radio frequency input and the radio frequency output. The filter circuit includes at least one filter that filters out signals in one or more frequency bands. The tap units also may include a plurality of switches that select one of a plurality of signal paths through the filter circuit. The plurality of switches may be controlled in response to data contained in the radio frequency signal. The tap unit may also include an alternate radio frequency path that bypasses the plug-in filter module so that signals incident at the radio frequency input traverse the alternate radio frequency path if the plug-in filter module is not installed in the addressable tap unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Neil P. Phillips, Sou-Pen Su, Tseng Min Chi
  • Patent number: 8127009
    Abstract: Included are systems and methods for providing access. At least one embodiment of a system includes a host configured to receive at least one tool for providing conditional access and a secure processor configured to receive conditional access logic. Some embodiments of the conditional access logic are configured to send at least one configuration message for configuring the at least one tool at the host component for operation with the received access logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: Howard G. Pinder, Henry Lilly, III, David A. Sedacca, Michael A. Gaul
  • Publication number: 20120047547
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing upstream bandwidth of a network including changing QoS settings, by a router, of a video device of a plurality of video devices in the network to a higher priority than other of the plurality of video devices. The plurality of video devices concurrently transmit video data. The computer-implemented method further includes estimating an overall upstream bandwidth by the higher priority video device and determining operating rates, by the router, for the plurality of video devices, such that said modem buffer is not backlogged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew J. PATTI, Wai-Tian Tan
  • Publication number: 20120042345
    Abstract: One or more network devices receive, at a location outside a customer premises, a broadband signal from a base station of a wireless network and a satellite television signal from a satellite antenna. The one or more network devices combine, at the location outside the customer premises, the broadband signal with the satellite television signal in a single coaxial cable and send, via the single coaxial cable, the broadband signal and the satellite television signal to one or more devices inside the customer premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lee K. TJIO, Lalit Ratilal Kotecha, Kamlesh S. Kamdar, Aref H. Iskandar, Sergio Aguirre, Raafat Edward Kamel
  • Patent number: 8098990
    Abstract: A network system and method include a wireless base station integrated at a central office of a service provider. The wireless base station is configured to provide portable and fixed services to customers. A passive optical network is coupled to the wireless base station at the central office to provide a link to extend an antenna for wireless operations of the wireless base station to a remote site such that a wireless signal from the wireless base station is transmitted in parallel with a passive fiber network signal through the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: NEC Laboratories America, Inc., NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Junqiang Hu, Ting Wang, Dayou Qian, Yuanqiu Luo, Yoshihiko Suemura, Makoto Shibutani
  • Patent number: 8095098
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the management of radio frequency spectrum within a network such as a CATV network. In one aspect of the invention, an improved signal reflector apparatus adapted for use in the network is disclosed, the reflector circuit being designed to strongly reflect signal frequencies at the lower end of the CATV reverse band, and/or above the higher end of the forward band, while simultaneously allowing the rest of the reverse band and the entire forward band to pass freely through the device. This selective filtering of the spectrum allows control signals generated within a premises or private network to be directed (by reflection) to other devices within that network. A blocking element (e.g., amplifier) may also be used to provide control of the transmission and attenuation profile of the reflector apparatus. The passage of power signals such as DC or low frequency AC is also optionally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Brooks, Robert L. Romerein
  • Patent number: 8090261
    Abstract: A general object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication system in which an optical transmission power of an optical communication apparatus is controlled to be a required minimum power that apparatuses of all subscribers in the optical communication system meet a prescribed error rate. An optical line terminating apparatus (OLT) transmits data to multiple optical network apparatuses (ONUs) at an optical intensity calculated based on information acquired from the multiple ONUs, which is related to optical intensities of signals that the multiple ONUs receive from the OLT, the optical intensity being calculated so that a minimum optical intensity of the optical intensities of the signals is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Sugawara, Hiroki Ikeda, Yusuke Yajima, Tohru Kazawa
  • Patent number: 8082570
    Abstract: Presented are method and apparatus embodiments to terminate an interruptible signal path when the interruptible signal path is unterminated. The apparatus can comprise a signal path from a supplier-side port thru a user-side port, a signal source arranged to provide a signal to the conductor; and a signal circuit arranged in the interruptible signal path. The apparatus can determine when the signal path is unterminated and, in that case, interrupt and terminate the signal path by putting a signal switching device in the appropriate state and/or sending signals from the signal path to a prescribed signal level connection point. When a user device is not connected or connected improperly, or the signals through the signal path are otherwise unterminated, the interruptible signal path can be interrupted and terminated. The method and apparatus embodiments can be used in various combinations with multiple signal paths having multiple signal branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Olson, David Kelma, Joseph Lai, Erdogan Alkan, David H. Jackson, Raymond W. Palinkas, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20110289545
    Abstract: When reproducing AV data transmitted from a source device by multicast wireless transmission, a sink device can check the wireless connection status of other sink device which reproduces AV data from the same source device. The sink device (2a) includes: an AV reception portion which receives AV data through multicast wireless transmission from the source device (1); a reproduction portion which extracts and reproduces AV data transmitted to the sink device (2a) from the received AV data; and a device information receiving portion that wirelessly receives a portion or whole of the sink device information managed in the source device (1). The sink device information correlates identification information for identifying a plurality of sink devices (2a, 2b, . . . ) containing the sink device (2a) with state information indicative of wireless connection status of the sink devices (2a, 2b, . . . ).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohichi Eguchi, Keisuke Tsuji, Ryosuke Ohmae, Masayuki Etoh, Seiji Imanishi, Shinichi Katoh, Takuya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8064763
    Abstract: An optical system with a first and second network tiers. The first network tier includes a plurality of major nodes optically interconnected by at least one transmission path. The second network tier includes a plurality of minor nodes disposed along the transmission path and the minor nodes are connected to at least one of the major nodes. The minor node is configured to transmit all traffic to an adjacent major node, and the major nodes are configured to transmit to and receive information from other major nodes and minor nodes on transmission paths connected to the major node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110283331
    Abstract: Distribution and amplification systems for cable television networks include a tap unit having a first RF tap port and a second RF tap port, a voice-over IP (“VoIP”) RF signal amplifier and a non-VoIP RF signal amplifier. The VoIP RF signal amplifier is connected to the first RF tap port of the tap unit, and includes an amplified signal path and a passive, non-interruptible signal path. The non-VoIP RF signal amplifier is connected to the second RF tap port of the tap unit, and includes an amplified signal path. The VoIP and non-VoIP RF signal amplifiers are each configured to terminate their amplified signal paths to respective matched terminations in response to a power outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Ryan Riggsby
  • Patent number: 8050562
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for implementing an electro-optical cable distribution network in which a coaxial cable is replaced with an optical cable in order to provide a service integrating broadcast data and communication data by solving a frequency constraint problem in a cable television (CATV) network employing a conventional hybrid-fiber coaxial (HFC) network architecture. The apparatus includes an optical network unit (ONU) which converts a downstream signal received from a system operator (SO) into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to an optical cable; and an optical cable modem which receives the optical downstream signal from the ONU and converts the received signal into an electrical signal. In addition, the ONU and the optical cable modem control signal quality of an optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Heyung Sub Lee, Jae Hoon Yu, Dong-Beom Shin, Hong Soon Nam, Young Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 8041222
    Abstract: A radio over fiber link apparatus for transmitting/receiving radio frequency up/downlink signals in a TDD mobile communication system. The radio over fiber link apparatus includes a center site for receiving radio frequency signals from an access point of the mobile communication system. The center site has a first electro-optic converter for converting the radio frequency signals into optical signals, bias control of the first electro-optic converter being performed based on the switching of TDD signals; and a remote for transmitting the radio frequency signals to a mobile communication terminal through an antenna. The remote site has a first photoelectric converter for converting the optical signals transmitted through an optical fiber from the center site into radio frequency signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Lim Lee, Hoon Kim, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Patent number: 8032016
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for transporting information from a central information distribution center (CIDC) to locations where such information is intended. Upon receiving a request for narrowcast information to be delivered to a node associated with a head end, the CIDC selects the requested information, generates an optical signal encoded with the requested information using information channels dedicated to narrowcast information transport for the node, and sends the optical signal to the head end via an optical fiber. When the head end receives the optical signal, the narrowcast information transport channels dedicated to the node are translated into subcarriers acceptable to the node before the requested narrowcast information is forwarded to the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Irl N. Duling, Sandeep T. Vohra, Paul J. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20110225620
    Abstract: A transport stream processing apparatus includes a demodulation module, a transport stream storage module, a multiplexer, and a conditional access system interface. The demodulation module is for demodulating an input signal to generate a first transport stream. The transport stream storage module is for storing a second transport stream. The multiplexer has an output port, a first input port for receiving the first transport stream, and a second input port for receiving the second transport stream. The multiplexer selectively couples the first input port or the second input port to the output port. The conditional access system interface is coupled to the output port of the multiplexer for coupling a conditional access module. The conditional access system interface transmits a transport stream outputted from the output port of the multiplexer to the conditional access module for signal processing when the conditional access module is coupled to the conditional access system interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: You-Min Yeh
  • Patent number: 8019221
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate broadband transmission of signals using a delivery point tuning technique to provide a extended frequency passive optical network (EF-PON) are shown. Embodiments provide an extended frequency optical transition node (EF-OTN) at each of a plurality of delivery points to provide a frequency translation interface between equipment disposed at the delivery point locations and a network utilizing transmission bandwidth which is incompatible with that equipment. The foregoing frequency conversion is preferably transparent to the equipment receiving the network transmissions. Embodiments utilize a single wideband tuner for providing frequency conversion with respect to a plurality of equipment disposed a delivery point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Zoran Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory J. Zancewicz
  • Patent number: 8010061
    Abstract: Apparatus for combining at least multimedia signaling (e.g., CATV signals) and wireless network signaling for transmission over the same communication medium includes a first port for receiving a multimedia signal, a second port for receiving a wireless networking signal, and a third port being couplable to the communication medium. The apparatus is configured for generating a combined signal at the third port, the combined signal including at least a portion of the multimedia signal and at least a portion of the wireless networking signal. In this manner, wireless networking signals may be conveyed over the same communication medium as is used for multimedia signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nedim Erkocevic, Franklin Sean David Schultz, Kenneth David Schultz