Abstract: A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow of a video content signal through a communications system, such as a video on-demand system creates a unique message for each individual video content signal and attaches the unique message to each individual video content signal prior to transmitting the video content signal through the communications system to a designed end user system. In one exemplary embodiment, the unique message comprises an in-band signaling message, such as a message inserted in a program map table in an MPEG packetized signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention a system is utilized to leverage the security arrangement between a first and second device to establish a secure link between the first device and a third device. One embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for loading security data on a set top box, such as that utilized in the cable television industry.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for providing a rate control to an encoder, e.g., a H.264/MPEG-4 AVC compliant encoder. Specifically, the rate control method computes a target rate for a segment, where the segment comprises at least one slice of macroblocks. In turn, a target rate is computed for the at least one slice of macroblocks from the target rate for the segment. In turn, a quantization parameter (QPj) is computed for a macroblock (j) of the macroblocks from the target rate for the at least one slice. Finally, the macroblock (j) is encoded in accordance with said quantization parameter (QPj).

Abstract: A spare receiver in a CMTS is used to determine the RF connectivity status of the receivers of a Load Balancing Group or Spectrum Group in the CMTS in the network. The spare receiver is connected to a receiver of the Load Balancing Group or Spectrum Group which does not have modems registered. The spare receiver is also configured to have the communication protocols of another selected receiver of the Load Balancing Group or Spectrum Group which does have modems registered. A transmitter sends a request for a response to a modem registered with the selected receiver. If the spare receiver, which is configured to have the same communication protocols as the selected receiver, receives the response from the modem, the unregistered receiver under test is determined to have sufficient RF connectivity to be included in Load Balancing operations. Each unregistered receiver in the Load Balancing Group or Spectrum Group is analyzed in the same manner.

Abstract: A dynamic arrangement for reducing the presence of ingress noise in the upstream signal path of a two-way cable system utilizes a variable attenuation element and amplifier disposed along the upstream signal path. The amplifier includes a bypass switch so that the amplifier may be switched in to or out of the upstream path. A signal processor associated with the communications gateway functions to calculate the upstream loss present at the gateway and control the operation of the attenuation element, amplifier and bypass switch accordingly. Upstream attenuation is selected to be as large as possible, yet still allow in-building cable devices to communicate with their associated head end (HE) receiver equipment, after accounting for maximum transmit limitations.

Abstract: Network elements are identified as being connected to optical nodes by instructing two network elements in a spectrum group of the CMTS to transmit at frequencies f1 and f2, respectively. Frequencies f1 and f2 are selected such that they produce intermodulation distortions (intermods) in the laser transmitter at f3 when combined. If intermods are produced which exceed a predetermined threshold, then the two network elements are determined to be on the same node. If the total power of the signal by the laser transmitter exceeds an impact threshold, then the test is stopped and new network elements are selected for testing.

Abstract: A method, device and system for allowing a mobile communication device, such as a DLNA/UPnP device, to continue to communicate with its local network, even when the mobile device leaves or loses contact with the local network. The method includes providing information to a remote access server to create a virtual mobile device in a local network. The virtual device communicates with other devices within the local network as if it is the actual mobile device. The remote access server is configured to route data packets between the virtual device and the mobile device via a second network that does not rely on the mobile nodes connection to the local network. A public IP address of the remote access server provided to the mobile device before the device leaves the local network is used to communicate with the virtual device via an IP-based public network coupled to the local network.

Abstract: A first clock signal is generated by a first circuit and a second clock signal is generated by an auxiliary clock circuit. A switch controls whether the first clock signal or the second clock signal is provided to a subscriber line integrated circuit (SLIC). The SLIC is operable to generate a line voltage within predetermined tolerances on a loop line at a customer premises if the SLIC is receiving the first clock signal or the second clock signal.

Abstract: A system and method for audio splicing (insertion) of an Ad audio stream in the compressed domain, where variable early delivery of the Ad audio stream and variable bit rate are allowed, without creating audio distortion, glitches, or other digital artefacts or errors, in the resultant audio stream is disclosed. The present system and method provides for a splice delay buffer which delays the first five Ad audio frames until transmission of the last frame of the primary audio stream, but before the splice time. Subsequent Ad audio frames are delayed by a fixed amount, where the fixed amount is greater than the frame delay of the primary audio stream, to allow for ease of splice back to the primary audio stream.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a method is provided for controlling trick mode playback speed. Frame indices associated with video frames of a digital video stream are monitored and a Group-of-Pictures (GOP) size is determined from the frame indices. One or more trick mode play speed parameters are calculated based on the determined GOP size. Presentation of the video frames is controlled based on the calculated trick mode play speed parameters. In one embodiment, the trick mode play speed parameters include a frame-skip count (FSC) and a frame-repeat count (FRC).

Abstract: An adaptive data stream filter removes narrowband interference from the CATV return path prior to these paths being combined in the network. A method for removing narrowband interference from the CATV return path detects potential narrowband interference in real-time and adapts a filter to remove this potential narrowband interference. An exemplary embodiment of the above method uses previously created filters that are combined based on detected interference in an adaptive manner to continually adapt to new interference sources. Another exemplary embodiment of the above method calculates new filter coefficients for the data stream filter based on detected interference. In another embodiment, two filters are operated in a ping-pong manner for each band of interference identified as above threshold. This enables updating of one filter while another filter is performing the data stream filter operation.

Abstract: A system using digital certificates having overlapping validity intervals. The overlapping certificates can be used in a hierarchical certificate authorities network in order to obtain benefits such as to increase the usage of all the certificates in the certificate chain; reduce/eliminate the certificate updates/downloads to a large population; only replace the minimum number of certificates in the trust hierarchy to re-establish the certificate chain; reduce the complexity of maintaining certificate nesting in certificate generation process; reduce the risk of service interruption; and control the extent of older technology in circulation and to reduce the risk associated with older products being more susceptible to attack. The certificate renewal process of a preferred embodiment is described.

Abstract: A method for high quality, fast intra coding usable for creating digital video content. The video image is defined by data points representing original colors. Data points are selected based on a color characteristic, and are arranged into groups. At an initial stage (and at subsequent stages): selecting a subset of data points, using a number of algorithms to generate predicted values of the colors represented by the data points, calculating error values and evaluating mathematical functions to produce cost values, identifying a minimum cost value, establishing a threshold based on the minimum cost and a selection factor, comparing each cost value to the threshold value, and identifying a number of probable best algorithms. One of the probable best algorithms is usable for block size selection and to generate final predicted values of the original color represented by the data points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating downstream frequency override in a data-over-cable system is described. In one example, a data-over-cable system having a plurality of cable modem termination system (CMTS) elements is described. Each of the CMTS elements includes demodulation logic configured to detect one of a plurality of native preambles in upstream transmissions. Each of the native preambles may include a first section having a unique pattern and a second section having an equalizer training sequence. A concatenated preamble is formed from each of the native preambles. The concatenated preamble may include a first section having the unique pattern of each of the native preambles in a sequence and a second section having an equalizer training sequence. A burst profile is formed having the concatenated preamble for each of the CMTS elements. The burst profile is transmitted from each of the CMTS elements to a plurality of cable modems.

Abstract: A method and system for multi-port aggregation in a digital return path CATV system digitizes each of a plurality of return path signals, splits each of the plurality of return path signals into a low band and an upper band (41), combines each of the plurality of low band signals to form a combined low band signal (43), downconverts each of the plurality of upper band signals from an original frequency range into a new downconverted frequency range (45) and time division multiplexes the plurality of downconverted upper band signals with the combined low band signal to form an aggregate data stream (46).

Abstract: An object detection algorithm that generates a two-layer Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) during a training session, and subsequent to the training session, uses the two-layer GMM to perform face detection. No labeling of local features is needed. The only input that is provided by a user is the setting of a few global parameters for the image being captured during the training session, such as, for example, the person's facial pose.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method (40) is provided for detecting data within the vertical blanking interval (VBI) lines of a video or television signal. The VBI data detection (18) samples (42) at least one point from the VBI lines of a video signal and compares (44) at least one data characteristic, such as luminance, from the sample to a threshold to determine if the sample contains VBI data. If the sample contains VBI data, the VBI line from which the sample was taken is routed (46) to the processing unit of a video processing device. If no samples from a VBI line are found to contain VBI data, the VBI line is not processed further. The VBI data detection apparatus improves processing efficiency and resource allocation by allowing only those VBI lines containing VBI data to be processed by the video processing device.

Abstract: A cascaded pair of broad bandwidth optical filters provides an overlap in pass-bands that forms a flat, narrow band optical filter. A first band-pass filter is operable to receive the optical signal and to transmit a first portion of the optical signal. The second band-pass filter receives the first portion of the optical signal transmits a second portion of the optical signal. The first band-pass filter has a first corner-pass wavelength of ?a, a first corner-stop wavelength of ?b, and a first pass-band center wavelength ?pb1 such that ?a??pb1??b. The second band-pass filter has a second corner-pass wavelength of ?c, a second corner-stop wavelength of ?d, and a second pass-band center wavelength ?pb2 such that ?c??pb2??d, wherein ?a<?c<?b<?d. As such, the combined pass-band is ?c??pb3??b.

Abstract: A method identifies, prior to runtime, a first device that is added to a system. Further, the method generates, prior to runtime, a statically precompiled database for the device that provides a first set of error handling data. In addition, the method identifies, during runtime, a second device that is added to the system. Finally, the method generates, during runtime, a dynamically allocated database for the second device that provides a second set of error handling data.