Abstract: Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists.

Abstract: Methods and systems for defining a compression and reconstruction scheme of a media stream, for generating and transmitting a base media layer and enhancement data layers and for reconstructing compressed representations of the media stream from the base media layer and the enhancement data layers.

Abstract: A method for rate reduction of a video stream, the method includes: selecting a non-reference picture of a video stream; and replacing the non-reference picture by a duplicating picture that substantially consists of information that instruct a decoder to duplicate another picture that differs from the non-reference picture; wherein the duplicating picture is smaller than the non-reference picture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficiently scheduling incoming information objects so that timely objects from a variety of content classes are scheduled for broadcast. The incoming information objects are preferably received from one or more information sources, and are tagged with attributes that associate each object with one or more classes of information (e.g., sports, news, etc.), and provide a gauge of the timeliness or ‘age’ of the object. The tags can be used to select and broadcast objects from a variety of classes, and to identify the most timely objects at any give time.

Abstract: A fax-only MIB stores a value that is used as a counter of a timer. Upon initiating or receiving a call at an endpoint with which the fax-only MIB value is associated, a user device that provides the endpoint begins a timer based on the MIB value. During the timer period processing circuitry and/or software of the user device associated with the endpoint determines whether a tone generated/received by a call being initiated/received is a fax or modem tone. If the device determines that such a tone has been generated/received, a call corresponding to the tone is processed. If the device does not determine that a fax/modem tone has been generated/received, the call being initiated or received at the endpoint is dropped.

Abstract: A token bucket instantiation regulate packets in a traffic flow stream based on a predetermined peak traffic flow rate. The token bucket size is nominally set to zero. An evaluation is made at a device that has received a given packet. The packet is considered conforming and is passed from the device if the token depth of the bucket is zero or greater. The token depth is decreased by the number of byes in the packet that was passed. The token depth is continuously replenished at a predetermined token rate until the predetermined bucket size is attained (the bucket is full). A received packet is deemed nonconforming if the token depth is less than zero; the non-conforming packet is not passed but is processed according to non-conforming criteria. Token bucket instantiations may be implemented in hardware, software or firmware for each traffic flow to regulate traffic to a given user.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products for modifying a multiple program transport stream, generating a multiple program transport stream and extracting a single program transport stream, the method for modifying the multiple program transport stream includes: receiving a multiple program transport stream; and inserting a decoding time stamp equivalent value program clock reference in a transport stream packet of a program; wherein the transport stream packet is positioned so as the value of the inserted decoding time stamp equivalent value program clock reference is substantially equal to a decoding time stamp of an elementary stream of the program.

Abstract: A system includes logic to cache at least one block in at least one cache if the block has a popularity that compares favorably to the popularity of other blocks in the cache, where the popularity of the block is determined by reads of the block from persistent storage and reads of the block from the cache.

Abstract: One or more of a topology location test and a distance test are applied to determine if a CPE device has moved in a cable plant. An indication of service fraud is provided if the CPE topology location or distance test indicate an unauthorized CPE device move.

Abstract: An intermediate network element/device intercepts TCP packets/segments from a client and alters them before forwarding them to a server. This facilitates an increase in effective receive window size value over that which is contained in the segments. One aspect alters a TCP segment by replacing the receive window value with a value determined according to a formula and then forwards the segment on to the server. Another aspect alters a scaling factor in a SYN segment and forwards the altered SYN segment on to the server. The server stores the scaling factor to a memory connected thereto and multiplies the scale factor by receive window size values in subsequently received TCP segments. The server uses the product to determine how many segment-bytes to send to the client. The predetermined scaling factor and predetermined formula may both be stored on a memory at the intermediate element for processing thereby.

Abstract: A system for automatically tuning to a channel based on an event includes a tuner to tune to a first channel, an event table to associate an event with a second channel, and event detector to detect the event and to instruct the tuner to tune to the second channel in response to the event.

Abstract: Multicast management messages associate a channel with one or more multicast groups. The information included in the multicast management messages are combined into a channel association table that may be stored at a CPE device for each of one or more interfaces. The channel association table is used in response to a request for a desired multicast group to select a channel over which the desired multicast group should be delivered. The channel selection is based on a review of the channel association table. If a channel is associated with the desired group, it is selected. If a channel is not associated with the desired group, a channel is selected from a plurality of available channels based on group traffic loading criteria. A multicast message, such as a JOIN, is forwarded to other devices informing them that the desired group should only be sought and/or delivered on the selected channel.

Abstract: Predistortion logic for an optical communications laser or optical modulator, includes predistortion logic embodied in a field programmable gate array (FPGA). A first analog to digital converter (ADC) provides a representation of an RF signal at an input of the FPGA. A digital to analog converter provides a representation of an output of the FPGA to a laser or modulator.

Abstract: A channel alignment system in an optical communication network includes logic to sample power of a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channel at a component downstream from a QAM modulator. The system determines if the sampled channel power has a sufficient level. The system signals power control logic of the QAM modulator to adjust a gain of the sampled channel.

Abstract: A content on demand system includes logic to compose set top box configuration information into an audio and/or video stream format, and to communicate the configuration information to a plurality of set top boxes.

Abstract: A personal computer media center is connected to a media center extension and a personal video recorder (PVR) through a home network. The personal computer media center instructs the PVR through the home network to record a television broadcast. Subsequently, the personal computer media center instructs the PVR through the home network to output a media signal of the recorded television broadcast to the media center extension, which displays the media signal on a television.

Abstract: A method performed by a central network device, such as a network edge device, or a CMTS, determines whether some of a plurality of user devices coupled to a communication device are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum power output level over a given channel. If the central device determines that some of the devices are operating at near their maximum output level (“power pegged,) the central device searches for another channel that can carry the traffic of the power pegged devices at reduced data rate. If another channel can accommodate transmission of signals of the power pegged device, the central device instructs the power pegged devices to tune to the new channel at a reduced data rate compared to the data rate of the current channel.

Abstract: Methods for collection of device reset history from a network communication device comprising: (a) determining whether a reset condition is triggered by software or hardware, (b) for a software triggered reset: (i) upon a software exception, retrieving related reset information, (ii) upon an operator initiation, retrieving related reset information, (iii) allocating space in non-volatile memory, (iv) storing retrieved current reset information together with a corresponding reset time, and (v) adding the current reset information to historical reset information, (c) proceeding with the reset, (d) executing startup code during reboot, (e) upon a hardware triggered reset; (i) retrieving hardware registry and other residual hardware information still present, (ii) allocating space in non-volatile memory, (iii) storing the current retrieved reset information together with a current time that corresponds approximately to the reset and (iv) adding the reset information to historical reset information, and (f) contin

Abstract: A microprocessor and a DSP are coupled with a cable modem and an IAD framer to terminate a DS1 link at a media terminal device. The processor performs call control operations and the DSP performs signal processing, such that call processing occurs at the device. The framer extracts or inserts call control information from robbed-bit signaling bits. Data streams from the DS1 link are formatted/packetized according to a protocol used by a VoIP network. VoIP is used to transmit the packetized call from the cable modem portion to a CMTS over a broadband network. QoS attributes are implemented on the derived data streams as would be done for calls generated by a standard PacketCable EMTA.

Abstract: A method for efficiently transmitting several multimedia streams to one or more multimedia receivers comprises transmitting a first plurality of channels within a first plurality of frequency blocks having a first frequency range, said first frequency range being the range to which a legacy group of multimedia receivers are capable of tuning; and simulcasting said first plurality of channels within one or more alternate frequency blocks having an alternate frequency range, said alternate frequency range being the range to which an alternate group of multimedia receivers are capable of tuning.