Abstract: A name that means something to a human can be used to provision multiple channels, multiple times after a one-time association of an binary integer mask bit pattern with the name, or mnemonic. Typically, the one performing the one-time association of the mask pattern with the mnemonic will choose a name that reflects the channel attributes represented by the mask pattern. Thus, rather than remembering a bit pattern for a single attribute, or even the more difficult task of remembering the pattern for multiple attributes, and having to make sure a ‘1’ is placed in a correct bit position among many ‘0’s when entering bit patterns, the one provisioning only enters a mnemonic that textually refers to the attribute, or attributes, to be provisioned for a given channel.

Abstract: A remote control for a digital video recorder includes an integrated display screen configured to display a recording list including programs scheduled to be recorded.

Abstract: Methods for providing adaptive equalization in the presence of a burst error are provided. If an equalization algorithm has converged and burst errors are present during a symbol interval, the equalizer coefficients remain unchanged during the symbol interval. If the burst error is no longer present during the next symbol interval, the equalizer coefficients are updated based on the previously converged coefficients.

Abstract: A method of upgrading the software load of a device includes receiving a configuration file and checking if a device software load matches load information (EE) of the configuration file. If the device software load does not match the EE of the configuration file, a check is made to determine if the device software load matches new load information (NE) of the configuration file.

Abstract: In DOCSIS 3.0 a greater level of configuration is possible for cable modems than was available in earlier versions. The CMTS potentially receives many possible configurations from a new CM. The standard does not indicate how the CMTS should configure a CM that can support more than one possible configuration. A CMTS' operator specifies preferences for certain channel configurations. The CMTS evaluates the configuration profiles received from a booting CM and determines the best profile to attempt to accommodate based on the specified preferences. The CMTS determines how to instruct the CM to configure itself based on the available channel resources than can accommodate the selected configuration profile.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to prioritize channel scanning. In various implementations, a nonvolatile memory on a CPE device can store downstream channels that a CPE device previously identified as being used by a headend. In some implementations, the nonvolatile memory can be organized or arranged such that DOCSIS 3.0 channels receive preference upon initialization. In other implementations, the selection of the channels from nonvolatile memory can be prioritized to select DOCSIS 3.0 channels over other types of channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a substitution for a broadcast content, includes: a substitute content engine configured to detect a break in a broadcast content and to show substitute content in response to the break in a broadcast content; and a processor configured to execute the substitute content engine. An apparatus for substituting broadcast content displayed on a screen, including: a customer premise equipment capable to receive broadcast content; the customer premise equipment including a viewing engine capable to permit the display of substitute content in response to a break in the broadcast content.

Abstract: An electrical device, includes electrical pins that protrude from an enclosing metal housing. A compressible protrusion around the pins is formed out of the material of the metal housing. The protrusion is formed such that (1) an EMI shield does not exist around the pins when the pins are not engaged to an electrical coupler, and (2) the EMI shield is formed around the electrical pins when the protrusion is compressed by an electrical coupler engaging the electrical pins.

Abstract: A device, such as a cable modem or embedded media terminal adaptor that attempts to obtain unauthorized network services, is designated by head end equipment, such as a CMTS, as being a ‘rogue’ device. Upon an initial range request from the rogue device, the CMTS responds with a continuing range command. Upon receiving each periodic range request transmitted from the rogue device during a periodic station maintenance opportunity, the CMTS responds with another continuing range command. Thus, the rogue device does not ever establish connection with the CMTS because an ACK message is not received back from the CMTS. Moreover, use of CMTS resources for processing request from rogue devices is minimized because the rogue device does not reinitialize its MAC after a predetermined period of time, which it would do if a periodic ranging opportunity was not scheduled.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems, methods, and computer program products for optimally allocating a fixed number of bits among a plurality of multi-media data channels. The optimal number of bits is determined by preprocessing each channel to calculate complexity data, and then the complexity data is used to determine the optimal number of bits to assign to each channel. The optimal number of bits may be determined by a closed loop controller in communication with one or more channel encoders, and the multi-media channels may contain video data conforming to the MPEG2 video format.

Abstract: A bi-directional optical transceiver includes multiple single mode optical ports and a multi-mode optical port. A multi-mode optical combiner combines single mode optical signals received at the single mode optical ports into a multi-mode optical signal at the multi-mode optical port. Each single mode optical signal has a distinct optical mode that does not interfere with the optical mode of the other single mode optical signals. A photo detector detects a total optical power of the plurality of single mode optical signals in the multi-mode optical signal. An amplifier is coupled to receive an output of the photo detector.

Abstract: A highly scalable primary server is provided to serve an increasing number of users and remote devices. Instead of communicating with a primary server using an expensive communication protocol, a remote device communicates with a secondary server using a less expensive protocol to determine whether the primary server desires to communicate control instructions to the remote device. When the primary server has a request to control the remote device, the primary server creates a table entry to the secondary server to notify the remote device of a request to communicate. Upon polling the secondary server and learning of the created table entry, the remote device establishes a communication connection with the primary server to receive the instructions for controlling the remote device. In this manner, the demand for resources needed for communication with the primary server is significantly reduced.

Abstract: “A video server determines a frequency at which various content titles are accessed, and forms and communicates to downstream client devices a first data carousel of metadata about at least some of the various content titles, the metadata about a particular content title included in the data carousel or not according to how frequently the particular content title is accessed. The video server forms and communicates to downstream edge server devices a second data carousel comprising metadata about at least some of the various content titles, the second carousel updated more frequently than the first data carousel.

Abstract: A stream request is generated based on the stream address of a corresponding program selected from an electronic program guide that associates programs with corresponding IP multicast stream addresses by a subscriber/user device. The stream request is sent from the subscriber device to a broadband device, which compares the address in the request to available stream information listed in a content guide. The content guide contains information for all multicast streams that are available from a CMTS to the broadband device over DS channels of the current MAC domain. The broadband device locks to the stream that corresponds to the request, including tuning to a different DS channel if necessary. The broadband device may request another MAC domain if the stream is not available from the current one. After locking to a desired stream, the broadband device informs the CMTS so that it can adjust content guide user counts.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting and presenting streaming digital information signals that optimizes performance in the context of goodput, throughput, delay, receiver buffer requirements and tolerance to loss and jitter. The method provides ordering packets of information based on a priority associated with each of the packets; managing the flow of the packets into and out of a buffer; adjusting the rate at which the packets are provided to a communication medium; and transmitting and retransmitting the packets as needed.

Abstract: A method adds a MAC address per line for a multiline EMTA. After the EMTA initializes, the method creates “Virtual MTA” instances corresponding to each analog line/MAC address. The method facilitates MTA emulation of each of the Virtual MTA instances. For each virtual EMTA line, the emulation method includes acquiring an IP address via DHCP and acquiring a configuration file via TFTP for each virtual MTA instance.

Abstract: A remote control for a digital video recorder includes an integrated display screen configured to display a recording list including programs scheduled to be recorded.

Abstract: A data communication system includes multiple Media Access Control (MAC) units, multiple physical layer (PHY) interface units, and logic to communicate between the MAC units and the PHY units using a single tunneling protocol over Internet Protocol (IP).

Abstract: A data carousel exists as an out-of-band carousel (OOBC), and accessed as a hidden background service from the channel map, and that discriminates against metadata that is never (or is rarely) accessed, and that is acquired in the background, filling a cache even when the subscriber is not accessing Video on Demand.

Abstract: “A method of selecting a stream server to which to direct a content title includes (a) comparing a top-tier cache ease of entry for each of multiple of stream servers, (b) if one of the stream servers has a more favorable top-tier cache ease of entry than each of the other stream servers, selecting the one stream server with the more favorable top-tier cache ease of entry to which to direct the title, (c) if the top-tier cache ease of entry for all of the stream servers is equal, comparing a next-lower-tier cache ease of entry for each of the plurality of stream servers, and (d) if one of the plurality of stream servers has a more favorable next-lower-tier cache ease of entry than each of the other stream servers, selecting the one stream server with the more favorable next-lower-tier cache ease of entry to which to direct the title.