Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to reducing impairments in signals transmitted over a service provider network. A selective filtering device may be placed at various locations in the service provider network to reduce the noise. For example, the devices may be located in, coupled to, or otherwise associated with a tap, an optical node, an amplifier, or other location in the service provider network that may be upstream from user devices at customer premises locations. The selective filtering device may be selective in the way that it may use various types of filtering techniques to eliminate or reduce the noise in a signal. Such techniques may be based on the power densities of carriers and noise in the signal, as well as information associated with scheduled communications in the service provider network.
Abstract: Embodiments are configured in part to pair or associate a portable or personal computing device with a set-top box (STB) to enable use of the paired device with an associated STB. Processing of a displayed visual code can be used to establish a pairing relationship and allow a paired STB to process navigation, control, and/or other commands from a paired device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 15, 2017
Assignee:
COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Yousef Wasef Nijim, Jay Paul Langa, James Alan Strothmann, Eric S. Roberts
Abstract: A mini-optical line termination (OLT) includes at least one management card for providing control and management functions. A plurality of network cards having a predetermined number of ports are configured to support a predetermined number of subscribers by providing a gigabit passive optical network to the subscribers. At least one network device is coupled to an upstream device and the plurality of network cards. The at least one network device is configured to control the forwarding of data between the upstream device and the subscribers.
Abstract: A system includes a session and resource manager and a video pump. The session and resource manager negotiates encryption keys from a headend controller and provides the encryption keys to a video pump. The video pump uses the encryption keys from the session and resource manager to encrypt content. Thus, the video pump uses encryption keys to encrypt the content so that it is encrypted right from the video pump prior to transmission over the entire transport system. A generic modulation device may thus be used to modulate the encrypted content over the delivery network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 6, 2011
Date of Patent:
August 8, 2017
Assignee:
Cox Communications, Inc.
Inventors:
Keith Alan Rothschild, Robert Lee Ames, Jr., Julius Bert Bagley
Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for rerouting network traffic flows based on selection criteria are provided. Routers forming data flow paths between network devices in a network may be polled. In response to the poll, network status information may be received from the routers. Based at least in part on the received status information, a rerouting event associated with a first data flow over a first data flow path may be received. Based on one or more selection criteria, a second data flow path may be selected for the first data flow. The first data flow may then be rerouted over the second data flow path.
Abstract: A request to establish a tunnel over a layer three network connection may be received by a proxy device. The tunnel may then be established by the proxy device. Device information and wireless network information from a mobile device may be received over the tunnel. Responsive to receipt of the device information and the wireless network information, source and destination addresses may be assigned to the mobile device. The source and destination addresses may correspond to the device information and the wireless network information. Internet protocol (IP) packets may be received, via the tunnel, from the mobile device. Layer two frames may be generated utilizing the assigned source and destination addresses. The layer two frames may encapsulate each of the IP packets. The layer two frames may be transmitted to a layer two service function chain (SFC) infrastructure.
Abstract: Example embodiments of the systems and methods of hybrid DWDM aggregation and extension for time division multiplexing passive optical networks as disclosed herein solves problems facing cable operators and telecommunications operators by using WDM and DWDM technologies for time division multiplexing passive optical network aggregation and by extending the reach of the TDM PON beyond standard reach limits. An example system uses a downstream optical amplifier and an upstream repeater to extend the reach and for DWDM aggregation of the time division passive optical network.
Abstract: A uniform resource locator (URL) monitoring system and method employs rules for dynamically managing URLs associated with streamed video content. The system monitors the content stream for URLs and, when a URL is detected, applies the rules to determine how to handle the URL. The system may disable selected trick modes to prevent additional content from being skipped. Alternatively, the system may display the URL while a trick mode is active and, if the URL is followed, suspend the trick mode and show the additional content. URLs encountered during trick modes may be captured and the URL or additional content presented when normal playback resumes. Additionally, the system may determine whether to fit saved URLs around other URLs later in the content stream, display saved URLs simultaneously with the later URLs, or replace the later URLs with the saved URLs based on the handling rules.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 2015
Date of Patent:
July 4, 2017
Assignee:
COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
Inventors:
Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa
Abstract: Dynamic content stream management of may be provided. A selection of a content element may be received and an encoding scheme may be selected. The content element may be transmitted to the requesting client in the selected encoding scheme. During transmission, a different encoding scheme may be selected according to changing conditions, such as network congestion. The client may be switched over to receive the content element in the new encoding scheme instead of the originally selected encoding scheme.
Abstract: Exposing consumers to content of secondary interest via a content distribution network is becoming increasingly difficult as Video on Demand gains popularity and consumers isolate themselves from secondary content, including: new programs, emergency alerts, etc. Additionally, ensuring that the consumers are consuming secondary content that is provided to them via the content distribution network poses technical difficulties for the service provider. Therefore, systems and methods that encourage consumers to consume secondary content and verify its consumption non-intrusively are of increasing importance to service providers. Providing consumers with the ability to opt in and out of tracking and verification for the promotion of content allows consumers to be provided secondary content and for the service provider to appropriately reward the consumers for consuming the content to encourage additional consumption of secondary content.
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for low power RF communications, comprising receiving an AM signal using a passive RF receiver circuit, converting the AM signal to a digital output signal using a comparator, receiving the digital output signal from the comparator, determining whether the digital output signal is valid or not using a digital signal processing circuit, and upon detection of a valid digital output signal, enabling an active RF receiver circuit for RF signal processing.
Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media related to segmenting media content playlist for dynamic insertion of non-entertainment content during a streaming session. A request for media content associated with a streaming session in a network may be received from one or more client devices. In response to the received request, a media content playlist may be identified. In response to the received request, a non-entertainment playlist may be identified, where the non-entertainment playlist comprises one or more references pointing to one or more non-entertainment content, the one or more references including at least a first reference pointing to a first non-entertainment content and a second reference pointing to a second non-entertainment content. the media content playlist may be segmented into one or more segments including at least a first segment and a second segment.
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for low power RF communications, comprising receiving an AM signal using a passive RF receiver circuit, converting the AM signal to a digital output signal using a comparator, receiving the digital output signal from the comparator, determining whether the digital output signal is valid or not using a digital signal processing circuit, and upon detection of a valid digital output signal, enabling an active RF receiver circuit for RF signal processing.
Abstract: Systems and methods for combining variable bit rate data streams are provided. A plurality of data streams may be identified by a service provider system that includes one or more computers. Each data stream may be a variable bit rate data stream. Based upon an analysis of the respective variable bit rates, the service provider system may determine a subset of the plurality of data streams to be combined. The subset of data streams may then be combined and output by the service provider system for transmission to one or more consumer devices.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 2, 2017
Assignee:
Cox Communications, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey L. Finkelstein, Sung-eun Kim, Benny K. Bing
Abstract: The systems and methods of virtualized services disclosed herein use software defined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV), and tunnels as an encapsulation method to steer user originated and terminating traffic to and from a cloud network (virtual networks and devices) such that the data flows into the correct virtual and physical instances representative of user services. SDN may be used to maintain network topology and tomography which is used to calculate the correct path for data packets to reach the proper cloud or customer destination.
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing external entity network authentication, including a processor comprising a computer-readable medium with a set of instructions operable to receive an authentication request for a subscriber device, authenticate the subscriber device at the content service provider, request subscriber device information from the network service provider at the content provider service, and provide access to content on the subscriber device based at least in part on subscriber device information.
Abstract: Systems and methods for associating additional content with broadband content are provided. A pairing between a customer premise device configured to output broadband content and a customer device may be identified by a service provider system. Information associated with content output by the customer premise device may be received by the service provider system from the customer premise device. Based at least in part upon an evaluation of the received information, the service provider system may identify additional content to be communicated to the customer device. The service provider system may then facilitate communication of the additional content to the customer device.
Abstract: Assigning a single master identifier to all related content assets. Memory is provided for storing content assets and metadata associated with each of the content assets, wherein the metadata includes a plurality of metadata field entries. A processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is configured for analyzing the metadata associated with each of the content assets to produce correlations between metadata field entries associated therewith, identifying related content assets by determining content assets having a predetermined correlation between metadata field entries and assigning a single, unique asset identifier to the related content assets.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 11, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 28, 2017
Assignee:
Cox Communications, Inc.
Inventors:
Yousef Wasef Nijim, Terry Douglas Lee, Francisco Gonzalez
Abstract: A system (87; FIG. 2) is disclosed to provide a Time Division Multiple Access Passive Optical Network to a Plastic Optical Fiber to be used in both single-family home networks and in multiple dwelling units. The system (87) extends the fiber to the home fiber network infrastructure from existing fiber access networks to fiber in the home for home networking. A plastic optical fiber converter (48; FIG. 4) associated with an optical network terminal (56; FIG. 6) receives a downstream optical signal (15; FIG. 3) that is converted into an electrical signal (61; FIG. 6). The converter (48) within the optical network terminal (56) modulates Ethernet frames contained within the electrical signal and converts the frames into optical signals (71,72; FIG. 6) with advanced modulations that are then transmitted via the plastic optical fiber within the home network (124; FIG. 2).
Abstract: Reducing head end server demand for cable television/services systems with point-to-point Media on Demand content delivery is provided. Upon receiving a request for media content, a content table may be requested from one or more neighboring network-connected devices to search for the requested content. If the requested content is found, the content may be provided to the requesting device from the neighboring device. If the requested content is not found on a neighboring device, a hub server station may be queried for the requested media content. The media content may be provided by the head end server if the content is not available on a neighboring device or the hub server. Embodiments may reduce demand on the head end server and free the head end server capacity for other uses.