Patents Assigned to Cox Communications
  • Patent number: 11271670
    Abstract: This disclosure describes C and L band optical communications module link extender, and related systems and methods. An example method may include receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM) at a headend, one or more optical data signals over only an L band. The example method may also include combining the one or more optical data signals. The example method may also include outputting the combined one or more optical data signals to a first WDM at the headend. The example method may also include outputting, by a first WDM, the one or more optical data signals to an amplifier at the headend. The example method may also include amplifying, by the amplifier, the one or more optical data signals. The example method may also include outputting the amplified one or more optical data signals to a coexistence filter. The example method may also include outputting, by the coexistence filter, the amplified one or more optical data signals to an optical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Harjinder S. Ghuman
  • Publication number: 20220070049
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and method for accelerated network impairment mapping. An example method may involve receiving, from a subset of downstream devices on a network, telemetry data associated with the performance of the subset of downstream devices. The example method may also involve determining, based on the telemetry data, that an impairment exists at a first device of the subset of downstream devices. The example method may also involve requesting, based on the determination that the impairment exists at the first device, telemetry data from one or more neighboring devices to the first device. The example method may also involve determining, based on the telemetry data from the one or more neighboring devices, that an impairment also exists at a second device of the one or more neighboring devices. The example method may also involve determining a lowest common ancestor to the first device and the second device on the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Keller, Sam Plant
  • Publication number: 20220069925
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for auto-adjustment signal quality. A method may include determining one or more cable modem devices configured to communicate with a device via a network. The method may include sending poll requests to the one or more cable modem devices to determine a signal power level associated with each of the one or more cable modem devices. The method may include receiving a first poll response from a first cable modem device. The method may include determining, based on the first poll response, a first signal strength associated with the first cable modem device. The method may include determining that the first signal strength deviates from a signal strength threshold. The method may include determining, based on the determination that the first signal strength deviates from the signal strength threshold, a first adjustment to an output power of the device for the first cable modem device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Yates, Joseph Keller, Christian Welin, Amrit Shaswat, Brian Stublen, Brad Pfaff, Drew Milley, Alexis Hwang, David Norman
  • Patent number: 11263893
    Abstract: A wearable device may receive a model from a second device. The model may include an event criterion. The wearable device may determine data indicative of an event associated with a user. The wearable device may determine, based on a comparison of the data to the model, an occurrence of the event. The wearable device may initiate, based on the occurrence of the event, a communication session with a third device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Alan Rothschild, Ron Lev, Kay Raffi, Paul Phipps
  • Patent number: 11239984
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to disabling sounding, resource-block allocation, and various full-duplex (FDX) capabilities in a particular portion of a spectrum used in FDX-enabled cable networks. The disclosure further describes using an upstream mode of communication in the particular portion of the spectrum originally designated for FDX communication. In another aspect, the disclosure can thereby facilitate an increase in upstream capacity on the cable network, for example, a fifteen-fold increase in the upstream capacity. In some embodiments, control messages can be transmitted from a controller node to devices on the network periodically, describing the usage of the FDX portion of the spectrum for upstream transmission. The control messages can include medium access control (MAC) management messages and/or tag-length-value (TLV) messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Publication number: 20210392037
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for network configuration management systems and methods. In some embodiments, the discloses systems and methods may involve receiving data from one or more nodes within a particular network. The data may include, for example, topology, telemetry, geographical, and other data relating to the nodes, the network, and/or the functionality of the nodes or network. Once received, such data may be cleaned and processing may be performed on the data. Such processing may involve clustering the data into groups based on various parameters and performing forecasting on the data to determine future usage rates and capacity information, for example. The clustering and forecasting results may be fed to a rules engine and/or an optimization engine, which may then determine appropriate actions to take on the network (e.g., changes to various nodes in terms of technology and/or number of nodes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jignesh Patel, Ted Boone, Richard Brown, Kyle Cooper, Derek Bantug
  • Patent number: 11183874
    Abstract: Technologies are provided for the monitoring of a power grid using power measurements using cable network devices. An embodiment of the technologies includes a computing system that can cause the cable network devices to perform power measurements. The cable network devices include customer premises equipment. The computing system also can receive first data defining observed values corresponding to the power measurements. A first observed value of the observed values results from a first power measurement of the power measurements. The computing system also can obtain second data defining times corresponding to the power measurements, where the first power measurement occurs at a first time of the defined times. The computing system can then generate status data by analyzing the observed values, where the status data represent respective power utilization states of the cable network devices. The computing system can provide the status data to a remotely located computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11178003
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to resetting observable channel knockouts. A device may transmit a poll request frame to a cable modem to solicit information associated with the cable modem. The device may receive a response frame from the cable modem, wherein the response frame includes information indicating the cable modem is in a partial operation state. The device may store at least a portion of the information in the memory. The device may determine a command configured to cause the cable modem to transition from the partial operation state. The device may transmit the command to the cable modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Milley, David Norman, Brad Pfaff, James Thompson
  • Patent number: 11146350
    Abstract: This disclosure describes C and L band optical communications module link extender, and related systems and methods. An example method may include receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM) at a headend, one or more optical data signals over a C band and an L band. The example method may also include combining the one or more optical data signals. The example method may also include outputting the combined one or more optical data signals to a first WDM at the headend. The example method may also include separating, by the first WDM, the combined one or more optical data signals into a C band signal and an L band signal. The example method may also include outputting the C band signal to a first amplifier at the headend and the L band signal to a second amplifier at the headend. The example method may also include amplifying, by the first amplifier, the C band signal. The example method may also include outputting the amplified C band signal to a coexistence filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Harjinder S. Ghuman
  • Publication number: 20210314080
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed for multiplexing one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to one or more wave division multiplexer (WDM). The method may comprise combining, by the one or more WDM, the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal comprising the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Harjinder S. Ghuman, Christopher Palmquist, David Job, Robert Kuse
  • Patent number: 11140012
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally directed to the real-time symbol rate of modulation modification based on noise and interference detection on a received signal during data transmission across a network. In one embodiment, a receiving device can measure the power of affected carriers, subcarriers, and/or tones. In one embodiment, adaptive bit loading can be used such that a lower order modulation scheme can be used to overcome through the noise and increase the Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the transmitted signal. In one embodiment, more throughput (for example, more bps/Hz) can be achieved in the network by using subcarriers that have a higher SNR. Further, the bit-loading can serve to maximize the data rate subject to power and bit-error ratio (BER) constraints of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11133987
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for network configuration management systems and methods. In some embodiments, the discloses systems and methods may involve receiving data from one or more nodes within a particular network. The data may include, for example, topology, telemetry, geographical, and other data relating to the nodes, the network, and/or the functionality of the nodes or network. Once received, such data may be cleaned and processing may be performed on the data. Such processing may involve clustering the data into groups based on various parameters and performing forecasting on the data to determine future usage rates and capacity information, for example. The clustering and forecasting results may be fed to a rules engine and/or an optimization engine, which may then determine appropriate actions to take on the network (e.g., changes to various nodes in terms of technology and/or number of nodes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jignesh Patel, Ted Boone, Richard Brown, Kyle Cooper, Derek Bantug
  • Publication number: 20210288742
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to a first circulator. The method may also comprise combining, by the WDM, the second optical data signal and one or more third signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal to an optical switch. The method may also comprise outputting, by the optical switch, the egress optical data signal on a primary fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Harjinder S. Ghuman
  • Publication number: 20210289272
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical datasignals. A method may be disclosed. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to a first circulator. The method may also comprise combining, by the WDM, the second optical data signal and one or more third signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal to an optical switch. The method may also comprise outputting, by the optical switch, the egress optical data signal on a primary fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Harjinder S. Ghuman
  • Patent number: 11108592
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11082140
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for an improved communication network. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving, at a first device, a first signal over a first medium, the signal comprising a first portion and a second portion, and extracting by a processor a third portion of the first signal, the third portion being at least a portion of the first portion of the first signal, the third portion being intended for receipt by a second device associated with a particular user account. The method may further include combining at least a fifth portion of the first signal with the third portion of the first signal to generate a second signal, the fifth portion of the first signal being at least a portion of the second portion of the first signal and providing the second signal to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11075472
    Abstract: In various embodiment, the disclosed systems, methods and apparatuses are directed to active taps. In particular, the disclosure is directed to providing an input port of a device to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal; providing a plurality of output ports of the device to transmit second RF signals based on the first RF signal; coupling a bidirectional amplifier to the input port and at least a portion of the plurality of output ports; and modifying, using the bidirectional amplifier, the magnitude of at least the first RF signal. Further, a controller may be coupled to the cable modem; further the controller may be used to control the bidirectional amplifier or operate, based on instructions received from the cable modem, relays associated with the plurality of output ports of the active tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11063685
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed for multiplexing one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to one or more wave division multiplexer (WDM). The method may comprise combining, by the one or more WDM, the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal comprising the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Harjinder S. Ghuman, Christopher L. Palmquist, David Job, Robert Kuse
  • Publication number: 20210181421
    Abstract: A modular optical tap device as described herein may include a coupler comprising an input configured to be connected to an upstream portion of a network and a first output configured to be connected to a downstream portion of the network. The optical tap device may also include a splitter with an input configured to be connected to a second output of the coupler and one or more outputs configured to be connected to one or more customer devices, wherein the coupler and splitter are modular components in the optical tap device and are configured to be replaced with a second coupler and a second splitter based on a number of customer devices associated with the optical tap device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 11012184
    Abstract: Technologies are directed to active taps and distributed gain architectures in a cable network. In some embodiments, an active tap includes multiple ports, where at least one of the multiple ports can receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a customer premises equipment (CPE) and/or can transmit RF signals to the CPE. The active tap also can include a switch module and a controller device functionally coupled to the switch module. The controller device can monitor one or several performance metrics defining respective signal attributed. The controller device also can control the operation of the tap device based on a magnitude of a performance metric. The active tap also includes a cable modem that can report magnitudes of performance metric(s) to a network device or a user device. A distributed gain architecture can include any combination of passive taps and active taps functionally coupled to a fiber node in the cable network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein