Abstract: The invention relates to a method for encoding/decoding a video stream including a plurality of images (A, B, C) in a video processing apparatus having a processing unit (11) coupled to a first memory (12), further comprising a second memory (13), comprising the steps: providing a subset of image data stored in the second memory (13) in the first memory (12), —simultaneous encoding/decoding of more than one image (B, C) of the video stream, by accessing said subset, wherein the simultaneously encoding/decoding is performed by access sharing to at least one image (A).

Abstract: A method includes appending a preamble to a data packet and transmitting the preamble and data packet over a communication channel in the network. The preamble may be a Beacon, Admission, Broadcast, or High-Throughput Preamble. The Beacon Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CEBeacon, CEBeacon. The Admission Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The Broadcast Preamble includes the following symbols LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The high-throughput preamble includes the following symbols CP0, CE. The SS symbol includes 64 bits, the LS1, LS2, and CP0 symbols include 192 bits, the CE symbol includes 512 bits, and the CEBeacon symbol is a subset of CE.

Abstract: A media server located in the home has video processing and storage capability. The media server receives video programming and control data from the cable plant head-end and receives status and control data from set top boxes (STBs). The media server can also receive locally generated video programming. The media server transmits signals that implement head-end functions to set top boxes within the home, including video programming and control data. The media server receives status data from the STBs. A point of entry distribution device provides signal coupling and blocking to allow signals to propagate within the home and to the head-end but block certain signals from leaving the home to maintain isolation. The server communicates to legacy STBs and to new STBs and devices that do not use the legacy waveform. Legacy STBs can communicate with the server or with the cable head-end. New devices can communicate with the server and with each other over the in-home coaxial cable wiring.

Abstract: A communications system and method comprises the steps of performing at least one Layer 2 transaction comprising a plurality of wave cycles, each Layer 2 transaction including performing a first wave cycle, concatenating the received first responses from each of the one or more nodes, and performing a second wave cycle. The first wave cycle includes broadcasting a first request from a network coordinator to a plurality of nodes connected to a coordinated network, and receiving a first response from one or more of the nodes indicating that the nodes have opted to participate in a next subsequent wave cycle. The second wave cycle includes transmitting a subsequent request from the network coordinator to each of the one or more nodes based upon the concatenated first responses.

Abstract: A broadband tuner includes a tracking filter with calibration to compensate for component errors and drift. The filters use off-die inductors that are preferably within a system-in-package (SIP) with other critical tuner components, which produces a highly integrated tuner front end with high Q filters within a single package. High voltage varactors with a large tuning range can be used for variable capacitors. The integration of the tuner into a SIP allows the tuner design to be optimized for cost and performance while keeping the critical RF layout requirements within the tuner. A configurable tuner front end enables modes for low noise, high linearity, good input return loss (S11) across the entire RF band, and applying a test tone in the calibration mode. The switchable mode enables the tuner to be effective during weak terrestrial reception, strong terrestrial reception, and connection to a cable plant.

Abstract: A BCN network with BCN modems that communicate using predefined messages to establish, optimize and facilitate data communication.

Abstract: A method of reducing resource overhead attributed to preambles in a communication system includes transmitting, at a transmitter, one or more signals including a first packet. The first packet is transmitted in a first time-frequency grant including a first set of one or more subcarriers. The first packet includes a full preamble including reference signal information for determining a total channel estimate for every subcarrier to be used in transmission of the first packet. A second packet is transmitted in a second time-frequency grant including a second set of one or more subcarriers without a full preamble when a receiver configured to communicate with the transmitter can determine a phase offset between the transmitter and the receiver from the signals received at the receiver.

Abstract: An efficient algorithm is described for use with OFDM receivers that characterizes the impulse response of a communication channel using frequency domain techniques that reduce computational and memory requirements, relative to time-domain cross-correlation methods, without sacrificing algorithm performance. An FFT engine is used to transform a time domain input sequence, the transformed sequence is multiplied by the conjugate of the expected sequence, the product of several sequences is averaged, then the FFT engine transforms the average back to a time domain sequence, the magnitude of which is the impulse response of the channel.

Abstract: In an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) communication network, a node transmits an echo profile probe to other nodes in the network. The echo profile probe is a message that allows characterization of the unique echo profile through the communication channel between each node pair. The echo profile is used to calculate the cyclic prefix length needed for optimum communication from one node to the other.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for pausing and shaping data flow while supporting both parameterized and prioritized Quality of Service are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for pausing and shaping data flow comprises an input buffer, a first pause controller coupled to the input buffer and an output buffer for flow control messages. Various embodiments also include a hop-1 buffer coupled to the input buffer and a hop-2 buffer comprising a plurality of queues coupled to the hop-1 buffer. Additionally, in some embodiments, a second pause controller is coupled to the queues. The second pause controller selects a queue or queues that will cause a pause to be generated based on a predetermined condition. A two-hop process controller controls the data packet flow from the input buffer to the hop-1 buffer and from the hop-1 buffer to the hop-2 queues based on packet classification.

Abstract: A system is described that consists of a variable modulation unicast system that utilizes multiple modulation schemes in a cable network for unicast applications and is capable of assigning users to different channels of differing modulation schemes in the network based on a feedback signal received in response to a transmitted probe signal. The system may also, in response to the feedback signal from a remote device in the network, assign a channel from a plurality of channels having differing carrier frequencies and modulation schemes to the remote device and may also modify the carrier frequencies of the channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capacitive voltage division are provided, an example apparatus having an input and an output and including a first switched capacitor circuit. In some embodiments, the capacitive voltage divider includes first and second MOSFETs. A first capacitor is coupled between the drain of the first MOSFET and the input to the capacitive voltage divider. A first circuit coupled to the drain of the first MOSFET is configured to pull down the drain of the first MOSFET and thus apply a reverse bias to a first junction diode internal to the first MOSFET between the drain and the bulk of the first MOSFET. A second capacitor is coupled between the source of the first MOSFET and the drain of the second MOSFET. A second circuit is configured to reverse bias a second junction diode between the drain and bulk of the second MOSFET.

Abstract: A node forms a network by scanning for an existing network. If an existing network is not found, the node operates as a network controller node of the first network and admits at least one client node to the first network. As a network controller node, the node designates one of the client nodes as a scout node. The scout node removes itself from the first network and scans for a second network. If the scout node does not return to the first network after a predetermined time, it is assumed that the scout node has found a second network. The network controller node of the first network then designates the remaining client nodes as scout nodes, and then joins the second network as a client node. Therefore, multiple networks are avoided.

Abstract: Several local IEEE1394 buses are bridged together over a second bus type to create a global bus wherein each local bus node is able to address nodes across the global bus without the local nodes being aware of the bridging operation. A bridging device operates by translating local bus node addresses to a global bus for communication over the second bus type. Alternatively, the local bus node identification process is controlled by the bridging device operating as the root node to cause the local nodes to be identified with a node address that is unique for the global network. The second bus type operates as a backbone for the global network and can be any type of communication bus or network with capability to transport the local bus traffic. The bridging devices that interface the local IEEE1394 buses to the backbone contain portals specific to each bus type that can communicate data between the dissimilar buses.

Abstract: A broadband cable network (“BCN”) for determining a common bit-loading modulation scheme for communicating between a plurality of nodes in the BCN is disclosed. The BCN may include a transmitting node within the plurality of nodes where the transmitting node is capable of sending a probe signal to the plurality of nodes, and at least one receiving node within the plurality of nodes in signal communication with the transmitting node. The at least one receiving node is capable of transmitting a first response signal in response to receiving the probe signal. The first response signal includes a first bit-loading modulation scheme determined by the at least one receiving node. The transmitting node is further capable of determining the common bit-loading modulation scheme from the first response signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network node includes a lookup table configured to store one or more of the following frequency domain bit sequences: i) x010101000110xxxxxxx011000000000; ii) x1011000111000000011011110xxxxxxxxxxxxx0110111001101001010111010; iii) x0011011011111010011101111xxxxxxxxxxxxx0111010010111110000000101; iv) x000000011000100110100100xxxxxxxxxxxxx1011011110000110101011100; and v) x1000010000110111100000110xxxxxxxxxxxxx1100110011101101111110110. The node includes a processing channel configured to generate a preamble including at least one of the frequency domain bit sequences, and a transmitter configured to transmit the preamble and a data packet over a communication channel.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a predetermined length of information, the information including a first MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) being of variable length and including at least one Sub-MPDU; independently decoding the first Sub-MPDU and a plurality of additional portions of the received information, each portion having a length equal to the length of one Sub-MPDU; processing data from the first Sub-MPDU; and determining from the processed data how many of the other decoded portions constitute Sub-MPDUs of the received MPDU.

Abstract: Multiple channels of received data are processed by a multiple channel demodulation and error correction decoding engine. The statistical uncertainty of processing channels with an iterative decoder are averaged across all the channels to reduce the total processing power required of the decoding engine compared to processing each channel with a separate engine. A set of input buffers holds blocks of data for each channel needing decoding. A quality measure is computed on each input block to set the priority and iteration allocation of decoding in the common decoder. The input RF signal is digitized by a broadband tuner that processes some or all of the channels to feed the multiple channel demodulator and decoder. Multiple decoded video data streams are output.

Abstract: A receiver for a multi-channel system such as a HDMI system is presented. In accordance with the present invention, the receiver receives one of the plurality of channels and includes an analog portion, a digital-to-analog converter, and a digital control block that provides digital control signals to the analog portion. Equalization can be accomplished partially or wholly in the analog domain and digitally controlled by a digital control loop. A digital equalizer can also be included. A decision feedback equalizer can be implemented that sums an analog output signal into the analog data stream. Timing recovery can be accomplished by digital control of a phase interpolator or delay locked loop that receives a plurality of phases from a timing circuit coupled to receive a clock signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving packets from a node within a first network in accordance with a first protocol. A descriptor associated with each received packet is read by a direct memory access (DMA) controller that stores the received packet. A value for a controllable parameter is selected to efficiently communicate the content of the received packet over a second network that operates in accordance with a second protocol. The information in the received packet is then organized into newly formed packets, the size of which makes them efficient for communication over the network in the second protocol. The newly formed packets are stored in a transmit line buffer and associated with a Protocol Descriptor. The Protocol Descriptor provides information to a transmit controller to allow the transmit controller to select and aggregate packets from the transmit line buffer in order to make efficient use of the second protocol.