Abstract: Extending the operational lifespan of a supercapacitor. A device, deployable in temperatures reaching or extending outside a nominal industrial temperature range, comprises a power supply, backup power supply, and thermoelectric cooler control module. The backup power supply comprises one or more supercapacitors, one or more temperature sensors, and one or more thermoelectric coolers (TECs). The control module instructs the TECs to regulate operation of removing heat from the supercapacitors based upon temperature data received from the temperature sensors. An insulated enclosure may enclose the supercapacitors, temperature sensors, TECs, and optionally the thermoelectric cooler control module to further prevent the supercapacitors from overheating. The thermoelectric cooler control module may change the rate at which the temperature of the supercapacitors is reduced in response to detecting a change in temperature difference between the external environment and the supercapacitors.

Abstract: Cable television (CATV) equipment having a specialized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). The CATV equipment comprises a coaxial cable power input, one or more Remote PHY (R-PHY) devices, a main power supply designed to supply an entirety of the CATV equipment with power continuously while there is AC power supplied to the CATV equipment over the coaxial cable power input, and an internal UPS for supplying power to either the entirety of the CATV equipment or a set of subcomponents thereof when the CATV equipment is not supplied power over the coaxial cable power input. An energy storage element of the internal UPS includes one or more capacitors but not a battery. The internal UPS adjusts how power is supplied in response to determining that a configurable amount of time has passed since the interruption in power to the CATV equipment.

Abstract: Encoding a digital video using a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) operation. Advantageously, digital video may be encoded in a manner that conserves computational resources. A software encoder searches a decision tree in a random forest in furtherance of encoding of the digital video by causing a physical hardware component to perform a single operation on multiple data operands concurrently. The single operation may be a comparison of two or more thresholds of a single feature of a single frame, or a portion thereof, of the digital video. The decision tree may be arranged to position comparisons involving a single feature near the root of the decision tree.

Abstract: Approaches for a virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) for providing high speed data services to a remote physical device (RPD). The virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) comprises a core routing engine (CRE) for performing packet switching and routing and one or more physical or virtual compute servers (CS) that each perform CMTS functions for the one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). Ethernet links are established between the core routing engine (CRE) and the one or more physical or virtual core servers (CSs), wherein one or more of: (a) a Virtual LAN (VLAN) and (b) a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Transport Stream tunnel are employed on the Ethernet links, and wherein the VLAN or the MPLS tunnel encapsulates traffic for IP hosts within a single CMTS cable bundle.

Abstract: Optimizing a performance of a software function within a content delivery network, such as a software-implemented virtual cable modem termination system (CMTS) network, a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN), a Passive Optical Network (PON), or a Wi-Fi network. The performance may be optimized by dynamically changing a deployment location of a software function for a set of one or more users but not all users of a content delivery network from an original location to an updated location using an instance management platform. The deployment location may be dynamically changing in response to a variety of trigger conditions or concerns, such as but not limited to a difference in compute resources, responding to latency needs or tolerances, and a desired cohabitation of data or other software.

Abstract: Assigning a program clock reference (PCR) value to a PCR packet. A theoretical input time and a theoretical output time is determined for a PCR packet received by a Remote PHY device (RPD) or a Remote MACPHY Device (RMD). A corrected PCR value is assigned to the PCR packet, based at least in part, on the theoretical output time and the theoretical output time. Then, the PCR packet having the corrected PCR value is transmitted to customer premises equipment (CPE) in a Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP). Assigning a corrected PCR value to the PCR packet may be performed without learning an encoding rate associated with a program to which the PCR value is assigned.

Abstract: Approaches for a virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) for providing high speed data services to a remote physical device (RPD). The virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) comprises a core routing engine (CRE) for performing packet switching and routing and one or more physical or virtual compute servers (CS) that each perform CMTS functions for the one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Transport Stream tunnels are employed on Ethernet links between the core routing engine (CRE) and the one or more core servers (CSs).

Abstract: Approaches for dynamically allocating compute capacity for processing a video stream. Video complexity information for two or more digital video streams actively being processed by one or more video encoders is determined at periodic intervals. Video complexity information describes the complexity of digital video carried by the digital video streams across a bounded number of consecutive digital frames which includes digital frames not yet processed by the one or more video encoders. A determination is made as to whether the compute capacity allocated for processing a particular digital video stream should be adjusted in some manner based on the determined video complexity information. The amount of compute capacity allocated for processing the particular digital video stream may be dynamically adjusted in response to maximizing a measure of optimal video quality calculated for the two or more digital video streams using, at least in part, the determined video complexity information.

Abstract: Providing digital video having customized graphics whose appearance and operation are specified by a graphics template expressed using one or more web-based protocols. One or more software modules, executing on a media server, identify, for a particular digital video, a markup language document which describes or identifies a customized appearance of one or more graphics to be incorporated into a presentation of particular digital video and shown to an identified audience. The markup language document may be an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document or a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) document. The media server streams the particular digital video having the one or more graphics to a member of the identified audience in accordance with the markup language document. An HTML rendering engine, executing on the media server, may pass through one or more audio streams to be incorporated into an output stream without re-encoding the one or more audio streams.

Abstract: Supporting a scalable and Highly Available (HA) service platform. The service platform may be a virtual Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS), a Passive Optical Network (PON), or a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG). A software component receives, from the service platform, an update about a particular unit of equipment, such as a cable modem (CM), Optical Network Unit (ONU)/Optical Network Terminal (ONT), or customer premises equipment (CPE). In response to receiving the update, the software component provides, to at least one edge router, route data for the particular unit of equipment. The route data informs the edge router of a next hop network address for a network address of the unit of equipment. The edge router is not and need not be provided with either (a) any Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) data for the particular unit of equipment and (b) any Neighbor Discovery (ND) data for the particular unit of equipment.

Abstract: Ensuring the high availability of a Passive Optical Network (PON). A broadband network architecture comprises (a) at least a portion of optical fiber in a communication path to individual subscriber premises, (b) one or more software-implemented Optical Line Terminal (OLT) Controllers, (c) one or more software-implemented Service Provisioning Applications (SPAs), and (d) one or more software-implemented Broadband Network Gateways (BNGs). Each of the one or more OLT Controllers, one or more SPAs, and one or more BNGs execute on Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) computer systems and entirely upon a plurality of protection groups. Each of the plurality of protection groups consists of a plurality of pods. The pods in a particular protection group which are active are dynamically adjusted to ensure the high availability of the broadband network architecture.

Abstract: A single hardware device (“unified NDR core”) that supports a narrowband digital return (NDR) channel for a plurality of remote PHY devices. The unified NDR core may be located within a cable headend. The unified NDR core comprises a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which converts digital payloads carried by digital packets received from the plurality of Remote PHY devices into a RF signal. The unified NDR core further comprises a transmitter for sending the RF signal to an Out-of-Band (OOB) Termination System. The unified NDR core supports a plurality of narrowband digital return (NDR) channels for the plurality of remote PHY devices.

Abstract: Approaches for bracket for strand mounted equipment. The bracket comprises a body having a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The first end comprises one or more resting hooks sized to be positioned over a strand. The resting hooks allow for resting the strand mounted equipment temporarily onto the strand in a position that readily accommodates the permanent attachment of the strand mounted equipment to the strand. The first end of the bracket also comprises a clamp for securing the bracket to the strand, while the second end comprises a securing mechanism for securing the bracket to the strand mounted equipment. The bracket may be formed from a single piece of shaped metal. The strand mounted equipment may be a variety of equipment, such as CATV outdoor equipment and Internet access equipment.

Abstract: Approaches for a virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) for providing high speed data services to a remote physical device (RPD). The virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) comprises a core routing engine (CRE) for performing packet switching and routing and one or more physical or virtual compute servers (CS) that each perform CMTS functions for the one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). Each physical or virtual compute server (CS) connects to the core routing engine (CRE) with a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) of two or more Ethernet links.

Abstract: Detecting an imminent failure of a power supply. An internal computerized component periodically reads a set of measurements from one or more sensors affixed to a power supply. The internal computerized component and power supply may reside in a variety of different technical contexts. The internal computerized component analyzes the set of measurements using, at least in part, a weighted set of factors, to detect the imminent failure in the power supply. The weighted set of factors may be updated or revised over time and may be specifically tailored for use with specific types of power supplies.

Abstract: Recovering or restarting an execution instance. In response to detecting that a particular execution instance, in which a cable modem termination system (CMTS) software application, an optical line terminal (OLT) software application, and/or broadband network gateway (BNG) software application has failed, restarting the execution instance without adding any downstream service flow classifiers to the instance or configuring any entries of an access control list for the instance. After restarting the execution instance, over time adjusting the configuration of the instance to add one or more downstream service flow classifiers or access control list entries such that the instance can provide additional services, beyond a default service flow, to cable modems or optical network units. Support for voice calls may be initially added to the execution instance upon startup.

Abstract: A multi-tenant application that provides high speed data services to one or more subscriber devices. The multi-tenant application comprises one or more first servers that each perform packet switching and routing and one or more second servers that each perform FCAPS functions for the one or more subscriber devices. FCAPS functions comprise fault operations, configuration operations, accounting operations, performance operations, and security operations. Each of the one or more first and second servers are implemented entirely within an application-specific logical host composed of one or more application containers. The one or more second servers may optionally each further perform network functions and user plane functions for the one or more subscriber devices. The one or more second servers may optionally each further perform OLT control functions and OLT MAC/PHY functions for the one or more subscriber devices.

Abstract: Performing a constant time cyclic redundancy check (CRC) over an entire packet to obtain a constant time CRC value. A first CRC is performed on an original header of the packet and a second CRC is performed on a modified header of the packet. The size of the payload of the packet is obtained. An XOR operation is performed on the results of the first and second CRC to calculate a third result. An intermediate CRC value is obtained by performing a CRC on a number of zero values corresponding to the size of the payload using the third result as an initial value. The intermediate CRC value may be employed with other packets having a same size and same header as the packet. The constant time CRC value is obtained by performing an XOR operation on the intermediate CRC value and the original CRC value contained in the packet.

Abstract: Dynamically allocating virtual or physical CPU cycles for use in processing a video stream. Video complexity information for two or more digital video streams actively being processed by one or more video encoders is determined at periodic intervals. Video complexity information describes the complexity of digital video carried by the digital video streams across a bounded number of consecutive digital frames which includes digital frames not yet processed by the one or more video encoders. A determination is made as to whether a number of CPU cycles allocated for processing a particular digital video stream should be adjusted based on the determined video complexity information. The number of CPU cycles allocated for processing the particular digital video stream may be dynamically adjusted by changing an amount of CPU cycles allocated to a virtual machine in which the stream is processed or by processing the stream in a different virtual machine.

Abstract: Propagating a downstream (DS) Out-of-Band (OOB) signal at a frequency receivable by a set of legacy set-top boxes (STBs) while supporting enhanced upstream peak data rates. At an input of an amplifier of a physical device, a portion of the DS-OOB signal is tapped to create a tapped DS-OOB signal, which comprises both the DS-OOB signal and all other downstream signals and channels sent from a head-end to a set of customer premises equipment (CPE) via the physical device. The tapped DS-OOB signal is introduced to a band-pass filter that passes the DS-OOB signal and attenuates all other radio frequency (RF) signals to create a filtered DS-OOB signal. The filtered DS-OOB signal is amplified and coupled to a low-pass side of a high-split diplex filter to propagate onto a transmission medium coupled to the CPE. The physical device may be a high-split RF amplifier or a high-split node.