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: Optimizing a performance of a software function withing a content distribution 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 within the content distribution network for the software function 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: 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.

Abstract: Preventing RF signal distortion and signal error producing memory events in a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA). An element, disposed prior to the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA) in a signal path of a RF signal input to the RFPA, may enforce a maximum allowable amplitude in a high PAPR instantaneous high peak of the RF signal. An element may also increase or supplement a bias of the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA) when a high PAPR instantaneous high peak is detected in the RF signal prior to receipt by the RFPA. Additionally, a first element operable detects when an instantaneous output voltage of the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA) is below a predetermined voltage, and in response, a second element supplies additional current to prevent the output voltage of the RFPA from falling below a predetermined threshold voltage.

Abstract: Performing distributed Remote PHY scheduling operations. A low latency scheduler is disposed within or in proximity to a Remote PHY node. Upon identifying that a particular data flow qualifies for processing by the low latency scheduler, the low latency scheduler performs upstream Remote PHY scheduling operations for the particular data flow using a one or more dedicated channels that are designated as low latency channels. The Remote PHY upstream scheduling operations define when data may be transmitted by a Cable Modem (CM) to a Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) Core. A centralized scheduler is also located at the CCAP Core. The centralized scheduler performs Remote PHY upstream scheduling operations for all data flows which have not been identified as qualifying for processing by the low latency scheduler.

Abstract: Determining a bit rate at which to deliver a packet stream over a network link. An origin device transmits over the network link unsolicited data packets to a destination device while contemporaneously transmitting over the network link a first packet stream encoded at an initial bit rate to the destination device. The origin device may be, but need not be, a content delivery network (CDN) edge node and the destination device may be, but need not be, a cable modem (CM). The origin device determines whether the network link supports delivering a second packet stream in lieu of the first packet stream encoded at a higher bit rate based, at least in part, on an amount of retransmission requests the origin device receives for packets in the first packet stream from the destination device.

Abstract: Recovering a hardware component, such as a Remote MACPHY node (RMN), a wireless base station, a CATV amplifier, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a microcell, or a PON switch, after a power interruption. A hardware component, upon detecting that input power to the R-PHY device will be imminently interrupted, provides an alarm signal to a central processing unit (CPU) in the R-PHY device. The CPU, in response to receiving the alarm, stores running parameter data for the R-PHY device in a non-volatile memory. The running parameter data is normally obtained through network communications during a boot operation of the R-PHY device. If certain conditions are satisfied, then the R-PHY device recovers from the interruption in input power using the stored running parameter data without obtaining the running parameter data through a normal boot operation, thus shortening the boot time.

Abstract: Exchanging encrypted packet payloads between a cable headend and a Remote MACPHY device. A single device executes a cable modem termination system (CMTS) implemented in software and not hardware. The software-implemented CMTS (i.e., a virtual CMTS) instantiates a tunnel to the Remote MACPHY device. The virtual CMTS encrypts the payloads of one or more packets and transmits those packets over the tunnel to the Remote MACPHY device. In similar fashion, the Remote MACPHY device may send packets with encrypted payloads to the virtual CMTS over the tunnel. In this way, encryption is not performed on a hop by hop basis, thereby allowing the payloads of packets to remain encrypted at all times during transmit through the tunnel.

Abstract: Approaches for dynamically allocating 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 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: Supporting a scalable and Highly Available (HA) virtual Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS). A software component receives, from the vCMTS, an update about a particular cable modem (CM) or customer premises equipment (CPE). The update may be sent in response to the particular CM or CPE becoming online or offline. In response to receiving the update, the software component provides, to at least one edge router, route data for the particular CM or CPE. The route data informs the edge router of a next hop network address for a network address of the particular CM or CPE. The edge router is not and need not be provided with either (a) any Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) data for the particular CM or CPE and (b) any Neighbor Discovery (ND) data for the particular CM or CPE.

Abstract: Assigning an appropriate modulation profile for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channel. The current modulation profile assigned to a specific OFDM modem for communicating over a specific OFDM channel is examined to determine whether to consider reassigning the specific OFDM modem to a different modulation profile. Only upon determining consideration should be given, an assessment is made as to which modulation profile, of a set of candidate modulation profiles available to that OFDM modem for communicating over the specific OFDM channel, should be assigned to the specific OFDM modem using linear domain averaging over the OFDM subcarriers of the ratios between a Mean Error Rate (MER) threshold per subcarrier for the specific OFDM modem and the MER reported by the specific OFDM modem per subcarrier. A new modulation profile is assigned to the specific modem based on the assessment.

Abstract: A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) providing high speed data services to one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). The CMTS executes entirely upon a plurality of protection groups. Each of the plurality of protection groups consists of a plurality of pods. A dynamic adjustment may be made as to which pods in a particular protection group are active. The dynamic adjustment is made response to determining that a particular protection group is experiencing a failure. This determination may be made by a high availability agent executing within a pod, of the particular protection group, that is experiencing the failure. Software associated with supporting a particular service group of the CMTS may be upgraded without upgrading the software associated with supporting the remainder of the plurality of service groups serviced by the CMTS.

Abstract: A Remote PHY (R-PHY) node having a specialized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A R-PHY node comprises a coaxial cable input, one or more Remote PHY (R-PHY) devices, a node power supply designed to supply an entirety of the R-PHY node with power continuously while there is Quasi Square Wave (QSW) AC power supplied to the R-PHY node over the coaxial cable input, and an UPS for supplying power to either the entirety of the R-PHY node or a set of the one or more R-PHY devices when the R-PHY node is not supplied QSW power over the coaxial cable input. The internal UPS adjusts how power is supplied in response to determining that a configurable amount of time has passed since the interruption in QSW power to the R-PHY node.

Abstract: A directional coupler having coupling variability at separate portions of an operational frequency band. A frequency selective coupler comprises an input port, an output port, a coupled port, a termination port, a first RF filter coupled to the coupled port, and a second RF filter coupled to the termination port. The first and second RF filters yield a first coupling value at a first portion of the operational frequency band of the coupler and a second coupling value at a second portion of the operational frequency band. The first portion of the band corresponds to a range of frequencies at which higher coupling for the coupler is desired and greater loss in the signal is tolerable. The second portion of the band corresponds to a range of frequencies at which lower coupling for the coupler is tolerable and lower loss in the signal is desirable.

Abstract: Propagating a leakage test signal at a frequency receivable by traditional leakage test systems while supporting enhanced upstream peak data rates. At an input of an amplifier of a device, a portion of the leakage test signal is tapped to create a tapped signal, which comprises both the leakage test signal and all other downstream signals and channels sent from a head-end to a set of customer premises equipment (CPE) via the device. The tapped signal is introduced to a filter that passes the leakage test signal and attenuates all other radio frequency (RF) signals to create a filtered leakage test signal. The filtered leakage test 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 HFC plant receivable by a traditional leakage test system. The device may be a high-split RF amplifier or a high-split node.

Abstract: Increasing an analog to digital converter (ADC) dynamic range for a communications device. In the communications device, a reference threshold is established for a peak to average power ratio (PAPR) improvement factor for RF signals received by the communications device. A digital to analog converter (DAC) adjustment factor is established for a DAC to account for inaccuracies of a pre-cancellation DAC and fine tuning of an analog gain of received RF signals. A peak amplitude separation element evaluates an absolute value of a portion of a particular RF signal against the reference threshold. Upon the peak amplitude separation element determining that the portion is smaller than the reference threshold, the element assigns a zero value to a DAC signal current sample; otherwise, the element assigns a quantized value of the sample to the DAC signal current sample, used in adjusting a post-cancellation signal sample.

Abstract: Approaches for performing all DOCSIS downstream and upstream data forwarding functions using executable software. DOCSIS data forwarding functions may be performed by classifying one or more packets, of a plurality of received packets, to a particular DOCSIS system component, and then processing the one or more packets classified to the same DOCSIS system component on a single CPU core. The one or more packets may be forwarded between a sequence of one or more software stages. The software stages may each be configured to execute on separate logical cores or on a single logical core.

Abstract: Creating a customized channel of content. A cloud infrastructure receives digital content, such as television show, advertisement, and the like, transmitted over an Internet Protocol (IP) network from a local broadcaster or channel owner. A plurality of formatted versions of the digital content is stored in a content repository in the cloud infrastructure. Each of the plurality of formatted versions differs from the others based on one or more of: an encoded bit rate, resolution, and frame rate; each of the plurality of formatted versions are aligned at a same fragment boundary. A manifest manipulator, deployed in the cloud infrastructure, creates the customized channel by selecting a particular sequence of fragments stored in the content repository and transmitting the particular sequence of fragments on the customized channel. The customized channel may be transmitted via a plurality of different propagation mediums.

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). A combination of the core routing engine (CRE) and the one or more physical or virtual compute servers (CS) emulate a single Layer 3 CMTS having a single point of management.

Abstract: Playing out digital video with 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 a customized appearance of one or more graphics to be incorporated into a presentation of particular digital video. The markup language document may be an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document or a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) document. The media server plays out the particular digital video with the one or more graphics 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 used in playing out the particular digital video without re-encoding the one or more audio streams.