Abstract: Approaches for bracket for strand mounted CATV outdoor 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 CATV outdoor equipment temporarily onto the strand in a position that readily accommodates the permanent attachment of the CATV outdoor 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 CATV outdoor equipment. The bracket may be formed from a single piece of shaped metal.

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: Approaches for, and articles of manufacturer that embody, dynamic assignment of a MAC address. A remote PHY node may comprise a non-volatile memory and a network element that comprises a CPU. For example, the network element may be a remote PHY device, an Ethernet switch, a Remote MACPHY Device (RMD), a Passive Optical Network (PON) Optical Line Terminal (OLT), a Passive Optical Network (PON) Optical Network Unit (ONU), or a Wi-Fi hot spot router. A communication link exists between the CPU of the network element and the non-volatile memory of the remote PHY node. A module on the network element causes the network element to retrieve, across the communication link, a MAC address from the non-volatile memory of the remote PHY node and adopt the MAC address to identify itself any time that the network element reboots.

Abstract: A scheduler of computer processes. The scheduler obtains predictions of a computing load of at least one multimedia process comprising real time video encoding or transcoding of a video in real time, including predictions of a target index of video quality to deliver the video over a period of time. Predictions of available computing capacities of a cluster are also retrieved. A determination is made, based on the predictions of the computing load and the predictions of the available computing capacities, of a processing capability to allocate the at least one multimedia process during the period of time. At least one virtual environment is created for the at least one multimedia process. The computing capacity of the at least one virtual environment is adapted to the predictions of the computing load of the at least one multimedia process during the period of time.

Abstract: Approaches for generating dynamic over-the-top (OTT) adjustable bit rate (ABR) representations of a video with a variable resolution and/or frame rate using on-the-fly (OTF) transcoding and assistance metadata. At an encoder located at a head-end, the encoder encodes a video stream at an initial bit rate and produces optimum representation (OpRep) metadata, which describes an optimum presentation for the video stream for each of a plurality of bit rates or the minimum bitrate below which a presentation becomes sub-optimal. The head-end transmits the encoded video stream and the OpRep metadata to a transcoder of a Content Delivery Network (CDN). The transcoder at the CDN uses the OpRep metadata to dynamically transcode the video stream in a preferred picture resolution and a preferred frame rate at a different bit rate than the initial bit rate using the OpRep metadata.

Abstract: Determining when to provide a Proactive Grant Service (PGS) scheduling grant. A plurality of PGS grants are issued to a cable modem (CM). The PGS grants that were utilized by the CM are monitored as well as those PGS grants that were not utilized by the CM. A compromise PGS grants pattern for that CM is generated based on the observations of which PGS grants the CM utilized and which PGS grants the CM did not utilize. The compromise PGS grants pattern for that CM optimizes a projected experienced latency and jitter for particular data flows of the CM verses a projected wasted upstream capacity.

Abstract: Estimating a lifespan of a power supply. An internal computerized component periodically obtains a set of measurements read from one or more sensors affixed to a power supply. Such measurements may measure ambient temperature, temperature of an electrolytic capacitor of a power supply, voltage across a power supply, and/or current from the power supply. The internal computerized component analyzes the set of measurements using, at least in part, a weighted set of factors, to obtain an estimate of a lifespan of a power supply. The estimated lifespan may be sent over an optical link or wireless network to an entity monitoring the lifespan of the power supply.

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 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: 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, disposed within the communications device, 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: Delivering a transport stream using a hybrid statistical multiplexer. Over a plurality of multiplexing cycles, a plurality of single program transport streams (SPTSs) are multiplexed onto a multiple program transport stream (MPTS). In each multiplexing cycle, it is determined whether any portion of the packets carried by the plurality of SPTSs may be delayed such that the delayed portion is multiplexed onto the MPTS in a future multiplexing cycle. For each multiplexing cycle, delay information that identifies how many packets were delayed is determined. The size of the bit rate pool for a subsequent allocation cycle is adjusted based on the delay information for a prior multiplexing cycle. Thereafter, the MPTS is delivered to one or more recipients.

Abstract: A virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) that provides high speed data services to one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). The CMTS comprises one or more first servers that each perform packet switching and routing as well as one or more second servers that each perform CMTS functions for the one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). Each of the one or more first servers and each of the one or more second servers are each implemented entirely on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Further, the CMTS functions comprise telemetry, displaying and supporting a dashboard that depicts historical events that occurred or ongoing events presently occurring at the virtualized CMTS, dynamic instantiation and deinstantiation of virtual machines in which software processes implementing the CMTS functions execute in proportion to demand at the virtual CMTS, logging, and analytics.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and kits for collecting health measurement data and processing the health measurement data to generate alerts and modify patient treatment plans. An example system can be configured to (i) receive data defining a plurality of health sensors; and (ii) generate, based on the data, application logic configured to cause, in response to one user input, a user device to: (a) couple to the plurality of health sensors, thereby establishing communication between the user device and each of the plurality of health sensors, and (b) provide instructions to a user of the user device through an interface of the user device. The instructions can comprise instructions for taking health measurements using the plurality of health sensors.

Abstract: Roughly described, a system and method for delivering video content to a user's client device in a video-on-demand (VOD) system, which includes providing a collection of video segments, the segments having a predefined default sequence; establishing a streaming video session according to a session-oriented protocol; transmitting toward the client device a script executable by the client device, the script operable to transmit navigational codes toward the head-end equipment in response to and indicating user selection among navigational choices; beginning transmission of the video segments in the collection toward the client device in accordance with the default sequence of segments; and in response to receipt of one of the navigational codes, and without tearing down the streaming video session, altering the transmission sequence to jump to the segment that the user selected.

Abstract: Increasing a dynamic range of a digital to analog converter (DAC). A signal analysis element is positioned prior to the DAC in a processing path. The element evaluates an instantaneous amplitude of a signal to be applied to the DAC. The DAC is capable of a first full scale value. An additional current source supports a second full scale value of the DAC, which is greater than the first full scale value. Upon the element determining that a condition is not satisfied, the element employs current steering to couple the additional current source to a current sink. However, upon the element determining that the condition is satisfied, the element employs current steering to couple the additional current source to an output of the DAC to support the second full scale value of the DAC.

Abstract: Dynamically adjusting upstream and/or downstream spectrum usage by a Remote PHY node. Cable modem association information for a Remote PHY node is dynamically determined remotely from across a network. The association information identifies which cable modems serviced by the Remote PHY node are physically connected to each of the Remote PHY node ports. Remote PHY node ports are remotely and dynamically assigned to upstream device port and/or downstream device port of a Remote PHY device comprised within the Remote PHY node. Based on the association information, each of the node port of the Remote PHY node may be reassigned to a different upstream device ports and/or downstream device ports of the Remote PHY device. This reassignment may be performed to achieve load balancing of upstream and/or downstream traffic sent between a plurality of cable modems served by the Remote PHY node and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS).

Abstract: A communication system that may include a traffic management module and a communication interface module. The communication interface module is arranged to: estimate a status of multiple channels by utilizing hardware channel status estimators, generate filler packets in response to the status of the multiple channels; wherein the filler packets are associated with the multiple channels; send the filler packets to the traffic management module. The traffic management module is arranged to receive multiple input packets that are associated with multiple channels, receive the filler packets; apply a traffic management scheme on the multiple input packets and the filler packets to provide multiple intermediate packets that comprise (a) multiple filler traffic managed packets and (b) multiple non-filler traffic managed packets.

Abstract: Recovering a Remote PHY (R-PHY) device 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: 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). The core routing engine may comprise one or more core routing engine members. The core routing engine (CRE) and the one or more physical or virtual compute servers (CS) are each implemented entirely on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware.

Abstract: Scheduling of packets to be forwarded onto DOCSIS downstream channels as part of a Virtual Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP). A packet to be forwarded onto a DOCSIS downstream channel is enqueued in a service flow queue. The packets stored in the service flow queue are associated with a single service flow. A request is propagated up a hierarchy of schedule elements to a scheduler process to schedule the packet for delivery. The scheduler process determines a grant of how much traffic to offer the DOCSIS downstream channel. The grant determined for the DOCSIS downstream channel may be expressed in units of symbols rather than in bytes. The scheduler process extends a particular grant to the service flow queue by translating symbols in the grant for the service flow queue which issued the request.

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, such as a Remote PHY node. 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.