Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system for electronics lifetime wear monitoring are provided. Various aspects of a method and system for scheduling various maintenance-related activities based, at least in part, on circuit monitoring are also provided.

Abstract: In a first configuration, circuitry of a fiber node may be configured to modulate an optical carrier by an analog upstream electrical signal received via the electrical network. In a second configuration, the circuitry may be configured to digitize the analog upstream electrical signal to generate a digitized upstream signal, and modulate the optical carrier with the digitized upstream signal. An optical receiver of the fiber node may be configured to convert a downstream optical signal to a downstream electrical signal. In the first configuration, the downstream electrical signal may be a first analog signal and the circuitry may be configured to output the first analog signal into the electrical network. In a third configuration, the downstream electrical signal is a digitized waveform and the circuitry is configured to convert the digitized waveform to a second analog signal and output the second analog signal into the electrical network.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using frequency spreading during communications, in particular communications in which multiple carriers (or subcarriers) are used. The frequency spreading may comprise generating a plurality of spreading data vectors based on transmit data, such as by application of a spreading matrix to portions of the transmit data. Each spreading data vector may comprise a plurality of elements, for assignment to the multiple subcarriers. The receive-side device may then apply frequency de-spreading, to obtain the original transmit data. The frequency de-spreading may comprise use of the same spreading matrix on data extracted from received signals, which (the data) may correspond to the plurality of spreading data vectors.

Abstract: Circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network may comprise a first transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an optical link, a second transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an electrical link, a first processing path, a second processing path, and a switching circuit. In a first configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. In a second configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path. The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON) transceiver and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver. The switching circuit may be configured based on the type of headend to which the circuitry is connected.

Abstract: In an example implementation of this disclosure, a message passing low density parity check (LDPC) decoder may, during decoding of a first group of bits, lock a first variable node upon a bit-value probability of the first variable node reaching a determined threshold, and lock a first check node upon all variable nodes connected to the first check node being locked. The LDPC decoder may cease decoding the first group of bits upon all variable nodes of the LDPC decoder being locked, all check nodes of the LDPC decoder being locked, reaching a maximum number of iterations, or reaching a timeout. During a particular iteration of the decoding of the first group of bits in which the first variable node is locked, the LDPC decoder may refrain from generating a bit-value probability for the locked first variable node.

Abstract: A low density parity check (LDPC) decoder integrated on a single semiconductor substrate may comprise one or more arrays of first-type memory cells and one or more arrays of second-type memory cells. The LDPC decoder may be configured to store intrinsic messages in the array of first-type cells and to store extrinsic messages in the array of second-type cells. The first-type cells may be a first one of: static random access memory (SRAM) cells, refreshed dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, non-refreshed DRAM cells configured as a FIFO, and non-refreshed DRAM cells not configured as a FIFO. The second-type cells may be a second one of: static random access memory (SRAM) cells, refreshed dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, non-refreshed DRAM cells configured as a FIFO, and non-refreshed DRAM cells not configured as a FIFO.

Abstract: A receiver includes a plurality of input paths for receiving and processing a plurality of input RF signals. The input paths isolate one or more portions of corresponding ones of the received input RF signals, and combine the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals onto one or more output signals. A bandwidth of the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals and a bandwidth of the output signals are variable. The isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals are extracted and utilized to generate the output signals. The portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals may be mapped into one or more channel slots in the time domain. The channel slots may be assigned in the frequency domain to one or more frequency bins.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may comprise a digital logic circuit, a memory refresh circuit, a first one or more dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, and a second one or more DRAM cells. The first DRAM cell(s) may be refreshed by the memory refresh circuit whereas the second DRAM cell(s) is not refreshed by any memory refresh circuit. Each of the first DRAM cell(s) and the second DRAM cell(s) may be a one-transistor cell. The first DRAM cell(s) may be used for storage of data which is overwritten at less than a threshold frequency. The second DRAM cell(s) may be used for storage of data which is overwritten at greater than the threshold frequency. A rate at which the first DRAM cell(s) are refreshed may be adjusted during run-time of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for precise temperature and timebase ppm error estimation using multiple timebases may comprise measuring a coarse reading of a temperature corresponding to the plurality of timebases. The frequencies of the timebases may be compared to generate a fine reading of the temperature based, at least in part, on the coarse reading and the comparison of the frequencies with respect to models of temperature dependencies for each of the timebases. The timebases may be calibrated utilizing the generated fine reading. The plurality of timebases may comprise different order temperature dependencies. The models of temperature dependencies of each of the plurality of timebases may be updated based, at least in part, on the fine reading of the temperature corresponding to the plurality of timebases. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) clock signal may be utilized periodically to improve the accuracy of the calibration of the plurality of timebases.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes, in part, a first wireless receiver adapted to determine, as it travels along a path, a multitude of positions of the mobile communication device using signals received from a primary positioning source, a second wireless receiver adapted to receive signals from one or more ambient wireless sources as the mobile communication device travels along the path, and a positioning module. An internal or external memory stores estimated positions and corresponding time references of the signals of the one or more ambient sources. The positioning module uses the data stored in the database to estimate the position of the mobile communication device when no primary positioning source signal is available. The positioning module optionally uses the data stored in the database to improve estimates of the position of the mobile communication device when primary positioning signal is available.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing bandwidth utilization in an in-home network may include determining usage and/or quality of communication links operating in accordance with first and second communication protocols in a multi-protocol wired and wireless network. Data communication may be routed from a first communication link operating in accordance with the first communication protocol to a second communication link operating in accordance with the second communication protocol, based on the determining. The first communication protocol may include a wired communication standard and the second communication protocol may include a wireless communication standard. The determining and routing may be performed by a network controller. The rerouting may increase bandwidth usage efficiency and/or data throughput of the network. The determining and rerouting may be performed dynamically.

Abstract: A method for targeted advertisement includes storing a profile tag associated with each user in a device maintained by that user. Each profile tag includes the demographic information of its associated user. A multitude of target tags are also transmitted to the users. Each target tag is associated with an advertiser and includes the demographic information of the users. The advertisements and their corresponding target tags are transmitted and cached in the devices maintained by the users. The number of matches between the target tags and the user profiles are supplied to their respective advertisers. The advertisers use the matching number to modify the prices they are willing to offer for the commercial break. The target tags include information that is used to select one of the cached advertisement for playing during the commercial break.

Abstract: A circuit includes, in part, a receiver, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and an oscillator. The receiver receives an incoming signal and an oscillating signal. The RSSI is responsive to the receiver and generates an output signal representative of the strength of the incoming signal. The oscillator receives different biasing conditions in response to different outputs of the RSSI. The oscillator generates the oscillating signal received by the receiver. The oscillator receives a first biasing condition when the incoming signal is detected as having a strength lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value and a second biasing condition when the incoming signal is detected as having a strength higher than the predetermined threshold value. The first biasing condition may be defined by a first current, and the second biasing condition may be defined by a sum of the first current and a second current.

Abstract: Methods and systems for global navigation satellite system configuration of wireless communication applications may comprise determining a location of a wireless communication device (WCD) comprising a medium Earth orbit (MEO) radio frequency (RF) path and a low Earth orbit (LEO) RF path utilizing received LEO signals. A wireless function of the WCD may be configured based on the location, and may comprise a power level of WiFi circuitry in the WCD. The determined location and a transaction ID for the POS transaction may be stored utilizing a security processor. The MEO RF path may be powered down based on the determined location. The wireless function may comprise a synchronization of data on the WCD with devices in a home location. The WCD may comprise a femtocell device or a set-top box, and may be controlled by a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) central processing unit (CPU).

Abstract: One or more circuits may comprise at least one first-type analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and at least one second-type ADC. The circuit(s) may be operable to receive a plurality of signals, each of which may comprise a plurality of channels. The circuit(s) may be operable to digitize a selected one or more of the channels. Which, if any, of the selected channels are digitized via the at least one first-type ADC and which, if any, of the selected channels are digitized via the at least one second-type ADC, may be based on which of the plurality of channels are the selected channels and/or based on power consumption of the circuit(s). A bandwidth of each first-type ADC may be on the order of the bandwidth of one of the received signals. A bandwidth of each second-type ADC may be on the order of the bandwidth of one of the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A dual conversion receiver architecture that converts a radio frequency signal to produce a programmable intermediate frequency whose channel bandwidth and frequency can be changed using variable low-pass filtering to accommodate multiple standards for television and other wireless standards. The dual conversion receiver uses a two stage frequency translation and continual DC offset removal. The dual conversion receiver can be completely implemented on an integrated circuit with no external adjustments.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and apparatus for communicating electronic service guide information in a satellite television system are provided. A satellite communication system may receive a signal via an interface to a satellite dish, and receive data from a network via a second interface (e.g., an interface to a LAN or a WAN, such as the Internet). The satellite communication system may be operable to channelize the received satellite signal into a plurality of channels, wherein a first channel of the plurality of channels carries electronic service guide (ESG) data. The satellite communication system may select which of the plurality of channels to input to a demodulator based, at least in part, on whether ESG data is available via the second interface. A second channel carrying media data may be input to the demodulator while the ESG data is available via the second interface.

Abstract: A network device may be operable to receive an indication from a cable modem termination system (CMTS) that media access control (MAC) management messages will be transmitted by the CMTS at fixed intervals. Subsequent to receiving the indication, the network device may be operable to power down one or more components of the network device and set a sleep timer to a value equal to an integer multiple of the fixed interval minus a transition period. The network device may power up the one or more components of the network device upon expiration of the sleep timer. The network device may power up the one or more components of the network device upon an amount of traffic in a buffer of the network device reaching a threshold.

Abstract: An Internet protocol low noise block downconverter (IP LNB) assembly, within a satellite reception assembly, may be operable to determine location information and/or time information of the IP LNB assembly, via a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module in the IP LNB assembly. The IP LNB assembly may provide services based on the determined location information and/or the determined time information of the IP LNB assembly. The IP LNB assembly may communicate the determined location information and/or the determined time information to a wireless communication device for determining location information of the wireless communication device. The IP LNB assembly may determine location information of a wireless source device, based on the determined location, information and the determined time information of the IP LNB assembly along with a plurality of other location information and a plurality of corresponding other time information associated with a plurality of other IP LNB assemblies.

Abstract: One or more circuits may include an array of memory cells corresponding to a particular memory address. The one or more circuits may be operable to discover a location of a faulty memory cell in the array of memory cells. The one or more circuits may be operable to arrange the order in which the bits of a data block are stored to said array of memory cells based, at least in part, on said discovered location of said faulty memory cell.