Patents Assigned to Next Level Communications, Inc
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Patent number: 6978474Abstract: A Residential Gateway (RG) for distributing video, data and telephone services to multiple devices within a residence is disclosed. The RG receives signals from a telecommunications network, converts the signals to formats compatible with the multiple devices, and transmits the appropriate signals to the appropriate devices. Wireless remote control devices (RCs) associated with remotely located televisions (TVs) transmit channel select commands to the RG as wireless signals. The wireless signals are received by Remote Antennae Packages (RAPs) coupled to the remotely located TVs. The RAPs transmit the wireless signals over coaxial cable to a Media Interface Device (MID) coupled to the RG. The MID extracts the channel select commands and forwards them to the RG. The MID is also capable of combining and splitting TV signals, and adjusting the impedance of network signals so that they can be transmitted over the coaxial cable.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Next Level Communications, IncInventors: Steve Sheppard, William Weeks
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Patent number: 6754280Abstract: A method for handling missing or untimely synchronization signals in digital communications systems. Upon detecting the absence of a synchronization signal, an estimation of the absent synchronization signal is made based on a plurality of previously received synchronization signals, and the estimated synchronization signal is used in place of the absent synchronization signal. The estimated synchronization signal is corrected upon the receipt of a subsequent synchronization signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Next Level Communications, INC.Inventor: Phuong Vinh Nguyen
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Publication number: 20040083493Abstract: Transmitting caller identification data to residential equipment within a digital transport stream is provided. Telephony signals that include caller identification data are received and the caller identification data is extracted from the telephony signals. The caller identification data in is then embedded the digital transport stream. The digital transport stream, including the caller identification data, is transmitted to residential equipment. The residential equipment extracts the data from the digital stream and presents the caller ID data to a subscriber overlaid on video.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: James L. Swisher, Steven Sheppard, William Weeks, Douglas A. Penna, Thomas R. Eames, Charles A. Eldering
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Patent number: 6728965Abstract: A rapid channel changer for use in a digital broadband access system. The subject rapid channel changer includes a cache buffer for storing the video data and a processor for detecting and pointing to the synchronization frames. When a subscriber's channel change request is received by the processing unit, the corresponding video signal can be quickly accessed and directed downstream to the subscriber, since the processor can immediately synchronize the video data without having to wait for the next synchronization frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1997Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc.Inventor: Weidong Mao
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Patent number: 6700927Abstract: A method is disclosed for establishing and adapting communication link parameters in xDSL transmission systems. The method determines a frequency allocation scheme that makes the delivery of both xDSL services and traditional telecommunications services possible, and uses information about service bit-rate requirements and the deployment characteristics of a given local loop to select an optimal combination of symbol rate and transmission modulation density that is capable of delivering desired xDSL services. The method includes the steps of establishing communication between xDSL termination units, and determining a maximum transmission modulation density that can be used for a plurality of predetermined symbol rates. One method of performing these steps is a symbol rate stepping method in which communication is initiated at a fraction of the final symbol rate, and the symbol rate is iteratively stepped up until the final symbol rate is reached.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc.Inventors: Jamie Esliger, Sabit Say
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Publication number: 20030192053Abstract: A residential gateway (RG) for distributing video, data and telephony services to multiple devices within a residence is disclosed. The RG receives signals from a telecommunications network, converts the signals to formats compatible with the multiple devices, and transmits the appropriate signals to the appropriate devices. Wireless remote control devices associated with remotely located televisions (TVs) transmit channel select commands as wireless signals to the RG. The wireless signals are received by a Remote Antennae Package (RAP) that transmits the wireless signal over cable. A Remote Antennae Module (RAM) receives the wireless signal and extracts the channel select command.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Steve Sheppard, James L. Swisher, Charles Eldering, Thomas Eames
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Patent number: 6574333Abstract: A fiber to the curb communication system providing telephone service to subscribers using line cards which are pluggable into a broadband network unit. The line cards provide telephone service to up to six lines per card. The cards are programmable from a central location, and the system includes self-testing of the cards, ring generator testing and provides for testing of the telephone lines from the system to the subscriber's location.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc.Inventors: E. Barton Manchester, Bradley N. Yearwood
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Publication number: 20030002587Abstract: A method for handling missing or untimely synchronization signals in digital communications systems. Upon detecting the absence of a synchronization signal, an estimation of the absent synchronization signal is made based on a plurality of previously received synchronization signals, and the estimated synchronization signal is used in place of the absent synchronization signal. The estimated synchronization signal is corrected upon the receipt of a subsequent synchronization signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventor: Phuong Vinh Nguyen
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Patent number: 6493875Abstract: In a residential environment with more than one analog television set a residential gateway has a network interface module which receives signals from a telecommunications network. The signals contain compressed digital video information which is routed within the gateway to a video module for the generation of an analog video signal for a television set located near the residential gateway, and to a wireless module for transmission to a remote receiver using spread spectrum communications.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1998Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Eames, Tevfik M. Uraz, Grant E. Moulton
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Patent number: 6470049Abstract: A method for handling missing or untimely synchronization signals in digital communications systems. Upon detecting the absence of a synchronization signal, an estimation of the absent synchronization signal is made based on a plurality of previously received synchronization signals, and the estimated synchronization signal is used in place of the absent synchronization signal. The estimated synchronization signal is corrected upon the receipt of a subsequent synchronization signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc.Inventor: Phuong Vinh Nguyen