Abstract: An RF signal source having a camera that provides a camera output, an encoder that encodes the camera output in a compressed digital format, and a modulator that digitally encodes and modulates the compressed camera output and that provides the digitally encoded, modulated, and compressed camera output as an RF output of the RF signal source. The camera, the encoder, and the modulator may be contained in an enclosure. Additionally or alternatively, the encoder, the modulator, and at least part of the camera may be formed on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Data is encrypted according to a plurality of data keys. During the encryption of the data, the data keys are rotated according to a data key rotation pattern, and the rotation of the data keys includes repetitive use of the data keys during the encryption of the data. The encrypted data is transmitted to a receiver. Additionally or alternatively, encrypted data is received from a transmitter. The encrypted data is decrypted according to a plurality of data keys. During the decryption of the encrypted data, the data keys are rotated according to a data key rotation pattern, and the rotating of the data keys includes repetitive use of the data keys during the decryption of the encrypted data.

Abstract: Messages are encrypted/decrypted according to a modified triple wrap procedure in which the messages are encrypted/decrypted in three encryption/decryption operations and are processed in three additional operations using first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth keys.

Abstract: An interface module for use between a signal source and a receiver has an input, a processor, and an output. The input receives a signal from the signal source. The received signal contains MPEG files formatted according to an Internet Protocol. The processor strips the Internet Protocol formatting from the received signal and reformats the received signal as a receiver signal containing an MPEG transport stream. The output makes the reformatted signal available for supply to a port supported on a chassis of the receiver.

Abstract: Audio packets occupy spaces in a packet stream so as to reduce packet jitter in a receiver.

Abstract: An on-screen display is generated for an MPEG compliant receiver. Externally of the MPEG compliant receiver, an MPEG transport stream is accessed, first data in the accessed MPEG transport stream is replaced with second data that relates to the data to be provided in the on-screen display, and the MPEG transport stream with the second data is remodulated as an RF signal. The RF signal is forwarded to the MPEG compliant receiver. The first data can be close caption data, and the second data can be installation and/or configuration menu data.

Abstract: An output of an equalizer is decoded to produce first decoded data having a first accuracy. The output of the equalizer is further decoded to produce second decoded data having a second accuracy, and the second accuracy is greater than the first accuracy. Tap weights for the equalizer are calculated using the first and second decoded data. The calculated tap weights are applied to the taps of the equalizer.

Abstract: Program clock references in first and second MPEG data streams are re-stamped in accordance with delays introduced into the first and second MPEG data streams. Accordingly, the program clock references in the first MPEG data stream are re-stamped according to a variable delay in the first MPEG data stream, and the program clock references in the second MPEG data stream are re-stamped according to a variable delay in the second MPEG data stream. The re-stamped program clock references in the second MPEG data stream are corrected according to a fixed delay in the second MPEG data stream. The first and second MPEG data streams are multiplexed, and the multiplexed first and second MPEG data streams are transmitted and received.

Abstract: A translation table is provided for a set top box in order to convert satellite frequencies of a Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV) system to corresponding cable frequencies of a CATV distribution system. During an autoscan operation, the translation table is automatically populated with satellite frequencies and their associated cable frequencies. The satellite frequencies carry satellite QPSK signals, and the cable frequencies carry corresponding QAM signals. During autoscan, the cable frequencies are scanned. For each of the cable frequencies carrying a QAM signal, satellite service data is read from the corresponding QAM signal. The satellite service data includes the satellite frequencies. The satellite frequency contained in the satellite service data read from each QAM signal is stored in the translation table in association with the corresponding cable frequency.

Abstract: Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.

Abstract: An impulse response is estimated for a channel by estimating an intermediate impulse response of the channel. The intermediate impulse response comprises at least one multipath spike and one or more non-deterministic noise components at locations throughout the channel Then, a threshold function is applied to the estimated intermediate impulse response across at least a portion of the channel in order to provide an estimated final impulse response of the channel. The threshold function has the effect of nulling the noise components of the channel having values less than the threshold function at the location within the channel of the respective noise component, and the threshold function is characterized by a level that varies across the portion of the channel from a minimum value to a maximum value in a manner determined by the location of the at least one multipath spike within the channel.

Abstract: Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.

Abstract: In forming a current channel estimate from a received signal y, the received signal y is decoded to form data s, a convolution matrix ?is formed from a first portion of the data s, a matrix F1 is formed from a second portion the data s such that the second portion of the data s includes data that is less recent that the data in the first portion of the data s, a matrix F2 is formed from a third portion the data s such that the third portion of the data s includes data that is more recent than the data in the first portion of the data s, a predicted channel estimate hpred is determined, and a conjugate gradient algorithm is performed to determine the current channel estimate. The conjugate gradient algorithm is based on the received signal y, the matrix ?, the matrices F1 and F2, the predicted channel estimate hpred, and a previous channel estimate h1.

Abstract: Input data segments of received symbols are continuously stored in a decision feedback equalizer buffer at a symbol rate S. Output data sections of received symbols are supplied from the decision feedback equalizer buffer at an output rate of nS such that void times separate the output data sections, and n>1. The received symbols supplied by the decision feedback equalizer buffer are equalized in a decision feedback equalizer to provide equalized symbols; and the equalized symbols are decoded by a decoder to provide decoded symbols. Adjustments for the decision feedback equalizer are calculated during the void times such that the adjustments are calculated based on both the received symbols supplied by the decision feedback equalizer buffer and the decoded symbols. The adjustments are applied to the decision feedback equalizer.

Abstract: An equalizer system includes an equalizer, first and second decoders, and a tap weight controller. The equalizer equalizes a received signal to provide an equalizer output. The first decoder is characterized by a first parallel output, and the first decoder decodes the equalizer output to provide first symbol decisions having a first accuracy. The second decoder is characterized by a second parallel output, the second decoder receives the first parallel output and decodes the equalizer output to provide second symbol decisions having a second accuracy, the first accuracy is greater than the second accuracy, and the second decoder applies the second parallel output to the equalizer. The tap weight controller determines tap weights based on the first symbol decisions and supplies the tap weights to the equalizer.

Abstract: A translation table is provided for a set top box in order to convert satellite frequencies of a Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV) system to corresponding cable frequencies of a CATV distribution system. During an autoscan operation, the translation table is automatically populated with satellite frequencies and their associated cable frequencies. The satellite frequencies carry satellite QPSK signals, and the cable frequencies carry corresponding QAM signals. During autoscan, the cable frequencies are scanned. For each of the cable frequencies carrying a QAM signal, satellite service data is read from the corresponding QAM signal. The satellite service data includes the satellite frequencies. The satellite frequency contained in the satellite service data read from each QAM signal is stored in the translation table in association with the corresponding cable frequency.