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: A method for obtaining and utilizing internet protocol (IP) subnet information, the method may include obtaining by a layer two cable modem termination system (L2 CMTS) information about IP subnets that comprise DHCP leased IP addresses assigned to devices serviced by the L2 CMTS; and maintaining, by the L2 CMTS and based on the information about the IP subnets, a data structure that reflects the IP subnets that comprise the IP addresses that are allocated to the devices serviced by the L2 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 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: A device that may include a router and may also include narrowband generators arranged to generate samples of narrowband channels, a digital up converter (DUC). The DUC may include multiple DUC inputs. Different DUC inputs are associated with different frequency ranges. The router may include multiple router inputs, multiple router outputs and a routing circuit. The multiple router outputs are coupled to the multiple DUC inputs. The multiple router inputs are coupled to the narrowband generators. The routing circuit may include a re-sequencing memory module that is arranged to receive the samples of narrowband channels from the narrowband generator according to an input order and to output the samples of the narrowband channels to the multiple router outputs according to an output order that is responsive to an allocation of frequencies to the samples of the narrowband channels.

Abstract: A device that may include a router and may also include narrowband generators arranged to generate samples of narrowband channels, a digital up converter (DUC). The DUC may include multiple DUC inputs. Different DUC inputs are associated with different frequency ranges. The router may include multiple router inputs, multiple router outputs and a routing circuit. The multiple router outputs are coupled to the multiple DUC inputs. The multiple router inputs are coupled to the narrowband generators. The routing circuit may include a re-sequencing memory module that is arranged to receive the samples of narrowband channels from the narrowband generator according to an input order and to output the samples of the narrowband channels to the multiple router outputs according to an output order that is responsive to an allocation of frequencies to the samples of the narrowband channels.

Abstract: A method for obtaining and utilizing internet protocol (IP) subnet information, the method may include obtaining by a layer two cable modem termination system (L2 CMTS) information about IP subnets that comprise DHCP leased IP addresses assigned to devices serviced by the L2 CMTS; and maintaining, by the L2 CMTS and based on the information about the IP subnets, a data structure that reflects the IP subnets that comprise the IP addresses that are allocated to the devices serviced by the L2 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: Systems, method, and computer program products for provisioning video and data services using a deep modulation Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) architecture in a traditional Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network are described. The deep-modulation CCAP architecture includes a remote conversion unit (e.g., that includes one or more modulators and demodulators to perform signal modulation and demodulation) connected to a CCAP core through a digital optical medium (e.g., an optical fiber) to achieve higher network capacity as well as cost and power consumption reduction.

Abstract: Optical transceivers used in data communications equipment are typically bidirectional and require two-way communications in order to maintain their operability. However, in some applications such as cable television, the traffic is highly unbalanced with very high bandwidth requirements in one direction and minimal bandwidth requirements in the opposite direction. Hence for such efficient and cost effective one-way communication applications, unidirectional fiber optic transceivers are useful. There is provided here a unidirectional transceiver provided internally with a keep-alive signal generator to enable unidirectional transmissions. The keep alive signal is, for instance, idle characters for a Gigabit Ethernet communication system, or any other suitable handshake signal which provides the desired operability.

Abstract: An optical transmitter for coarse wavelength division multiplexed (CWDM) optical communication systems uses a conventional laser (e.g. laser diode) and in addition a heater element is provided thermally coupled to the laser. A thermal sensor and associated control circuit drive the heater so as to control the power consumed by the heater to assure that the laser's temperature is not lower than a predetermined minimum working temperature. When the sensed laser temperature is above this predetermined minimum temperature, the control circuit turns off the heater. The total operating range of the transmitter in terms of ambient temperature is thus extended beyond its inherent operating range by the maximum laser temperature rise created by the heater. This allows a CWDM optical transmitter with the heater and control circuitry to be used in outdoor applications where a wide ambient temperature range is required.

Abstract: Optical transceivers used in data communications equipment are typically bidirectional and require two-way communications in order to maintain their operability. However, in some applications such as cable television, the traffic is highly unbalanced with very high bandwidth requirements in one direction and minimal bandwidth requirements in the opposite direction. Hence for such efficient and cost effective one-way communication applications, unidirectional fiber optic transceivers are useful. There is provided here a unidirectional transceiver provided internally with a keep-alive signal generator to enable unidirectional transmissions. The keep alive signal is, for instance, idle characters for a Gigabit Ethernet communication system, or any other suitable handshake signal which provides the desired operability.

Abstract: In hybrid fiber coaxial cable networks such as used in cable television where two-way digital communications are desired, a distributed termination system is provided. In such a system the home terminals are digital terminals, such as digital set-top boxes or cable modems using bi-directional transmission standards. The functionality of the head end controller in a conventional system is in this system distributed between the head end and the fiber nodes which link the coaxial cable and optical fiber portions of the system. Thereby the upstream detection takes place in the fiber nodes rather than in the head end by placing upstream burst receivers in the fiber nodes. Further there is a distributed method to enable this by providing synchronization and calibration control between the head end and the fiber nodes. Also, the return path is a digital return path supported by having the burst receivers located in the fiber nodes.

Abstract: An imaging method for spatial distributions of concentrations of absorbers distributed in an object including a radiation step of applying pulsating or continuous light radiated from predetermined incident positions with predetermined wavelengths to the object in the form of a scattering medium containing the absorbers, and a detection step of detecting intensities of light passing through the object at predetermined detection positions.