Patents by Inventor Andrew L. Norrell

Andrew L. Norrell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8194722
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reducing effects of impulse noise in a DSL transmitter receiver device are described. According to certain embodiment, the method includes using a periodicity associated with the impulse noise affecting a DSL transmitter receiver device to determine data frames that are affected by the impulse noise, and sending a reduced data rate during those frames. In certain embodiments, no data is sent during those frames. The method further includes using a high margin bits and gain table, instead of a normal bits and gain table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, Hossein Sedarat, Kevin D. Fisher, Douglas J. Artman, James T. Schley-May, Brian Wiese
  • Patent number: 7529229
    Abstract: A local area network connected to an infrastructure access device that provides the home LAN with access to voice, data and television services. The infrastructure access device includes a gateway to voice over Internet Protocol services, an interface to a data network for data access, a router to multiplex signals from the gateways and the data network and a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) transceiver connected to a gateway device in the customer premises. The gateway device includes a DSL transceiver to communicate over the DSL connecting it to the infrastructure access device to provide the home LAN with high performance communications services without the use of POTS. The DSL transceiver may communicate using a switched carrier modulation scheme to conserve power and reduce crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, Dale M. Walsh, Don Bellenger
  • Patent number: 7519168
    Abstract: A conventional computer is coupled to an analog telephone transmission link by means of an analog/digital conversion interface adapter. Modem transmission is accomplished by performing the modulation and demodulation functions digitally in the computer's existing processor which executes programs which transfer data between the computer's memory and the interface adapter. Using the same interface adapter and existing processor, the arrangement may be used to send and receive images in the form of standard V.29 format facsimile data, to send and receive data operating as a synchronous IBM 3270 compatible terminal device, or to record and play back conventional voice transmissions rather than data to implement a telephone answering, voice message handling, and telemarketing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Suffern, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 7483528
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a loop extender for improving the transmission of digital subscriber line (DSL) signals over a local loop is disclosed. The loop extender includes selectable line termination and equalization (SLTE) DSL amplification circuitry capacitively coupled to the local loop via bypass relay switches, a plain old telephone service (POTS) loading coil adapted to be coupled to the local loop for improving transmission of POTS band signals over the local loop, and a diagnostic/control unit (DCU) coupled to the local loop for receiving and processing control signals from a central office, coupled to the bypass relay switches via a bypass relay for controlling the bypass relay switches, and coupled to the SLTE DSL amplification circuitry via a plurality of switch control lines for controlling the SLTE DSL amplification circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, James T. Schley-May
  • Patent number: 7194023
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network for improving the transmission of DSL signals over a local loop is disclosed. The DSL network includes a loop extender with communications, control, and diagnostic functionality, and a central office including a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) and a central office controller coupled to the loop extender via the local loop for controlling the loop extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, James T. Schley-May
  • Patent number: 7190716
    Abstract: A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network for improving the transmission of DSL signals includes a plurality of local loops for transmission of upstream and downstream DSL signals, control signals, and Direct Current (DC) power, a plurality of loop extenders with communications, control, and diagnostic functionality for amplifying the DSL signals, a loop extender communications/power supply for receiving the DC power and control signals, providing DC power to the plurality of loop extenders, and broadcasting the received control signals to the plurality of loop extenders, and a central office controller/power supply for controlling access to the plurality of local loops and controlling the plurality of loop extenders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, James T. Schley-May
  • Patent number: 7072385
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving DSL performance, including ADSL and VDSL performance, over a local loop between a telephone company central office and a customer premises. In particular, a DSL repeater is coupled to the local loop and amplifies downstream and upstream DSL signals to at least partially compensate for DSL signal attenuation that occurs as DSL signals pass over the local loop. Pursuant to one embodiment, the DSL repeater includes a POTS load coil to improve the POTS, or voice band, transmission over the local loop. According to this embodiment, the DSL repeater provides both improved POTS band signal transmission and DSL service. One embodiment of the load coil includes a coupled inductor having compensating capacitors coupled thereto for counter-balancing the inter-winding capacitance of the coupled inductor. In another embodiment, the load coil includes a high intra-winding capacitance for counter-balancing the inter-winding capacitance of a coupled inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Hinman, Andrew L. Norrell, James Schley-May, Carl Alelyunas
  • Patent number: 7068649
    Abstract: An extended bandwidth HomePNA system uses a transmit spectrum having a greater bandwidth than the bandwidth specified by a HomePNA 2.0 communication standard. The extended bandwidth system of the invention provides for additional copies of a spectrum of a 2 Mbaud training signal for better accuracy in decoding transmitted data by a receiver. In one embodiment, the extended bandwidth is a 12 MHz band centered at 10 MHz, from 4 MHz to 16 MHz. This extended bandwidth allows for three copies of a 4 Mbaud training sequence or six copies of a 2 Mbaud training sequence. The extended bandwidth of the invention is compatible with a HomePNA 2.0 system by providing a training sequence that enables a HomePNA 2.0 receiver in 2 Mbaud mode to train on the transmitted signal and determine that the transmitted signal is not intended for the HomePNA 2.0 receiver in 2 Mbaud mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Fisher, Scott A. Lery, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 7061857
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to implement fault detection in DSL loop extenders. The system of the invention includes a plurality of loop extenders coupled to a local loop, a loop extender (LE) test box coupled to the local loop, and fault detection circuitry coupled to each of the plurality of loop extenders. The LE test box sends a tone pair associated with a loop extender over the local loop, the loop extender associated with the tone pair processes the tone pair to generate a response tone and sends the response tone to the LE test box via the local loop. Then, the LE test box determines functionality of the loop extender based upon the received response tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, James T. Schley-May
  • Patent number: 7023910
    Abstract: A dual-line DSL system comprises a central office and a customer premises coupled by at least two communication paths that together provide a single high-bandwidth channel. An ADSL transceiver unit-remote (ATU-R) at the customer premises is configured to reduce the effects of far end cross talk and near end cross talk on signals received by the ATU-R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 6977958
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving DSL performance, including ADSL and VDSL performance, over a local loop between a telephone company central office and a customer premises. In particular, a loop extender is coupled to the local loop and differentially amplifies downstream and upstream DSL signals to at least partially compensate for DSL signal attenuation that occurs as DSL signals pass over the local loop. Pursuant to one embodiment, the loop extender includes an upstream filter/amplifying equalizer, a downstream filter/amplifying equalizer, a differential amplifier pair, an inverting amplifier, and a pair of electromagnetic hybrids, which couple the loop extender to the loop and provide upstream and downstream signal amplification. In another embodiment, the loop extender includes POTS loading coils to improve the POTS or voice band transmission over the local loop. According to this embodiment, the loop extender provides both improved POTS band signal transmission and DSL service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: 2WIRE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Hinman, Andrew L. Norrell, James Schley-May
  • Patent number: 6965636
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently correcting block errors in packet-based digital communications are provided whereby the ratio of redundant symbols/message symbols over the length of a data packet decreases in order to more efficiently use available bandwidth. The reduction of this ratio, and subsequently the change in a corresponding framing schedule, may be determined through negotiations between the transmitting device and the receiving devices. Each receiving device calculates a redundancy requirement based on signal-to-noise ratio samples. This requirement is returned to the transmitting device in the form of a schedule request. The transmitting device determines if a new framing schedule is needed based on the schedule request, and communicates this new framing schedule to the receiving device. Once the receiving device acknowledges receipt of the new schedule, the transmitting device switches to the new framing schedule for future data packet transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip DesJardins, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 6947529
    Abstract: A load coil is disposed along a local loop for conditioning POTS signals while permitting passage of higher frequency DSL signals with low attenuation. In one embodiment, the load coil includes a coupled inductor having multiple capacitive elements coupled thereto, the capacitive elements facilitating passage of the DSL signals across the load coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: 2wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, James Schley-May
  • Patent number: 6885698
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an improved quality voice band channel equalization in telecommunication systems employing v.90 transmission standard in which PCM modem signals passing through a digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion processes between a central office switch and a multiple subscriber access system may be reconstructed with improved quality at the A/D converter side by variably adjusting the gain between the digital-to-analog conversion process at the central office switch and the analog-to-digital conversion process at the multiple subscriber access system, and low pass filtering the signal using a second order low pass notch filter to provide a boost of 6 dB at a frequency of 4 KHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: GoDigital Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Nan Liaw, Haibin Liu, James Hon, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 6874096
    Abstract: A detector for detecting packet arrival time for packets received by a Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HPNA) receiver. The detector correlates received preamble symbols with stored preamble symbols and generates an estimation of the packet arrival time when the entire transmitted preamble has arrived at the receiver. The estimation of the packet arrival time is defined on a symbol period boundary. The detector includes a complex correlator with a simplified structure based on characteristic of the received HPNA signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, Scott A. Lery, Philip DesJardins
  • Patent number: 6853637
    Abstract: A local area network connected to an infrastructure access device that provides the home LAN with access to voice, data and television services. The infrastructure access device includes a gateway to voice over Internet Protocol services, an interface to a data network for data access, a router to multiplex signals from the gateways and the data network and a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) transceiver connected to a gateway device in the customer premises. The gateway device includes a DSL transceiver to communicate over the DSL connecting it to the infrastructure access device to provide the home LAN with high performance communications services without the use of POTS. The DSL transceiver may communicate using a switched carrier modulation scheme to conserve power and reduce crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, Dale M. Walsh, Don Bellenger
  • Publication number: 20040096045
    Abstract: A conventional computer is coupled to an analog telephone transmission link by means of an analog/digital conversion interface adapter. Modem transmission is accomplished by performing the modulation and demodulation functions digitally in the computer's existing processor which executes programs which transfer data between the computer's memory and the interface adapter. Using the same interface adapter and existing processor, the arrangement may be used to send and receive images in the form of standard V.29 format facsimile data, to send and receive data operating as a synchronous IBM 3270 compatible terminal device, or to record and play back conventional voice transmissions rather than data to implement a telephone answering, voice message handling, and telemarketing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Suffern, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 6693997
    Abstract: A conventional computer is coupled to an analog telephone transmission link by means of an analog/digital conversion interface adapter. Modem transmission is accomplished by performing the modulation and demodulation functions digitally in the computer's existing processor which executes programs which transfer data between the computer's memory and the interface adapter. Using the same interface adapter and existing processor, the arrangement may be used to send and receive images in the form of standard V.29 format facsimile data, to send and receive data operating as a synchronous IBM 3270 compatible terminal device, or to record and play back conventional voice transmissions rather than data to implement a telephone answering, voice message handling, and telemarketing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Suffern, Andrew L. Norrell
  • Patent number: 6690666
    Abstract: The subject invention defines the details of packet based DSL modulation. The invention claims a method for minimizing crosstalk generation by specifying a duty cycle for bursted carrier data traffic and a method of providing opportunistic echo canceller training. In this way the present invention minimizes power and interference while maximizing the peak capacity of a transceiver used in ADSL communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Norrell, Dale M. Walsh, William Kurt Dobson, Richard G. C. Williams, John Rosenlof
  • Patent number: 6636519
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for enabling bilateral transmission of digital data between a local area network and telephone company networks employing both analog and digital telephone lines. A modem modulates signals responsive to signals from a local area network representing an outgoing call to form digital telephone signals suitable for transmission by a telephone line and suitable for demodulation by receiving analog modems. A circuit switched time division multiplex bus transmits the digital telephone signals to the telephone line. The modem also demodulates incoming digital telephone signals to form digital network bus signals divided into packets. A packet bus transmits the digital network bus signals to a network interface which processes the signals and transmits them to the local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: UT Starcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale M. Walsh, Andrew L. Norrell, Donald C. Balton, Terrel L. Jones, Marc S. Baum, Robert C. Suffern, Christopher R. Hansen, Jeffrey E. Herman, Thanh Q. Ngo, Daniel L. Schoo, Gregory Warren Goodknight