Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over a network supporting distributed initiations of USB connections over the network, including the following steps: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the network and to discover the presence and capabilities of one another. Initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs, via the network control plane, USB-over-network-data-plane connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: Receivers configured to handle dynamically modulated symbols. One receiver includes a slicer, a physical coding sublayer (PCS), and a decision based filter (DBF). Each of most of the received frames comprising (i) modulation information modulated according to a predetermined modulation order, and (ii) symbols of at least two different modulation orders that are dynamically modulated in accordance with the modulation information. The slicer configured to feed the PCS with essentially the minimal combination of slicing results that essentially covers all the predetermined modulation order. And the PCS configured to identify the modulation information, to use the identified modulation information to determine the modulation of the dynamically modulated symbols, and to provide the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use to feed the DBF.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a packet switch that communicates packets with error indication, including the steps of: receiving a packet comprising an error detection field; utilizing the error detection field to identify an error in the packet; marking the occurrence of the error in an error propagation field in the packet; updating the value of the error detection field; and forwarding the modified packet, with the updated value of the error detection field and the error propagation field, according to information carried in the packet.

Abstract: Receivers designed to reduce decision based filter error propagation by feedback from PCS to slicer. One embodiment includes a slicer, a physical coding sublayer (PCS), and a decision based filter (DBF). The frames include symbols of at least two different modulation orders. The slicer has slicing functions suitable for the different modulations and feeds the PCS with the slicing results. The PCS identifies frame boundaries and modulation information, which are modulated according to a predetermined modulation order, uses the identified modulation information to determine the modulation of a nonempty set of dynamically modulated symbols in each frame, and provides the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use to feed the DBF.

Abstract: Method and device for using or dropping erroneous packets, including the steps of: receiving, by a network adaptor, first and second packets having headers, payloads, error propagation fields, and error detection fields. The error propagation fields indicate reception errors while the error detection fields do not indicate reception errors. Determining that the first packet is addressed to a first application and dropping the first packet. And determining that the second packet is addressed to a second application and enabling an end-device coupled to the adaptor to use the erroneous data stored in the second payload.

Abstract: Reducing decision based filter error propagation by feedback from a physical coding sublayer (PCS) to a slicer. One method includes: receiving a frame comprising symbols of at least two different modulation orders that use subsets of a symbol superset; slicing the received symbols according to the highest modulation order by a slicer having slicing functions suitable for the different modulations; identifying frame boundaries and modulation information, which are modulated according to a predetermined modulation order; using the identified modulation information for determining the modulation of a nonempty set of dynamically modulated symbols in the received frame; and providing the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use for feeding a decision based filter.

Abstract: A configurable analog equalizer is set to a first high-pass frequency response that is intentionally too moderate to compensate for a low-pass frequency response of a physical link coupling a transmitter and a receiver. A Feed Forward Equalizer (FFE) is activated at the receiver; the FFE includes a set of coefficients having a minimum configuration of a cursor coefficient and a first pre-cursor coefficient. A Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) is activated at the receiver; the DFE includes a set of coefficients having a minimum configuration of a first post-cursor coefficient. The configurable analog equalizer is then set to a high-pass frequency response that is more intense than the first high-pass frequency response, until the first post-cursor coefficient of the DFE substantially equals an absolute value of a quotient obtained by dividing the first pre-cursor coefficient of the FFE by the cursor coefficient of the FFE.

Abstract: Initiating USB-over-network connections based on partial USB enumeration, including the steps of: Discovering USB hosts by respective USB host adaptors (USBHs). Reading USB device descriptors of USB devices by respective USB device adaptors (USBDs) performing partial USB enumeration that stops prior to the configuration state of the USB devices. Forwarding the read USB device descriptors to the USBHs. And initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs and based on the USB device descriptors, USB-over-network connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts.

Abstract: Addressing, by USB host adaptors, packets conveying USB data over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting USB hosts with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs). Connecting USB devices with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling, by the non-USB network, each USBHs to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBDs. Initiating USB-over-network connections between the USB hosts and the USB devices. Receiving, by the USBHs, information about the USB devices and the USB-over-network connections. And adding, by the USBHs, network addresses of the USBDs to packets conveying USB data from the USB hosts to the USB devices.

Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over distinct network paths, including the following steps: Connecting USB hosts with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs), essentially according to USB specification timings. Connecting USB devices with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over a network that can connect each USBD with each USBH. Initiating USB connections over the network between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB connections over the network essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over a network supporting distributed initiations of USB connections over the network, including the following steps: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the network and to discover the presence and capabilities of one another. Initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs, via the network control plane, USB-over-network-data-plane connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over distinct network data plane connections, including the following steps: USB hosts are connected with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs) according to USB specification timings. USB devices are connected with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over a network that can connect each USBD with each USBH, wherein the network includes network control plane and network data plane. Initiating first, second, and third USB-over-network-data-plane connections from the USB hosts to the USB devices. And operating the at least two USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: Addressing, by USB host adaptors, packets conveying USB data over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting USB hosts with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs). Connecting USB devices with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling, by the non-USB network, each USBHs to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBDs. Initiating USB-over-network connections between the USB hosts and the USB devices. Receiving, by the USBHs, information about the USB devices and the USB-over-network connections. And adding, by the USBHs, network addresses of the USBDs to packets conveying USB data from the USB hosts to the USB devices.

Abstract: Initiating, by USB host adaptors, USB connections over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBHs and the USBDs to communicate over the non-USB network that enables each USBD to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBH. Receiving, by the USBHs, information about the USB devices. And then initiating, by the USBHs, USB-over-network connections between the USB hosts and the USB devices.

Abstract: Initiating USB-over-network connections based on partial USB enumeration, including the steps of: Discovering USB hosts by respective USB host adaptors (USBHs). Reading USB device descriptors of USB devices by respective USB device adaptors (USBDs) performing partial USB enumeration that stops prior to the configuration state of the USB devices. Forwarding the read USB device descriptors to the USBHs. And initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs and based on the USB device descriptors, USB-over-network connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts.

Abstract: Initiating, by USB device adaptors, USB connections over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the non-USB network that enables each USBD to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBH. Receiving, by the USBDs, information about the USB hosts. And then, initiating by the USBDs USB-over-network connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts.

Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over distinct network paths, including the following steps: Connecting USB hosts with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs), essentially according to USB specification timings. Connecting USB devices with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over a network that can connect each USBD with each USBH. Initiating USB connections over the network between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB connections over the network essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: A packet based switched multimedia network which consolidates networking of high throughput, time sensitive data, and control streams, with Ethernet data networking over home span. The multimedia network may support in parallel, over the same home span cabling infrastructure, high quality networking including time sensitive data streams, such as HDMI, USB, and Ethernet, transparent network attachment for legacy devices, multi stream, and low power modes.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for secure communication that involves encoding and transmitting an optical communications signal that is encoded based on a multi-dimensional encoding technique. This technique may include at least one or more of encoding a phase, a polarization, and a frequency of the signal. Light encoding is independent from its modulation with data. The data is modulated using any format; in the preferred embodiment the QPSK format is implemented. The encoded and modulated light is transmitted through free space or via a fiber optic network to a receiver, where the information is decoded. A coherent detection based on 90-degrees or 120-degrees optical hybrid is used to decode and recover the data from the received signal. Because the encoding of the transmitted light varies according to a specific pattern or sequence, one without knowledge of the transmission encoding sequence is prevented from decoding the transmitted information.

Abstract: An optical device is provided with first and second inputs. A first coupler coupled is coupled to the first input and produces at least a first and second output. A second coupler is coupled to the second input and produces at least a first and second output. A third coupler is coupled to the first output of the first coupler and to the first output of the second coupler. A fourth coupler is coupled to the second output of the first coupler and to the second output of the second coupler. First and second crossing waveguides are provided with an angle selected to minimize crosstalk and losses between the first and second cross waveguides. The first crossing waveguide connects one of the first or second outputs from the first coupler with an input of the fourth coupler. The second crossing waveguide connects one of the first or second outputs from the second coupler with an input of the third coupler. A first phase shifter is coupled to the first and second waveguides.