Abstract: A passive component for coupling to, and thereby tracking, an intermediary device within a cable television system is disclosed. The passive component includes a tracking circuit separate in functionality from an existing circuit of the intermediary device. The tracking circuit, which is unpowered and uncontrolled, receives a first signal from a first device in the cable television system, modifies the first signal to create a modified signal, and passes the modified first signal to a second device in the cable television system, the second device being configured to determine a type for the intermediary device based on the modification to the first signal. The first device is one of a cable modem or a CMTS, and the second device is the other of the cable modem and the CMTS.

Abstract: A passive component for coupling to, and thereby tracking, an intermediary device within a cable television system is disclosed. The passive component includes a tracking circuit separate in functionality from an existing circuit of the intermediary device. The tracking circuit, which is unpowered and uncontrolled, receives a first signal from a first device in the cable television system, modifies the first signal to create a modified signal, and passes the modified first signal to a second device in the cable television system, the second device being configured to determine a type for the intermediary device based on the modification to the first signal. The first device is one of a cable modem or a CMTS, and the second device is the other of the cable modem and the CMTS.

Abstract: A system, method, and/or apparatus may track an intermediary device within a communications system. For example, a first signal may be transmitted from a first device in a communications system to the intermediary device in the communications system. The first signal from the first device may be modified (e.g., by a passive component of the intermediary device) to create a modified signal. The modified signal may be passed by the intermediary device to a second device in the communications system. The second device may be upstream or downstream from the first device and the intermediary device in the communications system. A type for the intermediary device may be determined based on the modification to the first signal. The second device may be configured to determine an identify of the first device associated with the intermediary device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap operably coupled to a CATV network, the CATV tap comprising a tap transceiver. Further, a CATV gateway device is operably coupled to the CATV tap and includes a gateway modem using a first communications standard to communicate with the CATV network, and a gateway transceiver operably coupled to the gateway modem and configured to communicate with the tap transceiver. The system further includes a first device operably coupled to the CATV tap and configured to send or receive device data. The device data includes control data for controlling the first device or monitoring data generated by the first device. The tap transceiver of the CATV tap is configured to communicate the device data between the first device and the gateway transceiver.

Abstract: A system, method, and/or apparatus may track an intermediary device within a communications system. For example, a first signal may be transmitted from a first device in a communications system to the intermediary device in the communications system. The first signal from the first device may be modified (e.g., by a passive component of the intermediary device) to create a modified signal. The modified signal may be passed by the intermediary device to a second device in the communications system. The second device may be upstream or downstream from the first device and the intermediary device in the communications system. A type for the intermediary device may be determined based on the modification to the first signal. The second device may be configured to determine an identify of the first device associated with the intermediary device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap-off device including a signal splitter communicably coupled to a tap-off access point and a first signal transceiver, the CATV tap-off device being configured to communicate a CATV signal with a CATV network through the splitter; and a CATV gateway device communicably coupled to the signal splitter through a first coaxial cable to communicate the CATV signal with the CATV tap-off device. The CATV gateway device is configured to split the CATV signal into a television signal and a baseband data signal. A second signal transceiver of the CATV gateway device is configured to communicate the baseband data signal as a transceiver signal over the first coaxial cable to the first signal transceiver. The tap-off access point is configured to wirelessly transmit a first wireless signal based on the transceiver signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap operably coupled to a CATV network, the CATV tap comprising a tap transceiver. Further, a CATV gateway device is operably coupled to the CATV tap and includes a gateway modem using a first communications standard to communicate with the CATV network, and a gateway transceiver operably coupled to the gateway modem and configured to communicate with the tap transceiver. The system further includes a first device operably coupled to the CATV tap and configured to send or receive device data. The device data includes control data for controlling the first device or monitoring data generated by the first device. The tap transceiver of the CATV tap is configured to communicate the device data between the first deice and the gateway transceiver.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap-off device including a signal splitter communicably coupled to a tap-off access point and a first signal transceiver, the CATV tap-off device being configured to communicate a CATV signal with a CATV network through the splitter; and a CATV gateway device communicably coupled to the signal splitter through a first coaxial cable to communicate the CATV signal with the CATV tap-off device. The CATV gateway device is configured to split the CATV signal into a television signal and a baseband data signal. A second signal transceiver of the CATV gateway device is configured to communicate the baseband data signal as a transceiver signal over the first coaxial cable to the first signal transceiver. The tap-off access point is configured to wirelessly transmit a first wireless signal based on the transceiver signal.

Abstract: A system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap-off device and a CATV gateway device. The tap-off device includes a signal splitter communicably coupled to a tap-off access point and a first signal transceiver and communicates a CATV signal with a CATV network through the splitter. The gateway device is communicably coupled to the signal splitter through a first coaxial cable to communicate the CATV signal with the tap-off device. The gateway device includes a second signal transceiver and is configured to split the CATV signal into a television signal and a baseband data signal. The second signal transceiver communicates the baseband data signal as a transceiver signal over the first coaxial cable to the first signal transceiver. The tap-off access point is configured to transmit a first wireless signal based on the transceiver signal.

Abstract: A system for providing data communication services includes a cable television (CATV) tap-off device and a CATV gateway device. The tap-off device includes a signal splitter communicably coupled to a tap-off access point and a first signal transceiver and communicates a CATV signal with a CATV network through the splitter. The gateway device is communicably coupled to the signal splitter through a first coaxial cable to communicate the CATV signal with the tap-off device. The gateway device includes a second signal transceiver and is configured to split the CATV signal into a television signal and a baseband data signal. The second signal transceiver communicates the baseband data signal as a transceiver signal over the first coaxial cable to the first signal transceiver. The tap-off access point is configured to transmit a first wireless signal based on the transceiver signal.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. “Virtual” channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. “Virtual” channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer.

Abstract: A system and method of presenting data from a plurality of data sources or objects which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each data to each prospective customer, and is used to produce a series of data which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer. The customer's profiles and/or the profiles of the data may be modified to reflect actual usage.

Abstract: An integrated solar roofing tile connection system for installing on a roof surface for converting solar energy into electrical energy includes a plurality of battens that each have a length and are mounted to the roof surface. The plurality of battens are generally parallel to and spaced from one another. A plurality of electrically connected female connectors mounted to each batten and spaced along the length of each batten. A plurality of photovoltaic roofing tiles are mounted to each batten. Each photovoltaic roofing tile has a tile base that has a first side surface, a second side surface and a top edge and a photovoltaic circuit. The photovoltaic circuit includes a plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells and first and second terminal ends. Each photovoltaic roofing tile includes a male connector that extends from the tile base. Each male connector at least partially exposes the first and second terminal ends.

Abstract: A photovoltaic roofing tile for installing on a roof surface and converting solar energy into electrical energy includes a tile base that has a first side surface, a second side surface and a top edge. A rigid contact support extends outwardly from the top edge of the tile base and is generally parallel with the first side surface of the tile base. A plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells are arranged on the first side surface of the tile base and forming of a photovoltaic circuit that has first and second terminal ends. A contact tab extends from the top edge of the tile base and along the contact support to form a male connector. The contact tab includes the first and second terminal ends, the first and second terminal ends being at least partially exposed on an outer surface of the male connector.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic roofing tile for installing on a roof surface and converting solar energy into electrical energy includes the steps of forming a generally flexible photovoltaic laminate, the laminate including a photovoltaic layer including plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells and a photovoltaic circuit electrically connecting the photovoltaic cells, inserting the laminate into a tile mold and injecting a molten thermoplastic material into the tile mold to form and fixedly attached a tile base to the laminate.

Abstract: System and method for providing personal videotelephony in which a plurality of videophones are connected to a communications network that is configured for transmitted video and audio communications. Each of the videophones typically includes a camera, display device, telephone keypad, speaker and microphone all of which are operatively connected. The videophones further include means for selectably receiving and transmitting signals over the communications network, which signals represent images and/or sound, and for selectably displaying the signals representing any received signals representing the images on the display screen, and for playing any received signals representing the sounds on said speaker. Means are also provided for selectably accessing a remote location, such as, but not limited to, another videophone, using information entered or selected by a user of the videophone, and to retrieve the signals representing the images and sounds being transmitted from the remote location.

Abstract: System and method for providing personal videotelephony in which a plurality of videophones are connected to a communications network that is configured for transmitted video and audio communications. Each of the videophones typically includes a camera, display device, telephone keypad, speaker and microphone all of which are operatively connected. The videophones further include means for selectably receiving and transmitting signals over the communications network, which signals represent images and/or sound, and for selectably displaying the signals representing any received signals representing the images on the display screen, and for playing any received signals representing the sounds on said speaker. Means are also provided for selectably accessing a remote location, such as, but not limited to, another videophone, using information entered or selected by a user of the videophone, and to retrieve the signals representing the images and sounds being transmitted from the remote location.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. “Virtual” channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. “Virtual” channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer.