Abstract: A control terminal such as a CMTS is initialize to receive packets of voice calls having parameters including a bit rate, a packetization interval, and a call identification. A plurality of queues is created to define a corresponding plurality of phases at a sub-multiple of the packetization interval. Voice calls are admitted to the control terminal. The voice calls are distributed among the queues in a predetermined order as the voice calls are admitted and the voice calls removed from the queues as the voice calls are terminated. USGs are periodically issued at the phases defined by the queues. The USGs include a call identification and a grant of bandwidth sufficient to transmit the packets.

Abstract: A method and system for combing requests for data bandwidth by a data provider for transmission of data over an asynchronous communication medium is provided. A headend receives one or more bandwidths requests from one or more cable modems via upstream communication. A scheduler then combines one or more bandwidths requests from the same cable modem to create a single data burst bandwidth. The headend then grants the data burst bandwidth to the appropriate cable modem via downstream communication.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the efficiency of providing bandwidth for voice traffic to a data provider via asynchronous communication mediums is provided. This is generally accomplished by not transmitting any data during the silence periods and playing out background noise (i.e., comfort noise) at the other end, to obtain significant bandwidth savings.

Abstract: A multi-source data multiplexing system that accepts information packets from a plurality of signal sources, evaluates the relative efficiencies of data transmission, and transmits the information packets in provided grant regions for maximum efficiency. The multi-source data multiplexing system may accept any form of information packet from any form of signal source. The system receives a grant region, typically comprising a transmission time on a data channel, and inserts a information packet into the grant region. The actual information packet placed in the grant region may be one other than the packet for which the grant region was intended. Further, the multi-source data multiplexing system may fragment an information packet and transmit only a portion of the information packet in the grant region.

Abstract: A multi-source data multiplexing system that accepts information packets from a plurality of signal sources, evaluates the relative efficiencies of data transmission, and transmits the information packets in provided grant regions for maximum efficiency. The multi-source data multiplexing system may accept any form of information packet from any form of signal source. The system receives a grant region, typically comprising a transmission time on a data channel, and inserts a information packet into the grant region. The actual information packet placed in the grant region may be one other than the packet for which the grant region was intended. Further, the multi-source data multiplexing system may fragment an information packet and transmit only a portion of the information packet in the grant region.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) monitors and controls communications with a plurality of optical nodes (ONs), such as optical network units (ONUs) and/or optical network terminators (ONTs), within a passive optical network (PON), such as, but not exclusively, an Ethernet-based passive optical node (EPON). A tagging mechanism is implemented to identify an origin ON that introduces a frame into the PON segment linking the origin ON with the OLT. The origin ON produces a PON tag to associate its identifier (ON_ID) to the frame. The PON tag facilitates filtering and forwarding operations, and enables the physical layer interface (PHY) to the PON segment to emulate a point-to-point and/or shared communications link. The PON tag allows a MAC control layer to create virtual ports to traffic incoming and outgoing optical signals, and supply the virtual ports to a forwarding entity for frame filtering and forwarding.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) monitors and controls communications with a plurality of optical nodes (ONs), such as optical network units (ONUs) and/or optical network terminators (ONTs), within a passive optical network (PON), such as, but not exclusively, an Ethernet-based passive optical node (EPON). A tagging mechanism is implemented to identify an origin ON that introduces a frame into the PON segment linking the origin ON with the OLT. The origin ON produces a PON tag to associate its identifier (ON_ID) to the frame. The PON tag facilitates filtering and forwarding operations, and enables the physical layer interface (PHY) to the PON segment to emulate a point-to-point and/or shared communications link. The PON tag allows a MAC control layer to create virtual ports to traffic incoming and outgoing optical signals, and supply the virtual ports to a forwarding entity for frame filtering and forwarding.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) monitors and controls communications with a plurality of optical nodes (ONs), such as optical network units (ONUs) and/or optical network terminators (ONTs), within a passive optical network (PON), such as, but not exclusively, an Ethernet-based passive optical node (EPON). A tagging mechanism is implemented to identify an origin ON that introduces a frame into the PON segment linking the origin ON with the OLT. The origin ON produces a PON tag to associate its identifier (ON_ID) to the frame. The PON tag facilitates filtering and forwarding operations, and enables the physical layer interface (PHY) to the PON segment to emulate a point-to-point and/or shared communications link. The PON tag allows a MAC control layer to create virtual ports to traffic incoming and outgoing optical signals, and supply the virtual ports to a forwarding entity for frame filtering and forwarding.

Abstract: A supervisory communications node monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote devices throughout a widely distributed network. A method, system, and computer program product are provided to convey and maintain information used to synchronize the packetization and burst operations within the network. During session setup, jitter constraints indirectly are used to explicitly communicate a synchronization timing reference. The timing reference is set at the beginning of a phase/period boundary used to service the session. In an embodiment, the announcement of the first grant is used as an explicit indication of the synchronization timing reference value. In another embodiment, the synchronization timing reference value is inferred if a remote device receives contiguous voice grants meeting certain conditions. In an embodiment implementing periodic scheduling, the actual arrival of the first grant is used to infer the synchronization timing reference value.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing time between a centralized controller device and at least one subscriber device on an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON). The MAC control layer of an EPON device is expanded, and additional messaging control is added via the transmission of Ethernet frames. The expansion prevents reliance on a physical layer signal. The time synchronization also allows a time stamp to be incorporated into a message. Thus, bandwidth is not wasted by simply transmitting a time stamp by itself. In an embodiment, the centralized controller device measures the time difference between the time at which a particular ranging request is transmitted and the time at which the particular ranging request is received. The time difference represents the time adjustment value for the particular subscriber device and allows the device to synchronize its time with that of the centralized controller device.

Abstract: A system and method for management of bandwidth in a fiber optic, ethernet-based, TDMA communications system. A request/grant process is used to control the use of upstream bandwidth. A sense of time must therefore be shared by a headend and remote end-user devices. The invention provides for a gigabit media-independent interface in a media access controller to detect start-of-frame delimiters in incoming data. This allows for synchronization of a headend and end-user devices. The invention also allows for phase locking a transmit bit rate, at a headend, to the headend's clock. Transmitted data can the be used downstream to derive a local clock. Synchronization can also be maintained by the use of synchronization bytes in MPEG frames and/or variable length frames. Efficient bandwidth usage can also be facilitated by the use of maximum data units in allocating bandwidth in unsolicited grants, and by allowing flexible fragmentation and/or prioritization of internet protocol (IP) packets.

Abstract: A system for management of bandwidth, cost control, and operational efficiency in a fiber optic, ethernet-based, TDMA communications system. The invention features an aggregating optical node between a central office and end users. The optical spectrum is divided according to end user, direction (i.e., upstream or downstream), and/or according to function (e.g., video or non-video). In an embodiment of the invention, a wavelength coupler can be used to couple multiple upstream wavelengths from respective end-user devices, for forwarding to a central office. Moreover, adaptive equalization can be used for noise cancellation purposes.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for management of bandwidth, quality of service, and operational efficiency with respect to delivery of video in a fiber optic, ethernet-based, TDMA communications system. An optical node is placed between a hub and the user, and functionality is placed at the optical node to facilitate the provision of user services. The invention allows improved access to video by buffering a sequence of frames at the optical node. When a user accesses a channel part way through a transmission, a group of pictures starting with the initial frame will be available, and no frames will have been missed. Moreover, the function of responding to a user's command to switch channels is placed at the optical node, instead of at a more distant hub. This improves responsiveness to such commands. Also, when a user repeatedly attempts to access different sequences of frames (“channel surfing”), the optical node will detect such repeated access.

Abstract: A fiber optic, ethernet-based, TDMA communications system that addresses issues of cost, quality of service, and operational efficiency. An aggregating optical node is placed between a hub and end users. This allows the use of less expensive lasers, and permits a variety of connection topologies (e.g., fast ethernet point-to-point, shared broadcast, and gigabit ethernet) between the optical node and the end users. The use of an optical node also allows allocation of certain functions (e.g., bandwidth allocation) to the optical node. Moreover, an adaptive equalizer can be used in conjunction with any laser in the system to improve its signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: A method and system for combing requests for data bandwidth by a data provider for transmission of data over an asynchronous communication medium is provided. A headend receives one or more bandwidths requests from one or more cable modems via upstream communication. A scheduler then combines one or more bandwidths requests from the same cable modem to create a single data burst bandwidth. The headend then grants the data burst bandwidth to the appropriate cable modem via downstream communication.

Abstract: Classification of packets into flows is an inherent operation performed by networks that support enhanced services. To support multiple-dimensional packet classification, a packet classification system is provided to select representative bits from a packet to look up a set of rules. The per-flow classification works with a large set of rules, where each rule comprises of multiple fields and also allows fast dynamic variation in the rule set. A lookup process includes a simple and finite set of instructions that can be efficiently implemented as pipelined hardware and support very high packet arrival rates.

Abstract: A system and method for a generalized packet header suppression mechanism is described. This mechanism is implemented via a descriptor table. An exact copy of the descriptor table is stored in both the sender and receiver of packets via a communication medium. Entries in the descriptor table provide the information necessary to both suppress and expand the headers of well-known packets. The sender of the packet uses the descriptor table to suppress the packet header prior to transmitting the packet over the communication medium. When the packet reaches the receiver, the receiver uses the descriptor table to expand or reconstruct the packet header. This procedure results in less bandwidth required to transmit well-known messages because known header data is not transmitted via the medium, thereby not wasting bandwidth. The suppression mechanism allows the complete suppression of the header of a packet (as opposed to the traditional payload suppression) by a shorter message descriptor.

Abstract: A system and method for guaranteeing a delay jitter bound when scheduling bandwidth grants for voice calls via a communication medium is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining the delay jitter bound; based on the determined delay jitter bound, dividing a packetization frame period into phases; assigning a voice call to one of the phases; and scheduling a bandwidth grant to the voice call during the assigned phase, thereby guaranteeing the delay jitter bound. The system includes a scheduler, where the scheduler determines the delay jitter bound, divides a packetization frame period into phases based on the determined delay jitter bound, assigns a voice call to one of the phases, and schedules a bandwidth grant to the voice call during the assigned phase, thereby guaranteeing the delay jitter bound. A dejitter buffer implements a way to provide zero jitter service, even though the packet transmission on the cable network has jitter, by delaying the packet and thus converting jitter into delay.

Abstract: A control terminal such as a CMTS is initialized to receive packets of voice calls having parameters including a bit rate, a packetization interval, and a call identification. A plurality of queues is created to define a corresponding plurality of phases at a sub-multiple of the packetization interval. Voice calls are admitted to the control terminal. The voice calls are distributed among the queues in a predetermined order as the voice calls are admitted and the voice calls removed from the queues as the voice calls are terminated. USGs are periodically issued at the phases defined by the queues. The USGs include a call identification and a grant of bandwidth sufficient to transmit the packets.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the efficiency of providing bandwidth for voice traffic to a data provider via asynchronous communication mediums is provided. This is generally accomplished by not transmitting any data during the silence periods and playing out background noise (i.e., comfort noise) at the other end, to obtain significant bandwidth savings.