Patents by Inventor Donald C. Sorenson

Donald C. Sorenson 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: 8363679
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of Ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each has guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. As a local network, the architecture supports guaranteed bandwidth for delivery of data flows to a plurality of host devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, Jr., Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7933288
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, Jr., Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7801119
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, LLC
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, Jr., Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7729379
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Each downstream data flow is fragmented into individual octets that are multiplexed into MPEG packets. An MPEG packet may carry the octets for a plurality of individual data flows. Furthermore, the MPEG packets may be frequency-division multiplexed across and may be contemporaneously communicated over a plurality of frequency channels. Also, the octets from a data flow do not necessarily have to use consecutive octets in an MPEG packet. Instead, consecutive octets in an MPEG packet may carry information for two different data flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Richard J. Futch
  • Publication number: 20090196205
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, JR., Lamar E. West, JR.
  • Patent number: 7519081
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of providing a client with local area network connectivity and access to other services in a cable network. One such method includes: allocating bandwidth in the network to support bi-directional data communication between the host and a central concentrator. Bandwidth is allocated for a downstream flow on at least one downstream frequency channel based on a mapping between the downstream flow and a particular octet in a downstream packet. Bandwidth is allocated for an upstream flow on at least one non-shared upstream tone. The method also includes conveying a bi-directional data flow between the host and the concentrator over the allocated bandwidth, including conveying the upstream flow using the allocated bandwidth and conveying the downstream flow using the allocated bandwidth. The method also includes utilizing bandwidth in the network not allocated to data communications to provide the host with at least one audio/visual service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, Jr., Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7336680
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie, Jr., Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040264974
    Abstract: A baseband burst mode optical transmitter for receiving reverse electrical signals and for providing a reverse optical signal. The baseband burst mode optical transmitter includes an analog-to-digital converter and a framer/encoder circuit for adding a synchronization word and a start-of-data word to the reverse digital signals. Additionally, a carrier detect circuit is included for detecting the presence of a carrier signal included in the reverse electrical signals, whereby when the carrier detect circuit detects the presence of the carrier signal, the optical transmitter transmits optical signals (i.e., optical signals are only transmitted if the reverse electrical signals include the carrier signal). A baseband burst mode optical receiver receives the optical signals and strips the synchronization word and start-of-data word from the digital signals and then converts the signals back to analog signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Donald C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 6714598
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a burst-mode combiner (BMC) typically located within a headend facility for transmitting received reverse signals to a specific application device dependent upon the presence of a carrier signal. The BMC includes BMC circuits that are each coupled to reverse receivers. The BMC circuits filter the reverse signals into specific frequencies. A carrier detect circuit detects the presence of a carrier signal, and when detected, allows the delayed reverse signals to be transmitted through to the application device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Lamar E. West, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030202613
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a burst-mode combiner (BMC) typically located within a headend facility for transmitting received reverse signals to a specific application device dependent upon the presence of a carrier signal. The BMC includes BMC circuits that are each coupled to reverse receivers. The BMC circuits filter the reverse signals into specific frequencies. A carrier detect circuit detects the presence of a carrier signal, and when detected, allows the delayed reverse signals to be transmitted through to the application device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Donald C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20030121056
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for reducing the amount of ingress noise that is present in the reverse path of a two-way communication network. The present invention employs intelligent dynamic switches (200) that determine whether desirable reverse signals are present at that point in the network. If so, the reverse signals, which also probably include some amount of ingress noise, are allowed to pass further upstream. If no desirable reverse signals are present at that point in the network, the IDS (200) blocks the transmission of any reverse signal further upstream, thereby blocking the transmission of any ingress signals. Although ingress noise is allowed to travel upstream with desirable reverse signals, the performance of the overall network is improved because ingress signals are blocked at various points in the network, thereby reducing the total amount of cumulative ingress noise signals that would otherwise be present in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, David M. Job, Lamar E. West
  • Publication number: 20030058885
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie,, Lamar E. West,
  • Publication number: 20030058890
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, a clock carried in downstream packets is used to provide network clocking to the remote devices. With accurate delivery of network stratum clocking, the architecture supports circuit emulation service to provide N×56/N×64 interfaces to customer premises equipment. The downstream packets carrying network clocking may utilize the MPEG packet format, and the clock may be an MPEG program clock reference (PCR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: John A. Ritchie,, Jiening Ao, Donald C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20030053493
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Also, the modulation indices of various upstream frequency channels may be different, but a plurality of upstream channels may be used to carry a single data flow generally in parallel. The upstream data flow is fragmented into blocks and formed into superframes to allow transmission over at least one upstream frequency channel. When a plurality of upstream frequency channels are utilized, the superframes facilitate the possibility of having different modulation indices on the plurality of frequency channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph Graham Mobley, Jiening Ao, John A. Ritchie, Donald C. Sorenson, Lamar E. West
  • Publication number: 20030053484
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Jiening Ao, Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell, Florin Farcas, Richard J. Futch, Joseph Graham Mobley, John A. Ritchie,, Lamar E. West,
  • Publication number: 20030053476
    Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Each downstream data flow is fragmented into individual octets that are multiplexed into MPEG packets. An MPEG packet may carry the octets for a plurality of individual data flows. Furthermore, the MPEG packets may be frequency-division multiplexed across and may be contemporaneously communicated over a plurality of frequency channels. Also, the octets from a data flow do not necessarily have to use consecutive octets in an MPEG packet. Instead, consecutive octets in an MPEG packet may carry information for two different data flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald C. Sorenson, Richard J. Futch
  • Patent number: 5799062
    Abstract: A system or method for interconnecting a security system with a telephone system. The system comprises one or more lockout modules that are connected between non-priority telephone devices and a telephone line. A security panel is directly connected to the telephone line. The lockout modules comprise a switch means for disconnecting the telephone device attached thereto from the telephone line when the security panel connects to the telephone line. The lockout modules further comprise a latch device that gives the first non-priority telephone device to connect to the line exclusive use of the line against other non-priority telephone devices. The lockout module further comprises a circuit that inhibits the reconnection of the telephone devices to the line to allow the security panel to recover a high and dry telephone line. The lockout module may be modified to include a switch that allows other non-priority telephone devices to share the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Allsop, Inc.
    Inventors: Sal Lazzara, Donald C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5642002
    Abstract: A broadband communications network having an uninterruptible power supply. The power supply has one input connection to AC line voltage and another input connected to a gas powered electrical generator. The power supply contains an uninterruptible power supply module having a controlled ferroresonant transformer and a battery. The power supply also contains a bypass module having a controlled ferroresonant transformer. Switches are provided to allow either of the inputs to be connected to either the UPS module or the bypass module for the generation of power signals for supplying power to the broadband communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Alpha Technologies
    Inventors: Fereydoun Mekanik, Donald C. Sorenson, Gregory Scott Zediker, Thomas S. Osterman
  • Patent number: 5638244
    Abstract: A broadband communications network having an uninterruptible power supply. The power supply has one input connected to AC line voltage and another input connected to a gas powered electrical generator. The power supply contains an uninterruptible power supply module having a controlled ferroresonant transformer and a battery. The power supply also contains a bypass module having a controlled ferroresonant transformer. Switches are provided to allow either of the inputs to be connected to either the UPS module or the bypass module for the generation of power signals for supplying power to the broadband communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Alpha Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fereydoun Mekanik, Donald C. Sorenson, Gregory S. Zediker, Thomas S. Osterman