Abstract: An optical fiber network can include an outdoor laser transceiver node that can be positioned in close proximity to the subscribers of an optical fiber network. The outdoor laser transceiver node does not require active cooling and heating devices that control the temperature surrounding the laser transceiver node. The laser transceiver node can adjust a subscriber's bandwidth on a subscription basis or on an as-needed basis. The laser transceiver node can also offer data bandwidth to the subscriber in preassigned increments. Additionally, the laser transceiver node lends itself to efficient upgrading that can be performed entirely on the network side. The laser transceiver node can also provide high speed symmetrical data transmission. Further, the laser transceiver node can utilize off-the-shelf hardware to generate optical signals such as Fabry-Perot (F-P) laser transmitters, distributed feed back lasers (DFB), or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).

Abstract: The present invention is generally drawn to optical network architecture that can include a multi-subscriber optical interface that can service a plurality of subscribers that are located in close proximity relative to one another. For example, the multi-subscriber optical interface can service multiple dwelling units such as an apartment complex that has many different subscribers to the optical network system. Further, the invention can also service subscribers over the same optical waveguide who may have different bandwidth needs, such as businesses, personal/home users and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for saving client/server socket state information to recoverable storage (disk, nonvolatile cache, tape, or other storage). After a server failure, upon recovery the server will be able to send out RSTs to inform remote clients of the server failure. The result is faster recovery for the remote clients that will be able to clean up and restart sockets/transactions as soon as the server side becomes active rather than waiting for a long timeout condition or for programmed or human intervention on the client/network side.

Abstract: A return path system includes inserting RF packets between regular upstream data packets, where the data packets are generated by communication devices such as a computer or internet telephone. The RF packets can be derived from analog RF signals that are produced by legacy video service terminals. In this way, the present invention can provide an RF return path for legacy terminals that shares a return path for regular data packets in an optical network architecture. The invention operates independently of a legacy upstream transmission timing scheme so that the legacy upstream transmission timing scheme can remain effective in preventing data collisions. In other embodiments, the present invention allows for less complex hardware for subscribers that are not taking data services. Further, an optical signal present line in combination with a driver may be employed in order to reduce the amount of hardware in a laser transceiver node.

Abstract: A return path system includes inserting RF packets between regular upstream data packets, where the data packets are generated by communication devices such as a computer or internet telephone. The RF packets can be derived from analog RF signals that are produced by legacy video service terminals. In this way, the present invention can provide an RF return path for legacy terminals that shares a return path for regular data packets in an optical network architecture.

Abstract: Methods of allowing a customer to access information related to an order of a commodity include entering the information into a central database, updating a content of a web-based application with the information within the central database, and allowing the customer to access the information via the web-based application. The information may include sales information, shipping information, tracing information, packout information, inventory information, and/or inspection information corresponding to the order of the commodity. Systems for allowing a customer to access information related to an order of a commodity include a server configured to store the information in a central database, one or more terminals having one or more applications configured to enter the information into the central database, and a web-based application configured to allow the customer to access the information within the central database.

Abstract: An optical fiber network can include an outdoor bandwidth transforming node that can be positioned in close proximity to the subscribers of an optical fiber network. The outdoor bandwidth transforming node does not require active cooling and heating devices that control the temperature surrounding the bandwidth transforming node. The bandwidth transforming node can adjust a subscriber's bandwidth on a subscription basis or on an as-needed basis. The bandwidth transforming node can also offer data bandwidth to the subscriber in preassigned increments. Additionally, the bandwidth transforming node lends itself to efficient upgrading that can be performed entirely on the network side. The bandwidth transforming node can also provide high speed symmetrical data transmission. Further, the bandwidth transforming node can increase upstream and downstream bandwidth and transmission speed by propagating data signals at different wavelengths.

Abstract: A modification to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) can include instructing the CMTS to ignore or skip steps of its timing algorithm so that upstream cable modem signals are controlled only by the upstream protocol of the optical network system. According to another exemplary aspect, a time stamp can be added to the upstream cable modem signals so that the CTMS timing scheme can be used. This time stamp can be used in the data service hub to adjust for the delays that occur while the upstream cable modem signals are sent across the optical network. Another adjustment of the CMTS timing scheme can include using less than a total number of miniature time slots for upstream cable modem transmissions. According to another exemplary aspect, a cable modem termination system can be positioned within a laser transceiver node or a subscriber optical interface.

Abstract: An inventive system capable of being utilized in environments where laser transceiver nodes may be subject to extreme temperatures. Temperature changes in the laser transceiver nodes may be compensated for by utilizing a wide wavelength channel allocation for data sent upstream from the laser transceiver nodes to the data service hub. The wavelength channel allocations for upstream data may be wider than the wavelength channel allocations for downstream data. An exemplary embodiment of the inventive system may comprise a data service hub connected to one or more laser transceiver nodes by one or more optical waveguides. Some embodiments with multiple optical waveguides are capable of practicing route redundancy. According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive system, the optical waveguides are capable of carrying multiple optical signals at different wavelengths in order to serve a plurality of laser transceiver nodes.

Abstract: An optical fiber network can include an outdoor laser transceiver node that can be positioned in close proximity to the subscribers of an optical fiber network. The outdoor laser transceiver node does not require active cooling and heating devices that control the temperature surrounding the laser transceiver node. The laser transceiver node can adjust a subscriber's bandwidth on a subscription basis or on an as-needed basis. The laser transceiver node can also offer data bandwidth to the subscriber in preassigned increments. Additionally, the laser transceiver node lends itself to efficient upgrading that can be performed entirely on the network side. The laser transceiver node can also provide high speed symmetrical data transmission. Further, the laser transceiver node can utilize off-the-shelf hardware to generate optical signals such as Fabry-Perot (F-P) laser transmitters, distributed feed back lasers (DFB), or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).

Abstract: Subscribers to Internet Protocol TV services usually complain about one key characteristic—the additional delay digital video introduces when subscribers change channels, especially when subscribers “channel surf.” The problem is traced to at least three sources of delay in a convention Internet Protocol video deployment system. The channel changing delay can be minimized by caching video packets for the most likely next channel in a buffer in anticipation of a television subscriber changing channels and/or by having an adaptable buffer length in the set top box.

Abstract: Optical networks as defined by the IEEE 802.3ah standard suffer from Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) that causes data transmission at a first optical wavelength to interfere with broadcast video transmission at a second optical wavelength in single mode optical fibers. The problem is exacerbated when data is not being transmitted across the network; and instead, an idle pattern transmission is being transmitted in order to keep the network synchronized. The repetitive nature of the idle pattern transmission leads to the SRS optical interference effect. This optical interference effect is mitigated when countermeasures are implemented to modify the idle pattern transmissions or to transmit random data in place of the idle pattern transmissions.

Abstract: An optical network can include a data service hub, a laser transceiver node, and a subscriber optical interface. The data service hub can comprise a satellite antenna and a RF receiver for receiving satellite TV-band electrical signals. These electrical signals can be converted into the optical domain and then propagated over the optical network through optical waveguides to the subscriber optical interface. The subscriber optical interface can comprise an optical filter and a satellite analog optical receiver. The optical filter can separate the satellite TV-band optical signals having a first optical wavelength from other optical signals such as cable TV-band optical signals with a second optical wavelength and data optical signals with a third optical wavelength. The satellite analog optical receiver can further comprise various mechanisms for controlling access to the satellite TV-band signals.

Abstract: The filling of a syringe can be performed at a faster rate using a filling sequence which expels air from the fill tube before filling the syringe. A similar method is used when changing contrast containers during a filling sequence to ensure that all the air is expelled from the fill tube before filling resumes with the new contrast container. Additionally, by including a contrast container holder that is affixed to an injector head and holds the container near the syringe tip, the filling sequence can be accomplished without requiring the operator to hold the contrast container during the sequence.

Abstract: A return path system includes inserting RF packets between regular upstream data packets, where the data packets are generated by communication devices such as a computer or internet telephone. The RF packets can be derived from analog RF signals that are produced by legacy video service terminals. At a data service hub, a digitized-RF-to-packet converter (DRPC) can convert the RF packets into standard sized packets such as Ethernet packets for processing by a video services controller. In this way, the present invention can provide an RF return path for legacy terminals that shares a return path for regular data packets in an optical network architecture.

Abstract: An optical fiber network can include an outdoor laser transceiver node that can be positioned in close proximity to the subscribers of an optical fiber network. The outdoor laser transceiver node does not require active cooling and heating devices that control the temperature surrounding the laser transceiver node. The laser transceiver node can adjust a subscriber's bandwidth on a subscription basis or on an as-needed basis. The laser transceiver node can also offer data bandwidth to the subscriber in preassigned increments. Additionally, the laser transceiver node lends itself to efficient upgrading that can be performed entirely on the network side. The laser transceiver node can also provide high speed symmetrical data transmission. Further, the laser transceiver node can utilize off-the-shelf hardware to generate optical signals such as Fabry-Perot (F-P) laser transmitters, distributed feed back lasers (DFB), or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).

Abstract: An apparatus (7) for switching from a first pilot signal and a second pilot signal on a system transporting a plurality of signals. A tuner (30) receives the signals and provides an output signal to a loop compensation circuit (26). The tuner includes a bandpass filter (22) for removing signals other than the selected pilot signal from the output of the tuner. The output of the bandpass filter is provided to a detector circuit (24, 25). The output of the detector is compared with a reference signal (28) by the loop compensation circuit (28). A microcontroller (39) sends a tuning command to the tuner which causes the tuner to switch from tuning to the first pilot signal to tuning to the second pilot signal and also sends a new reference voltage to the loop compensation circuit. Thus, if the input signal changes from analog to digital modulation on the pilot channel, the set-point, or target level of the reference signal, will automatically change to provide the correct value for operation of the circuit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved scrambler capable of self-calibrating output signals. In one embodiment, the scrambler provides an encoded signal along separate signal pulses. A portion of one signal is made to correspond to a portion of another signal to thereby self-calibrate the signals. Also, portions of the incoming video signal are forced to correspond with internally generated voltage level signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inversion scrambler and unscrambler having pseudo-randomly controlled polarity-reversing switches to invert and re-invert, respectively, an audio signal so as to restrict the intelligent dissemination of the audio signal. To improve security of the scrambled signal, the audio signal is concealed prior to scrambling. Concealment includes clamping the original audio signal to a predetermined value and optionally offsetting this clamped signal prior to scrambling. The concealed signal is scrambled by inverting contiguous portions of the signal at pseudo-random intervals, accomplished by a polarity-reversing switching network controlled by a pseudo-random code generator. Upon unscrambling, artifacts will appear at the inversion points of the unscrambling signal, due to bandwidth limitations inherent in any transmission path.

Abstract: A cable television system is disclosed wherein a subscriber can select a program to view at the last minute and pay for only those programs that are viewed. The system includes a plurality of remote taps which are operative to receive the television signals from a headend office and either supply or deny certain of those signals to a subscriber at his request. The taps will transmit billing information regarding the programs supplied to the subscriber along the cable. At the end of the cable or at other predetermined locations the signals from a plurality of taps are collected and either stored or recovered by the headend. The transmission can be accomplished using a modem or a dedicated wire.