Abstract: A method uses circuitry in a data interface that provides telephony service over a high-speed network to detect the presence of a secondary source of VBH battery voltage on a tip-ring system. If a detected source other than the data interface is impressing battery voltage on the tip-ring system, the circuitry disconnects the data interface's battery source and produces a message that another source is VBH. The determination that another source is present may be based on a threshold value to account for noise. The message is used to produce an alarm at a user interface device. The alarm may be a light indication mounted on the data interface. The alarm may also be a web page that is retrieved from a memory device and displayed on a PC, a PDA or the data interface. The alarm may be provided locally and remotely to a provider's server.

Abstract: A software routine that writes downloaded updated operating system software over existing application code to flash memory of a cable modem in an inverted arrangement. If the download process is interrupted before the update can be verified, a pointer still points to the existing code to facilitate update-interruption recovery. After verifying a successful update, a new pointer is generated that points to the updated operating system. Then, updated application code can be downloaded and stored in the flash memory over the old operating system code. Thus, each time an update is performed, the location of the operating system within the flash memory with respect to the location of the application code is inverted. This allows the size of flash memory to be reduced, as only one copy of the operating system and application code must be stored, while retaining capability to recovery from an incomplete download.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transparent depth sorting are described. In accordance with one embodiment, multiple depth buffers are utilized to sort depth data associated with multiple transparent pixels that overlie one another. The sorting of the depth data enables identification of an individual transparent pixel that lies closest to an associated opaque pixel. With the closest individual transparent pixel being identified, the transparency effect of the identified pixel relative to the associated opaque pixel is computed. If additional overlying transparent pixels remain, a next closest transparent pixel relative to the opaque pixel is identified and, for the next closest pixel, the transparency effect is computed relative to the transparency effect that was just computed.

Abstract: A method uses circuitry in a data interface that provides telephony service over a high-speed network to detect the presence of a secondary source of VBH battery voltage on a tip-ring system. If a detected source other than the data interface is impressing battery voltage on the tip-ring system, the circuitry disconnects the data interface's battery source and produces a message that another source is VBH. The determination that another source is present may be based on a threshold value to account for noise.

Abstract: A software routine that writes downloaded updated operating system software over existing application code to flash memory of a cable modem in an inverted arrangement. If the download process is interrupted before the update can be verified, a pointer still points to the existing code to facilitate update-interruption recovery. After verifying a successful update, a new pointer is generated that points to the updated operating system. Then, updated application code can be downloaded and stored in the flash memory over the old operating system code.