Patents by Inventor Lawrence D. Wolcott

Lawrence D. Wolcott 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: 10187397
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to determine whether a non-linear signal impairment is present in a network communication channel. For instance, a computing device may transmit equalization coefficients to a user device to modify future signals generated by the user device. If the equalization coefficients are unable to reduce a signal impairment, the signal impairment may be a non-linear signal impairment. The computing device may generate symbol placements based on signals received from the user device and transmit status messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Publication number: 20190014579
    Abstract: A wired network may be used to carry signals for a wireless network, in a frequency-shifted manner, to extend the range of the wireless network. A wired network may detect signal interference emanating from a wireless service provider, and received through a leak in the wired network's infrastructure. Devices may be installed or leveraged in the vicinity of the interference to extend the wireless service to geographic areas that may have poor reception. The devices may amplify wireless downstream signals and transmit them wireles sly, and may receive upstream wireless communications and transmit them upstream in the wired network's protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Kevin Johns
  • Publication number: 20180198798
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to determine whether a non-linear signal impairment is present in a network communication channel. For instance, a computing device may transmit equalization coefficients to a user device to modify future signals generated by the user device. If the equalization coefficients are unable to reduce a signal impairment, the signal impairment may be a non-linear signal impairment. The computing device may generate symbol placements based on signals received from the user device and transmit status messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Patent number: 9888475
    Abstract: A wired network may be used to carry signals for a wireless network, in a frequency-shifted manner, to extend the range of the wireless network. A wired network may detect signal interference emanating from a wireless service provider, and received through a leak in the wired network's infrastructure. Devices may be installed or leveraged in the vicinity of the interference to extend the wireless service to geographic areas that may have poor reception. The devices may amplify wireless downstream signals and transmit them wirelessly, and may receive upstream wireless communications and transmit them upstream in the wired network's protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Kevin Johns
  • Publication number: 20170094661
    Abstract: A wired network may be used to carry signals for a wireless network, in a frequency-shifted manner, to extend the range of the wireless network. A wired network may detect signal interference emanating from a wireless service provider, and received through a leak in the wired network's infrastructure. Devices may be installed or leveraged in the vicinity of the interference to extend the wireless service to geographic areas that may have poor reception. The devices may amplify wireless downstream signals and transmit them wirelessly, and may receive upstream wireless communications and transmit them upstream in the wired network's protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Kevin Johns
  • Patent number: 9602518
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Patent number: 9537680
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided in which a network induces different distortions in signals traversing different segments of the network. The distortions may be used to identify locations on the network of devices that transmit and receive the signals. The distortions may be reflected in equalization coefficients programmed into transmitting or receiving devices, which may be used to pre or post filter the signals to compensate for the distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang, Bryan Scott Johnston
  • Patent number: 9479515
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for determining a location of an error source. Equalization coefficients may be retrieved and an average period of time between localized peak amplitudes may be determined. The average period of time may be multiplied by a velocity of propagation associated with a communication channel to determine an approximate location of the error source. The equalization coefficients may correspond to the inverse of the frequency response associated with the communication channel and may be updated over time using replacement or combination (e.g., convolution) techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Philip F. Chang
  • Patent number: 9473613
    Abstract: A wired network may be used to carry signals for a wireless network, in a frequency-shifted manner, to extend the range of the wireless network. A wired network may detect signal interference emanating from a wireless service provider, and received through a leak in the wired network's infrastructure. Devices may be installed or leveraged in the vicinity of the interference to extend the wireless service to geographic areas that may have poor reception. The devices may amplify wireless downstream signals and transmit them wirelessly, and may receive upstream wireless communications and transmit them upstream in the wired network's protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Kevin Johns
  • Patent number: 9444719
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and locating ingress of an over-the-air signal into a wired communications network. Computing devices located in a plurality of different areas may be configured to identify amplitude of signals transmitted over the wired communications network as it varies by signal frequency. In one embodiment, the system may determine expected amplitude of the over-the-air signal at the plurality of different areas. In other embodiments, the system may identify amplitudes received over the wired communication path at the computing devices. The system may determine a location at which the over-the-air signal has entered the wired communications network based on a comparison of the identified and expected amplitudes of the over-the-wire signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Philip Chang, Wilfredo Colon, Paras Kharwal
  • Patent number: 9438605
    Abstract: An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Patent number: 9386025
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Publication number: 20150326464
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a network are disclosed. One method can comprise determining a parameter for each of a plurality of devices, generating a signature for each of the plurality of devices based upon the determined parameters, comparing the signatures of two or more of the plurality of devices, and grouping the plurality of devices based upon the comparison of the signatures of the two or more of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Jonathan A. Leech, Nicholas A. Pinckernell
  • Publication number: 20150256430
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided in which a network induces different distortions in signals traversing different segments of the network. The distortions may be used to identify locations on the network of devices that transmit and receive the signals. The distortions may be reflected in equalization coefficients programmed into transmitting or receiving devices, which may be used to pre or post filter the signals to compensate for the distortions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang, Bryan Scott Johnston
  • Patent number: 9065554
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a network are disclosed. One method can comprise determining a parameter for each of a plurality of devices, generating a signature for each of the plurality of devices based upon the determined parameters, comparing the signatures of two or more of the plurality of devices, and grouping the plurality of devices based upon the comparison of the signatures of the two or more of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Jonathan A. Leech, Nicholas A. Pinckernell
  • Patent number: 8971394
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided in which a network induces different distortions in signals traversing different segments of the network. The distortions may be used to identify locations on the network of devices that transmit and receive the signals. The distortions may be reflected in equalization coefficients programmed into transmitting or receiving devices, which may be used to pre or post filter the signals to compensate for the distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang, Bryan Scott Johnston
  • Publication number: 20150046982
    Abstract: An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Publication number: 20150029869
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and locating ingress of an over-the-air signal into a wired communications network. Computing devices located in a plurality of different areas may be configured to identify amplitude of signals transmitted over the wired communications network as it varies by signal frequency. In one embodiment, the system may determine expected amplitude of the over-the-air signal at the plurality of different areas. In other embodiments, the system may identify amplitudes received over the wired communication path at the computing devices. The system may determine a location at which the over-the-air signal has entered the wired communications network based on a comparison of the identified and expected amplitudes of the over-the-wire signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Philip Chang, Wilfredo Colon, Paras Kharwal
  • Patent number: 8856535
    Abstract: An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang
  • Publication number: 20140241409
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wolcott, Phillip F. Chang