Patents by Inventor Neil C. Robertson

Neil C. Robertson 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: 8230470
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 8094640
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7928883
    Abstract: Multiple digital signals from a single integrated circuit (IC) may be provided. The IC may receive an analog signal comprising a plurality of channels, convert the analog signal to a digital signal, and provide the digital signal to a plurality of digital channel tuners. The tuners may each select one of the plurality of channels and provide the selected channels as a plurality of digital output signals. A signal conditioner may be used to prepare the analog signal for digitization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez, Leo Montreuil
  • Patent number: 7916709
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7908625
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing downstream signals to a plurality of receiver networks. A receiver network (i.e., a networked multimedia system) includes a splitter/isolation module (SIM), a primary set-top terminal (STT), and at least one remote device. The remote devices communicate with the primary STT via the SIM over coaxial cable. Accordingly, the remote devices utilize some or all of the features including hardware and software that are included in the primary STT via the networked multimedia system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, David B. Lett, Samuel H. Russ, Bohdan S. Prus, Michael A. Gaul, Ajith N. Nair
  • Patent number: 7865925
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g., in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20100231794
    Abstract: Multiple digital signals from a single integrated circuit (IC) may be provided. The IC may receive an analog signal comprising a plurality of channels, convert the analog signal to a digital signal, and provide the digital signal to a plurality of digital channel tuners. The tuners may each select one of the plurality of channels and provide the selected channels as a plurality of digital output signals. A signal conditioner may be used to prepare the analog signal for digitization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez, Leo Montreuil
  • Publication number: 20090083819
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g., in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7487532
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20080148325
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20040068753
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing television services and/or presentations to a plurality of televisions located at a customer premises. One such method, among others, includes: receiving by a set-top terminal (STT) located at a customer premises, via a transmission link that is coupled to the STT, a television service that was transmitted from a remote location, and transmitting the television service by the STT, via the transmission link, to a television that is located at the customer premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, David B. Lett, Jose M. Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20040068747
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing downstream signals to a plurality of receiver networks. A receiver network (i.e., a networked multimedia system) includes a splitter/isolation module (SIM), a primary set-top terminal (STT), and at least one remote device. The remote devices communicate with the primary STT via the SIM over coaxial cable. Accordingly, the remote devices utilize some or all of the features including hardware and software that are included in the primary STT via the networked multimedia system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, David B. Lett, Samuel H. Russ, Bohdan S. Prus, Michael A. Gaul, Ajith N. Nair
  • Patent number: 5361301
    Abstract: An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Robertson, Mark E. Schutte
  • Patent number: 5317635
    Abstract: An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Stirling, Mark E. Schutte, Neil C. Robertson