Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for adaptive switching in multicast media streams are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for adaptively transmitting content to one or more users based on currently available bandwidth via internet protocol (“IP”) multicast protocol, includes: receiving a first content stream having a plurality of data packets, the first content stream encoded at a first bit rate; receiving a second content stream having a plurality of data packets, the second content stream encoded at a second bit rate, wherein the first bit rate is different than the second bit rate and wherein the first and second content streams represent the same content; transmitting the first content stream to a user; determining that the user could receive the second content stream based on available bandwidth for transmitting data to the user; and transmitting the second content stream to the user.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for adaptive switching in multicast media streams are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for adaptively transmitting content to one or more users based on currently available bandwidth via internet protocol (“IP”) multicast protocol, includes: receiving a first content stream having a plurality of data packets, the first content stream encoded at a first bit rate; receiving a second content stream having a plurality of data packets, the second content stream encoded at a second bit rate, wherein the first bit rate is different than the second bit rate and wherein the first and second content streams represent the same content; transmitting the first content stream to a user; determining that the user could receive the second content stream based on available bandwidth for transmitting data to the user; and transmitting the second content stream to the user.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for adaptive switching in multicast media streams are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for adaptively transmitting content to one or more users based on currently available bandwidth via internet protocol (“IP”) multicast protocol, includes: receiving a first content stream having a plurality of data packets, the first content stream encoded at a first bit rate; receiving a second content stream having a plurality of data packets, the second content stream encoded at a second bit rate, wherein the first bit rate is different than the second bit rate and wherein the first and second content streams represent the same content; transmitting the first content stream to a user; determining that the user could receive the second content stream based on available bandwidth for transmitting data to the user; and transmitting the second content stream to the user.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for adaptive switching in multicast media streams are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for adaptively transmitting content to one or more users based on currently available bandwidth via internet protocol (“IP”) multicast protocol, includes: receiving a first content stream having a plurality of data packets, the first content stream encoded at a first bit rate; receiving a second content stream having a plurality of data packets, the second content stream encoded at a second bit rate, wherein the first bit rate is different than the second bit rate and wherein the first and second content streams represent the same content; transmitting the first content stream to a user; determining that the user could receive the second content stream based on available bandwidth for transmitting data to the user; and transmitting the second content stream to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; the processor modulating a first carrier of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on a first modulation scheme while modulating a second carrier of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on a second modulation scheme.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprising: a receiver configured to receive symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals to produce an output; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor applies a Fourier transform to the output from the receiver; and a controller programmed to instruct the transmitter to transmit at least one symbol comprising a ranging pattern when a predetermined instruction is received by the receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; and a controller programmed to instruct a transmitter to transmit one or more timing adjustments to at least one of the plurality of remote units based on detected variations in transmissions received from the at least one of the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprising: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; and a controller programmed to instruct the transmitter to transmit a coarse timing adjustment followed by at least one secondary timing adjustment, wherein the secondary timing adjustment is a fine tuning adjustment with respect to the coarse timing adjustment.

Abstract: Systems for tone hopping in a multipoint-to-point orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using OFDM, the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration; the first remote unit including a modulator for modulating up to a plurality of tones with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wherein the modulator is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved. The first remote unit switches modulation between tones of the plurality of tones to reduce the impact of using any corrupted tones.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for communication comprises receiving baseband user data; modulating the baseband user data onto a first plurality of parallel streams based on a first modulation constellation; modulating non-user data onto a second plurality of parallel streams based on a second modulation constellation, wherein the first modulation constellation provides a higher bit-rate than the second modulation constellation; applying an inverse Fourier transform algorithm to the first plurality of parallel streams and the second plurality of parallel streams to produce a set of complex time-domain samples; and transmitting a radio frequency transmission signal based on the set of complex time-domain samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; and a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter, the processor programmed to multiplex upstream information onto an allocated number of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on an allocation instruction received be the receiver.

Abstract: Systems for contention-based bandwidth requests in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a multipoint-to-point host; and a plurality of remotes communicatively coupled to the multipoint-to-point host through an OFDM waveform; wherein the multipoint-to-point host is configured to receive the OFDM waveform, the OFDM waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remotes, wherein the plurality of tones are simultaneously received at the host from at least two of the plurality of remotes; wherein a first remote is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention based; and wherein the multipoint-to-point host transmits information on at least one tone based on whether the host successfully receives the request for bandwidth from the first remote of the plurality of remotes.

Abstract: Methods for multiple use subchannels are provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; adjusting a carrier frequency of the up to a plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from a first remote unit and a least one other remote unit, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved; and transmitting both control data and payload data on at least one of the up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bidirectional communication are provided. In one embodiment, a multipoint-to-point, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication system comprises: a plurality of remote units, a host unit; wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the frequency of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein payload data is transmitted between a remote and the host over a first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a first time interval, and wherein control data is transmitted between a remote and the host over the first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a second time interval.

Abstract: Systems for tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a plurality of remote units and a host including a demodulator. Each remote transmits an upstream OFDM signal using a multiple access scheme to the host using an OFDM waveform. The host receives the upstream OFDM signals, the tones of the upstream signals substantially orthogonal when received at the host. Portions of upstream OFDM signals from at least two remotes arrive at the host at the same time. The host demodulates said portions. At least one remote transmits to the host using a first tone allocated by the host. The host sends an adjustment signal to the remote to adjust the timing of transmissions to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform. After the remote has begun transmission using the first tone but before the remote has completed its transmission, the host allocates to the remote a different tone.

Abstract: A transmitter in a digital return link for use in an HFC network includes an analog to digital converter for digitizing a broadband analog RF input. The A/D converter has a parallel bit stream output. A serializer converts the parallel bit stream from the converter to a serial bit stream. An electroabsorption modulated laser converts the serial bit stream to an optical serial bit stream for transmission over the HFC network.

Abstract: A method for controlling gain in a network is provided. The method includes receiving signals for transmission over a network and adjusting the level of the received signals. The method further includes inserting an additional signal indicative of the level adjustment and transmitting the signals and the additional signal over the network. The method also includes extracting the additional signal after transmission over the network and compensating for the level adjustment based on the extracted signal.