Abstract: Protocol analyzers systems and methods coordinate the capture of network data of interest across multiple chassis. Each chassis has individual blades with accompanying ports and is serially connected to other chassis in the system. Selected ports from each chassis are configured in domains that can be spread across the serially connected chassis and used in coordination to capture network data of interest. A serial protocol containing control signals is used to transmit run, stop, and trigger data between the serially connected chassis and thereby coordinate the activity of ports within each domain. Through the use of the serial protocol the number of wires connecting adjacent chassis is minimized and each of the blades in the multi-chassis systems can be synchronously started, stopped, and triggered at the same time to synchronously capture the network data of interest.

Abstract: Protocol analyzer systems enable synchronization of timestamps and the capture of data across serially chained boxes that are used together to monitor and capture network data. Through experiment, it can be determined how long it takes to propagate a signal to each box in the chain. These values are then recorded in each box in a delay register so that each box has a recorded delay value corresponding to the time required to propagate a signal to or receive a signal from every other box. Each box applies a control signal, such as a run signal or a trigger signal, to the ports in the box only after the expiration of the delay value indicated in the delay register. The box initiating the signal has the largest delay since the other boxes need to get the signal before the boxes can begin to operate with a common counter, with successive boxes having smaller delays.

Abstract: Multi-chassis systems determine their topology and self-organize through a discovery process. The systems include one or more chassis, each with individual blades and ports, which are serially chained together. When the discovery process is initiated, chassis identification data in buffers in each chassis is propagated to adjacent chassis and is then used to initiate communication via a network connection. Once the chassis are able to communicate via the network connection, at least one chassis in the system receives the chassis identification data of each chassis and can thereby identify each chassis. The chain is then divided into one or more sync-groups and master and slave chassis are designated. Each sync-group is configured to ignore data from other sync-groups. Domains are also configured from sets of ports within each sync-group.

Abstract: A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module may perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions. The diagnostic module may include an analysis module, which may receive messages and perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions using the messages it receives. The analysis module may receive messages and generate a set of one or more statistics using the received messages. The analysis module may generate a signal configured to trigger a bit sequence capture.

Abstract: A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module may perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions. The diagnostic module may include an analysis module, which may receive messages and perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions using the messages it receives. The diagnostic module may include a logic module, which may receive network messages having a first format or structure, may process the network messages it receives into messages having a second format or structure, and may send the processed messages to the analysis module. The second format or structure may include any combination of a timestamp, a truncated portion of a network message, inter-packet meta-data, processing meta-data, and other suitable information.

Abstract: A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module may perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions. The diagnostic module may include an analysis module, which may receive messages and perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions using the messages it receives. The diagnostic module may include a logic module, which may receive network messages having a first format or structure, may process the network messages it receives into messages having a second format or structure, and may send the processed messages to the analysis module.

Abstract: A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module may perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions. The diagnostic module may include an analysis module, which may receive messages and perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions using the messages it receives. The diagnostic module may include a logic module, which may receive network messages having a first format or structure, may process the network messages it receives into network messages having a second format or structure, and may send the processed messages to the analysis module. The logic module may receive the network messages from an aggregated link.

Abstract: An optical signal return path system analog RF signals are sampled using a master clock frequency, and combined with digital data such as Ethernet data at a cable node. The cable node sends the combined signals on a return path over a fiber optic medium to the cable hub. The cable hub extracts an approximate in-frequency replicate of a master clock signal, and can use the replicate master clock signal to desample the digitized RF signals back to analog. The cable hub can further use the replicate of the master clock signal to serialize Ethernet data, and send the Ethernet data back to the cable node via an optical cable in the forward direction. Accordingly, a single master clock signal can be used on a CATV network for encoding/decoding, and transmitting a variety of data signals, which enhances the integrity and reliability of the data signals.

Abstract: A cable node and a cable hub that communicate on a CATV network are configured to switch communication modes without signal loss or degradation due to delays in switching communication modes. In particular, a cable node sends one or more mute commands in an outgoing data stream to the cable hub, causing the cable hub to disable the RF outputs. Afterward, or along with the one or more mute commands, the cable node can send a switch mode command, thereby causing the cable hub to switch to the appropriate next communication mode, such as a communication mode using a new compression rate. When the cable hub has switched to the appropriate next communication mode, the cable hub can then properly receive and decode a corresponding data stream using the next communication mode.

Abstract: A cable node and a cable hub that communicate on a CATV network are configured to switch compression modes without signal noise or degradation due to excessive delays in switching compression modes. In particular, a cable node sends one or more mute commands in an outgoing data stream to the cable hub, causing the cable hub to disable the RF outputs. Afterward, or along with the one or more mute commands, the cable node can send a switch mode command, thereby causing the cable hub to switch to the appropriate next communication mode, such as a communication mode using a new compression rate. When the cable node and the cable hub have switched to the appropriate next communication mode, the cable hub can then properly receive a corresponding data stream from the cable node using the next communication mode.

Abstract: Multi-chassis systems determine their topology and self-organize through a discovery process. The systems include one or more chassis, each with individual blades and ports, which are serially chained together. When the discovery process is initiated, chassis identification data in buffers in each chassis is propagated to adjacent chassis and is then used to initiate communication via a network connection. Once the chassis are able to communicate via the network connection, at least one chassis in the system receives the chassis identification data of each chassis and can thereby identify each chassis. The chain is then divided into one or more sync-groups and master and slave chassis are designated. Each sync-group is configured to ignore data from other sync-groups. Domains are also configured from sets of ports within each sync-group.

Abstract: Protocol analyzers systems and methods coordinate the capture of network data of interest across multiple chassis. Each chassis has individual blades with accompanying ports and is serially connected to other chassis in the system. Selected ports from each chassis are configured in domains that can be spread across the serially connected chassis and used in coordination to capture network data of interest. A serial protocol containing control signals is used to transmit run, stop, and trigger data between the serially connected chassis and thereby coordinate the activity of ports within each domain. Through the use of the serial protocol the number of wires connecting adjacent chassis is minimized and each of the blades in the multi-chassis systems can be synchronously started, stopped, and triggered at the same time to synchronously capture the network data of interest.

Abstract: Protocol analyzer systems enable synchronization of timestamps and the capture of data across serially chained boxes that are used together to monitor and capture network data. Through experiment, it can be determined how long it takes to propagate a signal to each box in the chain. These values are then recorded in each box in a delay register so that each box has a recorded delay value corresponding to the time required to propagate a signal to or receive a signal from every other box. Each box applies a control signal, such as a run signal or a trigger signal, to the ports in the box only after the expiration of the delay value indicated in the delay register. The box initiating the signal has the largest delay since the other boxes need to get the signal before the boxes can begin to operate with a common counter, with successive boxes having smaller delays.