Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Cloonan

Thomas J. Cloonan 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: 9479352
    Abstract: A packet data flow processor applies a first level of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) processing to packet flows that are not from trusted sources, and applies a second level of DOCSIS processing, simpler than the first level, to packet flows from the trusted sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe, Carol Ansley, Mark Bugajski, Charles Cheevers, Ian Wheelock
  • Publication number: 20160295251
    Abstract: Particular embodiments use a network device, such as a gateway, as an interface between a first network, such as a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and a second network, such as a home network. The first network includes a frequency spectrum that may be considered “high split”, and the second network has a frequency split that is used by legacy set-top box boxes. A head-end sends a network downstream signal that includes the out of band downstream signal in the downstream frequency band using the HFC network's frequency split. The out of band downstream signal may be represented by digital data. The gateway can then determine samples from the digital data, which are then used to reproduce the out of band downstream signal at the desired frequency for the home network. That is, the out of band downstream signal may be recreated in the frequency range of 70-130 MHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Carol J. Ansley
  • Publication number: 20160080074
    Abstract: An optical line terminal is operable in a passive optical network. The optical line terminal includes a chassis. A plurality of optical subsystems are disposed within the chassis. Each optical subsystem is operable to generate optical signals for delivery to a port. Each optical subsystem includes one or more optical switches. When a fault condition is detected at a first optical subsystem preventing the delivery of first optical signals generated by the first optical subsystem to the port of the first optical subsystem, the optical switches switch to deliver second downstream optical signals generated by a second optical subsystem to the port of the first optical subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, David B. Bowler
  • Patent number: 9286168
    Abstract: A device and method for routing separate data flows to subscribers on a content distribution network are provided. The device includes a group of access modules having signal processing circuitry each coupled to a corresponding interface unit. The interface units are coupled in a daisy chain configuration. The access modules include at least first and second active access modules and a spare access module. The group being configured for normal mode operation in which the first active access module processes a first data flow and the second active access module processes a second data flow, and the group being configured for sparing event mode operation in which the first data flow is automatically switched to the second active access module and the second data flow is automatically switched to the spare access module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. Hymel, Thomas J. Cloonan
  • Patent number: 9210453
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can provide for measuring the quality of experience levels and locating the sources of problems for service types in a network. This can be facilitated by sending one or more scout packets through the network, identifying those scout packets at the various network elements on a path within the network between a source and a destination, and compiling scout information identified by each of the various network elements to determine potential service degradation within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Erich C. Arnold, Harindranath P. R. Nair
  • Patent number: 9203767
    Abstract: Bandwidth is assigned to subscribers of a data network by applying logic of one or more network devices to sample bits of information communicated over a network communication medium to identify if there is a network congestion condition or an extremely lightly loaded condition. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is below a normative maximum bandwidth assigned to the subscriber if the network is congested and the logic of the one or more network devices identifies the subscriber as a heavy bandwidth user. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is above the normative maximum bandwidth if the network is extremely lightly loaded and the subscriber is a heavy bandwidth user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ayham Al-Banna, Carol Ansley, Thomas J Cloonan, Jeffrey J Howe
  • Patent number: 9197559
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses can provide for adaptive streaming using non-local information. Non-local information identifying usage statistics associated with a network service group can be collected and used to derive session parameters associated with each of a plurality of sessions within the network service group. The non-local information can also be updated and the updated non-local information can be used to dynamically adjust the session parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Carol J. Ansley, Marcin Morgos, Stephen J. Kraiman, Daniel Torbet, Ian Wheelock, Jeffrey Joseph Howe, William Turner Hanks, Marek Bugajski
  • Publication number: 20150286543
    Abstract: A device and method for routing separate data flows to subscribers on a content distribution network are provided. The device includes a group of access modules having signal processing circuitry each coupled to a corresponding interface unit. The interface units are coupled in a daisy chain configuration. The access modules include at least first and second active access modules and a spare access module. The group being configured for normal mode operation in which the first active access module processes a first data flow and the second active access module processes a second data flow, and the group being configured for sparing event mode operation in which the first data flow is automatically switched to the second active access module and the second data flow is automatically switched to the spare access module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. Hymel, Thomas J. Cloonan
  • Patent number: 9088358
    Abstract: Systems and methods can operate to detect and avoid optical beat interference (OBI) in broadband devices by use of restrictive channel assignment. An OBI-mitigating mapper algorithm can leash OBI candidates in a circular queue to avoid scheduling service flows likely to result in OBI generation. In some implementations, the algorithm can automatically leash all pre-DOCSIS 3.0 service flows. In alternative implementations, the algorithm can allow the CMTS to normally load balance pre-DOCSIS 3.0 devices while manually adding and/or removing pre-DOCSIS 3.0 service flows from the OBI candidate queue based upon lost transmissions or a designated age-out timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Gregory J. Gohman
  • Patent number: 8959408
    Abstract: Systems and methods can operate to improve the communication bandwidth in communication systems. Communication systems can use new forward error correction (FEC) algorithms to increase communication bandwidth. New FEC algorithms can also enable the use of other modulation formats to further improve communication bandwidth. Communication devices that can select from a plurality of FEC algorithms and modulation formats can maintain backward compatibility with the deployed FEC algorithms and modulation formats implemented in legacy communication devices while realizing increased communication bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Joseph O'Keeffe, Thomas J. Cloonan, Ayham Al-Banna, Michael J. Emmendorfer
  • Patent number: 8780709
    Abstract: Bandwidth is assigned to subscribers of a data network by applying logic of one or more network devices to sample bits of information communicated over a network communication medium to identify if there is a network congestion condition or an extremely lightly loaded condition. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is below a normative maximum bandwidth assigned to the subscriber if the network is congested and the logic of the one or more network devices identifies the subscriber as a heavy bandwidth user. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is above the normative maximum bandwidth if the network is extremely lightly loaded and the subscriber is a heavy bandwidth user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ayham Al-Banna, Carol Ansley, Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe
  • Patent number: 8300640
    Abstract: A data communication system includes multiple Media Access Control (MAC) units, multiple physical layer (PHY) interface units, and logic to communicate between the MAC units and the PHY units using a single tunneling protocol over Internet Protocol (IP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ayham Al-Banna, Erich Arnold, Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe
  • Patent number: 8005095
    Abstract: A network includes a provider edge device with logic to encapsulate Ethernet frames received from customer equipment into Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) frames using Layer Two Tunneling Protocol. The provider edge device further includes logic to implement a virtual switch instance (VSI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Emmendorfer, Thomas J. Cloonan, Erich Arnold
  • Publication number: 20110161510
    Abstract: A subscriber login server is used for managing a subscriber login session. The login server is associated with a DHCP server for configuring a premise equipment device and operator-managed device. A subscriber login client at the premise equipment device securely communicates login username and password identifiers to the subscriber login server without using PPP technology. The login server retrieves matching identifiers from a RADIUS server and authorizes service with messages to the DHCP server and the CMTS. The login client can emulate a PPP login client so that a user's interface is similar to a PPPoE client. However, a layer-3 CMTS can be used instead of a layer-2 CMTS. In addition, subscriber authentication and accounting using RADIUS are preserved, positive network access control at the CMTS is maintained, and native IP traffic is routed or switched for maximum performance and QoS treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ARRIS Group Inc.
    Inventors: Erich C. Arnold, Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe
  • Patent number: 7958260
    Abstract: In a data system, such as a cable modem termination system, different-priority flows are scheduled to be routed to their logical destinations by factoring both the priority level and the time spent in queue. The time that each packet of each flow spends waiting for transmission is normalized such that the waiting times of all flows are equalized with respect to each other. A latency scaling parameter is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeffrey J. Howe, Kevin P. Urban
  • Publication number: 20100183021
    Abstract: In a data system, such as a cable modem termination system, different-priority flows are scheduled to be routed to their logical destinations by factoring both the priority level and the time spent in queue. The time that each packet of each flow spends waiting for transmission is normalized such that the waiting times of all flows are equalized with respect to each other. A latency scaling parameter is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ARRIS GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeffrey J. Howe, Kevin P. Urban
  • Patent number: 7698461
    Abstract: In a data system, such as a cable modem termination system, different-priority flows are scheduled to be routed to their logical destinations by factoring both the priority level and the time spent in queue. The time that each packet of each flow spends waiting for transmission is normalized such that the waiting times of all flows are equalized with respect to each other. A latency scaling parameter is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeffrey J. Howe, Kevin P. Urban
  • Patent number: 7653932
    Abstract: A subscriber login server is used for managing a subscriber login session. The login server is associated with a DHCP server for configuring a premise equipment device and operator-managed device. A subscriber login client at the premise equipment device securely communicates login username and password identifiers to the subscriber login server without using PPP technology. The login server retrieves matching identifiers from a RADIUS server and authorizes service with messages to the DHCP server and the CMTS. The login client can emulate a PPP login client so that a user's interface is similar to a PPPoE client. However, a layer-3 CMTS can be used instead of a layer-2 CMTS. In addition, subscriber authentication and accounting using RADIUS are preserved, positive network access control at the CMTS is maintained, and native IP traffic is routed or switched for maximum performance and QoS treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Arris Group
    Inventors: Erich C Arnold, Thomas J Cloonan, Jeffrey J Howe
  • Publication number: 20100005500
    Abstract: A packet data flow processor applies a first level of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) processing to packet flows that are not from trusted sources, and applies a second level of DOCSIS processing, simpler than the first level, to packet flows from the trusted sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: ARRIS
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe, Carol Ansley, Mark Bugajski, Charles Cheevers, Ian Wheelock
  • Publication number: 20090285233
    Abstract: A data communication system includes multiple Media Access Control (MAC) units, multiple physical layer (PHY) interface units, and logic to communicate between the MAC units and the PHY units using a single tunneling protocol over Internet Protocol (IP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: ARRIS
    Inventors: Ayham Al-Banna, Erich Arnold, Thomas J. Cloonan, Jeff Howe