Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling traffic loading on a cable modem termination system helps provide viable quality of service (QoS) capability on a cable data system. Available data bandwidth on a particular channel is first determined, followed by a comparison of the amount of bandwidth requested by, or required by a new subscriber. If the bandwidth available on a particular channel is adequate, service can be provided on the channel, otherwise the new subscriber is assigned to a new channel to avoid data overload.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling traffic loading on links between a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and a plurality of Internet Service Providers (ISP) in a cable data system is provided. First, a request for bandwidth on a cable data system link is received from a first ISP by a requesting subscriber. Next, the available bandwidth on said cable data system link is determined. The available bandwidth is compared to the bandwidth requested by, or for the ISP. Finally, cable data service is granted or denied based upon the data service to be granted to a new subscriber based upon the determination of whether the available bandwidth is greater than, less than or equal to the bandwidth to be allocated to the new subscriber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing connection admission control (CAC) on a cable data system helps provide viable quality of service (QoS) capability on a cable data system. Cable data service is granted or denied to cable data service to said requesting subscriber based in part upon the determination of whether the available bandwidth is greater than, less than or equal to the bandwidth to be allocated to the requesting subscriber.

Abstract: Active and spare circuit cards are each paired with switch cards. Each switch on the switch cards is daisy chained with prior and succeeding switches. A master controller senses a faulty circuit indication signal from each of the active circuit cards. When the faulty circuit indication signal indicates a fault on a particular active circuit card, the controller instructs the switch card that is paired with that circuit card to switch it out and switch in a spare circuit card.

Abstract: A method and system that allow subscribers to a cable Internet data service to use a Web browser and access to the Internet via their cable Internet data service to dynamically change their service level by communicating with the cable modem manager that manages their cable modem. An alternate method and system allow a content provider that has been contacted by a subscriber to dynamically implement new “on-demand” services flows for the subscriber. With both arrangements, the subscriber can begin employing the new service flows without reinitializing their cable modem or otherwise having their data service disrupted.

Abstract: In a cable data system that includes a cable modem termination system or CMTS, high-reliability is accomplished by reducing the time required to switch over traffic from a failed circuit to a back up circuit. Fault recovery time to switch over to a spare circuit is reduced by copying the operational parameters used in each of the active circuits into a spare circuit such that upon the failure of an active circuit, the spare circuit needs only to be instructed which set of operational parameters for a particular failed circuit to use. Clock counters that are continuously incremented in active circuits can be copied into a newly installed circuit by copying into a local register for the newly installed circuit, a future value of a clock counter.

Abstract: A cable modern termination system (CMTS) having front and rear sides is disclosed. A rear panel receives a plurality of connector cards. At least one first connector card wherein each first connector card has a row of connectors. At least one second connector cards, wherein each second connector card has a row of connectors, wherein connectors on the first connector cards are staggered from connectors on the second connector cards when the connector cards are inserted into the rear panel.

Abstract: Each packet of the present invention is assigned a priority level. The current data packet flow rate is detected. This data packet flow rate is quantized into at least one data rate level. The current buffer circuit depth is determined as is the priority associated with the current data packet. The probability that the current packet is either dropped or used is determined by using the current data packet service flow rate, the data packet priority, and the current buffer circuit depth.

Abstract: Cable data service levels can be upgraded or downgrade automatically, on a subscriber's request, by using the unique identifier preprogrammed into industry-standard-compliant cable modems. A processor adjunct to the CMTS in a cable data system receives and processes service level change requests. Requests that are granted are sent back to the CMTS for subsequent execution. Faster internet access can be provided on a customer's own initiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding m-bit groups of digital data, where m is at least eight, into serial n bit groups such that each encoded serial n-bit group has sufficient data transitions therein to maintain the synchronization of a phase locked loop clock recovery circuit in a high speed serial link of a communication path. Further, this method and apparatus provides a duty cycle that is within an operational range of the ideal 50 percent, which reduces voltage drift of a.c. coupled high speed serial data links, or reduces thermal drift of optically coupled high speed serial data links.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating serial data at very high actual and effective data rates with a high probability of detecting single and multiple bits errors, even burst errors. The method and apparatus generates at least three parity bits which are sent with each serial data word: an even parity bit taken over all the even bits (including bit 0), an odd parity bit taken over all of the odd parity bits, and a third to parity bit that is an even parity bit taken over every fourth data bit. These parity bits are generated and transmitted along with each data word. At the receiving end, the data portion of each received serial word is stored in a register. The parity bit portion of each received serial word is stored in another register within a parity bit checker. The parity bit checker generates three parity bits taken over the received data word in the same manner that the transmitted parity bits were generated.

Abstract: A new dimension for growth is presented for the generalized growable packet switch architecture. That dimension is time and by rolling routing requests around a distributed out-of-band controller ring, ATM cell traffic can be controlled and spread across two time intervals. The rolling of routing requests and the resulting time spreading of the cell traffic through the distribution network averages out bursts and localized hot spots, thereby reducing blocking and improving cell loss probabilities with only small increases in hardware cost and complexity.

Abstract: A physically realizable one terabit or more ATM packet switch that has a large number of input interfaces connected to a single stage switching fabric which is in turn connected to a number of output modules, generally according to the growable packet switch architecture. This ATM packet switch is different from other growable packet switches in that it has a single stage switch fabric controlled by an out-of-band controller, yet it has significantly reduced complexity with respect to comparably sized electronic crossbar switches or their isomorphs.

Abstract: A telecommunications switch which has a central switch fabric made up of multiple crossbars that can be used to switch either circuit switched or packet switch communications as long as appropriate input and output interfaces and controllers are provided. Thus, a large, high throughput telecommunications switch is provided where the expensive switch fabric core can remain the same and the interfaces and control cards changed as the relative demands for circuit switched communications and packet switched communications, such as ATM, evolve. Besides being flexible, this switch may also be fault tolerant.

Abstract: A growable packet switching arrangement where the distribution network blocking probability is substantially reduced because the network has both switch links and chute links, and the network nodes include both a switching element interconnecting successive stage switch links and a plurality of non-switching, chute connections interconnecting successive stage chute links. A network node can transfer a packet, being received on a switch link, to any selected one of the chute connections of that node for transmission on a chute link. The network nodes are relatively simple and inexpensive because they store only the first few bits needed to route an ATM cell. The blocking probability is further reduced when the number of chutes per node is increased. The number of chutes may be based, for example, on the number of switch link inputs per node.

Abstract: A growable packet switching arrangement where the number, S, of distribution network stages is reduced by bounding S according to log.sub.2 (max(L,N))<S+1<[log.sub.2 (max(L,N))].sup.2 /2. Since the distribution network is made up of stages of opto-electronic nodes and interconnecting free-space optical link stages, there is no need to transmit input signals using different frequencies. Input signals are instead distinguished based on their spatial location. Accordingly, there is no receiver tunability restriction on L, the number of inputs. Further, because signals are regenerated at each network stage and there is only a 3:1 power loss (approximate) at a given stage, high signal/noise ratios and corresponding low bit error rates are achieved.

Abstract: A low blocking packet distribution network which is implemented in optics. The network has both switch links and chute links, and the network nodes include both a switching devices interconnecting successive stage switch links and a plurality of non-switching, chute connections interconnecting successive stage chute links. A network node can transfer a packet, being received on a switch link, to any selected one of the chute connection means of that node for transmission on a chute links. The network nodes are relatively simple and inexpensive because they store only the first few bits needed to route an ATM cell. The blocking probability is further reduced when the number of chutes per node is increased. The number of chutes may be based, for example, on the number of switch link inputs per node.

Abstract: A multi-stage network which achieves the same overall connectivity as known networks but where individual switching nodes have no input selectivity and no output selectivity. Each node is enabled or disabled to control communication therethrough in response to a single control signal. The functionality of a switching network is achieved by controlling which nodes are enabled rather than specifying connections of particular node inputs and outputs to be effected by the nodes. In a photonic network embodiment, each network node is implemented using a single symmetric self electro-optic effect device (S-SEED).

Abstract: A network comprising a plurality of successively interconnected node stages where each node has an associated data connection state and includes a control element, significantly implemented as part of the node itself, for controlling the data connection state of at least one node of the following stage. The network is well suited for optical implementation and is controlled by shifting bits into the network for storage by the control elements rather than relying on spatial light modulators.

Abstract: A network arrangement and control method where, before any transmission of data occurs for a particular communication, a network controller determines an unused path to provide a connection, advantageously all the way through the network from a given inlet to a given outlet. Once the identity of the unused path is known, the controller determines control information for use in activating that path and transmits that control information into the network, significantly via the network inlets. The network responds by activating the determined path and communication is enabled via the activated path, but only for the single connection and no buffering of information is required within the network. The network is particularly well suited for optical implementation and control is effected without the use of spatial light modulators but rather by means of control elements embedded within the network itself.