Abstract: Method and apparatuses are disclosed to substantially compensate for various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within a communications receiver. Each of these apparatuses and methods estimate the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within the communications receiver. Each of these apparatuses and methods remove the estimates of the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within the communications receiver from one or more communications signals within the communications receiver to substantially compensate for the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions.

Abstract: A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval.

Abstract: A communication device receives a transmitted signal from another communication device. This transmitted signal is generated within the another communication device based on predetermined digital data. The communication device then generates a first reference signal based on a copy of the predetermined digital data and subtracts the first reference signal from the transmitted signal to generate a first residual signal. The communication device then identifies at least one adaptation parameter based on the first residual signal and adapts the first reference signal using the at least one adaptation parameter to generate a second reference signal so that a first characteristic of the transmitted signal and a second characteristic of the second reference signal are approximately equal.

Abstract: A communication device (e.g., a cable modem (CM)) includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) and a power amplifier (PA) that generate a signal to be transmitting via a communication interface to another communication device (e.g., cable modem termination system (CMTS)). The CM includes diagnostic analyzer that samples the signal based on a fullband sample capture corresponding to a full bandwidth and/or a subset (e.g., narrowband) sample capture to generate a fullband and/or subset signal capture (e.g., of an upstream (US) communication channel between the CM and the CMTS). The diagnostic analyzer can be configured to generate sample captures of the signal based on any desired parameter(s), condition(s), and/or trigger(s). The CM then transmits the signal to the CMTS and the fullband and/or subset signal capture to the CMTS and/or a proactive network maintenance (PNM) communication device to determine at least one characteristic associated with performance of the US communication channel.

Abstract: A communication device receives a transmitted signal from another communication device. This transmitted signal is generated within the another communication device based on predetermined digital data. The communication device then generates a first reference signal based on a copy of the predetermined digital data and subtracts the first reference signal from the transmitted signal to generate a first residual signal. The communication device then identifies at least one adaptation parameter based on the first residual signal and adapts the first reference signal using the at least one adaptation parameter to generate a second reference signal so that a first characteristic of the transmitted signal and a second characteristic of the second reference signal are approximately equal.

Abstract: A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval.

Abstract: A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to determine communications receiver parameters from multiple channels of a received communications signal and to configure and/or adjust communications receiver parameters to acquire one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal. A communications receiver observes a multi-channel communication signal as it passes through a communication channel. The communications receiver determines one or more communications receiver parameters from the multiple channels of the received communications signal. The communications receiver configures and/or adjusts communications receiver parameters to acquire the one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal.

Abstract: A transmitter's operation is characterized using components having relatively low cost and low complexity. A device includes comparator(s) that compare a transmitter's analog output to predetermined level(s) to generate count(s) associated with analog output range bin(s). Each of the predetermined levels is associated with a corresponding one of the analog output range bins. A transfer function of the transmitter is generated using the comparison count values associated with the analog output range bin(s). A histogram may be generated from the comparison count values associated with the various analog output range bins. An equalizer is implemented to process data that will be transmitted by the transmitter. The equalizer uses equalizer parameter(s) that are selected based on the characterization of the transmitter (e.g., its transfer function, its histogram, etc.). The equalizer may use default or start up parameters until the transmitter's operation is characterized.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication interface, a number of variable power amplifiers (VPAs), and a processor. Some of the VPAs are configured to process analog signals to generate processed analog signals (e.g., each VPA configured to process one of the analog signals to generate one of the processed analog signals based on a respective VPA control signal). A composite VPA processes a summation of the processed analog signals, which are generated by certain of the VPA, to generate a processed composite signal based on a composite VPA control signal. The processor generates the a first, a second, and a composite VPA control signals based, at least in part, on configuration information from another communication device via the communication interface. The processor may be configured to consider other information as well, such as locally generated information (within the communication device), operational history, current operating conditions, etc.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a thermometer coder that generates a plurality of micro-current source analog controls on a frame-by-frame or symbol-by-symbol basis and to process digital inputs from symbols or frames of data based on a thermometer coding to generate a plurality of micro-current source inputs. A plurality of micro-current sources generate a corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs in response to the plurality of micro-current source inputs, wherein first selected ones of the plurality of micro-current sources are powered-off in response to the plurality of micro-current source analog controls for a first symbol or frame of the plurality of symbols or frames of data. A summing circuit generates an analog output based a sum of the corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication interface, a number of variable power amplifiers (VPAs), and a processor. Some of the VPAs are configured to process analog signals to generate processed analog signals (e.g., each VPA configured to process one of the analog signals to generate one of the processed analog signals based on a respective VPA control signal). A composite VPA processes a summation of the processed analog signals, which are generated by certain of the VPA, to generate a processed composite signal based on a composite VPA control signal. The processor generates the a first, a second, and a composite VPA control signals based, at least in part, on configuration information from another communication device via the communication interface. The processor may be configured to consider other information as well, such as locally generated information (within the communication device), operational history, current operating conditions, etc.

Abstract: A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval.

Abstract: A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval.

Abstract: A communication device (e.g., a cable modem (CM)) includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) and a power amplifier (PA) that generate a signal to be transmitting via a communication interface to another communication device (e.g., cable modem termination system (CMTS)). The CM includes diagnostic analyzer that samples the signal based on a fullband sample capture corresponding to a full bandwidth and/or a subset (e.g., narrowband) sample capture to generate a fullband and/or subset signal capture (e.g., of an upstream (US) communication channel between the CM and the CMTS). The diagnostic analyzer can be configured to generate sample captures of the signal based on any desired parameter(s), condition(s), and/or trigger(s). The CM then transmits the signal to the CMTS and the fullband and/or subset signal capture to the CMTS and/or a proactive network maintenance (PNM) communication device to determine at least one characteristic associated with performance of the US communication channel.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a thermometer coder that generates a plurality of micro-current source analog controls on a frame-by-frame or symbol-by-symbol basis and to process digital inputs from symbols or frames of data based on a thermometer coding to generate a plurality of micro-current source inputs. A plurality of micro-current sources generate a corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs in response to the plurality of micro-current source inputs, wherein first selected ones of the plurality of micro-current sources are powered-off in response to the plurality of micro-current source analog controls for a first symbol or frame of the plurality of symbols or frames of data. A summing circuit generates an analog output based a sum of the corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to determine communications receiver parameters from multiple channels of a received communications signal and to configure and/or adjust communications receiver parameters to acquire one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal. A communications receiver observes a multi-channel communication signal as it passes through a communication channel. The communications receiver determines one or more communications receiver parameters from the multiple channels of the received communications signal. The communications receiver configures and/or adjusts communications receiver parameters to acquire the one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a thermometer coder that generates a plurality of micro-current source analog controls on a frame-by-frame or symbol-by-symbol basis and to process digital inputs from symbols or frames of data based on a thermometer coding to generate a plurality of micro-current source inputs. A plurality of micro-current sources generate a corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs in response to the plurality of micro-current source inputs, wherein first selected ones of the plurality of micro-current sources are powered-off in response to the plurality of micro-current source analog controls for a first symbol or frame of the plurality of symbols or frames of data. A summing circuit generates an analog output based a sum of the corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a thermometer coder that generates a plurality of micro-current source analog controls on a frame-by-frame or symbol-by-symbol basis and to process digital inputs from symbols or frames of data based on a thermometer coding to generate a plurality of micro-current source inputs. A plurality of micro-current sources generate a corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs in response to the plurality of micro-current source inputs, wherein first selected ones of the plurality of micro-current sources are powered-off in response to the plurality of micro-current source analog controls for a first symbol or frame of the plurality of symbols or frames of data. A summing circuit generates an analog output based a sum of the corresponding plurality of micro-current source outputs.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses are disclosed to substantially compensate for various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within a communications receiver. Each of these apparatuses and methods estimate the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within the communications receiver. Each of these apparatuses and methods remove the estimates of the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions within the communications receiver from one or more communications signals within the communications receiver to substantially compensate for the various unwanted interferences and/or distortions.