Patents by Inventor William Turner Hanks

William Turner Hanks 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: 11917259
    Abstract: A Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS) node includes a first DOCSIS port and a second DOCSIS port. The node also includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) ports. A plurality of client devices can be coupled to the RF ports. A RF switching network is coupled between the first DOCSIS port and the second DOCSIS port, and the plurality of RF ports. One or more control circuits can switch the RF switching network between at least a first state and a second state. The switching of the RF switching network allows the one or more control circuits to identify which client devices are coupled to which RF ports of the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Ayham Al-Banna, Michael J. Emmendorfer, William Turner Hanks, Thomas J. Cloonan, Stephen W. Sanders, Chris R. Zettinger
  • Publication number: 20230239410
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically updating bit loading profile assignments among a plurality of cable modems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Patent number: 11641428
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically updating bit loading profile assignments among a plurality of cable modems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Patent number: 11509557
    Abstract: A method receives error measurements from network elements. Groups of network elements are generated based on similarity of error measurements and a bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements is generated based on the error measurements for each respective group. Each bitloading profile includes a modulation level determined to be sufficient for transporting content to respective groups of network elements. The method then assigns a set of bitloading profiles to each network element based on the groups of network elements and the bitloading profile generated for each of the groups. The bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements and the assigned set of bitloading profiles are output to a network device. The network device uses the bitloading profiles to modulate content sent to respective customer premise equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Thomas J. Cloonan, Yue Cheng, Erich C. Arnold, Jim Allen
  • Publication number: 20210160585
    Abstract: A Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS) node includes a first DOCSIS port and a second DOCSIS port. The node also includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) ports. A plurality of client devices can be coupled to the RF ports. A RF switching network is coupled between the first DOCSIS port and the second DOCSIS port, and the plurality of RF ports. One or more control circuits can switch the RF switching network between at least a first state and a second state. The switching of the RF switching network allows the one or more control circuits to identify which client devices are coupled to which RF ports of the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Ayham AL-BANNA, Michael J. EMMENDORFER, William Turner HANKS, Thomas J. CLOONAN, Stephen W. SANDERS, Chris R. ZETTINGER
  • Publication number: 20200404103
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically updating bit loading profile assignments among a plurality of cable modems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Publication number: 20200358684
    Abstract: A method receives error measurements from network elements. Groups of network elements are generated based on similarity of error measurements and a bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements is generated based on the error measurements for each respective group. Each bitloading profile includes a modulation level determined to be sufficient for transporting content to respective groups of network elements. The method then assigns a set of bitloading profiles to each network element based on the groups of network elements and the bitloading profile generated for each of the groups. The bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements and the assigned set of bitloading profiles are output to a network device. The network device uses the bitloading profiles to modulate content sent to respective customer premise equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Thomas J. Cloonan, Yue Cheng, Erich C. Arnold, Jim Allen
  • Patent number: 10735289
    Abstract: A method receives error measurements from network elements. Groups of network elements are generated based on similarity of error measurements and a bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements is generated based on the error measurements for each respective group. Each bitloading profile includes a modulation level determined to be sufficient for transporting content to respective groups of network elements. The method then assigns a set of bitloading profiles to each network element based on the groups of network elements and the bitloading profile generated for each of the groups. The bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements and the assigned set of bitloading profiles are output to a network device. The network device uses the bitloading profiles to modulate content sent to respective customer premise equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Thomas J. Cloonan, Yue Cheng, Erich C. Arnold, Jim Allen
  • Patent number: 10353163
    Abstract: A fiber optic node includes an electronics equipment enclosure. The electronics equipment enclosure includes a lid, a base, and at least one side wall defining an interior space of the electronics equipment enclosure. The fiber optic node further includes an optical receiver mounted within the interior space of the electronics equipment enclosure. The at least one side wall is coupled to the lid, the base, or both the lid and the base. The at least one side wall is formed of at least a semi-permeable fabric mesh. The semi-permeable fabric mesh includes a rigid mesh screen and a semi-permeable membrane coupled to the rigid mesh screen for convection of heat generated within the interior space by the optical receiver to outside the electronics equipment enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Jeffrey Joseph Howe
  • Publication number: 20180262412
    Abstract: A method receives error measurements from network elements. Groups of network elements are generated based on similarity of error measurements and a bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements is generated based on the error measurements for each respective group. Each bitloading profile includes a modulation level determined to be sufficient for transporting content to respective groups of network elements. The method then assigns a set of bitloading profiles to each network element based on the groups of network elements and the bitloading profile generated for each of the groups. The bitloading profile for each of the groups of network elements and the assigned set of bitloading profiles are output to a network device. The network device uses the bitloading profiles to modulate content sent to respective customer premise equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Thomas J. Cloonan, Yue Cheng, Erich C. Arnold, Jim Allen
  • Patent number: 9960965
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for control admission to network resources are provided. Probationary service flows with a reduced priority are provisionally allowed to use network resources. As the network demonstrates its continued stability by the addition of the new probationary flows, each probationary flow can be re-assigned its original priority thereby promoting the probationary flow to a non-probationary status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Steven John Krapp, William Turner Hanks
  • Patent number: 9900406
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses can provide improved bandwidth and reduction in processing resources in a cable system using bonded upstream channels. Physical or environmental changes can occur in the HFC network effecting communication performance on one or more upstream channels. For optimal HFC network performance periodic measurements and adjustments are made reducing HFC network bandwidth and consume processing resources. This periodic maintenance is performed even if the communication service is not using the additional upstream bandwidth provided through upstream channel bonding. Demand-based bonded upstream channel allocation and de-allocation provides additional upstream bandwidth when required while optimizing HFC network performance and reducing processing resources through the reduction of periodic measurements and adjustments on the HFC network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Jeffrey Joseph Howe
  • Patent number: 9641460
    Abstract: Particular embodiments provide systems and methods to reduce the average power consumption per subscriber. Particular embodiments select windows of time when network components are under-utilized by subscribers of the network. During periods of under-utilization of a network component, subscribers may be consolidated onto a smaller number of network components by increasing the service group size. The consolidation increases the service group size, which has the effect of lowering bandwidth per subscriber. However, the bandwidth use per subscriber may be lower during this time. The use of the smaller number of network components allows the energy for these components to be used more efficiently. When the subscriber network demands increase, the distribution system places the network components into an active power state and redistributes the subscribers to the newly-activated components. This decreases the service group size, such as back to the original size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Widrevitz, William Turner Hanks, Dwain E. Frieh, Thomas J. Cloonan, Steven John Krapp
  • Publication number: 20170026315
    Abstract: Particular embodiments provide systems and methods to reduce the average power consumption per subscriber. Particular embodiments select windows of time when network components are under-utilized by subscribers of the network. During periods of under-utilization of a network component, subscribers may be consolidated onto a smaller number of network components by increasing the service group size. The consolidation increases the service group size, which has the effect of lowering bandwidth per subscriber. However, the bandwidth use per subscriber may be lower during this time. The use of the smaller number of network components allows the energy for these components to be used more efficiently. When the subscriber network demands increase, the distribution system places the network components into an active power state and redistributes the subscribers to the newly-activated components. This decreases the service group size, such as back to the original size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Widrevitz, William Turner Hanks, Dwain E. Frieh, Thomas J. Cloonan, Steven John Krapp
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9113211
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to consolidate unicast video streams into multicast video streams. In some implementations, a skewing window associated with multiple unicast video streams for a video can be identified using a maximum skewing rate and a program duration, and a multicast stream for the video can be generated based on the skewing window. The unicast video streams can then be skewed and merged with the multicast stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Publication number: 20130071093
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for maintaining viewer activity information of a recorded program for program deletion decisions are provided. Viewer activity information for a recorded program is collected and can be displayed automatically or on request at delete decision time. Viewer activity information can be collected manually or automatically. Program deletion can be manual or automatic based on the viewer activity information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: William Turner Hanks, Gina Marie Hanks
  • Patent number: 8391309
    Abstract: A name that means something to a human can be used to provision multiple channels, multiple times after a one-time association of an binary integer mask bit pattern with the name, or mnemonic. Typically, the one performing the one-time association of the mask pattern with the mnemonic will choose a name that reflects the channel attributes represented by the mask pattern. Thus, rather than remembering a bit pattern for a single attribute, or even the more difficult task of remembering the pattern for multiple attributes, and having to make sure a ‘1’ is placed in a correct bit position among many ‘0’s when entering bit patterns, the one provisioning only enters a mnemonic that textually refers to the attribute, or attributes, to be provisioned for a given channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Publication number: 20120201129
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for control admission to network resources are provided. Probationary service flows with a reduced priority are provisionally allowed to use network resources. As the network demonstrates its continued stability by the addition of the new probationary flows, each probationary flow can be re-assigned its original priority thereby promoting the probationary flow to a non-probationary status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Steven John Krapp, William Turner Hanks
  • Publication number: 20090116489
    Abstract: A rate shaper between a transmit queue and a transmitter regulates the flow rate of packets through a resequencing broadband transmission device, such as a cable modem, toward a user device, such as a computer. When the resequencing device receives packets out of order that belong to a program flow spread across multiple links, or channels, the rate shaper regulates the flow of packets by imposing a delay to the flow of resequenced packets by a factor that is inversely proportional to the number of out of sequence packets buffered in a message storage buffer. A setpoint signal may be input to the shaper to provide a target flow rate to the shaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks