Cable Modem Patents (Class 725/111)
  • Patent number: 10237626
    Abstract: The present invention provides for eliminating the requirement for cable modems and routers to be installed in CATV system subscriber homes, and/or establishments, by instead including the cable modems and routers in a CATV provider's main distribution line, for sharing amongst a plurality of subscriber homes and/or establishments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ANTRONIX INC.
    Inventors: David Earl Wachob, Neil Tang, Juan Rafael Bravo
  • Patent number: 10142882
    Abstract: A network gateway comprises a buffer and a transmission module that is configured to transmit packets of a data stream from a source device to a user device via a network medium. The packets of the data stream are received from the source device by an uplink connection between the source device and the gateway, the packets are temporarily stored in the buffer and the packets are transmitted from the buffer to the user device by a downlink connection between the user device and the gateway, such that the downlink connection depends on the uplink connection. Furthermore, the network gateway comprises a protection module that is configured to provide a protection of the uplink connection, wherein access to the network medium is reserved for the packets of the data stream of the uplink connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Marianna Carrera, Nidhi Hegde, Martin May
  • Patent number: 10038705
    Abstract: A method and information handling system (IHS) for identifying communication threats in an IHS. The method includes triggering a board management controller (BMC) to transmit a plurality of memory addresses identifying where a plurality of network packets received by the IHS are stored. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) within a processor receives the memory addresses of the network packets and retrieves the network packets. The network packets are analyzed by comparing at least one threat signature that is associated with undesired network behavior with the contents of the network packets. In response to the at least one threat signature matching the contents of at least one of the network packets, an intrusion alert is transmitted to the BMC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Elie Antoun Jreij, Chitrak Gupta, Wade Andrew Butcher, Sushma Basavarajaiah, Rama Rao Bisa
  • Patent number: 10003405
    Abstract: A Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Passive Optical Network (PON) system (DPON) makes optical subscribers appear as cable subscribers. In one embodiment, a Cable Modern (CM) proxy is located in an Optical Line Termination (OLT). The OLT implements a cable modem protocol stack that operates as the CM proxy and communicates with a back office system. The OLT translates the data retrieved by the CM proxy into Optical Network Unit (ONU) recognizable commands, and sends the translated data to the ONU. In a second embodiment, the CM proxy is located in the ONU. The ONU implements the cable modern protocol stack that operates as the CM proxy and communicates with the back office system. The ONU translates the data retrieved by the CM proxy into ONU recognizable commands and sends the translated data to the ONU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventors: Alon Bernstein, John Chapman
  • Patent number: 9980009
    Abstract: A digital video conversion device is communicatively coupled to a TV set and a TV signal source, respectively, so as to pass TV signals from the TV signal source to the TV set. Upon receipt of a TV channel identification request from a mobile terminal via a wireless communication channel, the digital video conversion device acquires an image from the TV signals currently broadcasted on the TV set and extracts a plurality of station logo characteristic sets from the image, each station logo characteristic set corresponding to one of a plurality of station logo templates. After calculating a similarity score between each station logo characteristic set and a corresponding station logo template, the digital video conversion device identifies one of the plurality of station logo templates as matching the image based on their similarity scores and returns TV channel information associated with the identified station logo template to the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mei Jiang, Hailong Liu, Jian Liu, Bo Chen
  • Patent number: 9929853
    Abstract: A single carrier cable modem can be initialized on multiple channels. By initializing a cable modern on more than one channel, the error rate performance of short data packets in cable modems in an impulsive noise environment is improved. The advantage of low symbol rate transmission for short packets in an impulse noise environment is achieved without sacrificing burst capacity at a cable modem and without the complexity of transmitting multiple symbol waveforms simultaneously at a cable modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J Kolze
  • Patent number: 9912985
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to content distribution from a settop box in which audio/visual data is distributed to one or more than one user equipment by an eNB by emulating at least one of the LTE M2 and M3 interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jothikumar Mani
  • Patent number: 9882663
    Abstract: The invention involves using Doppler shift to locate a leak of a signal from an HFC network. The leaked signal includes a component having a nominal frequency. The invention comprises: (a) moving along a drive route in the area of the network; (b) recording a speed at a number of drive-route points along the drive route; (c) at each point, receiving the component at a received frequency; (d) for each point, measuring the received frequency; (e) for each point, determining a measured Doppler shift from a difference between the received and nominal frequencies; (f) estimating a zero Doppler shift and a zero Doppler shift point based on the measured Doppler shifts; and (g) estimating the leak location based on the estimated zero Doppler shift point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ARCOM DIGITAL, LLC
    Inventor: Victor M. Zinevich
  • Patent number: 9876733
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, and disclose a resource reservation method and system, and a convergence device. The method includes: receiving, by a convergence device, a first resource reservation request message based on a format of a first interface and that is from a policy server (PS); converting, by the convergence device, the first resource reservation request message into a second resource reservation request message based on a format of a second interface; and sending, by the convergence device, the second resource reservation request message based on the format of the second interface to a modulation and demodulation system, so that the modulation and demodulation system performs resource reservation according to the second resource reservation request message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenghu Shen, Dao Pan, Yong Li
  • Patent number: 9844060
    Abstract: It is provided an apparatus, including base station means to provide a base station functionality using component carriers; neighbor detecting means to detect a neighboring base station; informing means to inform a coordinating device about the neighboring base station; willingness setting means to set a willingness to perform self-tuning based on a respective long-term priority for each component carrier, wherein the long-term priorities are received from the coordinating device, and the willingness is only set if the long-term priorities are not in contradiction to an actual requirement, willingness providing means to provide an indication of the willingness to the coordinating device; and self-tuning means to perform self-tuning if an agreement statement is received from the coordinating device, wherein, as a result of the self-tuning, a usage of each component carrier by the base station means is based on the received long-term information and the actual requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Yong Teng, Yuanyong Yin, Lingfeng Wang, Jiang Wang, Jing Xu, Kari Veikko Horneman
  • Patent number: 9749179
    Abstract: Systems and methods for initializing a dual mode device can use a network type flag to determine whether a network type is set. The dual mode device can initialize using a network type corresponding to the network type flag. In some implementations, if the network type is incorrect, the dual mode device can update the network type flag and restart the dual mode device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Robert Allen Walston
  • Patent number: 9736511
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cloonan, Carol J. Ansley
  • Patent number: 9692612
    Abstract: Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which at least some and often all of the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A CCAP set of IP/on-demand data is transmitted to the nodes using an optical fiber, often using digital protocols such as Ethernet protocols. Optionally a basic set of legacy CATV QAM data, transmitted using RF waveforms transposed to optical frequencies, may also be transmitted to the nodes using either the same or different optical fiber. The nodes extract the data specific to each neighborhood, and inject this data into unused cable QAM channels along with any optional legacy CATV QAM waveforms as desired, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Shlomo Selim Rakib
  • Patent number: 9660861
    Abstract: A method of updating operational states of a network device in a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) of a link aggregation group is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the network device for link aggregation, wherein the initialization includes setting variables of the network device for a first portal as configured by administrative settings, where the first portal includes the network device and at least one neighbor network device. The method continues with determining that an operational state associated with the first portal is changed and updating a set of operational states of the network device for link aggregation in response to the operational state change, where the set of operational states of the network device for link aggregation includes an operational state of the gateway of the network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventor: Panagiotis Saltsidis
  • Patent number: 9660729
    Abstract: An HFC cable communication system comprising: a CMTS having a first attenuator to attenuate one or more upstream signals applied to the CMTS; an optical link having a dynamic range and comprising an optical receiver having a second attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s) and an optical transmitter having a third attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); a coaxial RF link comprising one or more RF amplifiers having a fourth attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); and one or more subscriber modems to generate the upstream signal(s) at respective transmit RF signal levels. The CMTS implements a long loop ALC to set the transmit RF signal level(s) based on received RF signal levels of the upstream signal(s) at the CMTS. Respective values for the first, second, third and fourth attenuators are selected based on the dynamic range of the optical link so as to facilitate implementation of the long loop ALC and effective transmission of upstream information carried by the upstream signal(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Totten, Lamar West
  • Patent number: 9647756
    Abstract: A Cable Television (CATV) node circuit has a forward pathway having a fiber optic input and a forward output. The first pathway passes a forward signal to the forward output in a first frequency range. A return pathway is coupled to the forward pathway. The return pathway has a fiber optic output. The return pathway passes a return signal to the fiber optic output in a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range is higher than the second frequency range. A cancellation circuit is coupled to the forward pathway and the return pathway. The cancellation circuit separates and isolates the forward signal from the return signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Steven K Richey
  • Patent number: 9635324
    Abstract: The present invention provides for eliminating the requirement for cable modems and routers to be installed in CATV system subscriber homes, and/or establishments, by instead including the cable modems and routers in a CATV provider's main distribution line, for sharing amongst a plurality of subscriber homes and/or establishments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ANTRONIX INC.
    Inventors: David Earl Wachob, Neil Tang, Juan Rafael Bravo
  • Patent number: 9602775
    Abstract: A system and method for the automatic discovery and provisioning of a video set top box within an IPTV network is provided. When first connected to a residential gateway, the set top box requests the address information of the residential gateway. The set top box then sends a request to a video operations and support server (VOSS) with the identifying information for the set top box and the residential gateway. Once the VOSS determines that the residential gateway is authorized for video service, the VOSS associates the residential gateway with the set top box. The VOSS then communicates the authorization to a middleware server, which downloads client software and encryption keys to the set top box, enabling the set top box to request and receive video content. The set top box may be reconnected to any port on the residential gateway and receive video service without being re-provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Thomas C. Barnett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9584869
    Abstract: Distributed and software reconfigurable remote CMTS (CMRTS) device, based on MAC and PHY units with FPGA and DSP components, for a HFC CATV network. The various CATV RF modulators, such as QAM modulators, may be located entirely at the fiber nodes if desired. Although a basic set of CATV QAM data waveforms may optionally be transmitted to the nodes using a first fiber, in a preferred embodiment, all data may be transmitted to the nodes using other protocols such as Ethernet protocols. The nodes will extract the data specific to each neighborhood and inject this data into the cable portion of the system as RF waveforms, such as RF QAM channels. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for managing and reconfiguring the FPGA and DSP based CMTRS units, as well as a new type of edge router based all-digital virtual head end (virtual converged cable access platform) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Gainspeed, Inc.
    Inventor: Shlomo Selim Rakib
  • Patent number: 9525853
    Abstract: The present invention provides for eliminating the requirement for cable modems and routers to be installed in CATV system subscriber homes, and/or establishments, by instead including the cable modems and routers in a CATV provider's main distribution line, for sharing amongst a plurality of subscriber homes and/or establishments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ANTRONIX INC.
    Inventors: David Earl Wachob, Neil Tang, Juan Rafael Bravo
  • Patent number: 9451655
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first port and a second port operably coupled to a format conversion module each of which is at least partially disposed within a housing. The first port is operably coupled to a cable configured to transfer a first data unit having a first format associated with a first communication medium to the first port. The format conversion module receives the first data unit from the first port and converts the first data unit from the first format to a second format associated with a second communication medium to produce a second data unit. The second port is operably coupled to a wireless access point that is physically distinct from the housing. The second port is configured to receive the second data unit and send the second data unit to the wireless access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Wong, Jeffrey L. Pochop, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9420330
    Abstract: A method for presenting a custom content in a set top box and a set top box are disclosed. The method includes checking a display cache and a flash memory of a set top box after the set top box is powered on, writing a custom content in the flash memory into the display cache if the display cache and the flash memory of the set top box are checked correct, controlling the custom content written into the display cache to be presented to a user on a video terminal, and, after the custom content written into the display cache is controlled to be presented to the user on the video terminal, checking a hardware device other than the display cache and the flash memory in the set top box, starting an operating system of the set top box, and performing network authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hanbing Chen, Yi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9331939
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a message forwarding method and system, and a relay agent device. The forwarding method includes: receiving a first DHCPv6 message from a DHCPv6 client through a layer-3 interface; generating a Relay-forward message, where the first DHCPv6 message is encapsulated into the Relay-forward message and an identifier of the layer-3 interface is added therein; and sending the Relay-forward message to a DHCPv6 server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenggang Li, Hongyu Li, Yong Luo
  • Patent number: 9325515
    Abstract: Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which at least some and often all of the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A CCAP set of IP/on-demand data is transmitted to the nodes using an optical fiber, often using digital protocols such as Ethernet protocols. Optionally a basic set of legacy CATV QAM data, transmitted using RF waveforms transposed to optical frequencies, may also be transmitted to the nodes using either the same or different optical fiber. The nodes extract the data specific to each neighborhood, and inject this data into unused cable QAM channels along with any optional legacy CATV QAM waveforms as desired, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GAINSPEED, INC.
    Inventor: Shlomo Selim Rakib
  • Patent number: 9298732
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to searching a cloud-based file storage system using a set of expandable probes. Platforms and techniques are provided to search for a file whose location in cloud storage resources is recorded in a consistent hash ring structure. In a hash ring, a file name can generate a hash output corresponding to a position around a circle. The closest clockwise node to that location can contain the file itself, or a link to another location containing or leading to the file. When a link has become obsolete and no longer points to the file, it may be necessary to search for that file. Embodiments perform a graduated search for the missing file, starting one node from the original node, then trying two adjacent nodes, then four adjacent nodes and so forth in expanding fashion, until the file is found or the hash structure is exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Darcy
  • Patent number: 9270472
    Abstract: A system and method for assigning a service flow classifier to a device. A MAC address of a device is extracted from a DHCP discover message. A DHCP server constructs a key from the device MAC address and an IP address assigned by the DHCP server. The key identifies a record of attributes of the device. A configuration server uses the key to access the attribute record and to generate a boot file for the device. The boot file includes one or more service flow classifiers that determine a service flow for packets destined for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Danforth, Tushar A. Nakhre, Clayton O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9246701
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling downstream Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) access points. At the CCAP access point having a network interface and a coaxial interface, control plane information is received from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) via the network interface, where the control plane information is designed to configure the CCAP access point to enable communication over the network interface and the coaxial interface. At the CCAP access point, data plane and control plane information is received from the CMTS, and the data plane information transmitted via the coaxial interface to one or more customer termination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9219613
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses can operate to convert static multicast stream to dynamic multicast streams. Systems can include a static to dynamic converter operating to receive static multicast streams and to convert the static multicast streams into dynamic multicast streams. The dynamic multicast streams are then provided to a network edge component operable to provide multicast downstream service identifier forwarding enabled video streams to one or more media gateways enabled to receive such video streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol Ansley
  • Patent number: 9209898
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for a full or partial elimination of a diplexer in the communication system. Embodiments disclosed include techniques for avoiding the loss of usable frequency spectrum to reduce the bit/Hz efficiency needed in a bidirectional high bitrate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel F. Schemmann, William P. Dawson, Derald Cummings
  • Patent number: 9197919
    Abstract: A system and method for streaming a Video on Demand (VOD) asset includes receiving, at a host, a VOD asset request from a client over an internal network, and sending the VOD asset request from the host over an external network using a client/host address that includes a host address and a client address. The VOD asset targeted for the client including the client/host address is received at the host over the external network, and the VOD asset is streamed from the host to the client over the internal network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 9148858
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling uplink transmission power in a mobile communication system are provided. In the method, an Advanced Mobile Station (AMS) determines uplink transmission power based on a measured path loss, an uplink noise and interference level received from an Advanced Base Station (ABS), a target Signal-to-Noise and Interference Ratio (SINR), and an offset. An initial offset value is determined based on a number of retransmissions of an initial ranging code performed until an initial ranging process is completed, a transmission power unit used for retransmission of the initial ranging code, and a power correction value received from the ABS upon completion of the initial ranging process with the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Park, Jae-Yun Ko
  • 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: 9077808
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for implementing do-not-disturb feature during media content. For example, in one embodiment, the do-not-disturb feature is implemented on an electronic device during the playback of the media content based on user preferences, where the user preferences specify the media content that triggers the do-not-disturb feature on the electronic device. In response to the do-not-disturb feature being implemented, notification of an incoming communication is suspended during playback of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Shekhar Gupta, Curtis Tucker, Robert J. Morrill
  • Patent number: 9054959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method used to indicate a service interruption source, in a client device of said service comprising an interface to a first network, said device being connected to a remote server by means of a gateway to which said device is connected by means of said first network; comprising the steps for starting up a downloading session from said remote server of a content, the end of the session requiring an acknowledgement from the user, detecting the connection loss between the device and the gateway, detecting the connection recovery between the device and the gateway, sending information (S6) to the server indicating the device disconnection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Thierry Quere, Duncan Lamb, Jean-François Lagardere
  • Patent number: 9043855
    Abstract: A coupling device for use in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network may be configured to disable an upstream path through it when there is only noise incident on the upstream path, and enable the upstream path through it when a desired transmission from a cable modem downstream of the coupling device is incident on the upstream path. The coupling device may be a trunk amplifier, a distribution amplifier, a splitter, or the like. The coupling device may comprise a single upstream interface coupled to a plurality of downstream interfaces. The enabling and/or disabling may be in response to a signal strength indicated by the SSI being below a threshold and/or in response to one or more control messages indicating whether any downstream cable modem is, or will be, transmitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ling, Sridhar Ramesh, Timothy Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9038119
    Abstract: A handheld leakage detector for finding digital signal leaks in a HFC network, comprises a radio receiver, a leakage receiver, leakage sampler, a correlator, and a display. The radio receiver receives samples of the digital signal taken from the HFC network, called “reference samples.” The leakage receiver receives a leakage signal, which is a leaked version of the digital signal from the HFC network. The leakage sampler samples the leakage signal to form leakage samples. The correlator performs a cross-correlation of the reference samples and the leakage samples, to produce a correlation function. An optimizable value is determined from the correlation function. The value generally becomes more optimized as the detector approaches the leak. The leak is sought by iteratively changing the position of the detector until the value becomes substantially optimized or the leak is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ARCOM DIGITAL, LLC
    Inventor: Victor M. Zinevich
  • Patent number: 9031088
    Abstract: In DOCSIS 3.0 a greater level of configuration is possible for cable modems than was available in earlier versions. The CMTS potentially receives many possible configurations from a new CM. The standard does not indicate how the CMTS should configure a CM that can support more than one possible configuration. A CMTS' operator specifies preferences for certain channel configurations. The CMTS evaluates the configuration profiles received from a booting CM and determines the best profile to attempt to accommodate based on the specified preferences. The CMTS determines how to instruct the CM to configure itself based on the available channel resources than can accommodate the selected configuration profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol J Ansley
  • Patent number: 9027070
    Abstract: Methods and systems to detect topographic fraud are provided herein. The system includes a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to periodically poll active cable modems and generate polling data. The system also includes a processor and a memory coupled to the CMTS. The processor is configured to, based on instructions in the memory, periodically determine a current geographic location for each polled cable modem based on the polling data from the CMTS, determine a geographic radius within which each polled cable modem is to be operated in and determine cable modems whose current geographic location is outside of their geographic radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: CSC Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sellers, Robert Zito
  • Patent number: 8997168
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video server apparatus includes a memory, a recorder, a decoder, a controller, a synchronizer, a sync signal transmitter and a time manager. The synchronizer generates sync signals in frame unit. The sync signal transmitter distributes the sync signals generated by the synchronizer in frame unit, to the memory, the recorder, the decoder and the controller. Each of the memory, recorder, decoder and controller includes a time manager. The time manager manages the sync signals distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Toshiki Mori, Shuichi Yamaguchi, Naoko Satoh
  • Patent number: 8990878
    Abstract: A system is described that consists of a variable modulation unicast system that utilizes multiple modulation schemes in a cable network for unicast applications and is capable of assigning users to different channels of differing modulation schemes in the network based on a feedback signal received in response to a transmitted probe signal. The system may also, in response to the feedback signal from a remote device in the network, assign a channel from a plurality of channels having differing carrier frequencies and modulation schemes to the remote device and may also modify the carrier frequencies of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Itzhak Gurantz
  • Patent number: 8978085
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for facilitating the transmission of an upstream data signal from at least one subscriber in a communications network. The device is operable to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from one or more subscribers. The RF signal includes at least one upstream data signal. The RF signal is demodulated into the upstream data signal by a RF demodulator in the device, which is then converted into an optical signal by an optical transducer in the device for transmission over a fiber optic link in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Dean A. Stoneback, Steven F. Frederick, Gary A. Picard
  • Patent number: 8976848
    Abstract: A method and device for reducing interference between a first signal of the carrier current type (Se) transmitted between modems (MCPL) in an electrical network (Re) and a second signal (S) transmitted between modems (M) in another network (R), the signals (Se, S) being coded by distribution of the data over allocated carrier frequencies in the same reserved frequency band (BF). The method includes: a step of measurement, by each modem (MCPL) in the electrical network, of transmission characteristics of each carrier frequency (F) that may be used for coding the first signal (Se), a step of detection, by analysis of the measured transmission characteristics, of at least one second carrier frequency (F2,n), which is allocated or may be allocated for coding the second signal (S) and is common with at least one first carrier frequency (F1,m), which is allocated for coding the first signal (Se), and a step of optimization of the distribution of the data of the first signal (Se) over carrier frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM Broadband SAS
    Inventor: Roger Samy
  • Patent number: 8973070
    Abstract: A wireless communication system is enhanced to allow for low-latency channel surfing and to enable a user to quickly see the content carried over a selected channel while searching channels for desired content. The techniques for reducing the channel change latency may be implemented in a transmitter, receiver, or in a combination of transmitter and receiver. The wireless communication system is optionally a DVB-H communication system. The transmitter may generate and transmit one or more auxiliary channels, where each auxiliary channel contains reduced resolution content corresponding to one or more channels. The receiver may process the one or more auxiliary channels to present the reduced resolution content while processing the full resolution channel for display. The receiver caches portions of content from one or more non-selected channels and presents the cached content when the channel is selected while concurrently searching and processing the full resolution channel content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramesh, Curtis Ling, Ramakrishna Akella, Brenndon Lee
  • Patent number: 8949918
    Abstract: An HFC cable communication system comprising: a CMTS having a first attenuator to attenuate one or more upstream signals applied to the CMTS; an optical link having a dynamic range and comprising an optical receiver having a second attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s) and an optical transmitter having a third attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); a coaxial RF link comprising one or more RF amplifiers having a fourth attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); and one or more subscriber modems to generate the upstream signal(s) at respective transmit RF signal levels. The CMTS implements a long loop ALC to set the transmit RF signal level(s) based on received RF signal levels of the upstream signal(s) at the CMTS. Respective values for the first, second, third and fourth attenuators are selected based on the dynamic range of the optical link so as to facilitate implementation of the long loop ALC and effective transmission of upstream information carried by the upstream signal(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Totten, Lamar West
  • Patent number: 8938760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TV box, where the TV box is connected to a display via lined connection or wireless connection, and the TV box includes a control unit, a network interface circuit and an output unit. The control unit connects to a first external server and an audio/video source via the network interface circuit, the control unit obtains a channel list from the first external server, and obtain audio/video information from the audio/video source by referring to a user inputted command and the channel list, where contents of the channel list is allowed to be edited by a user, and the control unit transmits the audio/video information to the display via the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Browan Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Jen Yang, Hung-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 8935731
    Abstract: An operating method of application for the television apparatus is provided. Wherein, the operating method includes: receiving a channel selecting instruction; reading a channel list, the channel list includes a plurality of applications (APPs) and a plurality of physical channels corresponding to a plurality of channel numbers, wherein each of the APPs is assigned to one of the channel numbers respectively; mapping the channel selection instruction to one of the plurality of channel numbers in the channel list; and launching and executing a selected APP if the channel selection instruction is corresponding to the channel number of the selected APP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Po Yu, Chih-Ho Chen, Kuang-Cheng Chao, Min-I Chen, Chi-Heng Chang
  • Patent number: 8935739
    Abstract: Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which at least some and often all of the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A CCAP set of IP/on-demand data is transmitted to the nodes using an optical fiber, often using digital protocols such as Ethernet protocols. Optionally a basic set of legacy CATV QAM data, transmitted using RF waveforms transposed to optical frequencies, may also be transmitted to the nodes using either the same or different optical fiber. The nodes extract the data specific to each neighborhood, and inject this data into unused cable QAM channels along with any optional legacy CATV QAM waveforms as desired, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Gainespeed, Inc.
    Inventor: Shlomo Selim Rakib
  • Patent number: 8930981
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a television configuration technique includes determining a location, from a web service, of a television set using an internet protocol address of the television set or a zip code corresponding to a physical location of the television. Electronic programming guide, interactive programming guide or the like data for a plurality of service providers in the determined location are downloaded. The electronic programming guide data, interactive programming guide data or the like for one or more channels that are unique between the plurality of service providers are checked against transmitting station identifier data or system information protocol data to identify the specific service provider that the television set is connected to. A channel list for the specific service provider is then determined from the electronic programming guide or interactive programming guide corresponding to the specific service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Max Wu
  • Patent number: 8923319
    Abstract: A user device connected to a CMTS over a network is configured such that upon power-up it can use a universal broadcast SID or a predetermined multicast SID to obtain an initial maintenance during a maintenance window. The predetermined multicast SID is assigned to the device at manufacture based on the type, or class, of device. The CMTS to which the devices connect is configured to schedule exclusive initial maintenance opportunity windows for each type of device in addition to an all-inclusive, or open, initial maintenance opportunity window, during which all types of devices may attempt to register. The order and number of initial maintenance windows within a periodically recurring sequence of windows can be configured by an operator based on the types of devices connected to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Krapp
  • Patent number: 8918827
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request is sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. In one such method, the STB sends to the server an unsupported content request associated with a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser executing on the STB. The STB receives a data stream from the server in response to the unsupported content request. The data stream was generated at the server by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The STB composites the received data stream with another portion of the web page, that is supported by the web browser, to produce the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Kellerman, Xuemin Chen, Vladimir Silyaev, David Erickson