Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090049492 | Network Architecture and Devices for Improving Performance of Hybrid Fiber Coax Cable Data Systems - Provided is a communications system including a first segment configured to (i) serve one or more end users and (ii) utilize analog signals modulated to carry digital data. The communications system also includes a second segment connectable to a headend, a protocol configured to control communication of data between the end users and the headend, and a first device configured to (i) connect the coaxial cable segment and the digital fiber-optic segment, the first device terminating the modulation and (ii) communicate over the digital fiber-optic segment to a second device. The second device is located at the headend and configured to perform other functions in accordance with the protocol. | 02-19-2009 |
20100265954 | Method, System, and Computer Program Product for High-Performance Bonding Resequencing - A method, system, and computer program product for receiving and resequencing a plurality of data segments received on a plurality of channels of a bonding channel set, comprising deter mining if a sequence number of a received segment matches an expected sequence number. If so, the process includes forwarding the segment for further processing, incrementing the expected sequence number; and forwarding any queued packets corresponding to the expected sequence number and immediately succeeding sequence numbers less than a sequence number of annexed missing segment. If the sequence number of the received segment does not match the expected sequence number, the received segment is queued at a memory location. The address of this location is converted to a segment index. The segment index is stored in a sparse array. | 10-21-2010 |
20110141957 | Method for Dropping Lower Priority Packets that are Slated for Wireless Transmission - A method for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a wireless communication medium is provided. A central device receives one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority. Then, based on the priority, a media access controller stores each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of the priority queues. The media access controller monitors the number of packets in each of the priority queues and signals an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in one or more of the priority queues. The media access controller then drops lower priority packets in the fixed shared memory space based on the order received to guarantee that there is enough memory to store higher priority packets in the fixed shared memory space. | 06-16-2011 |
20110170632 | Digital Up-Converter and N-Channel Modulator With Flexible Association of QAM Generation Resources to Narrowcast and Broadcast Frequencies - Embodiments of a digital up-converter and an N-channel modulator are provided herein. The embodiments of the digital up-converter, in combination with the N-channel modulator, are capable of efficiently filling the spectrum of one or more RF signals with one or more types of information signals. For example, the digital up-converter can fill the spectrum of one or more RF signals with both broadcast and narrowcast video and data signals. In addition, the digital up-converter is capable of flexibly mapping the information signals to one or more channels of the one or more RF signals using a novel, three-level switching architecture. | 07-14-2011 |
20110286330 | Hardware Filtering of Unsolicited Grant Service Extended Headers - A system and method is presented that uses hardware at a central node to determine if bandwidth being provided to a remote node in accordance with an unsolicited grant service (UGS) flow requires adjustment. In one embodiment, the hardware performs this function by comparing information in two consecutively-received UGS extended headers from the same remote device. If the information in the current and previous UGS extended headers differ, then an indication is provided to software of the central node that the bandwidth being provided to the remote node requires adjustment. | 11-24-2011 |
20120218995 | Flexible MAC/PHY Association - A system and method for allowing flexible associations between PHY devices and MAC devices in a point-to-multipoint communications system, such that a given upstream channel is not deterministically bound to a particular MAC device. An upstream MAC device may connect to a varying number of PHY devices depending on configured PHY capacity. Upstream service flows are intact by noting Service identifiers (SIDs) of each burst received at a PHY device, A burst is then directed via a switching infrastructure to the appropriate MAC on the basis of the SID. | 08-30-2012 |
20120269242 | Frequency Spectrum and Modulation Scheme Allocation for High Speed Data Networks - Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend. | 10-25-2012 |
20130044766 | SCHEDULING IN A TWO-TIER NETWORK - A method, system and computer program product to schedule transmissions in a two-tier network are provided. In an example, the system includes a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) scheduler configured to generate a MAP message to allocate bandwidth and a first instance in time to a cable modem to transmit data to a branch node. The system further includes a MAP message translator coupled to the DOCSIS scheduler and configured to determine a second instance in time at which data from the cable modem arrives at the branch node and generate a GATE message that grants the branch node bandwidth to transmit the data received from the cable modem at the second instance in time to a headend node. | 02-21-2013 |
20130051276 | DYNAMIC BANDWIDTH RE-ALLOCATION - A method and system for dynamic bandwidth re-allocation is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring a video streams delivered by a server to a first client and a second client that have a same service level agreement and determining whether the first client is receiving a lower bitrate video stream compared to the second client. The method further includes the step of adjusting a parameter to allow the first client to receive a higher bitrate video stream. In an example, the monitoring, determining and adjusting steps are performed by a cable modem termination system (CMTS). In another example, the monitoring, determining and adjusting steps are performed by an optical line terminal (OLT). | 02-28-2013 |
20130128125 | Digital Up-Converter and N-Channel Modulator with Flexible Association of QAM Generation Resources to Narrowcast and Broadcast Frequencies - Embodiments of a digital up-converter and an N-channel modulator are provided herein. The embodiments of the digital up-converter, in combination with the N-channel modulator, are capable of efficiently filling the spectrum of one or more RF signals with one or more types of information signals. For example, the digital up-converter can fill the spectrum of one or more RF signals with both broadcast and narrowcast video and data signals. In addition, the digital up-converter is capable of flexibly mapping the information signals to one or more channels of the one or more RF signals using a novel, three-level switching architecture. | 05-23-2013 |
20130170528 | Convergence Layer Bonding Over Multiple Carriers - A cable modem termination system (CMTS) is disclosed that allocates one or more minislots of a super-frame arrangement to cable modems for upstream transmission. The super-frame arrangement includes multiple minislots that correspond to multiple communication channels of one or more super-frames. The CMTS receives requests for upstream bandwidth from the cable modems. The CMTS continuously allocates the minislots of the super-frame to provide upstream bandwidth grants to accommodate these requests. The CMTS communicates the upstream bandwidth grants as a single upstream bandwidth allocation map (MAP) to the cable modems. | 07-04-2013 |
20130243136 | Method and Apparatus for Maintaining Synchronization in a Communication System - A central entity and/or a remote device in a communication system are designed to address the problem of maintaining upstream synchronization in the remote device after loss of the downstream signal. One issue of particular importance is maintaining upstream transmissions from the remote device in an S-CDMA (or perhaps S-TDMA) mode that do not degrade performance of the communication system via poor upstream timing or a need for re-ranging. By providing novel functionality at the central entity for synchronizing first and second downstream signals and/or by providing novel functionality at the remote device for determining a symbol clock offset between a first terminated downstream signal and a second re-acquired downstream signal, embodiments of the present invention facilitate maintenance of synchronization through the loss of the downstream signal, thereby minimizing the need for re-ranging and avoiding poorly timed upstream bursts. | 09-19-2013 |
20140079102 | Physical Layer (PHY) Link Signaling for Cable Networks - Embodiments include systems and methods for enabling a physical layer (PHY) link signaling channel between a network termination modem and a cable modem in a cable network. The PHY link signaling channel is embedded within the same multi-carrier channel as the data and enables PHY link up between the network termination modem and cable modem without involvement of higher layers (e.g., MAC). The PHY link signaling channel can be implemented in the downstream (from the network termination modem to the cable modem(s)) or in the upstream from a cable modem to the network termination modem. Embodiments are applicable to any known cable network, and particularly to cable networks implementing the DOCSiS and EPoC standards. | 03-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090092153 | Downstream Synchronous Multichannels for a Communications Management System - Downstream synchronous multichannel (DSSM) communications are provided among a plurality of carriers, each being a completely DOCSIS™ 2.0-compliant downstream. The synchronous multichannels support communications with both DSSM-capable communications nodes and non-DSSM-capable communications nodes (e.g., legacy cable modems). Non-DSSM packets are transmitted on a single channel. DSSM packets are split into multiple pieces, which are transmitted simultaneously on all available channels. Since the physical delay variation (e.g., group delay change) across the adjacent carriers is small (on the order of a symbol time), the multiple pieces arrive at the receiving communications nodes at nearly the same time and can be reassembled with minimal buffering and no packet ordering problems. To avoid causing trouble for the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes, the packet pieces are encapsulated with a header that causes the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes to silently discard them. | 04-09-2009 |
20090180491 | System and Method for Bandwidth Management in Ethernet-Based Fiber Optic TDMA Networks - A system and method for management of bandwidth in a fiber optic, ethernet-based, TDMA communications system. A request/grant process is used to control the use of upstream bandwidth. A sense of time must therefore be shared by a headend and remote end-user devices. The invention provides for a gigabit media-independent interface in a media access controller to detect start-of-frame delimiters in incoming data. This allows for synchronization of a headend and end-user devices. The invention also allows for phase locking a transmit bit rate, at a headend, to the headend's clock. Transmitted data can the be used downstream to derive a local clock. Synchronization can also be maintained by the use of synchronization bytes in MPEG frames and/or variable length frames. Efficient bandwidth usage can also be facilitated by the use of maximum data units in allocating bandwidth in unsolicited grants, and by allowing flexible fragmentation and/or prioritization of internet protocol (IP) packets. | 07-16-2009 |
20090268751 | Supporting Multiple Logical Channels In A Physical Interface - A supervisory communications system (such as, a headend cable modem termination system) manages communications with a plurality of remote communications devices (such as, a cable modem). The supervisory system enables each of its physical channels to have multiple logical channels, with each logical channel having differing channel parameters or operating characteristics. As a result, different types of communication devices are permitted to coexist on the same physical spectrum. In other words, a communications device using, for example, spread spectrum modulation technologies require different operating characteristics than a communications device using, for example, time division multiplexing technologies. Although physical layer transmissions from these communications devices are not compatible, the present invention provides methodologies and/or techniques that define multiple logical channels that allow these communications devices to share the same physical spectrum of a transmission medium (such as, a HFC cable plant, wireless path, etc.) and send upstream transmissions to a single upstream receiver. | 10-29-2009 |
20100296511 | Hierarchical Flow-Level Multi-Channel Communication - Embodiments herein provide systems and methods of transferring data in a communication system. An embodiment transfers data by assigning a portion of data among groups of channels coupled to a remote node, such assigning being based on the respective flows to which the portion is associated. The portion of data across is at least two channels in the assigned group of channels, and the split portions are transferred substantially simultaneously among the channels to which they are assigned. | 11-25-2010 |
20120269192 | Downstream Synchronous Multichannels for a Communications Management System - Downstream synchronous multichannel (DSSM) communications are provided among a plurality of carriers, each being a completely DOCSIS™ 2.0-compliant downstream. The synchronous multichannels support communications with both DSSM-capable communications nodes and non-DSSM-capable communications nodes (e.g., legacy cable modems). Non-DSSM packets are transmitted on a single channel. DSSM packets are split into multiple pieces, which are transmitted simultaneously on all available channels. Since the physical delay variation (e.g., group delay change) across the adjacent carriers is small (on the order of a symbol time), the multiple pieces arrive at the receiving communications nodes at nearly the same time and can be reassembled with minimal buffering and no packet ordering problems. To avoid causing trouble for the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes, the packet pieces are encapsulated with a header that causes the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes to silently discard them. | 10-25-2012 |
20140016636 | Hierarchical Flow-Level Multi-Channel Communication - Embodiments herein provide systems and methods of transferring data in a communication system. An embodiment transfers data by assigning a portion of data among groups of channels coupled to a remote node, such assigning being based on the respective flows to which the portion is associated. The portion of data across is at least two channels in the assigned group of channels, and the split portions are transferred substantially simultaneously among the channels to which they are assigned. | 01-16-2014 |
20140241377 | Half-frame request opportunities and operation within wired and/or wireless communication systems - A communication device is configured to receive a message that indicates request opportunity parameter(s). Based on the request opportunity parameter(s), the communication device is configured to generate and transmit a transmission request within one of two or more request opportunities (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc. or generally N request opportunities such that N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2) indicated by the request opportunity parameter(s). The two or more request opportunities are included within mini-slot(s) that span OFDM sub-carrier(s) of OFDM or OFDMA framing. A given mini-slot spans an OFDM or OFDMA frame, and a mini-slot is divided into any desired number of portions (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc. or generally N portions) such that each of the request opportunities within that mini-slot occupies a common fraction of the mini-slot (e.g., each occupies ½, ⅓, ¼, etc. or generally 1/N of the mini-slot). | 08-28-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100202457 | Highly Integrated Media Access Control - A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices throughout a widely distributed network. The supervisory device allocates bandwidth on the upstream channels by sending MAP messages over its downstream channel. A highly integrated media access controller integrated circuit (MAC IC) operates within the headend to provide lower level processing on signals exchanged with the remote devices. The enhanced functionality of the MAC IC relieves the processing burden on the headend CPU and increases packet throughput. The enhanced functionality includes header suppression and expansion, DES encryption and decryption, fragment reassembly, concatenation, and DMA operations | 08-12-2010 |
20110096792 | Multiple Upstream Channel Descriptor Messages Pointing to Single Upstream Channel ID for More Efficient Operation of a DOCSIS System - In a DOCSIS-based communications system, different upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) all identify a single logical upsteam channel identifier (UCID) regardless of the type of cable modem (CM) to which the UCDs are sent. Different CMs having different capabilities (e.g., CMs configured according to the different DOCSIS standards 1.x, 2.0, and 3.0) receive their respective UCDs from an upstream headend. All the UCDs, however, refer to the same logical upstream channel. The different CMs therefore share this single logical upstream channel. | 04-28-2011 |
20110274122 | Highly Integrated Media Access Control - A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices throughout a widely distributed network. The supervisory device allocates bandwidth on the upstream channels by sending MAP messages over its downstream channel. A highly integrated media access controller integrated circuit (MAC IC) operates within the headend to provide lower level processing on signals exchanged with the remote devices. The enhanced functionality of the MAC IC relieves the processing burden on the headend CPU and increases packet throughput. The enhanced functionality includes header suppression and expansion, DES encryption and decryption, fragment reassembly, concatenation, and DMA operations. | 11-10-2011 |
20130070784 | UPSTREAM CHANNEL BONDING IN A CABLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - A method for increasing upstream bandwidth per cable modem user in a cable communications system that includes a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and a plurality of cable modems is provided. The method permits a cable modem to transmit data to the CMTS on multiple upstream channels simultaneously using a technique called “channel bonding.” Channel bonding allows smaller bandwidth upstream channels to be bonded together to create a larger bandwidth pipe. | 03-21-2013 |
20130279523 | Highly Integrated Media Access Control - A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices throughout a widely distributed network. The supervisory device allocates bandwidth on the upstream channels by sending MAP messages over its downstream channel. A highly integrated media access controller integrated circuit (MAC IC) operates within the headend to provide lower level processing on signals exchanged with the remote devices. The enhanced functionality of the MAC IC relieves the processing burden on the headend CPU and increases packet throughput.. The enhanced functionality includes header suppression and expansion. DES encryption and decryption, fragment reassembly, concatenation, and DMA operations. | 10-24-2013 |
20140294052 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH PROACTIVE NETWORK MAINTENANCE AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - 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. | 10-02-2014 |
20140365845 | Combining CRC and FEC on a variable number of NCPs - A communication device is configured to communicate coded information to other communication device(s). The communication device uses NCPs to indicate locations of codewords within signal(s) transmitted to the other communication device(s). The communication device is configured to encode NCP(s) using an FEC code to generate coded NCP(s) and also to encode the NCP(s) using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code to generate NCP CRC bits. The communication device is also configured to encode the NCP CRC bits using the FEC code to generate coded NCP CRC bits. The communication device is then configured to generate OFDM or OFDMA symbol(s) include the coded NCP(s) and the coded NCP CRC bits to indicate beginnings of codeword(s) within at least one of the OFDM symbol(s) and/or additional OFDM symbol(s). The communication device is also configured to transmit the OFDM or OFDMA symbols to another communication device via a communication interface of the communication device. | 12-11-2014 |