Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
725121000 | Return path | 28 |
20080244679 | SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO CLIENT REVERSE CHANNEL TRAFFIC REDUCTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a switched digital video (SDV) client to intelligently generate and transmit reverse request in a SDV system. In this manner, reverse channel traffic is reduced. During rapid channel changes using the up and down keys on a remote control, the SDV client waits a predetermined amount of time before generating a reverse request that is subsequently transmitted upstream to a headend server. By way of example, changing broadcasted channels quickly will not generate a reverse request until the predetermined amount of time is over. In the event that a changed channel is an SDV session, a program select request is immediately generated in order to begin receiving the SDV session. | 10-02-2008 |
20080301748 | HIGH DEFINITION AND LOW POWER PARTIAL FUNCTIONALITY COMMUNICATION LINK - Communication link including a cable containing four pairs of wires, three transmitters to transmit uncompressed video data and audio data over three of the pairs of wires to three receivers, and two transceivers to form a bidirectional multi data type communication link over the fourth pair of wires. An active mode of operation for transmitting the uncompressed video data and the audio data over the three pairs of wires, and for transmitting bidirectional data over the fourth pair of wires. And a first low power partial functionality mode of operation for transmitting bidirectional system controls. | 12-04-2008 |
20100023991 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHARING TELEVISION SIGNALS VIA INSTANT MESSAGING SERVICES - Provided is an apparatus for sharing television signals via an instant messaging service, which comprises an instant messaging module, a television receiver and a television sharing interface, wherein the instant messaging module is used to exchange information with outside networks via the instant messaging service. The television receiver is used to receive the television signals having video signals and audio signals, and the television sharing interface is used to connect the television receiver with the instant messaging module, wherein the television sharing interface further comprises a control module, a video capture module and an audio output module. The control module is for controlling the television receiver, the video capture module is for capturing the video signal for the instant messaging module to output under control of the control module, and the audio output module is for outputting the audio signal according to the control module. | 01-28-2010 |
20100251320 | AUTOMATIC RETURN PATH SWITCHING FOR A SIGNAL CONDITIONING DEVICE - A premise signal conditioning device is provided that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on a premise of a user. The device includes at least a first diplexer set, each diplexer set including a supplier side diplexer and a premise side diplexer creating a return path for an upstream bandwidth and a forward path for a downstream bandwidth there between. The device further includes a detector configured to measure a level of signals present in a first segment of frequencies between the upstream bandwidth and the downstream bandwidth. The device further includes a switch controller configured to alter a width of the return path from a first width to a second width in response to a level of the signals exceeding a predetermined threshold level. | 09-30-2010 |
20130160068 | Universal Multiple-Band Digital Transmitter Module for CATV Upstream and Downstream - A digital transmitter includes a generic adaptable reconfigurable digital transmitter module; and a reversibly removable module operationally coupled to the generic adaptable reconfigurable digital transmitter module. Configuring a generic adaptable reconfigurable digital receiver having a programmable signal conditioner includes specifying a number of output RF channels; specifying an RF bandwidth of an output channel; and selecting a digital to analog sampling rate of a digital to analog convertor of the programmable signal conditioner as a function of the RF bandwidth of the output channel using a processor/demux of the generic adaptable reconfigurable digital receiver. | 06-20-2013 |
20150365724 | Network Coding for Multi-Resolution Multicast - A method, apparatus and computer program product for utilizing network coding for multi-resolution multicast is presented. A network source partitions source content into a base layer and one or more refinement layers. The network source receives a respective one or more push-back messages from one or more network destination receivers, the push-back messages identifying the one or more refinement layers suited for each one of the one or more network destination receivers. The network source computes a network code involving the base layer and the one or more refinement layers for at least one of the one or more network destination receivers, and transmits the network code to the one or more network destination receivers in accordance with the push-back messages. | 12-17-2015 |
20160057479 | CATV RETURN BAND SWEEPING USING DATA OVER CABLE SERVICE INTERFACE SPECIFICATION CARRIER - The existing Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) carriers generated by field test equipment or by the CATV subscriber modems are used to determine the amplitude response of the return band in a CATV system. | 02-25-2016 |
725123000 | Wireless return path | 5 |
20090077607 | HARDWARE MODULE FOR ADDING FUNCTIONALITY TO TELEVISION USING MECHANICAL AND WIRELESS LINKS - A set-box (SBB) is advanced into a receptacle on the rear of a TV to add functionality to the TV. Digital video information is conveyed from the SUB to the TV using respective HDMI connectors on the SBB and TV that mechanically engage each other, whereas bi-directional control information is passed wirelessly between the SBB and TV. | 03-19-2009 |
20100325680 | STEERING MIRROR FOR TV RECEIVING HIGH FREQUENCY WIRELESS VIDEO - In a home system in which a TV receives video from various sources over directional wireless links such as 60 GHz links, a mirror apparatus is provided that can be configured to physically steer a signal toward a receiver on the TV to optimize received signal strength. In this way, RF energy that otherwise would be radiated in non-productive directions away from the receiver is reflected toward the receiver. | 12-23-2010 |
20110162029 | PORTABLE Wi-Fi DIGITAL VIDEO CAMCORDER AND SYSTEM WITH THEREOF - A portable Wi-Fi digital video camcorder includes a battery, a wireless network unit, an LCD unit, a video-stream capturing unit and a processing unit. The battery supplies power to the portable Wi-Fi digital video camcorder. The video-stream capturing unit captures a present video stream. The processing unit is electrically connected with the wireless network unit, the LCD unit and the video-stream capturing unit. The processing unit includes an LCD driving module and a video-stream transmitting module. The LCD driving module drives the LCD unit. The video-stream transmitting module utilizes the wireless network unit to transmit the present video stream. | 06-30-2011 |
20130219448 | DIGITAL CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA INTERACTION VIA WIRELESS TERMINAL - A digital cable television system for data interaction via wireless terminal, includes a digital television reception terminal, a wireless transceiving module, a wireless terminal and a server, the wireless transceiving module is built-in or externally located to the digital television reception terminal, and physically connected with the digital television reception terminal. The wireless transceiving module is wirelessly connected to the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal is connected to the server via wireless network; the server is connected to the digital television reception terminal through cable television network. The present invention also provides a method for data interaction via wireless terminal. | 08-22-2013 |
20160037231 | DATA COMMUNICATIONS - Embodiments herein provide systems and methods for sending broadband data to end-users over a DTTV broadcast transmission. Systems and methods for receiving such data are also described. A wireless overlay system is set up by an Internet Service Provider/Communications Provider (ISP/CP) 11 by means of receiving from end-user equipment 27 data requests over a DSL uplink together with identification of at least one DTTV transmitter 21 23. The ISP/CP 11 provides an overlay controller 26 which causes routing of the requested data over a selected DTTV transmitter 21. At the end-user equipment, the requested data can be received from the DTTV broadcast and extracted for output. | 02-04-2016 |
725124000 | Noise in return path | 16 |
20110265140 | HFC CABLE SYSTEM WITH SHADOW FIBER AND COAX FIBER TERMINALS - System and method to extend the upstream data capacity of an HFC CATV system by extending a “shadow” optical fiber network deeper into the various CATV cable neighborhoods, with coax fiber terminals (CFT) spaced roughly according to the distribution of CATV active devices such as RF amplifiers. The CFT can intercept local upstream data from various neighborhood sub-regions and transform this upstream data into upstream optical data, thus relieving upstream data congestion in the 5-42 MHz CATV frequency region. The system can produce an order of magnitude improvement in upstream capability, while maintaining high compatibility with legacy HFC equipment. The CFT may exist in multiple embodiments ranging from low-cost “dumb” CFT to sophisticated CFT that can additionally provide GigE to the home (GTTH) service. Methods to maintain good compatibility with legacy CMTS devices, and methods to utilize DOCSIS MAP data for more efficient data transmission are also discussed. | 10-27-2011 |
20150350744 | NOISE SUPPRESSION IN A HYBRID FIBER COAXIAL NETWORK - 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. | 12-03-2015 |
725125000 | Ingress noise | 14 |
20090007210 | Apparatus, method, and program for CATV transmission-path monitoring - Gate switches can switch an amount of attenuation, and are set in a distributed manner on distribution lines and a trunk on subscribers' house side in a CATV transmission path having a tree structure with an optical node that follows a headend being taken as a starting point. An upstream-transmission-quality monitoring unit monitors an S/N ratio of an upstream signal obtained from an upstream port having the headend connected thereto to detect a decrease in upstream transmission quality based on a degree of decrease and a continuation state of an S/N ratio. When the upstream-transmission-quality monitoring unit detects a decrease in upstream transmission quality, a noise-generation-source searching unit performs a sequential switching control over the amount of attenuation at the gate switches provided on the CATV transmission path from upstream to downstream to search for a source of generation of upstream ingress noise. | 01-01-2009 |
20090089851 | Platform noise estimation and mitigation - A method and apparatus for platform noise estimation and mitigation are provided. An embodiment of a method for mitigating noise may include receiving a data signal in a system platform, where the data signal includes a received pseudo noise sequence. Noise on the system platform may be estimated based on the received pseudo noise sequence. In some embodiments the noise on the system platform may be mitigated based on the noise estimate for the system platform. | 04-02-2009 |
20090165070 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A MoCA COMPATABILITY STRATEGY - Systems and methods for perform a method for reducing interference from Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MOCA) signals in a cable television double conversion tuner are provided. The method may include receiving an indication of the channel in which MoCA signals are operating. When the channel in which the MoCA signals are operating is in the same frequency band as an intermediate frequency of the tuner, the method may require shifting an intermediate frequency of the tuner out of the frequency band occupied by the channel in which the MoCA signals are operating. | 06-25-2009 |
20090260049 | Automatic drop/house return termination system - The device provides for a detector and switch which allows a signal to be transmitted from the subscriber to the head-end provider, but, in all other circumstances, the device does not allow other signals or ingress to enter the CATV system from the subscriber's house. | 10-15-2009 |
20090320085 | HOUSE AMPLIFIER WITH RETURN PATH GATING - In a traditional HFC plant, the return path signals originating from cable modems, eMTAs, and settop boxes are transmitted in the 5-42 MHz range (other countries use frequencies such as 5-30 MHz, 5-55 MHz, and 5-65 MHz). These signals with entry points at any RF connection point in the home are combined by RF combiners at the side of the house. Furthermore, RF return path signals from multiple homes are combined by RF taps into a coaxial cable TV plant, and transmitted back to a hub or headend either in RF or thru a fiber optic network. | 12-24-2009 |
20090328126 | NEURAL NETWORKS FOR INGRESS MONITORING - A method of identifying a source of ingress into a network includes storing frequency spectra of known sources of ingress, comparing the frequency spectrum of ingress to the frequency spectra of known sources of ingress, and determining from the comparison which of the frequency spectra of known sources of ingress is closest to the frequency spectrum of the ingress. Apparatus for identifying a source of ingress into a network includes memory for storing frequency spectra of known sources of ingress and a device for comparing the frequency spectrum of the ingress to frequency spectra of known sources of ingress and determining from the comparison which frequency spectrum of a known source of ingress is closest to the frequency spectrum of the ingress. A method of establishing ingress into a network includes developing a first frequency spectrum indicative of the condition of the network at a first time during the operation of the network, developing a second frequency spectrum indicative of the condition of the network at a second, later time, comparing the second frequency spectrum to the first frequency spectrum, and determining from the comparison a condition of the network at the second time. Apparatus for establishing ingress into a network includes a device for receiving frequency spectra. The device receives at least one first frequency spectrum indicative of the condition of the network at a first time during the operation of the network, and a second frequency spectrum indicative of the condition of the network at a second, later time. The device compares the second frequency spectrum to the first frequency spectrum and determines from the comparison the condition of the network at the second time. | 12-31-2009 |
20100095344 | Ingress Noise Inhibiting Network Interface Device and Method for Cable Television Networks - Ingress noise from subscriber equipment is mitigated or prevented from reaching a cable television (CATV) network. All upstream signals including ingress noise are initially transmitted to the CATV network whenever their instantaneous power exceeds a threshold which typically distinguishes ingress noise from a valid upstream signal. Whenever the instantaneous power is below the threshold, ingress noise is blocked from reaching the CATV network. A gas tube surge protection device is included to resist component destruction and malfunction arising from lightning strikes and other high voltage, high current surges. | 04-15-2010 |
20100223651 | AMPLIFIER WITH NOISE REDUCTION - The present invention helps eliminate ingress noise addition (i.e., the “noise funneling effect” for an HFC coaxial plant). A system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a switch that includes: (i) a first state for allowing passage of a signal therethrough; and (ii) a second state for preventing passage of the signal therethrough. The system further includes a detection circuit in communication with the switch. The detection circuit is configured to: (i) detect whether the signal includes an amplitude of at least a predetermined level; (ii) operate the switch to the first state if the amplitude of the signal is at least the predetermined level; and (iii) operate the switch to the second state if the amplitude of the signal is less than the predetermined level, wherein operation of the switch to the second state is delayed by a predetermined period of time. | 09-02-2010 |
20110258678 | Signal Interference Detection And Avoidance Via Spectral Analysis - In one embodiment, an apparatus for minimizing signal interference for a network device is provided. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to detect an interference signal. The apparatus also includes a signal analyzer that is configured to analyze the detected interference signal. The apparatus further includes an interface. The interface is configured to advertise detection of the interference signal as a service offered by the apparatus to the network device. The interface is configured to accept a request from the network device to subscribe to the service. The interface is also configured to alert the network device when the interference signal is detected. | 10-20-2011 |
20130152151 | HOUSE AMPLIFIER WITH RETURN PATH GATING - A house amplifier provides automatic gating to selectively block the return path signal in a cable network. The house amplifier includes ports connected to the cable network and to at least one home coaxial outlet. A forward signal path is coupled to pass a forward signal from the cable network. A reverse signal path is coupled to selectively pass a reverse signal from the home to the cable network. The reverse signal path includes a gate configured to block the reverse signal in response to a control signal. A detector circuit detects when the reverse signal is received and activates or deactivates the gate based on the detection. The detector circuit may include a timing circuit configured to provide a delay before deactivating the gate when the reverse signal is no longer detected. | 06-13-2013 |
20140082686 | CHARACTERIZING INGRESS NOISE - Methods and devices for characterization of repetitious noise in cable networks are disclosed. A frequency band of interest is identified, a time trace of a signal parameter within the frequency band is obtained, and an autocorrelation of the time trace is computed to detect repetitious noise. The repetition frequency can serve as an indicator of the noise source type, and thus it can assist in noise segmentation. | 03-20-2014 |
20140123203 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATING INGRESS UTILIZING CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT - Unlike conventional methods and systems for locating ingress, which only monitor the upstream path, a method and system of locating ingress by monitoring the downstream path is provided. A test system measures the signal quality in the upstream path and in dependence upon a noise level being above a predetermined limit, polls a plurality of terminal equipment devices to return a downstream signal quality measurement. The test instrument analyzes the downstream signal quality measurements to locate an ingress source contributing to the noise. | 05-01-2014 |
20140380399 | SYSTEM FOR REDUCING RETURN SIGNAL NOISE WITHOUT RADIO FREQUENCY SWITCHING DEVICES - A bi-directional return signal noise reducing unit includes first and second ports, an amplifier, and a noise checking circuit. The first port connects to a cable television network. The second port connects to one or more devices of a subscriber to the cable television network. The amplifier includes an input that is connected to the second port and includes an output that is connected to the first port. The noise checking circuit samples the signals flowing from the second port to the first port. The noise checking circuit also: when a level of the signals flowing from the second port toward the first port are less than a predetermined threshold, blocks the signals from the input of the amplifier; and when the level of the signals flowing from the second port toward the first port are greater than the predetermined threshold, supplies the signals to the input of the amplifier. | 12-25-2014 |
20150082369 | ADJUSTABLE RETURN BANDWIDTH IN CATV NODES INCLUDING RFoG OPTICAL UNITS (R-ONU) - 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. | 03-19-2015 |