Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140101711 | VIRTUAL CONVERGED CABLE ACCESS PLATFORMS FOR HFC CABLE NETWORKS - A virtual converged cable access platform (CCAP) system and method for hybrid fiber CATV (HFC) cable networks. The system uses a new type of digital optical fiber node configured to receive optical fiber data packets, and reconstitute the optical data packets into RF waveforms suitable for injection into the system's CATV cable. The system replaces the legacy HFC head end with a simplified “virtual head end”. The system's virtual head end operates using a new type of virtual CCAP controller and virtual CCAP software that in turn controls high performance edge routers. Much of the intelligence of running the HFC cable system is managed by the controller software, while the edge router manages the interface between the CATV portion of the system and outside networks. The system can handle even legacy CATV RF signals by appropriate conversion operations, while reducing power and space needs, and improving operational flexibility. | 04-10-2014 |
20140150041 | DISTRIBUTED CABLE MODEM TERMINATION SYSTEM WITH SOFTWARE RECONFIGUABLE MAC AND PHY CAPABILITY - Distributed and highly software reconfigurable 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 divided between QAM modulators located at the cable plant, and remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A basic set of CATV QAM data waveforms may optionally be transmitted to the nodes using a first fiber, and a second set of IP/on-demand data may be transmitted to the nodes using an alternate fiber or alternate fiber frequency, and optionally using other protocols such as Ethernet protocols. The nodes will extract the data specific to each neighborhood and inject this data into unused QAM channels, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for managing and reconfiguring the FPGA and DSP based CMTRS units is also disclosed. | 05-29-2014 |
20140150047 | VIRTUAL CCAP CABLE MODEM TERMINATION SYSTEM WITH SOFTWARE RECONFIGUABLE MAC AND PHY CAPABILITY - 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. | 05-29-2014 |
20140324845 | Universal Lookup of Video-Related Data - A universal video-related lookup system and method receives a request for information associated with specific video content from a requesting device. The system and method identify a first video content identifier associated with the specific video content and retrieves first metadata associated with the specific video content based on the first video content identifier. Next, the system and method translate the first video content identifier into a second video content identifier associated with the specific video content and retrieves second metadata based on the second video content identifier. The first metadata and the second metadata are then provided to the requesting device. | 10-30-2014 |
20150046537 | RETRIEVING VIDEO ANNOTATION METADATA USING A P2P NETWORK AND COPYRIGHT FREE INDEXES - Video programs (media) are analyzed, often using computerized image feature analysis methods. Annotator index descriptors or signatures that are indexes to specific video scenes and items of interest are determined, and these in turn serve as an index to annotator metadata (often third party metadata) associated with these video scenes. The annotator index descriptors and signatures, typically chosen to be free from copyright restrictions, are in turn linked to annotator metadata, and then made available for download on a P2P network. Media viewers can then use processor equipped video devices to select video scenes and areas of interest, determine the corresponding user index, and send this user index over the P2P network to search for index linked annotator metadata. This metadata is then sent back to the user video device over the P2P network. Thus video programs can be enriched with additional content without transmitting any copyrighted video data. | 02-12-2015 |
20150117395 | OTFS METHODS OF DATA CHANNEL CHARACTERIZATION AND USES THEREOF - Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods. | 04-30-2015 |
20150326273 | METHODS OF OPERATING AND IMPLEMENTING WIRELESS OTFS COMMUNCIATIONS SYSTEMS - Computerized wireless transmitter/receiver system that automatically uses combinations of various methods, including transmitting data symbols by weighing or modulating a family of time shifted and frequency shifted waveforms bursts, pilot symbol methods, error detection methods, MIMO methods, and other methods, to automatically determine the structure of a data channel, and automatically compensate for signal distortions caused by various structural aspects of the data channel, as well as changes in channel structure. Often the data channel is a two or three dimensional space in which various wireless transmitters, receivers and signal reflectors are moving. The invention's modulation methods detect locations and speeds of various reflectors and other channel impairments. Error detection schemes, variation of modulation methods, and MIMO techniques further detect and compensate for impairments. The invention can automatically optimize its operational parameters, and produce a deterministic non-fading signal in environments in which other methods would likely degrade. | 11-12-2015 |
20150327085 | OTFS METHODS OF DATA CHANNEL CHARACTERIZATION AND USES THEREOF - Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods. | 11-12-2015 |